This annual event was decided at the old Burroughes Hall, Soho Square, between February 7 and February 18, when thirty of the leading West End club markers responded to the invitation of Messrs. Burroughes & Watts, who again endowed the event with a prize list amounting to over £60. For the second year in succession the chief honours were taken by one of the backmarkers, N. Butler, of the British Empire Club, winning from scratch, conceding starts up to 300. Butler is quite an exceptional player amongst this class, and under strict match and standard conditions he made a break of 151 in the semi-final, and another of 145 in the final. SEMI-FINALS: F. J. King (Cavalry Club, rec. 100), 500 (breaks: 50, 48, 48, 38); D. Anthony (Golfers' Club, rec. 250), 356 (breaks: 24 and 19). N.
Butler (British Empire Club, scratch), 500 (breaks: 151 and 55); F. Cox (Wellington Club, rec. 50), 402 (breaks: 46, 34, 30). FINAL: N. Butler (breaks: 145, 50, 49, 39, 38), 500; F. J. King (breaks: 55 and 41), 309. Mr. J. R. Abbott, managing director of Messrs.
Burroughes & Watts, presented the prizes at the close. The first prize was of the value of £40.
A few interesting items reach us from Sunderland, where exceptional interest has lately been taken in billiards:—A well-known Sunderland sportsman, Mr. M.
Clark, and a few friends have given a handsome silver cup for competition amongst local cueists on, behalf of the St. Dunstan's Billiard Fund. A four-handed match will take place on behalf of the same object between the brothers George and Robert Thompson and the brothers E. D. and F. S. Richardson, who are regarded as amongst the cleverest players in the district.—Mr. Harry Waterhouse, a Sunderland amateur, a few days ago created a record for the local National Reserve Club by making a 142 break.—Two silver cups have changed hands in Sunderland recently. The" Tom Wing "Cup.
competed for by the members of the Silksworth Institute, has been won by J. Mason, and the" Aglionby " Cup by M. Hutchinson. Sunderland is claiming to be a very progressive town in regard to billiards.