A.B.C. 1993 -1994

Amateur Billiards Circuit: First Event September 12th

Leeds Star Snooker

Pro-Am: Professionals invited to play

The Amateur Billiards Circuit returned to the Star Snooker for the Fred Cundall Trophy which, in the event, was not presented as the promised sponsorship was withdrawn. As the organisers were also informed - very late in the day - that the table time would have to be paid for - the prize money was rather lower than usual. This was something of a let down and was more keenly felt than it might have been by virtue of the fact that the event had been made completely open attracting a number of professional players including the world No. 4 Peter Gilchrist, No.7 Bob Close, and No. 10 John Murphy. The Star Snooker Club is a good venue and very handy for players from the North and Midlands. Whether Derek Townend will feel he will want go there again next year is open to some doubt.

Handicaps

The tournament was handicapped on the following basis for the hour-long main competition games. All ranked professional players conceded 100 start. Professionals not in the current ranking list and two top amateur players, i.e. David Causier and Martin Goodwill conceded 50 start. All other players were on the scratch mark with the exception of a few players who were conceded an extra 50 points. These players were those who, on the basis of last season's ABC, averaged less than 200 per hour in all their games. This resulted in some unfairness and particularly in the case of the BQR Editor who, by virtue of having played in every tournament and having had a couple of dreadful games last year had managed an average of 199 and so, notwithstanding a quite respectable position in the ABC ranking list, was rather embarrassingly given the extra 50. His first round opponent turned out to be Ron Whitten of Peterlee who was playing in his first ABC event after not having played any serious billiards for over four years. As Mr. Whitton had no ABC record he was placed on the scratch mark and so conceded the BQR Editor 50 points. Mr. Whitton sportingly accepted the handicap. The BQR editor could, of course, have refused the start, but this would have seemed very condescending and would have undermined Derek Townend's system. It would also have been rather discourteous as anyone entering a competition should abide by the rules thereof even if this seems to give them an unfair advantage. Ted Warren of Leeds was another player to cause a few raised eyebrows at being given the start. To be fair to the organiser a handicapping system has to start somewhere, but handicapping on the basis of a player's hourly average is perhaps not the best of ideas. Tom Terry should, incidentally, have made a little more effort whilst he had the chance, he has been informed that it ain't going to happen again!

Prizes for Goodwill and Bennett

Before the draw was made two prizes were awarded for the biggest breaks made during last season's ABC series. Martin Goodwill was presented with the Jock McGregor prize for his effort of 309 made in the very last event at Stoke and which just beat David Causier's 300 made at Exeter. Paul Bennett received the Ivan Stevenage (Ivan IV) prize for the highest break by a junior player - 89. It will require a very good effort indeed if any amateur is to beat Goodwill's record but it is a safe bet that it will take a break of at least a century to take the junior prize this year.

Goodwill and Close beaten Centuries for McCann and Shutt The first round saw some notable fallers. Walter Reed of Doncaster knocked up a 60 odd at almost his first visit against Bob Close giving him a lead of 160 which the Hartlepool professional could not overcome. Other professionals to fall at the first were Howard Griffiths, David Rees, and Dave Seddon. The biggest upset was perhaps the defeat of Martin Goodwill by the young Nottingham player Jamie Moore. Moore was in receipt of 50 but beat the twice Amateur Champion by more than the start. Both Jim McCann and Under 16 champion Chris Shutt had fine century breaks.

Record break from Gilchrist; Two centuries for Chapman

Peter Gilchrist made light of conceding 150 to Jock McGregor and played out time with a beautiful top-of-the-table break of 390 unfinished. This is a record for the ABC but may not qualify for the McGregor prize as that is for the best break by an amateur. Peterborough professional Roxton Chapman weighed in with two fine centuries (177.133) against Alan Orton, but John Murphy was unable to give Bill Andress a hundred. Amateur Champion David Causier had a century and was looking on good form.

More centuries from Gilchrist and Causier

Both Gilchrist and Causier made big breaks and came through with little difficulty. With these two in different halves it was beginning to look odds on for them to meet in the final. Walter Reed did well to get past Tom McFarlane though by only 17. Brian Harvey has beaten Branson Hoole the last half-dozen times they have met and remarked before the game that he thought it might be Branson's turn this time; it was - by just 12 points -Harvey being in play with 75 at the bell. With Chapman losing to Lee Cuthbert by just 10, Gilchrist was the only professional left in the field.

Cromack wins the Battle of Thornaby

Glen Cromack and Lee Cuthbert, both of Thornaby, and both products of the Teesside Boys, met at this stage, Cromack's fine break of 114 making the difference. Gilchrist and Causier again swept away the opposition with century breaks. Walter Reed, in his first ABC progressed to the semi with an excellent win over Branson Hoole.

Reed's Run Ends

Walter Reed did well against Gilchrist for half-an-hour or so as a few 20 breaks added to his 100 start gave him a good lead. But the genial Middlesbrough man came in strongly towards the end, runs of 120 and 112 taking him comfortably to the Final. Causier struggled against Cuthbert, but he too came in strongly towards the end of the game to win by just over 100.

