The City of Sydney U/21 Billiards Championship was held at the Metropolitan Rooms on the 14th July. There were 17 entrants.
The title was won by T. Hayward who defeated B. Smith 469 - 328 in the final. The standard was not particularly high, at least judging by the breaks, the best of which were 71,70, and 69 all by Hayward.
This was won by 17-year-old Steve Mifsud who beat 15-year-old Stuart Lawler in the final. The standard seemed considerably higher in this tournament as there were two century breaks, two ninety breaks, and many fifty breaks. The 11-year-old Brendon Smith had a 40 break.
Rhys Cochrane, 14, reached the semi-final. Cochrane seems to be an outstanding young player. He made a 128 in the under 18 billiards, and won the under 15 snooker championship for the second year running making a tournament record break of a total clearance of 120. More about this young player in the next issue of BQR.
Thanks to Ray Balderstone of "Smallchalk."
Republic of Ireland "The Billiards sub-committee of the new Rep.of Ireland control council met recently to set in motion a billiards circuit similar to that of snooker.
Up to this season billiards players had only a few tournaments to play in. The committee, chaired by Pat O'Sullivan, and together with former champions Jack Rogers and Tommy Martin, met in August to discuss the possibilities.
The idea behind this innovation is to encourage more people to become involved in the three-ball-game, which was the big game in Ireland for many years. Now the Republic's B.& S.A want to get it on a widespread basis and to extend the number of events.
Usually the Irish international team was picked on performances in the Irish Championship, so, if for instance, the best player bad a bad day his chances of making the team were not good. From this season the team will be picked on performances throughout the season which gives every player an incentive and a chance of making the National team. The first of these ranking point events will take place in the Quarry Snooker Club, Co. Kildare, on September, 15th. 400 up or 90 minutes. Pat O'Sullivan"
Thanks Pat. A good idea, rather like the English team being picked on the basis of performance in the Mini-Prix.
The first event was won by Toss Reilly who beat Tommy Martin in the final
Subhash Agrawal did not win the last World Amateur but has nevertheless a good claim to being the World's best amateur player as most enthusiasts will know. What most enthusiasts will not know is that Subhash is the second youngest of nine brothers who are all billiards and snooker players. His younger brother Om recently made a break of 149 in the Bombay billiards league. It wasn't the week's highest, that was a 169 by Devendra Joshi. World Amateur runner-up, Ashok Shandilya had a 102 and a 79. There is a strong league in Bombay with 6 sections.