Editorial
Turnout at One-Day Tournaments
The recent downward trend was reversed at the Huntingdon Pro-Am where there was a turnout of 54 players. This included a number of local players from the Spalding league. There were still a number of absent once regulars. Neither David Causier nor Martin Goodwill were present though it is understood that both of them would like to have been competing but were unable to make it this time. This must be encouraging for ABC promoter Derick Townend.
A full Programme
Norman Routledge writes to say how impressed he is by the number of tournaments that are available this season. In fact we are getting to the situation where players can pick and choose. What a change from a few years ago. There is a lot of credit due to those enthusiasts around the country who rallied when the B&SCC went down the drain. Norman reckons that all players should support the EASB, I'm sure they should.
What do you get for £12
A player at Huntingdon mused on the question. My reply was that you get a good day out; you are guaranteed two games of billiards at least; you have the chance to mingle with players from all parts of the country and get all the latest billiards news and views. Perhaps, above all, if the event is Pro-Am you have the possibility of playing, and in genuine competition, against one or other of the best players in the world. I know of no other sport where this is possible. The amateur is not in with too much of a chance it is true, but then the average amateur is not in with much chance anyway, whether pro/Am or Amateurs only. But you never know; even such a mediocre performer as the BQR Editor not so long ago put out Roxton Chapman in the Spondon Pro-Am. And when you are eliminated, you can watch the present day great artists demonstrating their skills in real competition. Now what else do you want for £12?
Roxton Chapman wins the Grand Slam
Young Peterborough professional Roxton Chapman came good after a few months of seeming at a standstill by winning the Hyderabad Grand Slam defeating Peter Gilchrist by seven games to four. Full details next issue.
The Pendulum
The October issue of BQR carried an article on famous repetition strokes - cannons. A number of readers have written to point out that the one I have described as the, "Jam," is more commonly known as the, "Pendulum." True. When I wrote the piece, not wishing to rely on memory, I went to Levi for a more authoritative explanation of the cannons - after all he was around in the days when such positions were being exploited and was witness to some of the many thousands of points that were scored by these methods. In chapter 38 of Strokes of the Game (Volume 3, Page 587) he describes the stroke in question as the, "Jam," and writes of how Taylor scored a break of 1467 by this method. He writes that this stroke became known as the jam stroke. The diagram is from the book. I suppose that as time passed, this stroke for some reason or other became known as the, "Pendulum." The original pendulum is described by Levi on Page 580 of Volume 3. (Strokes) It is also described in, "Daly's Billiard Book," Page 17. Thanks to all who wrote in.
Line Ball
There is some genuine confusion as to when a referee may give a decision whether a ball lying on the baulk line is playable or not. Must the striker be in hand to get a decision (See "A Few Comments" in this issue) or can he ask at any time? Senior referee and Chairman of the Referees' Association, Alan Chamberlain, has told me that he would give a decision - if requested - at any time as this is a, "Point of fact." Well, that is good enough for me.
Moans and Groans
Remember, if you have a view you would like to share, an opinion you would like known, a bee in your bonnet, something to moan about - write. If it concerns billiards and is not libelous it will be published.
