The Billiard Professionals' Association Annual Handicap and Championship

The annual handicap and championship promoted by the Billiard Professionals' Association, for the benefit of its members, took place during last month at Messrs. Burroughes & Watts's Hall, Soho Square, W. The entry for the handicap was a slightly disappointing one in point of number, only twenty competitors taking part in this event, for which the Committee of the Association allocated the sum of £26 in prize-money. This was divided in the following manner:— Winner, £12; runner-up, £6; two players beaten in the semi-finals, £3 each; four players beaten in the third round, 10S. each. Two money prizes were provided for the championship, the winner taking £10, and the runner-up £2, in addition to which the champion has the privilege of holding, for the year, the silver challenge cup, valued at £25. Four entries were received for the championship, which resulted in an easy victory for T. A. Dennis, of Nottingham, for the second time. His previous success in this championship was gained in 1914, after which, owing to the war, neither championship nor handicap was promoted by the Association until last year, when the former was won by B. Elphick (whose ill-health prevented him from defending his title upon this occasion) and the handicap by W. J. Ayres, the well-known chairman of the Association.

Some excellent play was witnessed in the handicap, A. C. Newland (Naval and Military Club) gaining a well-earned and popular victory over Frank Collins in the final heat, by the narrow margin of 17 points. It is regrettable, and somewhat surprising, that a greater measure of public patronage was not accorded to these interesting events, especially in view of the number of leading West End clubs represented by the competitors in the handicap. As it is, their promotion has again involved the Association in a certain amount of financial loss, but this would have been still heavier, but for the kindness of Messrs. Burroughes & Watts, Ltd., in allowing the Association the use of their hall for these competitions free of charge, and for some generous donations towards the prize fund, gratefully received by the Committee from the Billiards Association and Control Council, and a few other supporters. Brief details of the play in the handicap and championship are appended:—

THE HANDICAP

Byes: B. Nicholas (rec. 150), H. Hewish (rec. 150), A. C. Newland (rec. 90), 6. Wood (rec. 50), S. J. Collins (rec. 30), J. C. Pepperell (rec. 25).

W. J. Ayres (Hammersmith) (rec. 25) beat T. Humphries (rec. 120) by 87 points. The winner made breaks of 49 and 45 to the loser's highest of 26 and 25.

A. E. Fishlock (New University Club) (rec. 150) beat H. Champkin (Luton Liberal Club) (rec. 90) by 14 points. Champkin was responsible for a fine break of 96, his other efforts being 32 and 29, to the winner's highest of 31 and 29.

H. W. Morris (Argentine Club) (scratch) beat J. Philips (Eccentric Club) (rec. 60) by 163 points. The winner showed great consistency with breaks of 46, 45, 40, and 27, the loser's highest being 25.

H. W. Graham (Playgoers' Club) (rec. 150) beat D. A. Henderson (Ealing) (rec. 100) by 68 points. Graham made breaks of 31 and 26 to the loser's highest of 32 and 27.

Byes: G. Rivett (rec. 90), A. J. Eyres (scratch), N. Butler (owes 100), J. McKenzie (rec. 90), W. Diprose (rec. no), Frank Collins (scratch).

B. Nicholas (Junior Army and Navy Club) (rec. 150) beat H. Hewish (United University Club) (rec. 150) by 64 points. Winner's breaks, 37, 32; loser's, 23 and 22.

A. C. Newland (Naval and Military Club) (rec. 90) beat G. Wood (Chalk Farm) (rec. 50) by 67 points. The loser opened brilliantly with a break of 63, and made another good effort of 40, but Newland made capital contributions of 56, 40, and 32, passing his opponent at 318, and winning as stated.

J. C. Pepperell (Rising Sun, Tottenham Court Road) (rec. 25) beat S. J. Collins (Thatched House Club) (rec. 30) by 33 points. Although no big breaks were made, this heat was very closely contested, the winner's best efforts being 31, 29, and 28, to the loser's highest of 27 and 25.

W. J. Ayres (rec. 25) beat A. E. Fishlock (rec. 150) by 5 points. Winner's breaks, 43, 37, and 33, to the loser's highest of 41.

H. W. Graham (rec. 150) beat H. Norris (scratch) by 75 points. Breaks: Winner, 31 and 32 (unfinished); loser, 61 and 53.

A. J. Eyres (Royal Societies' Club) (scratch) beat G. Rivett (rec. 90) by 59 points. Breaks: Winner, 66, 42, and 34; loser, 30, 27 (twice), and 23.