Exciting Finish

The game, for the most part, was something of an anti-climax considering how well the two players had performed during the earlier rounds. In a somewhat scrappy affair, Causier took advantage of his 50 start, and with an 87, built up a lead of over 100. Gilchrist gradually whittled this down and with the clock showing two minutes to go was 25 behind. 29 unfinished saw the professional the winner by the narrow margin of 4 points. An exciting finish to a good day's play.

Leeds Plate

Goodwill completes miserable day

Martin Goodwill completed the double of a first round dismissal in both competitions. He was in good company as World No.7 Bob Close suffered a similar fate. It happens to the best at times. It could be a long time before it happens again. The closest game was that in which Mark Graham beat Derby veteran Ken Hobbs by just 1. Handicaps were halved for the half-hour plate games.

Very good win for Whitten

Ron Whitten would have been well pleased with his fine win over Scottish professional Dave Seddon in which he had a 73 break. Crosland scored like a house on fire against Mick Raine.

Well done Benny

Steve Crosland's plate form had marked him out as a likely winner but he was well beaten by Benny Veriato. Ron Whitten went down to fellow Teessider Tony Mackinder.

Mackinder well on top with a century

For the first time the Plate Final was played over an hour. This is a good idea as it gives the finalists a longer game, can be played concurrently with the main final, and cuts out any possible distraction if finishing half-way through the main. Benny Veriato could not get going at all and was largely a spectator as Mackinder ran up a series of breaks including a 101.

Amateur Billiards Circuit: Second Event, October 10th

Northampton Derngate Snooker Centre

The ABC returned to Derngate where, a year ago to the very day, there were 51 entrants including Martin Goodwill who was the eventual winner. David Causier was absent last year but was among the 40 entrants this year. Compared with last year's entry, and with the 50 strong amateur entry at Leeds, this was a rather disappointing turnout. It is still too early in the season to draw any conclusions but the figure of 40 is 9 less than the average turnout last year. It will be interesting to see what the entry figure will be at Widnes (November 14th) when the tournament will be Pro-Am.

Derngate is a good venue from the point of view of accessibility. Playing conditions vary, and though there are less tables available than last year, the tournament went very smoothly. Derek Townend might have had some difficulty had there been a larger entry.

Good Win for Wally Reed

Doncaster player Wally Reed had a very good tournament at Leeds, and carried on where he left off with a good win over the veteran Dick Watts. Reed is himself not a youngster. He is a good stroke-player and potter who is not afraid to give the balls a fair old trip round the table from time to time. When a player of this type gets the balls running he can be a difficult proposition over just one hour - as Bob Close remarked after losing to him at Leeds.

Ross shut out

The experienced Chris Ross found himself on the end of a string of breaks from the relatively inexperienced Under 16 champion Chris Shutt. Wally Reed gave Tom Terry little chance. David Causier began to get into his stride with a couple of nineties.

Century from Reed

Wally Reed had a very good win indeed over Jim McCann making his personal record break of 118 in the process. Shutt had another good win in beating Mark Hirst

Broken Reed

Reed's run ended at the hands - or cue - of 17-year-old Paul Bennett. Causier had two more breaks in the nineties. Jamie Moore had a good chance of beating Shutt but failed at the last gasp. Graham Willis's good run came to an end against Crosland who was looking on good form.

Crosland gives a Lesson

The Crosland - Bennett game was well balanced until the Yorkshire schoolmaster made day's highest break of 139. Causier at last converted one of his ninety breaks into a century and out-gunned Shutt

Hard Lines for Sir

Neither Causier nor Crosland played as well as they had done earlier. Players tire as the day goes on. Causier played some very good strokes but was unable to put together any significant breaks. Crosland struggled with his game and could not get much above the thirty mark. He might have considered himself a shade unlucky with the running towards the end of the game as Causier pulled away to finish a comfortable winner.

Derngate Plate

Three close games

Chris Ross had a good win over Nottingham player Gerry Tutt, but the other games were all touch and go, the closest being that in which Tom Hodby beat Brian Dix by only 5.

Mike breaks his Duck

Hooray for Mike Billinge. The genial west-countryman is well-known as an excellent referee, indeed he is a professional referee. He is less well-known as a player, and though he has played in national one-day tournaments for a good few years he had, until today, never won a match. This must be a record for the most consecutive losses and is a bit strange because, whilst Mike is not championship material, he is not that bad a player. Harry Willis will not mind being Mike's first victim - but he is going to get his leg pulled a bit. So well done Mike, we all know that you are much too stable a person to let this success go to your head, but, remember the words of Joe Davis about winning, "Make it a habit."

Billinge Fails. West Country Tie

The BQR Editor thought it would be a good idea to referee the Billinge game to see if the secret of success might be revealed. But Mike was giving nothing away as he went down to Chris Ross. The Watts/Andress clash finished appropriately in a tie with Dick out-pointing Bill 69 - 30 in the extra ten minutes. Tom Hodby had another close one this time losing to John Carman by 5. John Barker did well to beat Jerry Conba.

Ross all the way

The Ross-Watts game was expected to be close but Ross came through comfortably. John Barker's good run came to an end against John Carman.

Ross all the way

John Carman had played well all day but seemed unable to get into the game as Chris Ross, though having only one half-century, scored consistently out-pointing his opponent by two to one.