The B.&S.C.C. English Billiards Championship

"The Amateur" 1991

Essex Area

Harlow, The Stowe

The players in this area seemed to be pretty evenly matched and the results showed that this was so. The biggest winning margin was that of Dennis McGuigan over Arthur Winn in the first game and that was only 72. The Semi-final winning margins were 24 and 20 and in the Final, with just 4 minutes to go, both players were on 463. Roy Bacon scraped up a 20 break to win by 35.

Cleveland Area

Potters, Middlesbrough

A strong area with not as many entries as might have been expected. Tony Mackinder had a century as did David Nobbs in a good win over veteran Alf Nolan.

David Causier started favourite against David Nobbs but there was not much in it, Nobbs losing by just 61 after making another century. Tony Mackinder had two centuries in a decisive win over Paul Roberts.

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Yorkshire Area

21 Entries played off in three groups of 7.

Group 1. Cuedos Top Spot. Bradford

Steve Crosland was favourite to win the group and that was eventually the way of it. Ray Sims had a nice century break against the veteran ex-champion Herbert Beetham.

Group. 2 Thorne Snooker Centre

A fairly evenly matched group with Bill Watson and Jim McCann just the favourites. No score details available. Dennis Watson of Leeds had a break of 143 in his match with Mick Andrew of Scunthorpe.

S. Kershaw beat D. Townend. J. McCann Bye. W. Watson beat V. Gormally. D. Watson beat M. Andrew.

J. McCann beat S. Kershaw. W. Watson beat D. Watson.

Group 3. Star Snooker. Leeds

Quite a strong group with Branson Hoole, Alan Firth, Terry Ward, and Richard Lodge contenders, whilst John Bayes and Ken Hobbs are pushovers for no-one. No score details available.

K. Hobbs beat J. Bayes. A. Firth beat J. Hodge. B. Hoole Bye. R. Lodge beat T. Ward.

A. Firth beat K. Hobbs. B. Hoole beat R. Lodge.

Steve Crosland had a comfortable win over Tom Terry and Jim McCann a slightly less comfortable one over Bill Watson. There was a battle royal between Alan Firth and Branson Hoole resulting in a win for Branson by just 28 points.

North West Area

Widnes Snooker Centre

A pleasing entry of fourteen players from the North West. The main contenders (on paper) were Tony Done, Geoff Seddon, Dave Barton, and Paul Dunning.

There were some good two-hour scores and a century break from Seddon. Mini-Prix travelling companions Paul Dunning and Tony Done were drawn together - unfortunate for them.

Trevor Gent had a disappointing game losing quite heavily to Dickson whilst there were only 34 points between Seddon and Barton.

There were predictable winners in Done and Barton.

Midland Counties Area

Atack Snooker Centre. Nuneaton

Only six entries from an area where billiards is enjoying something of a revival was rather disappointing. The shock result was the defeat of 1986 Champion Ken Shirley. Ellis Lloyd is a good amateur player but for a player of Shirley's class to score a mere 376 points and without even a 50 break in two hours play is astonishing. On paper there could have been only one winner from this group. Billiards - like life itself - can be full of surprises.

Malcolm Lax had some good breaks in beating Ellis Lloyd. Richie Evans had a tough match but did not produce of his best.

Malcolm Lax did well to beat John Smith.

South West Area

Top Spot Snooker. Trowbridge

This is a pretty tough area. Vince Hardwell and Alan Lovegrove are no pushovers whilst Dick Watts, Brian Harvey, and Bill Andress are three of the best Amateurs in the country.

There seems not to have been any great surprises. M. Hutchins lost to S. Warren by only 11 points but I do not know the form of either of these two players. The form of M. White is also unknown to me but he subsequently showed himself to be no mean player. J. Howell also did well to beat Alan Lovegrove - by just 32.

M. White made some good breaks in an excellent win over Brian Harvey. Dick Watts, unfortunately, had to scratch.

White had another good win. Bill Andress got through relatively comfortably.

