ABC: 1994-1995

Amateur Billiards Circuit: Second Event October 9th, 1994

Thorne Snooker Centre Nr. Doncaster

The second ABC of the season was held at the Thorne Snooker Club, home of that great enthusiast, Branson Hoole. There were forty players, considerably better than at Guildford but still a little below what might have been expected. There are those who won't play when professionals are in the field; there are also those who won't play when the professionals are not in the field. The latter are almost certainly well in excess of the former.

Causier starts well. Big break from McCann

David Causier, playing his first ABC of the season, was away to a flying start with three century breaks against Ray Moore. Ray was unlucky, it's a long way from Bridgwater to Doncaster to be hammered in the first round. It's a gamble all the players take. Travelling companions Chris Ross and Albert Beard had also made a long journey only to be drawn to play each other. Jim McCann from Darley Dale made a fine break of 204 that turned out far-and-away the best of the day.

Crosland scrapes through

Steve Crosland, one of the favourites for the tournament, scraped through by a mere 2 points against Brian Dix - hard luck Brian. Bern French just made it against Jim Temple by 5. Jock McGregor did well to beat Ted Murphy, whilst double-century maker McCann went down to Alan Orton though by only 33. Robin Sutcliffe was even closer against Ron Whitten with a winning margin of only 11. Paul Bennett had a very good win over Bill Andress.

The Favourite Falls

Most of the players would have reckoned that David Causier had only to take his cue from the case to win, but it didn't turn out that way. He was well beaten by fellow Teessider Chris Shutt. Crosland was also beaten though by not many. This left the tournament wide open with half-a-dozen players who must have fancied their chances.

Century from Orton

Alan Orton had a break of 154 which was the second highest of the day. Chris Shutt also had a century. Bern French had a very good win over Branson Hoole

Comfortable for Shutt

Chris Shutt had a 200 plus points victory over Steven Best. Alan Orton's win over Bern French was a much closer affair, Alan's timely 77 being the decisive factor.

Century from Both Players

An excellent match in which both men had good breaks. It was close all the way, Chris Shutt's 125 being the winning effort. In the continued absence of Martin Goodwill, and with David Causier playing less regularly, Shutt and Orton will be amongst that small group of players who look likely to become dominant.

Thorne Plate

BQR Editor falls to 12-year-old

Two or three twenty breaks from young Robin Wilson proved to be just too much for Tom Terry (two or three ten breaks would probably have been enough!). Terry Ward, who once represented England in a World Amateur, has started playing regularly again and is showing some form.

Big score from Bill Andress

A 300 plus score in half-an-hour is very good going. True, Bill's opponent was a very young and inexperienced player; it's still good going.

Good win for Ted Warren

Ted Warren did exceptionally well to beat Andress. Ward had a comfortable win over Jim Temple

Ward takes the Plate

In an entertaining all Yorkshire final, Terry Ward gradually gained the upper hand for a good win in a game in which both men played entertaining billiards.

Amateur Billiards Circuit: Third Event 13th November, 1994

Atack Snooker Centre Nuneaton

Thirty-eight players gathered at the Atack Centre. A very conveniently situated venue, with manager Bob Coles ever welcoming and friendly. Neither Martin Goodwill nor David Causier were in the field. The attendance was again slightly lower than had come to be expected. The ABC is changing in character. There are scarcely enough players for there to be a division between amateurs and professionals, Derek Townend is thinking in terms of more Pro-Ams under a different handicapping system, though this will depend to some extent on some sponsorship from the professional body.

Hatton starts well

Newcomer Mark Hatton started very well indeed with a win over ex-professional David Rees. What a surprise to find that Hatton was from Teesside! Dick Watts, recovered from illness, showed good form in beating Harry Willis.

Highest of the day

Alan Orton had a good win over Terry Ward and made a 115 which proved to be the highest of the day. Hatton won again and looked a very competent cueman.

Orton Fades

What promised to be a close match turned out rather one-sided as Steve Crosland easily out-pointed Alan Orton. Billy Andress won by about a hundred, and an Andress - Crosland final was looking likely.

Close Games

Hatton put up a very good show against the vastly more experienced Andress and had his chance to win. Lee Lagan did even better against Steve Crosland and also had a good chance to win, but was 6 points short at the bell.

Crosland takes the first prize

Not the best-ever ABC final Neither player was on anything like his top form. The best break of the game was a 68 break by the Yorkshire player which was but a solitary point more than the difference between the two. Nevertheless, on a day which lacked any really outstanding play, Crosland was the one who managed to keep his game in some kind of working order. It is worth reminding readers that it is not how good you are at your best that counts, but how good you are at your worst!

Nuneaton Plate

Enter Kwock

A member of the club, Gary Kwock, had asked if he could enter the Plate competition. Kwock is a young professional snooker player who had played no billiards but had become interested as he watched some of the games. Derek Townend gave permission. Kwock proved to be a first-rate cueman who, in addition to being a fine potter, had quickly picked up a rudimentary idea of some basic billiards positions.

Bennett finds his form

Paul Bennett's father had reported that his son had played very poorly in the first round of the main competition. The remedy for players who are quite out of form is for them to play the BQR Editor as they will then get plenty of only minimally interrupted practice.

Kwock gets the hang of it

Gary Kwock faced his hardest test yet in the person of David Rees. The Derby player's snatchy right arm had been giving him fewer problems than usual, but he was well beaten by the snooker player.

Good win for Bennett

Paul Bennett had a very good win over fellow Teessider Darren Kell. John Barker had played well to reach the semis but found Kwock's potting hard to contend with.

Well done Bennett

Kwock had played very well considering his novice status but the longer game gave his billiards playing opponent time and sufficient openings to counter the snooker player's smallish breaks compiled mostly by potting the red. Such breaks had been good enough to get him through the half-hour games. Kwock had performed well; let us hope he has been sufficiently interested by his foray into billiards as to want play the game more regularly.