The WPBSA Billiards Section Annual General Meeting was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Sheffield, on 26th September. Those present were the WPBSA Secretary Martyn Blake; Committee members, Chairman Mark Wildman supported by Clive Everton, Bob Close, and Michael Ferreira. Playing members, Ian Williamson, Peter Gilchrist, Mike Russell, Des Heald, and Roxton Chapman. Alan Firth, who is a member of the WPBSA Billiards Section but who has not played professionally was also present. The BQR Editor was present at the invitation of the Chairman.
Committee members Close and Everton were due for re-election and were re-elected. Everton received nine votes and Close eight. The only other candidate, Jim Williamson of Leeds, also polled eight votes, but Close, as a sitting member, retained his place in accordance with the rules.
Amongst items discussed were the introduction of a yellow ball to make the game easier to follow on television; a 100 point baulk line rule for all professional tournaments; the abolishment of the direct coup; some financial support for pro/am tournaments. Chairman Wildman has reported to this magazine that all the above points were ratified at a following Committee meeting. Sets of balls - red, white, yellow - have been obtained from Aramith, and will be used for the first time in the December Grand Slam.
There was some discussion over the distribution of prize money. The meeting was informed that 1995 would see more prize money in billiards than ever before.
It was confirmed that the Strachan UK, and the British Open will be held at the Bellingham Hotel, Wigan. These tournaments will be preceded by a Pairs Competition. Players will be paired by a draw which will put a higher ranked player with a lower-ranked one. The format will be games of 150 with the players taking alternate shots. Mark Wildman has also reported that the Professional Association is looking into the possibility of forming Junior leagues in various parts of the country, and also into the possibility of a coaching/demonstration scheme.
Whether or not a pairs competition will attract much spectator support remains to be seen. It does at least give some of the lesser lights in the billiards ranks a chance to earn a bit of cash. I suppose that being drawn with Russell, Gilchrist, or Sethi, will be the billiard players equivalent of winning the national lottery. However, if a professional were to be paired with an amateur of his choice then I think that the billiards world would take more than just a passing interest. In fact, such a competition, would offer a golden opportunity, for the professional game to involve the grass-roots.
Readers' opinions on the introduction of the yellow ball will be welcome. It will be very interesting to see what choice players will make after winning the, "string." fancy that, "I'll break off with the white," will become the standard.
I am at a bit of a loss to understand why anyone should be very bothered about the coup though I suppose that if the game is to get a foothold on the box then it is one less complexity for non-specialists to cope with, though a friend of mine did remark that seeing a player run a coup might be of more interest to the non-specialist than seeing a player make a run of middle-pocket losers!
Coaching clinics could prove a worthwhile venture if they were well packaged and advertised.
Comments please.