Home Counties

Breaks Snooker Club. Feltham

Ten entries, two scratched, one of whom - John O'Neill - would have been in the running to qualify. The ability of most of the players is unknown to me. John Scott was a Semi-finalist last year but has not shown quite such good form this season. On recent Mini-Prix form, Terry Colby would have been the favourite and he did in fact win the group.

Two men went through without striking a ball as both opponents scratched.

John Scott had a disappointing game. Jerry Conba went through as expected. Jock McGregor was so near and yet so far losing by just 8 points to Dennis.Downing. Well done Dennis, but what a pity Jock was so narrowly deprived of the thrill of winning a championship match - hard luck Jock.

No surprises as Colby and Conba went through.

Terry Colby just a little too good on the day.

Intermediate Stage

Northern Area

Excelsior Club. Leeds

Last year's runner-up, Peter Shelley, came in at this stage and had a comfortable win over Jim McCann who, to judge by his average, was well below form. The other two games, resulting in wins for Crosland and Mackinder, were fairly low scoring affairs and, with a place in the last eight so near, the players may have been over-anxious. David Causier had a walk-over as Dave Barton withdrew. Barton, intending to turn Professional, played in the Strachan U.K. (Losing to John Sinclair) and thus forfeited his place in the Amateur Championship. Mr. Barton is entitled to do as he chooses but it is a pity that he did not either delay his professional debut - or not enter the Amateur - as his action in qualifying and then withdrawing has deprived some other North West player of a place in the final. But to be fair it seems that Barton may have been misinformed regarding the situation.

1. Tony Mackinder had two centuries and Tony Done one but the match averages were low for this stage

2. Steve Crosland had a century and Branson Hoole just missed one. Again the averages were low.

3. Peter Shelley scored well enough but his average was low and Jim McCann was clearly right off his game.

4.

Southern Area

Woking Snooker Club

All enthusiasts will be pleased to see that Martin Goodwill is able to defend his title, he must have been a busy man these last few months but the scores show that he has not forgotten how to play. Roy Bacon, I feel, gets insufficient practice to compete at this level and does not do justice to his considerable ability. Chris Ross won as expected, and full marks to Malcolm Lax. Terry Colby is a good player, Malcolm did well to win, and now, in addition to organising and running the Final stages of the Championship, will also be playing in it. If he refereed a game or two as well he would complete the set! well done Malcolm.

On the evidence of the scores and breaks the overall standard was higher than in the Northern Section.

Final Stage

Cubbington Club. Leamington

Match 1: Bill Andress v Steve Crosland

Bill Andress could have been forgiven for fancying himself to reach the Final. He is a prolific scorer when on his game.

The match started slowly with both players seemingly nervous of the conditions - superb - but such as club players are not accustomed to. Crosland was the first to adjust and with Andress having a nightmare of a game the Yorkshireman finished the winner by some 400 points.

Match 2: Tony Mackinder v Peter Shelley

Peter Shelley has been runner-up for the last two years but he couldn't make it a hat-trick of second places. This was a very low scoring game, neither player showed any form. The figures tell the whole story.

Match 3: Martin Goodwill v Malcolm Lax

Malcolm was very much the underdog in this match but confessed to being delighted at having actually got to the last eight. He was up against a Goodwill determined to play himself into form and in no mood for compromise. The stresses and strains of organising and promoting the tournament were of no help either, and under different circumstances the Rugby player would have scored better.

Match 4: David Causier v Chris Ross

Youth versus experience with youth coming out on top. Both players scored quite well though the averages were low.

This magazine has tipped the young Middlesbrough player to get somewhere near the top in billiards provided he stays in the game and develops his play. David has not always created a good impression but here his behaviour both on and off the table was beyond any reproach.

Match 1: S. Crosland v A. Mackinder

The players started very cautiously and understandably so. They must both have thought that here was an excellent chance to reach the Final of the Amateur and that such a chance may not occur again. Mackinder took an early lead but after an hour's play Crosland led by about hundred and was never again behind. Both men played much better in the afternoon and evening session and both made two centuries. Crosland, with some steady all-round play, gradually increased his lead winning the match by some 500 points.

