Round the Regions

Guildford Open Billiards

The Jack Nihell Trophy

The Well-dressed Billiards Player

How many readers recall the Montague Burton high street tailors emporia billiards/snooker clubs? In the years following the war and throughout the fifties, many of Burton's shops had a snooker room up on the top floor. The idea was that men would have to go through the shop to get to the games room and would be tempted by the suits, shirts, ties, on offer. One of the men involved in this enterprise was Mr. Jack Nihell, now in his eighties and living in retirement near Guildford. Mr Nihell was keenly interested in billiards and it was in 1948 that he presented a cup for a Guildford Open Billiards tournament. The first winner was a Mr. W. Stephens, he was followed by Mr. L. Thomas and Mr. W. Chew, but it was in 1952 and 53 that the winner bore a name which will be much more familiar to followers of the game - Mr. R. C. Ross - father of Chris Ross the 1976 English Amateur Snooker Champion now regularly playing in Amateur Billiards Circuit (ABC) events.

With interest in billiards declining, the tournament fell into abeyance for nearly 40 years. It was on the death of Mr. Ross Snr that the cup was discovered languishing in a attic and the event revived through the efforts of that great enthusiast for both games, George White, Secretary of the Guildford and District Billiards and Snooker leagues. The event is now held at the Ritz, Guildford and was won in 1991 by Martin Goodwill, and in 1992 by Bill Andress.

George White and Jack Nihell with the cup.

Guildford Open 1993

The Ritz Snooker Club. Guildford

Bill Andress takes Tittle for second consecutive year The event was held on a very warm Sunday, Aug 15th and there were 29 entrants, a reasonable turn-out considering the date. George White is well aware that August is not the best of months for billiards and is hoping to find a more suitable date for next year.

A keenly contested match though neither player performed as well as in earlier rounds. This often happens in one-day events as players tend to tire, and especially so in hot weather. O'Neil took an early lead of 60 or so and held this into the last half hour when Andress gradually overtook him to finish the winner by 55 points. W. Andress 521 J. O'Neil 466

Guildford Plate

Midland Counties League

An Explosive Tournament

It was during the semi-finals of this Midlands League one-day tournament that a suspicious looking parcel was spotted in the bar near to where three strangers had been trying to get a drink but had been refused. Everyone was asked to leave immediately. The police were called and after a half-hour or so the club was re-opened after it had been established that the suspicious bag contained nothing more lethal than some spare sets of billiard balls. These belonged to David Rees. The Derby player had brought them along in case there might have been a shortage of balls, he had left them under a chair in the bar area and forgotten about them.

Nineteen players had gathered at the Spondon Snooker club (McKluskey's Bar,) Derby, for the final event of the 92/93 Midland Counties season. This was to be a knockout tournament and plate. Neil Rewhorn and Alan Orton both made a break of 108 - the highest of the day. In the first round Derby player Ken Hobbs lost to Michael Painter by a single point, whilst in the quarters Trevor Scott lost to David Rees by just one point. The Derby professional went on to win the tournament in a good final with Orton.

Graham Willis had a very good half-hour total, 231, to take the plate.

During the day a meeting was held at which at was decided that next season's matches will be of one hour instead of 45 minutes.

New Secretary for Warwick's and Midlands

After many years of great service to the Warwickshire and Midland Counties Billiards and Snooker Association, Steve Martin has resigned the post of secretary for personal reasons. The new secretary is Mr. Terry Sargent of the Grange Social Club, Acocks Green. BQR wishes Mr. Sargent the best of luck in his new post.

Midland Amateur Championship

Three Centuries for Colby

The Final stages of the Midlands Championship were held rather belatedly at the Atack Snooker centre, Nuneaton. 16 players were drawn in four groups to produce the semi-finalists. Terry Colby (Henley) in his first attempt at The Midlands played consistently well all day but could overcome Alan Orton by only 10 in the first Semi-final. John Smith had a comfortable win over an out-of-touch Neil Rewhorn.

The Final provided some excellent billiards. Colby's attempts to play at the spot-end were rewarded with three fine centuries of high quality. Smith, too, played well though losing by just over 100.

Inter League Match

The BQR Cup

The match for the Billiards Quarterly Review Challenge Cup between teams representing the Southern Counties League and the Eastern Counties League, took place on the 19th September at the 147 Club, Huntingdon. Eastern Counties were the holders having won last year's inaugural competition by 7 points to 5.

Though the six games finished level at 3 - 3, the Eastern Counties team retained the trophy on the aggregate score by the narrow margin of 64 points.

The games were played over 90 minutes and there was some excellent billiards. Albert Salisbury trailed Chris Ross at the half-way stage but then produced a couple of century breaks to finish a comfortable winner. The best performance of the day was possibly that of Bill Andress who scored a typical barnstorming 250+ points in the last 30 minutes against Ian Chambers who had himself played very well. Phil Welham for the East and Dick Watts for the South were both on good form. The closest games were those in which John Barnett beat Dennis McGuigan by a mere 14, and Colin Extall beat Jerry Conba by 36.

Clearly a very good match though with less players participating than last year. The Trophy was presented by Bill Brokenshire of the 147 club. It may be that the scope of the match will be extended next year and a suggestion to this effect has been put to the Billiards Committee of the ESBA.

Norfolk

Foss Wilson of Norwich retained the Norfolk championship, his third win in four years. Foss had an unusually comfortable win in the final beating Phil Welham 350 -126.

Phil was also runner up in the North Norfolk Championship losing to Roger Plummer (Mondesley) 250 - 159. Mr. Plummer had breaks of 67 and 55, whilst Welham had a 68.

There were three century breaks in the Norfolk League this season. Foss Wilson had the highest with 153, Phil had a 108 and a 103. Phil Welham also reports that a new league - the North Norfolk Summer League - was started to provide some competitive billiards during the summer. It proved to be a success though no player could better the highest break of 53 by John Carman. Phil has put forward the idea of an Under 25 County Championship. Norfolk and Cambridge are keen on the idea. The idea could perhaps be taken up by the EBSA (Billiards section.) Any body out there interested, Jamie Moore?

Correction

The last issue of the BQR contained an item concerning a West Norfolk 30 minute championship. This should have been reported as an Under 30s championship, and was an initiative of the Norfolk Association to encourage more younger players into the game. Phil Welham has generously suggested that the mistake came about as a result of his bad handwriting. Thanks Phil but a more likely explanation is the ever increasing senility of the BQR Editor.

The South West

Taunton League

• League Winners Hinckley Point S.C
• Team K.O. Winners Masters
• Open Final

  B. Harvey 117

  500

  J. Westbury

  238

• Handicap Final

  B. Harvey (-275) 126unf

  150

  S. Wiseall (+30)

  108

• Century breaks in League: B. Harvey 162, 129, 123, 115, 100.

Yeovil League

• League Winners Bradford Abbas
• Team K.O. Winners Montecute 'A'
• Open Final

  B. Harvey 103

  400

  G. Isaacs

  178

• Handicap Final S. Martin beat B. Brake

Sandford Orcas League

• Div. 1 Winners Stourton Caundle
• Div. 2 Winners Wincanton 'A'
• K.O. Cup Stourton Caundle
• Individual K.O. A. Harris - Stourton Caundle
• Captain's Cup M. Pinkawa - Alveston.
• Highest break J. Masters - 66

Wessex Championship