Jottings of the Month
- Playing against Harverson, for £100 aside, Stevenson
made some magnificent breaks, including one of 919, which
stands as the record with ivory balls. He also, a few days
later, made a break of 789, against the same player.
- After emphatic statements from Gray's father as to the
extreme unlikelihood of George Gray playing with ivory
balls it is now understood that these objections have been
waived and (hat the various challenges to level matches by
leading players will be attended to.
- If Gray should frame well in his ivory-ball matches for
which he is now going into practice, there is little doubt
that he will also challenge for the championship.
- It is easier to make long breaks on a French or American
cannon table than on a British pocket-table.
- A match has been arranged between Inman and Newman
£100 aside, in which Newman receives 4,000 start in
18,000.
- The draw for the Stock Exchange handicap has been
made with a large number of entries, and the heats are, as
usual, 250 up.
- When Reece was losing some of his 1,000 start against
Stevenson a break of 610 put him right, and later on he
again balanced matters with a 553.
- A billiard writer says that a billiard player cannot improve
after 40. Why, a man can start learning the game at
and make a hundred break before he is 60.
- Inman and Hoppe have arranged a series of matches to
played under both the British and American rules. The
stakes are put at £200 a side on each occasion.
- The annual Jockeys' Handicap, promoted by Mr. J. P.
Mannock, will be played at the Bedford Head Hotel as
usual. Several leading jockeys have already entered.
- Some idea of what the Preliminary Professional Tournament
at Burroughes Hall is doing for young players may be
judged from the fact that 623 of T. Tothill's 1,000 points
were' made in three innings.
- The Stevenson-Reece encounter during the latter half of
October has been a great fighta fight of billiard Titans
and good breaks, whether under or over 500, have been
quickly responded to by each rival in like fashion.
- Although George Gray's father once stated that the
change from composition balls to ivory could not be made
under six months' hard practice, a match with Stevenson
now being arranged with ivories for an early date, and
should prove an historic occasion. Our own view is that
change from composition to ivory is less difficult than
change from ivory to composition.
- Stevenson is now playing with ivory balls again and must
love to hear the familiar subdued click.
- Newman is willing to take 4,000 start in 18,000 with
Stevenson for £100 aside, or to play George Gray level with
ivory balls.
- The suggestion is being made that misses should be deducted
from the striker's score instead of being added to his
opponent's.
- A billiard paper has been started in Berlin under the
title of "Billard-Welt" It is the official organ of German
amateur billiardists.
- W. Smith, who concedes 2,000 in 8,000, will play three
matches against E. C. Breed at Newcastle, Derby, and Partington,
respectively.
- Inman's catch of a salmon and a cod with one cast is
spoken of by professional billiard rivals as only another
proof of his perennial luck.
- Entries for the Press Billiard Handicap close on November
3, and for the B.C.C. Members' Autumn Handicap on
average, on November 10.
- The Morning Advertiser is organizing a handicap for
such members of the trade that it represents who are
now classed as non-amateurs by the Billiards Control Club.
- The Leeds £100 handicap has filled to overflowing, and
most of the best-known players in Lancashire and Yorkshire
have entered. The games are 1,500 up, and play commences
at the Central Cafe on November 10.
- The Army and Navy billiard champion (Private J.
Thomas) leaves the Service in April and will, it is understood,
take up billiards professionally. He is not competing
for this year's Army and Navy championship.
- In his match against Pindar, at Leeds, Gray ran out
with 843 unfinished. In playing against Reece, Gray made
breaks of 568 and 567. This was the first of three matches
for £100 aside in each case, and was won by Gray (conceding
2,000) by 18,000 to 16,108.
- No doubt one or both of Reece's remaining matches with
Gray will now be played with ivory balls, and Stevenson,
Inman, and Newman may all like to take up Gray's newchallenge
as set forth on Page 2. The slakes are put at
£200 a-side on each occasion.
- In the Stock Exchange Billiards Handicap the backmarkers
are Mr. S. Harwitz, Mr. P. Harwitz, and Mr. V.
L. Harrington. Mr. Harrington has been drawn against an
unknown quantity in Mr. W. A. Daw, whose handicap has
not been allotted yet, while Mr. S. Harwitz has had to concede
no fewer than 380 points in his first heat. Mr. Phil
Harwitz has to meet a good scratch player in Mr. S. C. A,
Forge. Why is not Mr. P. Wood playing?