Match 2: M. Goodwill v D. Causier

Causier seemed not in the slightest overawed, neither by his opponent, nor by the occasion, and took the lead - and held it - for a good part of the first two sessions. The defending champion came on strongly in the last session to win by some 350 points, not a lot in a six-hour match, and thus reach his second consecutive final.

Martin Goodwill v Steve Crosland

The 28-year-old R.A.F. Pilot Martin Goodwill of Chippenham started his defence of the title as an odds-on favourite against 44-year-old Schoolmaster Steve Crosland of Wharfedale playing in his first final. Crosland's best hope would have seemed to lie in a decent run of the balls giving him a chance to get his red-ball/all-round game going well. If he could have done this in the early stages of the match then the outcome could have been close. In the event Steve had a very poor run with little going right for him. The gradual loss of confidence resulted in his display being well below what he is capable of. If Crosland gets to this stage again he will be a harder man to beat - he now knows (as they say) what it is all about. Considering the fact that Goodwill has been on active service in The Gulf and only started his preparations for the Championship some two or three weeks ago, he put up a remarkable performance. His all-round play was very sound, the red-ball was easy for him, and he was able to make extended runs at the top-of-the-table. If Martin plays in the next World Amateur, and if he is able to get some practice, then it would be no great surprise to see him win it.

Within an hour Goodwill had made two centuries and taken a 300 point lead. The second of these breaks was a shade fortunate in that after an in-off looked like leaving the balls safe, the red ball dropped into a baulk pocket and, when spotted, the balls were in prime position for a drop-cannon. Crosland was quite unable to get going, he was not striking the ball at all well and, as invariably happens when a man is not playing well, everything that could go wrong went wrong. A late 64 helped his score along but it is not an exaggeration to say that the Championship was won - and lost - in this session.

What little chance Crosland had lay in him reversing the scores of the first session. He played up well and reduced the arrears with a 49, an 83, and a fine fighting 142. But Goodwill could not be held for long. The Champion scored at the top-of-the-table - breaks of 153 and 251 made in great style displaying a touch, potting ability, and knowledge of the game of a very high standard.

There was a deal of safety play in the early stages with Goodwill almost inevitably getting the best of it. Crosland faced a series of poor leaves and some ruthless safety from his opponent. Goodwill scored freely from the red-ball but going to the spot end made three more fine centuries and again averaged over thirty.

With the match won Goodwill did his best to make breaks for the enjoyment of the near capacity crowd but could not get into full flow and had his poorest session. Crosland, at last getting some better opportunities, matched the champion point for point and played some entertaining billiards on his own account including one break which contained some great recovery shots and a couple of brilliant pots.

Final Score

Prizes were presented by ex-champions Herbert Beetham, Jack Karnehm, and Alf Nolan. Nolan made an amusing speech in which he said that it must have been un-nerving for the players to have performed under the watchful eyes of three such experts and, "y Goodness, hadn't they made some errors!"

The Organisation by Malcolm Lax and his Team could not be faulted. The Venue is quite first-rate and as good as any that I know anywhere - for Billiards. This was the second year there and all enthusiasts will be hoping that Cubbington will become the permanent home of the Amateur Billiards Championship.

The Championship was sponsored by:- The W.P.B.S.A. Leamington Billiards and Snooker League. The B.Q.R. Atack Snooker. Mr. J. H. Beetham (Derby). Mr. J. Barker (Alrewas). Business Post (Coventry) City Screenprint (Coventry) Mr. Cole (Northants). Mr. R. Evans (Coventry). Mr. M. Geary (Lillington). Mr. C. Hudson (Stretton). Mr. A. Hughes (Rugby). Insieme Ltd. (Market H'Boro) Mr. Johnson (Northants) Mr. R. Lewis (Stourbridge). Midland Snooker Centre. Mr. G. Nicholls (Lillington). No-Delay Cleaners (Leamington) Mr. J. Sabin (Leamington). Mr. J. Scott (Luton). Mr. P. Shelley (Stoke). Spectra Plastics (Long Itchington) Mr. B. Thomas (Stafford Snooker Centre) Mr. A. Deeming (Fishing Tackle)

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