The Amateur Championship

The Billiards Quarterly Review congratulates David Causier

David Causier, yet another product of the Teesside Boys Billiards League, was the outstanding player of the tournament and is the youngest winner of modern times. He is not quite the youngest ever that honour belonging to Laurie Steeples who was just eighteen when he won the title in 1927. Causier, 19 in June, will thus go into the record book as the second ever youngest winner to date. Russell remains the youngest finalist being not quite 17 when he lost to Ken Shirley in 1986. That there was a championship at all is thanks to the hard work put in by a group of enthusiasts who were determined that the championship would be completed after the demise of the B&SCC had made it look likely that the event would remain unfinished. Area play-offs had been organised, as usual, by Area Secretaries. At the last 16 stage things looked bad, it was actually the last 17 as one of the final acts of the B&SCC had been to arrive at a total of 17 qualifiers for sixteen places, it seems that the fact that Steve Crosland was exempted had been forgotten! It was then that the determination of those enthusiasts took over to see the tournament to its completion. Eric Hodgkinson played off the Northern Section a! the Cuedos (Thanks Roger Haycock,) Bob Mason saw to the Southern last eight at Woking. Malcolm Lax ensured that the Cubbington Club was available and ready, and Derek Townend took a week of his holidays to act as Tournament Director. With men like this around all enthusiasts may rest assured that the amateur game will not die and may well flourish as it has not flourished for many years.

Midlands Area

Dudley Snooker Centre

Peter Shelley was favourite to represent this Area though Ken Shirley was a strong challenger - a reversal of the position of a few years ago. In the event Shirley came through comfortably as Shelley fell to practice partner Tony Keeling. Shelley's comments on this match were fully reported in the BQR issue of April '92. Peter gave full credit to his opponent and wished him the best of luck. Ken beat Nigel Rewhorn in the semi. Rewhorn is a good player who, in a season or two, may well make his mark.

Cambridgeshire Area

147 Snooker Centre. Huntingdon

On recent form and past experience Albert Salisbury would have seemed favourite though he could have expected strong opposition from Arthur Reeve, Phil Welham, and Graham Willis. In the event it was Dennis McGuigan who came through to take the qualifying spot, though by only 21 in the semi, and by only 50 in the final. Reeve, McGuigan, Wilson, and Salisbury all made century breaks. Phil Welham had a walk-over v Gerry Hoffman who was busily engaged in moving home and unable to attend.

Yorkshire Area

Cuedos Club, Bradford

The biggest area with sixteen entrants to produce three qualifiers. Steve Crosland is also in the Yorkshire Area but, as last year's runner-up, was exempted from qualifying (A fact overlooked by the governing body.)

Not a lot to choose - on paper - between Dennis Watson, Steven Whiteley, Ted Warren, and Alan Firth. It was Watson who came through winning all his games by a good margin.

Richard Lodge started favourite for the group though Branson Hoole and Stuart Hill were expected to mount a strong challenge. Lodge made a century in his first game and was the eventual qualifier though beating Hill by a mere 10 points in the group final.

Mark Hirst was favourite to take the group and he did making three centuries in the process.

London Area

Woking Snooker Centre

Thirteen entrants for two places the most likely candidates being John Scott, Arthur Winn, John O'Neil, and Chris Ross.

Wessex Area

Top Spot Snooker Club. Trowbridge

Ten Entrants to produce two qualifiers. This must be one of the most difficult areas from which to qualify. Brian Harvey, Terry Colby, Dick Watts, and Bill Andress are amongst the country's leading amateurs. The other players in this group are all pretty useful performers and, as it has turned out, Martin Goodwill may also be obliged to qualify from this group next year.

Terry Colby eventually came through but by only 12 against Dick Watts and by only 26 against Brian Harvey after making a century break. Bill Andress got past Michael White by just 55 and by only 13 in his final with Tom Entwhistle who had two ninety breaks.

North West Area

Widnes Snooker Centre

Fourteen players for two places. Favourite were Geoff Seddon and Tony Done with Paul Dunning likely to be a close challenger. In the event Dunning went out to Seddon in the first round. Paul Dunning has not had the best of draws this last couple of years. Peter Sheehan could also have come into the reckoning and, in fact, lost by a mere 12 points to Done, whilst Seddon's hardest game was with Norman Routledge who went down by only 20.

Cleveland Area

Erimus Club. Middlesbrough

Eight entries seems on the low side from such a hot-bed of billiards enthusiasm notable absentees being Tony Mackinder and Mark Graham. Perhaps not so surprising considering the number of players from the area who have turned professional. David Causier was a clear favourite for one place with Lee Lagan for the other. Lagan, despite making two centuries, had no easy match against Glen Cromack. Cromack had a tough one with Paul Roberts winning by only 11.

Notts/Derby Area

Spondon Snooker Centre

The death of Herbert Beetham, and the taking of professional status by David Rees, has reduced the Area to just four players - the lowest ever for an area which some years ago was very strong with Beetham, Alex Somerville, the Wright brothers, Nip Wright, and others. Jim McCann was expected to qualify and did so. The standard was poor although Ken Hobbs did manage a century break.

