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The Billiards Quarterly Review : January 1992

Correspondence

Murt O'Donoghue

The fourth Issue of the B.Q.R found its way to New Zealand via Australia and was seen by Murt O'Donoghue. Murt's career was featured in the B.Q.R. of October 1990. A copy of the fifth issue was sent and we received the following, it was like getting a letter from another planet:-

"Many thanks for your review, I enjoyed the article on Joe Davis, the drop cannons, and Gazdag's book. I am 91 and very feeble as you can see by my scribble. I get a bulletin every month from Les Wheeler in Sydney giving me the billiards news around the world. He is a wonderful man. I am living in memories, moments I spent with Fred Lindrum, George Gray, Frank Smith, Tom Reece, M. Inman, my great friend Claude Falkiner, Tom Newman, Joe Davis, McConachy and Smith and of Course my God Walter Lindrum. I did Walter a good turn which he never forgot and he explained to me everything about billiards in minute detail. Everything. I have it stored in my head. I am enclosing a tribute to me written by Norm Ash, Australian leading referee, it covers most of my life and achievements. Tom, John Barrie and Alec Brown (from Piccadilly Hotel billiard room) who I met in 1938, are they still alive? I am suffering from B.O.A. - Bloody Old Age. Wishing you everything you wish yourself. Murt O'Donoghue."

Well! follow that. What can one say about getting a letter from a man who played with Fred Lindrum and George Gray, and who knew Inman and Reece? As regards anything of an instructional nature written by me in the B.Q.R, I have made it clear that such articles are written from vast reservoirs of observation rather than from any great playing ability. If a man like O'Donoghue can say that he enjoyed reading an article of mine then it was worth writing.
Handicapping the Mini-Prix
John Smith

"Dear Tom, I would like to say how much I enjoy your magazine and especially the profiles of people I have known over the years. Unfortunately, for personal reasons I have been unable to go to many tournaments recently so perhaps my opinion is less valuable than the opinions of more regular entrants. I do not think it would be a good idea to introduce handicapping, particularly as there are now the new ABC events. The Pro-Am continues to attract a high number of professional players and the clubs want these players. I always went to the Mini-Prix hoping to play against a top pro. You may recall that we used to stage a tournament in Cheltenham but the very success of the Mini-Prix has prevented a return as we just do not have the facilities to cope with 40 - 50 players However I do wonder if entries will fall if the frequency of events increase. Players may become more selective and this will increase the pressure of events with a guaranteed prize fund (Mini-prix). Well, perhaps this is not very constructive but I hope you find my comments of some interest. I am hoping to come out of retirement for Widnes. Regards. John Smith."

Thank you John. Your views are both interesting and constructive. As regards the frequency of events, Derek Townend and myself are well aware of the possibility of overkill and we are quite often in contact over the matter of coordinating dates and venues. This is sometimes difficult as professional tournaments dates are quite often changed for reasons which are not usually under the control of the organisers. e.g. such tragedies as the assassination of leading Indian politicians or attempted coups in Moscow - ask Jim McCann about that! I remember Cheltenham well as in both Mini-Prix held there I reached the Semis - the best I have ever done. (John did return for Widnes and was unlucky enough to play me in my best flukey form and lose by 6)