ABC: 1994-1995

Amateur Billiards Circuit: Fourth Event (Pro-Am), December 11th, 1994

Widnes Snooker Centre

Sponsored By Aughton Ltd

The season's fourth tournament was held at the ever-welcoming Widnes Snooker centre, and was sponsored by Aughton Ltd by courtesy of Mr Arthur Johnson. The event was a handicapped Pro-Am and amongst the five professional players in attendance was World Champion Peter Gilchrist. There were 37 players present which represents a continuation of the downward trend. Let us hope that Derick Townend's super initiative in promoting the game is rewarded with more encouraging attendance at the season's remaining one-day events.

Widnes is a well-known venue for all regulars, the scene of many a great match, and an excellent place for a convivial weekend.

Good win for Moore

Jamie Moore (Nottingham) had a fine win over Derby ex-professional David Rees. Gilchrist had rather a slow start. It was very close between Alan Orton and Steven Whiteley.

Century Breaks. Close goes out

Gilchrist had two, Chapman had two, Steve Crosland had a fine 186. Bob Close found that conceding 100 to Alan Orton was just beyond him this time.

Three centuries for Causier

Peter Gilchrist had a double and a single century but David Causier went one better with three centuries. Clive Everton, who had had a good first round win over Chris Shutt, was well beaten by another young Teessider - Lee Lagan.

The World Champion goes out

Peter Gilchrist was beaten by fellow professional Roxton Chapman, both having a century break. Darren Kell and Lee Lagan both had very good wins over much more experienced opposition.

Remarkable win for Causier

Roxton Chapman started this game with a fifty break and almost immediately added a very fine effort of 226 thus taking a lead of over 200 (Causier received 50.) He held this lead until quite near to the end of the game looking as if he could not possibly lose. Causier, however, can be an extraordinarily fast scorer, and without making a big break, overhauled his opponent to win the game by 25 points. Chapman, not surprisingly, could hardly believe it.

Causier too Good

It was generally reckoned that Causier would be just a little too good for Lee Lagan, and so it proved. Lagan played well enough and is an excellent prospect. He is one of a number of young players from the North East who, with just a little more experience, will be causing problems for the already established amateur players.

Widnes Plate

Close Through

Plate favourite Bob Close started with a comfortable win.

Good win for Sheehan

The 1994 Official Amateur Champion, Peter Sheehan, had a good half-hour score against the veteran Dick Watts. Chris Shutt also topped the 200, whilst Close missed it by just 3 points.

Century for Close

Peter Sheehan had a good break of 97 but Bob Close capped it with a 127 for a fairly narrow victory.

Great Win for Shutt: 177 unfinished

Over just one hour, and even though conceding 100, not too many bets were placed against the Professional. With some 15 minutes left the gap on the handicap had narrowed to a mere 80 or so. Close would need only a couple of half-decent leaves to take the plate prize, but it was Shutt who got in to play out time with a great effort of 177 unfinished.

Amateur Billiards Circuit: Fifth Event (Pro-Am), February 12th, 1995

Huntingdon 147 Snooker Centre

Sponsored by The WPBSA

The Billiards circuit made its annual visit to the 147 at Huntingdon, scene of many fine breaks, and once again proving that it is a venue that somehow seems to bring the best out of players - maybe the size of the snooker table pockets has something to do with it! The event was Pro-Am and the first to be sponsored by the Billiards Committee of the WPBSA. The agreement is that the Professional Body will put £250 into the one-day events on the condition that there is no handicapping. This injection of cash enables a rather wider distribution of prize money, and, though it is as certain as anything can be that the top prize will be taken by a professional, amateurs reaching the last sixteen are virtually assured of at least regaining their entry fee. At Huntingdon the first prize was taken by Mike Russell, but the runner up was the 17 year old Chris Shutt. Shutt is, of course, an exceptional player, but there were three amateurs and one low ranking professional in the last eight, and there were seven losing amateurs in the last sixteen.

There was some muttering about the lack of handicapping and there were one or two amateurs who might have been expected at Huntingdon who were not there. But the attendance, 54, though boosted by local turnout, was much the best of the season so far.

Two centuries for veteran Player

That it was going to be a day of high scoring and big breaks soon became evident, veteran Dick Watts had two centuries, Gilchrist and Foldvari had double centuries, Chapman had a century, and almost every player had breaks in the 40 - 50 region.

Roxton runs the Nurseries

Breaks galore

Russell made the day's best of 446. Gilchrist had a 331, and John Murphy a 123. The most interesting professional performance was perhaps that of Roxton Chapman. Roxton lined the balls on the top cushion, scored with a masse played left-handed, and then ran a couple of dozen nurseries in a break of 142 - one of his three centuries. Other century makers were Chris Shutt, Albert Salisbury, and the BQR Editor who managed to keep his brain together for once. Lady professional Karen Corr, though losing, played well against Bill Andress. Karen is such a good cueman (cueperson!) that, were she to take billiards seriously, would soon be an excellent player.

Chapman beats Foldvari

Robby Foldvari was the first of the favourites to fall. With some twenty minutes to play there was a mere hundred in the game - nothing at this level - but it was the young Peterborough professional who held the table with a fine 201 unfinished.

Shutt had two more centuries but the highlight of the round, if not the day, was the performance of Peter Gilchrist in scoring breaks of 246 and 378 unfinished in his most attractive style. Ron Whitten got a good start against the BQR editor who was unable to recover; quite clearly the gods thought that he had had enough luck for one day!

Sensational Scoring from Shutt. Good win for Heald

Des Heald:
A hundred break and a great win over Peter Gilchrist

The 17 year old Shutt looked as if he would never break down. 742 points with two double and one single century is scoring in the Russell/Gilchrist class. Jamie Moore had a good start against Chapman but a couple of centuries saw the professional through. Russell scored 690 points in three visits. The best win was that by Des Heald who surprisingly put out Peter Gilchrist. The Middlesbrough player was on such good form that it would be understandable if he had perhaps thought that this was a match he could win as he liked. Not so; Des has been putting some practice in and took full advantage of his opportunities. With Gilchrist seemingly unable to get a big break going, Heald scored well, had a century, and was a deserving winner.

Shutt opens the Door

The teenager opened the door to an appearance in the final with a fine win over Roxton Chapman. With only some ten minutes left for play, the professional had a lead of just three points - anybody's game. It was Shutt who got in to play out time with a 146. Russell coasted to a win over Heald who had had a good tournament.

Russell too Good

Chris Shutt had played so well but a fairy-tale ending win over Mike Russell was never quite on though he did have his chances but was unable, this time, to make the century breaks which would have given him a chance. Nevertheless, his total of 313 was highly creditable. Russell played the game hard and was a deserving winner.

Huntingdon Plate

Wildman shows his Class

Phil Welham had another good win. Ross Porter, a bit shaky these days, did remarkably well to get past the young and eager Paul Bennett. Mark Wildman played well without trying very hard and was clearly going to be hard to beat.

Well Played Ian Dennis

Ian Dennis, a newcomer to the circuit, played some very good shots against Wildman and looked as if he might put out the ex world champion, but Wildman scraped a few points at the end to win by just 30. Phil Welham had an excellent total against Jim Murphy who had himself played pretty well. Ross Porter did it again in a last gasp finish against Gerry Conba.

Wildman whips Welham

Well though Welham had played, he found himself on the receiving end of some classy play by Wildman. Ross tried hard but was just pipped by John Carman.

Wildman Wins

John Carman played well and scored well but found Wildman rather too good and too experienced. But John will have learned something from the game.