It was at this stage of the competition that the proposed merger of the WPBSA and the B&SCC fell through and the Amateur ruling body went into liquidation. Players received a letter to the effect that the Championship would be abandoned, a letter containing the following, "The Company is unable to fulfil its obligations in the running of the English Billiards Championship and we therefore regret to inform you that the matches notified to you will not now take place."

It was at this point that Lax & Co decided to take matters into their own hands and see to it that the championship would take place come what may. The players were informed and Eric Hodgkinson got Roger Haycock to put the Northern qualifiers on at The Cuedos whilst Bob Mason put the Southern half on at Woking. Malcolm and Derek Townend concentrated on Cubbington. But first there was the little matter of eliminating one qualifier to get to the last sixteen. The players were to be Jim McCann and Terry Colby though why these two is not known. Malcolm Lax arranged for them to play off on his private table.

The Lax billiard room is very nice indeed and the table excellent but neither McCann nor Colby could find any form at all. Neither player could make a fifty and the averages did not reach double figures. These are two good players - it happens to everybody only too often. Terry Colby scraped home by just 24 points.

Intermediate Stage - South

Two of the players - disappointingly - scratched. Ken Shirley had a back problem and could hardly stand let alone play billiards. Dennis McGuigan withdrew for personal reasons. This left Goodwill v O'Neill and Colby v Andress. Martin Goodwill was expected to win and he did so in quite spectacular style. John O'Neill is a more than useful player but was overwhelmed as Goodwill ran up 8 centuries in the match including one double.

Bill Andress must have fancied his chance against Terry Colby but the Henley man was on fine form and with two 500+ sessions a total of 1006 made him the winner by 81 - a close thing.

Intermediate Stage - North

Richard Lodge was comfortably beaten by last year's runner-up. Lodge is a good player short of match practice. Some time after the game Lodge remarked to the editor of this magazine that he had played well enough but that he considered Crosland to be the best amateur in Yorkshire and that he was not unduly surprised at losing.

Tony Done is a good player and a highly experienced one. Lagan did well to win.

At the halfway stage Causier was 32 behind (638 - 606.) In the second session the young Middlesbrough player, as they say, went mad. He scored 1224 points in the two hours reeling off break after break. This kind of thing is in the Russell/Sethi class.

Mark Hirst was expected to win this one and he made some good breaks. But not enough. Watson plays a pretty steady all-round game and has an excellent temperament. He plays the game for pleasure (not all players do!) and is consequently quite relaxed. He did very well to beat Hirst who, in his time, has beaten Russell (In short games.)

The Final Stages

Causier outstanding. Goodwill fails in hat-trick attempt

Lee Lagan v Steve Crosland

Crosland was expected to be a little too good and much too experienced for the young Teessider at this stage of his career. It did not turn out that way though the Yorkshireman should have won a match which he lost by just 24 points. In the last minutes Crosland had several opportunities to snatch the game and failed on shots that most beginners would have scored. The most glaring miss was that of a simple ball-to-ball cannon with the object balls a couple of foot out of baulk and the cue-ball in hand. Scoring this elementary shot would surely have seen Crosland through. He is a good player, how can it happen? it comes to all of us at times. Crosland is not only a good player, he is a good sportsman, he made no excuses - and sometimes it is very hard to resist the temptation to do so.

Dennis Watson v Terry Colby

Terry Colby had a nightmare of a game. With Watson scoring steadily if unspectacularly the Henley man could hardly score at all! He had an awful run of the balls - but - could not put more than two or three strokes together when he did have a position. He was little better in the second session. Watson played steadily, had a nice century break, and finished the easiest of winners. It is truly a mystery as to how a man who is known to be a good player can have such an awful game. However, Terry is a cheerful character, he will get over it and will be very determined to return next year to show just what he can do.

David.Burgess v Arthur Winn

David Burgess, in his comeback year, reached the last eight of the championship, and went to the Semi-final. Burgess had not played any competitive billiards, and little billiards of any kind, until about eighteen months ago when he was persuaded to take up his cue in the Portsmouth league. Burgess was a very good player indeed, capable of a 300 break. His form at Cubbington was not of that quality but good enough to get him past Arthur Winn. The Romford man did not produce the billiards of which he is able but he was only 3 behind at the interval and should have had a century in the second session.

David Causier v Martin Goodwill

The defending champion was no doubt hoping to emulate those great players of the past who have had a hat-trick of championship wins, and when a break of 177 containing a very nice run of nurseries saw him with his nose in front at the interval, it looked as if he were on the way. Causier had other ideas and with a sequence of medium sized break out-pointed the champion to gain the best win of his career to date and make himself strong favourite to take the title. The billiards played in this game was of a much higher class than that played in any of the other matches.

Dennis Watson v Lee Lagan

It was likely that this match would be close and so it proved. Lagan had a good first session and took a lead of 142 into the first interval. He increased his lead to 210 by the second interval. The third session was a disaster for the young Teessider as the experienced Yorkshireman fought back to snatch victory in the last minutes by 23 points. To reach the final of the Amateur must be the ambition of most players and this could well have been Watson's last chance. Lagan's turn will undoubtedly come.

