Dave Meredith of Canterbury won the title for a record 10th time by beating Pat Edwards (Manawatia.) Breaks of 110 and 220 took Meredith to an interval lead of over 400.
Edwards made a 105 early in the second session but Meredith replied with a 130 to win the title by nearly 500.
| D. Meredith
| 1,147 | B. Harcourt
| 723 | ||
| P. De Groot
| 1,124 | R. Robinson
| 844 | ||
| B. Kirkness
| 1,252 | K. Giles
| 676 | ||
| P. Edwards
| 1,324 | Unknown Player
| 1,133 |
| Dave Meredith
| 1,147 | Bill Harcourt
| 723 | ||
| Pat Edwards
| 999 | Brien Kirkness
| 923 |
| Meredith
| 1,445 | Edwards
| 907 |
There were 41 century breaks made during the tournament including 4 doubles. The highest breaks were 241 by Meredith and 206 by Kirkness.
The standard of play would seem to be higher than that which will be seen in the English Amateur. We are unlikely to get that number of centuries or that number of four-hour totals. It has to be remembered of course that those English players who could have produced such figures (apart from Goodwill and Shelley and possibly Causier) have turned professional.
The Australian Billiards Championship was held in October. Results were sent to the BQR within a day or two of the event and they took some three months to get here hence the late reporting of the event. News from Australia usually arrives in about a week. The envelope had been around the world a time or two and the Post Office apologised for the delay. Good job it wasn't a matter of life and death.
David Collins became only the third player to take the Australian Billiards and Snooker titles in the same year. The others are Bob Marshall and Max Williams. It was Collins second billiards title which he won by beating his cousin and 6 times champion George Gamin. There were 40 entrants playing in 8 round robin groups to arrive at quarter finalists.
| D. Collins
| 1,427 | P. Hawkes
| 1,087 | ||
| J. Millen
| 1,162 | B. Skelly
| 894 | ||
| P. Tarrant
| 1,365 | M. Watts
| 717 | ||
| G. Ganim
| 1,220 | P. Formosa
| 905 |
| D. Collins
| 1,603 | J. Millen
| 989 | ||
| G. Ganim
| 1,143 | P. Tarrant
| 852 |
| David Collins
| 2,578 | George Ganim
| 1,315 |
The best session average was by Frank Humphreys with 29.5. There were 39 century breaks. David Collins had nine of these with highests of 241 and 235. It seems to have been a tournament of very good quality billiards and BQR congratulates David Collins on his victory.
The Sydney Open saw a win for Steve Hall over Roly Holder 253 - 207. Steve did very well to beat Joe Minici in the semi-finals. Minici had the tournament best break -147.
The New South Wales Under 21 billiards attracted only 12 entrants. The play did not reach the standards that might have been expected the best break of the day being only 59 from the eventual winner Steve Lawler. This was Lawler's eleventh State Title - a record for N.S.W. He very soon made it 12 by winning the N.S.W under 18 billiards title defeating Adam Fitzgerald 439 - 388. Lawler had the day's best - 73.
The N.S.W under 15 championship had even less entrants, just eight players for a State championship was disappointing indeed. The event was won by Brendon Smith who defeated Robert Budd 397 - 324. This was Budd's first tournament.
In contrast 40 players entered the N.S.W. Minor billiards where the standard of play was naturally considerably higher. The event was won by Tod Hayward before a large crowd of spectators. Hayward defeated Vic Gravino 986 - 860 and had the day's highest break of 137.
The Sydney Inter Club billiards first division title went to The Smithfield R.S.L, whilst the second division title was won by the Marconi Club. There were eight individual centuries in first division matches the highest being 218 by Joe Minici. The second division's highest was a 69 by Colin Scott of the Marconi Club. The Individual Championship (Handicap) was won by Ted Cheam (10 start).
BQR thanks Ray Balderstone of, "Small Chalk."