J. McKenzie (Queen's Arms Hotel, Kilburn) (rec. 90) beat N. Butler (British Empire Club) (owed 100) by 45 points. Winner's breaks, 30, 29, and 26; loser's, 51, 42, 39, 30, and 27 (twice).

F. Collins (Palmerston Restaurant) (scratch) beat W. Diprose (First Avenue Hotel) (rec. 110) by 59 points. Winner's breaks, 46, 39, 29, 27, and 23; loser's, 22 (twice) and 21.

A. C. Newland (rec. 90) beat B. Nicholas (rec. 150) by 50 points. Winner's breaks, 52 and 39; loser's, 31, 24, and 22.

J. C. Pepperell (rec. 25) beat W. J. Ayres (rec. 25) by 54 points. Winner's breaks, 67 and 54; the loser compiling a fine effort of 60.

H. W. Graham (rec. 150) beat A. J. Eyres (scratch) by 97 points. Winner's breaks, 27 and 26; loser's 39 and 23.

Frank Collins (scratch) beat J. McKenzie (rec. 90) by 232 points. Collins was seen to great advantage in a capital break of 116, his other contributions amounting to 66, 48, 32, and 25, to McKenzie's highest of 29 and 25.

A. C. Newland (rec. 90) beat J. C. Pepperell (rec. 25) by 141 points. The winner made breaks of 66, 51 (twice), 43, and 29, to the loser's highest of 56, 51, 29, and 23.

Frank Collins (scratch) beat H. W. Graham (rec. 150) by 36 points. The winner's best breaks were 53, 40, 41, 36, 32, and 27 (unfinished), the loser's highest being 37, 28, and 23.

A. C. Newland (rec. 180) beat Frank Collins (scratch) by 17 points. Collins caught his opponent at 388, and playing with great consistency, caused the scores to be called 783 to 743 in his favour. From this point, however, Newland gradually regained the lead, and ran to game with a capital unfinished break of 57. The winner's remaining best breaks were 42, 40, and 28, while Collins was responsible for contributions of 52, 54, 46, 38, 36, 35, 34, 32, and 31.

Final scores:—

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Frank Collins beat S. J. Collins by 218 points. This was a very keenly-contested heat, Frank Collins reaching his points at the interval with an unfinished break of 42, leading by 32 points. His other chief efforts at the first session were 47, 29 (twice), and 27. S. J. Collins being responsible for contributions of 56. 55, 47, 37, and 33.

On resuming in the evening, F. Collins failed to add to his unfinished effort, but subsequently compiled creditable breaks of 64, 57, and 30, running to game with an unfinished item of 11. The loser's best breaks at the second session were 59 and 53.

Final scores:—

T. A. Dennis beat J. C. Pepperell by 209 points. At one point of the afternoon session, Dennis had established a lead of 200 points, but Pepperell, playing a capital uphill game, was only 8 points behind at the interval. The chief breaks during the first session were 132, 41, 39, 38, 35, and 25 by Dennis, to Pepperell's highest of 62, 57, 43, 29, and 25. Dennis had much the better of matters in the evening, and gained an easy victory, as stated, his best breaks being 74, 41, 32, 27, and 23 (unfinished) to the loser's highest of 38 and 32.

Final scores:—

T. A. Dennis beat F. Collins by 599 points. At the close of the opening session Dennis was leading by exactly 100 points, his best breaks being 85, 79, and 72, to Collins's highest of 52, 36, 33, and 31. During the second session Dennis greatly improved his position, reaching his points with a commanding lead of 289.

After increasing an unfinished item of 16 to the full total of 65, he contributed breaks of 90, 53 (twice), 51, 40 and 33, while Collins could do nothing better than runs of 49. 33, and 32.

Closing scores:

T. A. Dennis (in play), 1,001. F. Collins, 712. Dennis had matters entirely his own way at the penultimate session. Collins only contribute! one break worthy of mention, a nice 45, whilst the leader, with runs of 68, 64, 62, 42, 33, 31, and 62 (unfinished) ran to his points with a lead of 650.

Collins, although suffering from a severe cold, made a very p1ucky effort to improve his hopeless position during the final session, during which he was responsible for creditable efforts of 63, 57, 44, 36, and 33. Dennis, after increasing his unfinished 62 to the full total of 120, put together breaks of 58, 50, 43, and 41, gaining an easy victory, as above stated.

Final scores:—

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