It is a little early, yet, to attempt to forecast the events of the coming season with any pretension to accuracy. At the beginning of last season, when we had a record entry of eight competitors for the championship of English billiards, everyone was justified in anticipating a championship contest of unprecedented interest, but, owing to the ill-advised withdrawal of Inman and Smith at the eleventh hour, the competition was robbed of much of its importance. The entente cordiale that has since been happily established between the Council and the professionals will, I trust, prevent the recurrence of such incidents, and it is to be hoped that the championship of 1922 may provide the most interesting series of games that has yet been witnessed.
In accordance with the wishes of the leading players, a Junior Championship will be instituted, the winner of which will be eligible to take part in the championship contest, and, instead of being "open to all, subject to the right of the Council to refuse any entry," future competitions for the professional championship of English billiards will be confined to previous winners and runners-up, the holder of the Junior Championship, and the properly accredited champion of any self-governing Colony or Dominion. This innovation is bound to improve the standard of play in this season's championship, and will preclude the appearance of any player without first-class credentials in the great event of the year. On the other hand, the progress of the Junior Championship will be watched with the keenest interest by all who fancy their ability to recognize rising talent before it has quite arrived, and will afford all championship aspirants a very fair test of their respective qualifications. The conditions governing these two competitions are now engaging the attention of the Council, and will be published at an early date.
It is stated that Clarke McConachy, the New Zealand champion, who has recently inflicted such severe punishment upon Falkiner in South Africa, proposes to send in his entry for the championship, and, should this prove to be correct, the international character that will thus be imparted to the competition will proportionately increase its attraction. Judging from the reports of his performances at home and during his South African tour, McConachy may cause our leading professionals some little anxiety, but I think one of them may safely be trusted to keep the cup in England, as Mr. S. H. Fry did last season in the Amateur Championship, even when faced with such a formidable opponent as Mr. J. R. Hooper proved to be.
Writing of Mr. Hooper reminds me of a most gratifying letter from Mr. E. A. Boyle, hon. secretary of the Amateur Billiard Association of New South Wales, which has recently come to hand, conveying to the Council, and to all who welcomed Mr. Hooper on his arrival here, the heartiest thanks of his Committee. This letter, expressed in the eloquent style so characteristic of our Colonial correspondents, gave us the pleasure of knowing that our efforts to make Mr. Hooper's visit to the homeland a pleasant one, had achieved an unexpected measure of success.
Even at this early date several inquiries have reached me from intending competitors in the Amateur Championship and the Amateur Snooker Championship, so that we may reasonably expect to see a fair amount of new talent pitted against the veterans in these classic events. The semi-finals and final of the Amateur Championship will be played at the Burroughes Hall, St. James's Street, S.W., during the week beginning Monday, February 20, 1922, and the preliminary heats will take place at the Burroughes Hall, Soho Square, W., as last season.
News has just reached me that the second annual competition for the Amateur Championship of Dover and district will be decided during this month (September). This event is promoted by the Dover Amateur Billiards Association, which was affiliated to us last year, and which owes much of its success to the indefatigable efforts of its hon. secretary, Mr. J. F. Edwards. It has been fortunate in securing Major the Hon. J. J. Astor for its first president, and Mr. Edwards informs me that Major Astor has kindly presented a silver cup, to be won outright, for the forthcoming championship.
Judging from what is already known of forthcoming arrangements, we have every reason for confidence that the season which is just upon us will in no respect fall short of that of 1920-21 in general interest, whilst, so far as the professional championship events are concerned, it is fairly certain to attain a far more successful and satisfactory issue.