ABC: 1994-1995

Amateur Billiards Circuit: Sixth Event (Pro-Am), April 9th, 1995

Sponsored by the WPBSA

The Reardon Snooker Club, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

The last event of the season was held at the Reardon, Stoke. This has become something of a tradition. The Reardon is a very good club for a one-day tournament, and from some points of view the best of all the venues. It is easily accessible and, as any of the regulars will tell you, quite unequalled with regard to catering. Club manager, Peter Shelley's original training was in Hotel Management and Catering -and it shows! The chance of sampling one of Peter's Sunday lunches combined with the prospect of watching Mike Russell play billiards, is irresistible.

The turn out of 40 players was down on Huntingdon but was quite reasonable considering that many players are involved in end-of-season commitments of one kind or another. The field included such high class players as Mike Russell, Roxton Chapman, David Causier, Martin Goodwill, and Chris Shutt. What more could the enthusiast ask for?

Veteran Player loses by Four

Dick Watts, battle hardened - not to mention battle scarred - went down fighting, just four points between him and Graham Willis, Willis himself being something of a seasoned campaigner. Martin Goodwill and David Causier both went through with little trouble, the draw making it highly likely that these two would meet in the third round.

Causier sets the Target

Walkout by Dix

David Causier set the target for the highest break with an effort of 235. A good break indeed but unlikely to survive the day's play. New professional Brian Dix, drawn to face Mike Russell, withdrew from the tournament. It is not known why, if Brian would like to comment then the pages of this magazine are at his disposal. In the light of Russell's later play it was perhaps an understandable decision.

Goodwill beats Causier

Excellent win for Shutt

Whitten by One

The finalists in the recent Amateur Championship met with contrasting fortunes. Amateur Champion David Causier went down at the hands of his great amateur rival Martin Goodwill. Causier had a 128 but Goodwill a 198 and a 115. This was Causier's last one-day tournament as an amateur. Championship runner/up Chris Shut had a fine win over professional opposition, Roxton Chapman had a century but Shutt was just the more consistent. Peter Shelley, up against the world No.l made two good breaks and hardly made a mistake. Yet he was beaten out of sight. Russell looked in that mood where he gives the impression that he will never break down. It was a battle royal between Ron Whitten and Norman Routledge with Ron a last gasp winner by a single point, hard luck Norman. Tony Keeling did well to beat Steve Crosland. Paul Bennett had a fine century in his win over Alf Nolan.

Beaten but not Disgraced

Far from it. Brian Harvey had his second century of the day but a century from Goodwill settled the matter. Tony Keeling gave Shutt an excellent run for his money despite two centuries from the youngster. Brian Hoole put up a good performance in the face of a hundred break from Ron Whitten, whilst Paul Bennett scored well against Russell after the professional had scored the day's highest of 283.

Centuries from the Winners

Goodwill and Russell had century breaks in their passage to the final. Russell scored very heavily against Whitten who, nevertheless, stuck to his task when he had a chance and totalled a creditable 178.

Russell and the missed Pots

Goodwill grabs his Chance

It would be reasonably fair to comment that Mike Russell is not a pot hunter in the vulgar sense of the term. The pots he is most interested in are those that are said to exist at the end of the rainbow and reputed to be full of gold. But it was two pots of the billiards variety that let him down in this match. It is true enough that almost anyone can beat almost anyone else in a game as short as an hour, but Russell started favourite in this one, and when, at his very first visit after the break, he had the balls beautifully placed at the spot end, the spectators settled down for a big break. Astonishingly, the great player missed a simple pot from the spot when his break stood at a mere 14. Goodwill stepped in to score 57 and repaid the compliment by also missing from the spot leaving the red hanging over the pocket. Russell potted this one with no trouble but promptly missed the cross-loser! Just two visits later the professional, playing safe, missed an easy pot white letting his opponent in for a break of 144, which he followed with a 59.

Russell's Hard Luck

At this stage of the game the score stood at 292 - 33 in Goodwill's favour with the halfway mark some minutes gone. The situation was nothing like lost for the ex world champion if he could get in. He duly got in, and with the balls in his favourite floating white position, embarked on a break. Playing quite carefully he reached 127 with a delicate cannon which put the red on the bottom jaw of the top right hand pocket. In this position, Russell usually plays a very gentle in-off the red and then pots it from hand to return to the spot end. This is what he did this time only to express his disgust as the cue ball quite clearly turned onto the top cushion, into the, "racking, "f the top pocket upper jaw, and dropped without making contact with the red. It could be argued that he should have played the stroke a little harder and it would not then have run off so completely. It could be argued, but it would be a poor argument. Players of the highest class are not noted for compromising their game, and when into their rhythm play their own quality billiards whatever the conditions.

It was hard luck for Russell, but the game had perhaps been lost for him in the early stages when his potting lapses had given his opponent the opportunity to build a good lead. Goodwill played a couple of judicious safety strokes, and though Russell once again gathered the balls at the spot end, time was against him, the bell sounding as his break stood at 88 - the loser by 66. Martin Goodwill thus rounded off an excellent tournament with the kind of win that most players can only achieve in their dreams. Well done Martin.

Stoke Plate

Dick's Unlucky Day

Dick Watts, having lost in the first round of the main competition by four, went one better in the plate (actually two better) in losing to David Rees by just a single point. It's happened to us all Dick.

Andress on Form

There were some good players in the plate but Bill Andress was showing good form.

Rees and Kell Challenge

Billy Andress always looks good in plate matches. His fine stroke play and dashing style can be demoralising. But David Rees and Darren Kell both scored well and either could be expected to give Billy a hard time of it.

Rees and Andress get Through

David Rees had a comfortable win over John Carman who had done very well to reach the semi. Bill Andress and Darren Kell were engaged in a ding-dong affair with Bill's fifty unfinished being the deciding factor.

Excellent play from Rees

David Rees gave up the professional game on account of a persistent troublesome snatch in his cueing arm which, at times, was uncontrollable. On this day he had been relatively trouble free, and consequently, able to play a relaxed game. His billiards in this match was very good and he came out a fairly comfortable winner. Bill Andress played well but had to give his opponent best this time.

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