Editorial
There was a programme on the radio this morning (January 1st) in which someone was talking about the various predictions which had been made about this time last year. It was amusing to look back over the year and see that none of them had materialised. The world is still turning around and we haven't had a general election. Nobody seems to have forecast the total disintegration of the Soviet Union. Forecasting can not only make people look silly but can be expensive as a good friend of mine will tell you (He is manager of a betting shop.) I will make only two forecasts, the first being that this time next year Mike Russell will still be the Professional Champion and Martin Goodwill will still be the Amateur Champion. Now there's forecasting for you! However, I can hope for whatever I like, so I hope that all BQR readers will improve their personal record breaks by at least 100 per cent.
Happy New Year!
Russell's record
Mike Russell reports that he has increased his own personal record to 1203. Any forecasts for twelve months hence?
Gilchrist Maximum
Whilst this magazine is intended to be billiards only, it's nice to hear of a good snooker performance by a billiard player. Peter Gilchrist reports his first maximum. The young players have got to go where the money is and that means snooker. Mike Russell and John Murphy will be joining Peter on the snooker circuit next year. Good luck to them, success by these players at the 22 ball game would do no harm at all to billiards.
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Whilst on the subject of snooker, Albert Hanson reports that O'Sullivan has entered the Under 18 billiards. It will be interesting to see how far this young snooker star gets. Best of luck to him.
B&S.C.C
At a recent meeting of the B & S.C.C., Chairman Stan Brooke resigned. Stan has been Chairman for some years and felt it was time for someone else to take over (Albert Hanson reports.) Bob Tongue was elected Chairman with Bob Mason as Vice-Chairman. It seems that the WPBSA may lake over the B & S.C.C, form a new company, and be responsible for, amongst other things, the amateur game. BQR will do its best to keep up with any developments.
Dave Burgess
Readers may recall that I said in the last issue that this fine player seemed to have dropped out of billiards. Not so. Mr. E. Shorney of Southampton writes to say that Dave plays regularly in the Southampton league and has made the highest break to date this season -127 unfinished.
Mr. J. Durant
Mr. Shorney also reports the death of Mr. A. E. J. (Jim) Durant. Mr. Durant was well known in the Southampton area as a billiards player and much respected as a man. About three years ago he reached the last eight of the Amateur.
Dates
Readers are advised to check all dates of competitions, exhibitions, etc. All dates given in this magazine are published are announced as being correct at the time of publication. Always check - especially for professional tournaments.
Gazdag's Cannon
Something went wrong between this office and the printers resulting in the drawing of Geza's fancy cannon being missed out of the last issue. Here it is. A cross between a pique and a masse Vertical cue, try it sometime.