Overseas

Australia

South West District Individual Billiards Championship

The tournament was played in grades, A, B, and C. The turnout was very disappointing only two players turning up for the A grade. Eric Worsley won this defeating Tim Stokes 372 -176. The top break was a mere 46 by Worsley.

The standard was rather better in the B grade. This was won by Cory Mills who defeated his father Brian in the semi-finals, and the oldest B grade player, Tom Humphries, in the final by 234 - 164. Cory made the day's highest of 60 against his father.

Only two players turned up for the C grade which was won by Mark Pearson who beat George Diaz by 210 -186.

All games were of one hour duration.

A very discouraging turnout for the organisers. The standard seems rather low, there must surely be more players and of a higher standard in the South West District.

New South Wales Under 21 Billiards Championship

This was another rather disappointing turnout as there were only 11 players. The event was won by Todd Hayward who will not again be eligible. Haywood thus finished an outstanding junior career in which he was captain of the N.S.W, junior interstate team, and in which he represented Australia in the Trans Tasman Challenge. Hayward narrowly beat Adam Fitgerald in the semi-final; Fitgerald is reported as having the potential to become a very fine player.

The top break of the day was a 65 by B. Smith. Hayward made only two 50 breaks but was a consistent scorer.

New South Wales Under 18 Billiards Championship

There was yet another poor turnout, with only five players in attendance at the starting time. The organiser was considering cancelling the tournament but decided to wait a little longer. Three more players turned up and the event went ahead.

The championship was won by Brendon Smith who beat Chris Mills in the final. Both of these boys had played in the Under 21 event and Smith had reached the semi-final. It is good to see that there are at least some young billiards enthusiasts in N.S.W.

The highest break of the day was by Smith with a 48. Interesting that Smith's two hour total in the final was better than Hayward's in the Under 21s. A score of over 600 in two hours is good for a young amateur player. The organisers deserve better support and BQR hopes they will get it next time round.

New South Wales Open Billiards Championship

After the dismal attendance at the junior events, the organisers must have breathed deep sighs of relief as 41 players turned up for the open. The event was played to the, "Double Elimination," format (see letter from Geoff Williams.P. ) The standard of play was very high. There were many century breaks with a highest of 203 by the eventual winner Phil Tarrant.

Breaks

P. Tarrant: 203,178,169,161,141,141,134,130,108, 122,101; J. Millen: 184,141; J. Minici: 169,153,137,136,117,101; T. Hayward: 161,122; M. Girdler: 105; A. MacPherson: 122,109,107; V. Sacco: 104; E. Worsley: 130.

I knew there were some billiard players somewhere in Australia. The standard was very good indeed and I do not think that there are more than two or three amateurs in the U.K. who would have much chance of taking the N.S.W. Open. It must have been a good old tussle in the semis between those old rivals the two Joes - Minici and Millen, with Millen coming out on top by only 3 points after a check of the scores from the recording sheet. If the T. Hayward is the same T. Hayward that won the Under 21s then he showed a remarkable improvement in form with a top of 161.

BQR congratulates Phil Tarrant - Open Billiards Champion of New South Wales.

Republic of Ireland

Billiards in Ireland at the moment has rarely, if ever, been in better shape. Last season, Ranking Points Tournaments were introduced for the first time and were an unqualified success among the, "Purist," fraternity of players. The top 5 on the list at the end were automatically selected for International Duty. This season the number of tournaments has been extended to 8 excluding the Championship and the response is encouraging as some of the Snooker Players are trying their hand at the 3 ball game. There was also a, "Home," International introduced this season involving our good friends from Northern Ireland and a magnificent cup has been donated for the match which will be played for each year at alternating venues.

The inaugural event was played in Carlow on the 1st weekend in October and our Northern friends captured the cup on the scoreline of 17 points to 8. The Rep. of Ireland team was, Pat O'Sullivan, Victor O'Gorman, Thomas Reilly, Tommy Martin, and Larry Drennan.

The Northern Ireland team was Davy Elliott, Seamus McClary, John McIntyre, Sammy Clarke, and Tommy Taylor. Roll on next year! The Leinster Open Championship was staged in November in Athy, Co. Kildare, and two outsiders reached the final. Philip Martin of Celbridge emerged the Victor after a thrilling match with Pat O'Sullivan of Kilkenny. Pat led all the way in this 500 game but had no answer to Philip's late burst which saw him go to the front at a crucial stage and ran out to win at 500 - 470. Both players were in their 1st Championship Final. There have been 3 Ranking Tournaments played to date and Dick Brennan looks like having it all to himself at the top of the table and in an almost unassailable position after wining these first Tournaments. His nearest challenger is the reigning Irish Champion. Victor O'Gorman on 11 points. Philip Martin is on 10. Next are Pat O'Sullivan and Thomas Reilly on 7. Tommy Martin on 4 Timmy Murphy on 3 and Larry Drennan on 2 This constitutes the top 8 in contention at this stage.

The Competition in the New Year and for the rest of the season looks like being intense in the chase after the runaway leader, but Dick has never played better than this season and is fiercely determined to clinch the coveted No. 1 spot. Good luck to him.