Dear Tom, The Sydney Mail, published from 1860 until 1938, reported regularly on billiards. The long accounts of matches between England's great John Roberts junior and Australian Champions Fred Weiss (1900) and Fred Lindrum (1910) are fascinating. The November 16th, 1910, edition, reports on George Gray's red-ball exploits in England and concluded with the following two paragraphs, the second of which may bring a smile. "Since his exhibition matches against John Roberts jun, little has been heard of Fred Lindrum jun, Australia's champion billiardist. That he has not been idle is evident by the fact that he put up a magnificent break in practice last week in private. He was playing W. Abotomey 1000 up when he got the red ball into position and, emulating Gray, ran up 687 before he broke down. "red Lindrum has a younger brother - a left-handed player - who is sure to make a name for himself in the billiards world. When Roberts and his brother were playing their long match in Sydney the little fellow, whilst waiting for the contests to begin, could be seen practising the most difficult of shots on one of the spare tables. During the big matches there was no more interested spectator than the lad."
The writer, it seems, had not noted or could not recall that the boy's name was Walter, who had turned 12 on August 29th. But he could certainly spot talent!
Walter Lindrum, of course, remembered Roberts well, as readers of his book, "Billiards," 1930, will recall.
"Bit by bit I absorbed everything great masters of the cue had left for my help, "he wrote." A priceless heritage for which I want to express my gratitude, especially to your immortal wizard of the cue, John Roberts. I saw him play when I was a mere boy; what I saw was then an education and is now an inspiration, for Roberts was a genius at whose feet I am proud to have sat when my boyish billiards began. He is unforgettable to me. Here and now I could play every shot of a break of over 6001 saw him make. Still, with all reverence to his memory, the world moves on, and there came a day when I had to think for myself, a lone young cueman on a mountain peak so solitary that even the footprint of the great John was not there to guide."
Thanks Tom for Billiards Quarterly Review. It is particularly welcome here, thousands of miles from the action with only sections of the snooker magazines to back up your varied specialist reports. The series on top-of-the-table was excellent. Les Wheeler.
Dear Tom Here is a copy of a letter from Thomas C Shaw of Florida. He hasn't actually given me permission to publish but, if you think it worthwhile, I don't think he would mind.
Ivan.
"Dear Mr Stevenage, I just come across your letter and am not sure whether or not I ever answered you. In case I failed to do so, let me try now.
The game played here, and called, "Billiards," is the three ball no-pocket version found in French and Spanish Countries. I believe you call it "Carambole," in England though I am not sure. It is played, as I said, on a table without pockets. Both balls must be contacted by the shooter's ball, but three cushions must be contacted by that ball before it strikes the last ball. That is, the shooter's ball can strike three or more cushions, then the other two balls. Or, the shooter's ball may strike one of the other two balls, then Strike three cushions, then the third ball. Both are legal. There is no, "n-off" scoring as there are no pockets on the table. The game here is called three-cushion billiards or, more commonly, 3C, or three cushion. It is not very popular here. With the influx of many people from Southern Asia, the four ball billiard game, also on a pocketless table, is now being played. Its popularity is still limited to those who played it in their homeland.
English Billiards, as we call it, is virtually unknown here. I did a story on it for a magazine in conjunction with a series of articles on snooker. I interviewed Fred Davis, Rex Williams, and others. There is virtually no chance that the game will ever catch on here. Snooker is considered too boring and Billiards even more so. When Americans do play snooker, they play it on a 10 foot table rather than a 12 foot and with American rules. The primary difference is that after the cue-ball contacts another ball, some ball (cue-ball, object ball, indeed any ball) must touch a cushion or it is a foul. The idea of simply rolling up behind a ball for a snooker seems terribly easy and unattractive to us - though your long potting is impressive. Hoppe, Cochrane, etc, played 3C, as well as some variations that were popular at the time.
There are some 12ft tables in The States, though they are mostly used by British, Hong Kong Chinese, Thais, Australians, and Canadians, who live in this country. I've played the game and enjoy it but have little opportunity as the nearest 12ft table is 400 miles away.
In England, the game called, "Pool," is very different to the one played here. Pool is played on a 4 and l/2ft x 9ft table (it was 5x10 before World War 2) and the Tournament game is 9 ball. It is an offensive rather than a defensive game. The pockets are not rounded. There is a fairly popular version that might be good for the British temperament, though probably impossible to introduce in the U.K. It is called, "One-Pocket," and has been compared to chess. It is a strategy game as well as a skill game, too slow for T.V. but popular with the more skilled players.
I am a broadcaster and have written for Pool and Billiard magazines for some years. As regards snooker; Hearn, Steve Davis, Meo, and some others have come over, I've talked to them, but have been unable to spark much interest. I was the main voice of snooker enthusiasm for some years but have now stopped. I keep on eye on things through the publications and correspondence with people in the U.K. I do some commercial broadcasting and always try to throw in a mention of the games when I can. One can never tell what the future may bring."
Thomas C Shaw. Senior Associate Editor Pool and Billiard Magazine.
"In any 150 up (Or any number up but excluding timed sessions) the winning shot must be (Or include) a cannon. Should the object white be lost in this stroke, "Foul stroke," shall be called and two points awarded to the non-striker who may then play the balls as they lie or play from a re-spotted position."
I believe the above change would bring more excitement into the closing stages of many games. Ross Porter.
Any Comments?