THIS handicap, for which the first prize is a silver cup value 15 guineas, and the second a fitted cue case, was commenced at the above-named house on Wednesday evening in the presence of a limited company. The first heat was between W. Dufton, 150 points start, and J. Fowler, 160. From the commencement the veteran forged ahead, and with breaks of 18, 23, 30, and 26, soon took a commanding lead. Fowler played badly and made but little progress, few of his contributions exceeding a dozen until the game was called-Dufton 289, Fowler 195, when the last-named ran up 31. To this Dufton replied with 12, 10, and 15 in succession, reaching 390 to 280. After 11 from Fowler, Dufton increased his total with 15 and 17, when the younger player got in with 18 and 12, bringing his total to 326 against 413. From this point, however, Fowler failed to do anything worth recording, and Dufton, with the aid of 23, 27, and an unfinished break of 12, ran out a winner by 159 points. Although small breaks were the order, some of the veteran's strokes elicited the applause of those present.
At 9.35 the second heat was commenced, the players being F. Shorter, 20, v. F. Bishop, 130. In stringing for break Bishop won, and Shorter gave the usual miss, an example which was followed by his opponent. The first-named player then got in with a break of 22, and after 5 from Bishop and 6 from Shorter, the former manipulated a break of 41 (three spots). From 29 Shorter ran up to 44, Bishop replying with 13, and the game was called-Bishop 190, Shorter 44. Breaks of 15 and 11 from the latter took him to 71, when Bishop made a nicely-played break of 33, and reached 228. Shorter then made the break of the evening, and by really beautiful play put together 102 (two and five spots), the game then standing at-Bishop 228, Shorter 173. The next few strokes on either side were unproductive, Shorter being first to get into double figures with 21, which he shortly afterwards followed up with 77, a break in which twenty-two spots were conspicuous; 11 and 38 from Bishop brought him to 299, and 10 from Shorter made the scores 299 all. Soon after this the last named player took the lead with a break of 25, but a really well-played break of 45 (twelve spots) from his opponent once more landed him in front. In succession Shorter then made 30 and 25 (six spots), taking him to 390 against 370. Bishop's best effort to the conclusion of the game resulted in a contribution of 27, and Shorter, with 44, 19, and an unfinished break of 27, finished the game a winner by 81 points after an exciting contest.
On Thursday night the first heat was between D. Richards, 20 points start, and M. Mannock, 180. At the commencement Richards quickly decreased the start he was giving, and with breaks of 22, 19, and 28, reached 94 to 208, and Mannock failing to do anything worth alluding to in his next few strokes, Richards got still closer to him with a break of 54 (14 spots), supplemented with 21, whilst Mannock's principal additions were two breaks of 18 and 19. Soon after this, however, the last-named player made breaks of 38, 29, and 39, Richards in the meantime putting on 33, and the game was called -Mannock 335, Richards 269. The latter now quickly ran up successive breaks of 21, 27, 16, 18, and 20, and was only a dozen behind; but upon this he did not improve, and Mannock, with 21, 15, and smaller scores, won by 29 points. Time, 1½ hours.
G. Hunt, scratch, and F. Brearton, 140, were the next pair to do battle. For some little time no break of importance was made, until Brearton made 42, Hunt rejoining with 33 and 36, when the scores were called -Brearton 212, Hunt 83. After 28 and 24 from Hunt, Brearton made a fine break of 80 (25 spots), which took his total to 438 against 274. Hunt next got in with 43 (12 spots), but failing to materially increase his score, Brearton ran out a winner by 105 points.