Editorial
Non-Arriving magazines
Since January I have received three telephone calls from subscribers complaining that they had not received the January Issue of the B.Q.R. I do not know why they had not received them, they were certainly posted. If any subscriber has not received the magazine by the published publication date then they should let me know immediately.
English Amateur Finals
For reasons which are not absolutely clear, the final stages of the English Amateur Championship will not be held at the Cubbington Club this year. They will instead be held at the Dudley Snooker Centre. The Semi-finals will be on Saturday, 8th May (l1.00am) and the Final on Sunday, 9th May (12.00pm). The W.P.B.S.A, has confirmed that the championship cups will be available for presentation as usual. It is reported that Dudley is a very good club; but Cubbington had become something of a tradition, it was an excellent venue and all those involved in the championships had hoped that it would become the permanent home of the championship. Perhaps Dudley will take its place.
Under 16/19 Championship
The National Under 16/19 championships may be held at the Radion Plaza Club, Sheffield, Derick Townend is in negotiation with the management. If they are held there then the date will be some time after the World Snooker Championship - many of the snooker professionals use the Radion for practice. There should soon be more information available.
Billiards at Pateley Bridge
E.A.B.A. Vice Chairman John Richmond has organised an amateur invitation tournament to be held on Sunday, 25th April, at the Pateley Bridge Social Club. The tournament will be organised on the lines of the Darley Dale invitation and the players will be ex-amateur Champion Martin Goodwill, Yorkshire Champion Steve Crosland, and past Yorkshire finalists Derick Townend and Brian Hoole. There will be lunch at a local pub and a buffet tea available. The Pateley Bridge Club is not a big place and tickets will be issued strictly on a first-come, first-served, basis. It should be a good day out and anyone interested should contact John Richmond on 0423 711460.
Billiards in Fiji
Rumour has it that the next World Amateur Championship may be held in Fiji. I for one will have to get the Atlas out. It will be a great thing if there is a World Amateur anywhere.
A.B.C. Pro-Am
Derick Townend reports that the first A.B.C. tournament of next season (Leeds - date to be arranged) will be run as a handicapped Pro-Am. Details have yet to be worked out but a possible format is one in which top professionals could be handicapped 200, top amateurs 100, with all other players starting level. Derick will be consulting with A.B.C. regulars and a representative of the professionals to work out a realistic system of handicapping for this tournament. It could be, and I think will be. a great success, and possibly the first of several such events during the season.
