Darley Dale Invitation Billiards

The Royal Bank of Scotland trophy

Sponsored by Mr Jim McCann, Mr Malcolm Gregory, The Billiards Quarterly Review

Peter Gilchrist retains the trophy

How many billiard tournaments take place these days to which spectators are willing to travel long distances - even when they know they can see the play at no cost? How many tournaments are therefor which there are more potential spectators than there are tickets available? I would venture that the Darley Dale invitation is perhaps the only such tournament to be held anywhere in the world. There were far more people wanting to see the play than there were available tickets. There must be a reason. One could be that the tournament is held in such a delightful part of the country, it is a pleasure to drive there. Another, that it is a delight simply to walk into the evocative atmosphere of the Whitworth Institute billiards room. A further reason may be that for a very reasonable price indeed, there is a first rate interval tea served in the adjacent 'Whitworth Hotel, at which enthusiasts may meet to discuss billiards issues or chat with the players. Yet another may be that this tournament has become traditional in the billiards calendar and perhaps points a way forward in that billiards maybe needs its institutions, maybe needs its limited versions of, "The Crucible." But I think that the main reason for the success of the Darley Dale is that it is a tournament which is known to produce all that is the very best in billiards, one in which players are eager to be invited to compete for not large amounts of prize-money, and which somehow seems to bring out the best in them.

The invited players this year were the same as last, i.e. the holder of the trophy and World Professional Champion Peter Gilchrist, championship runner-up Mike Russell, together with Norman Dagley, and Bobby Close. The format was the usual round-robin of fifty-minute games. There are those enthusiasts who are derisory of such a format arguing that it is not, "Proper billiards," and that it cannot produce big breaks. Over the last few years, whilst acknowledging that major championships should always be played to a long-game formula, and whilst one of my ambitions as a spectator is to witness a thousand break, I have changed my opinion on short games. A fifty minute game seems quite long enough for the top players to make their two or three-hundred breaks, they have that element of competitive cut-and-thrust so often missing in long games, and any safety play is always of a very positive kind rather than that negative type of safety which is aimed simply at keeping the other chap from the table. Having said that, in order that it should be attractive to watch, billiards, like any other game, depends so much on the attitude of those playing it. I have never yet been to a Darley Dale tournament where the players have not played the game in the most entertaining way they know how, and in the most sporting spirit imaginable.

Bob Close v Peter Gilchrist

The opening game was notable for Gilchrist's slow start, very unusual for him, and for some bread-and-butter billiards from Bob Close. Both players seemed unable to gauge the speed of the table. The best break was an effort of 75 by Close. Gilchrist's best of 60 contained a nice run of a dozen nurseries.

Norman Dagley v Mike Russell

After the rather slow start, the tournament burst into life as Russell gathered the balls at the spot end and made the most perfect top-of-the-table break anyone could wish to see. The object white, situated an inch or two to the left and slightly behind the spot, was hardly moved as Russell alternated two pots to the cannon for over 150 points. A bad kick on a pot at 177 spoiled the position but he carried on to 249. Dagley followed with a typically smooth 52 before Russell was in again. His next break, 103, was in complete contrast to his first effort. The game was kept open, he lost position several times only to recover with some brilliant shots including two prodigious screw strokes and a huge masse of which Lindrum himself would have been proud.

Mike Russell v Peter Gilchrist

This was the one the spectators were most looking forward to. Gilchrist had seemed a little hesitant in his first game but, perhaps given impetus by being pitted against his great rival, he approached the game in his best carefree manner and almost immediately knocked up a great break of 305 helped just a little at 250 by an outrageous fluke in-off from the middle pocket jaws that even brought a smile from Mike Russell, (a somewhat wry smile!) Gilchrist really does look as if he enjoys playing - even when he is sitting out his opponent's breaks - he manages to look as if he is enjoying it. He didn't actually do very much sitting out in this game and was soon in again, scoring a 103 which ended with a missed drop cannon. Russell was never in this one.

At the interval Gilchrist, Close, and Russell had all won one game.

Norman Dagley v Bob Close

The first game after the interval brought together Norman Dagley and Bob Close. Who knows how many times these two have met? It was Norman's turn to win. He soon stroked up a 122 and as usual made the game look so easy. Close was unable to make any meaningful reply. Dagley was a comfortable winner. Each player had thus won one game making it possible for any one of them to win the tournament.

Norman Dagley v Peter Gilchrist

Dagley's chances would seem to have vanished almost immediately as Gilchrist took the lead with a beautiful break of 186 containing two short runs of nurseries. Not so, the veteran Earl Shilton player raised his supporters' hopes with a great reply of 130, but from then on it was all Gilchrist who scored very consistently for a comfortable win.

Mike Russell v Bob Close

The winner of this match would be the equal of Peter Gilchrist on games. To have finished in first place Russell needed to score 508; whilst Close would have had to have scored 568. It was certainly not beyond either of them. In the event, Mike Russell was unable to get into his stride. After eight visits he had scored 157 points to Close's 75. There was a spectacular finish. Bob Close made a well-controlled all-round break of 100. Russell missed. The veteran Hartlepool's player then gathered the balls at the spot end to make a wonderful break of 223 unfinished. In many years of watching the game, I have never seen Close make a better break, indeed, I have never seen anybody make a much better break.

Final positions