David Causier v David Burgess

Causier had a century and averaged 18 in the first session but his interval lead of 140 was by no means decisive. The main damage was done in the second when he out-pointed the Southampton man by 311 to increase his lead to 451. Burgess played well in the third with a century and a good average, but Causier also had a century and an even better average.

David Causier v Dennis Watson

Having put out the defending champion (Goodwill) and the next best player (Burgess,) Causier was playing with a great deal of confidence and no little flair. The 18-year-old Teessider (19 in June) had practiced long and hard for the championship and there seemed little doubt that he was about to reap the reward. Michael Ferreira once remarked to the BQR Editor that, "you can only get out of this game what you are prepared to put into it." Causier had put a lot into it and was going to get a lot out of it. For Dennis Watson it was the finest moment of a long billiards career which has brought him many local and county championships. All enthusiasts will be pleased for the Yorkshireman in achieving what so many players would dearly love to achieve - reaching the final of this great amateur competition. Though Dennis was very much second favourite one thing was for sure and that was that he was not going to lie down and die.

1. For Watson to have any chance he needed an exceptionally good first session. Unfortunately for him he didn't get it and was largely a spectator as Causier piled up the points scoring nearly a thousand and averaging 19.1. His interval lead of 496 almost certainly meant that the title was already his.

2. Watson made a determined effort to get back into the match and fought hard for his 577 points. However. Causier had another century and though his average was not outstanding in this session he increased his lead to 593.

3. Dennis continued to try his best and was out-pointed by only 66 in this session. Causier quite often broke down when in good position. To those who do not know his play it looks like sheer carelessness, it's not, it's the way he plays.

4. Watson had his best session averaging 15.3. Even so he had to spend long periods as a spectator. Causier was soon in with a break of 105. He followed with a 102. These breaks displayed an excellent top-of-the-table technique characterised by both great delicacy of touch and great power of cue. Watson too, made his contribution to the entertainment with some solid all-round play and a couple of fifty breaks. The best was reserved for the last half-hour. Causier had never before made a double century. Now he reached that target not just once but twice - and in successive visits for good measure - with efforts of 209 and 200. It was a great display of billiards at its best. In this match Causier, at 18, proved himself a worthy successor to the great champions of the past.

Amateur Championship

The Final word from Malcolm Lax

I would like to thank the following for their donations towards the expenses of the Amateur Championship: -Bill Andress, Roy Bacon, John Barker, Jim Carter, John Coll, Roger Davis, Sid Deeming, Ritchie Evans, Bill Johnson, Bob Lewis, Ellis Lloyd, Jock McGregor, John Richmond, John Sabin, John Scott, Ivan Stevenage, Bill Stokes, Ken Shirley, Derick Townend, Dick and Betty Watts, Graham Willis, Arthur Winn, Billiards Quarterly Review, Leamington Billiards and Snooker League, No-Delay Cleaners (Leamington.) In addition the sum of£140 was raised from raffles held at both ABC and Mini-Prix tournaments, prizes were donated by Robin Sutcliffe, Brian Hoole, Derick Townend, Tom Terry, and a number of anonymous donors. Thanks are due to Welsh professional David Edwards and Martin Goodwill who played an exhibition match to raise funds.

Anyone who has visited the Championship at Cubbington will know what a fine venue it is and we are optimistic that the final stages of The Amateur will find it a permanent home. Such a championship does not organise itself. There are many people involved in the preliminary stages who give freely of their time and whose only reward is the satisfaction of knowing that they are a part of this great championship. My own contribution comes mainly at Cubbington. This year turned out to be much less of a personal effort than previously when the staging of the final stages has tended to be a one-man show. This year so many more people were involved and Derick Townend in particular did a great job as Senior Referee and day-to-day Tournament Director; Derick took a week of his holidays to do this job, thanks Derick. I must also thank the following men for their help during the week:- Tony Barnett, Hayden Conniff, Craig Campbell, Sid Deeming, George Goddard, Alan Hughes, Pete and Chris Hiley, Eric Hodgkinson, Frank Jackson, Steve Morgan, Arthur Raison, John Richmond, Stan Ward, and Harry Willis. Congratulations to all the players who, winning or losing, comported themselves with dignity and sportsmanship. Our new champion, David Causier of Middlesbrough, is clearly a player of considerable potential and his two double centuries in consecutive visits were the highlight of the week. The trophy has, these last few years, always been presented by Herbert Beetham, but this year it was not to be, though doubtless Herbert was there in spirit. The trophy was presented by Mr Stan Ward who has for many years been an outstanding player in the Leamington and District leagues. Stan's invitation was intended both as a personal honour and a tribute to the work put in by many members of the league.

Finally, I should make a mention of the impetus towards the formation of an English Billiards Association and moves are in hand for talks with the WPBSA to this end. We hope that at long last billiards will be controlled by billiard players in the form of an administrative body that will devote itself entirely to the three-ball game and thus not be constantly sidetracked by the ever-increasing demands of snooker. Similarly any body that comes to be involved with the running of snooker will not have to bother itself with billiards. This should be to the benefit of both of our great games.

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