Editorial
Arthur Johnson MBA
Many players will have pleasant memories of one day tournaments at the Widnes Snooker Centre. These tournaments have invariably been sponsored by the Liverpool Company of Auchton Ltd. Auchton is a company specialising in electronic measuring equipment and is of international importance. Arthur Johnson is an executive of Auchton and the billiards sponsorship is entirely due to his influence. Arthur has recently obtained the degree of MBA - Master of Business Administration - from the University of Leeds. Arthur Johnson would have come into the category of, "Mature Student," (couldn't resist that Arthur.) Obtaining this degree was no mean achievement. Well done Sir.
Paul Wood
Some readers will recall contributions to this magazine from Paul Wood. Paul, from Moira in Derbyshire, is a very great billiards enthusiast but who has difficulty in actually playing the game as he is confined to a wheelchair. Paul's other great enthusiasm is for the Scouts and he has recently been awarded a "Commendation for Meritorious Conduct," from the Chief Scout. Part of the citation reads, "in recognition of your cheerful enthusiasm for Scouting despite having to cope with long periods of pain and discomfort." To all readers - the next time the balls do not run too kindly for you - you would do well to remember that there are much worse things in life.
Well done Paul.
Walter Lindrum Cue
A friend of mine pointed out an item he had noticed in the, "Antique Trade Gazette" at an auction to be held in Liverpool by a company called, Outhwaite and Litherland. Amongst the lots was an item - "Walter Lindrum record breaking billiards cue." Surely this couldn't be "The" cue? I should imagine that it was a replica, I have known people claim to have famous players cues when they actually have a replica. I suppose this must have been a replica. But it makes one wonder if the cue actually used by the great master is still in existence, and if so, who has it, and where is it.
Rubbish
There was an item in the July issue editorial entitled, "Lady Billiards Players." in this item I wrote to the effect that the people with whom I play billiards, do not always play very well, indeed, their play (as well as my own) could as often as not be described as, "rubbish" went on to hint that when I watch or play billiards of this description, not only is the play rather poor, but the people playing are not even aesthetically pleasing to look at. Not to put too fine a point on it, most of the elderly men that I see playing billiards are cosmetically well past their best. That being so, if there were more (any) ladies tournaments then, at least, if the billiards were not so hot, the ladies would generally be more pleasing to the eye.
This was supposed to be a mildly humorous comment drawing attention to the fact that there are no ladies billiards tournaments and this is a pity. Believe it or not, it seems that some readers have taken my comments personally. It appears that this piece has been interpreted as an attack on the standards of the ABC in particular and amateur play in general. When this was pointed out to me I was left speechless.(Almost!) I have read, and re-read, the piece over and again, and it seems ever more innocuous. Furthermore, I can justly claim that no-one, has made any more strenuous efforts than have been made in the pages of this magazine to publicise and promote the game at all levels. I make no apologies. I can accept criticism as well as anybody. I ask only that the criticism is made after a careful reading of the piece that leads to the criticism.
Anyway - a lot of people do play rubbish! So long as they enjoy it I can't see that it matters very much.
Golden Balls
No, not Roxton Chapman! I have received a communication from Malcolm Lax to the effect that he has ordered thirty sets of the new billiard balls. These balls will be used for the final stages of the Amateur Championship (Last 32) It was hoped that these balls would be obtained in time for the ABC tournament held in Bradford on 15th October. The balls would be on sale there at the Riley's recommended retail price of £21.16 (inc.vat) This tournament will have been played before the BQR publication date of the 31st October.
Not all change is for the better
I am not against change, there is evolution in all aspects of life. Changes which are for the good of the game are to be welcomed. Many enthusiasts are dead set against the 150 format in professional billiards, I have welcomed it. I don't consider myself to be a stick-in-the-mud and could even have supported the IBSF proposals if they had gone about it in a different way. But not all change is a change for the better. However, with regard to the new balls, I shall try to get a set myself, though for the life of me I cannot see the necessity for them. The game is never on the Telly so the yellow ball becomes an irrelevance. They are just slightly heavier and slightly bigger. It is beyond me why they have been introduced. Billiards is what it is, and any attempt to change its basic character devalues the game. It seems to me that there is little point in trying to introduce measures which will help the Great British Public to gain a greater understanding of the game, for the simple reason that the Great British Public has no interest whatever in billiards. I should think that hardly one person in 10,000 knows what billiards is, though they recognise the word. There is also the point that anything that is really worthwhile merits some effort to understand and appreciate. I know that we are in the era of instant entertainment, I know that if an activity is not on the Telly then it is not considered of any importance - or even to exist at all. But I don't see why billiards should go down that road. However, I shall get a set and have a game with them. But I think that readers should be aware that if the balls were all the colours of the rainbow, if the rules stated that the game had to be played in the nude, there would hardly be a flicker of interest. Let's face it. The game is actively supported by just a few hundred people up and down the country and that is how things will likely continue. Billiards is too great a game to die completely - but its never really going to compete with the Gameboy or East Enders.
Amateur Championship
Despite recent events, the English Amateur Billiards Championship will continue to be played. This is due to the efforts mainly of Malcolm Lax and Albert Hanson. Good luck to them. I shall not enter as my particular brand of billiards rubbish is embarrassing to my opponents. The Amateur Championship is to continue - and so it jolly well should. It was first played in 1888 and won by a Mr. H. O. Lonsdale who beat one J. Tither by 144 points and made a break of 107 in one of the early rounds. Lonsdale was beaten finalist the following year, but did not get to the final again for 21 years when, in 1910 he won the championship again. In looking this up, I noticed that in 1892 the losing finalist played under the pseudonym of, "Osbourne." This player reached the final again in 1918 - an interval of 26 years. I wonder who he was and why the pseudonym? A history of the Amateur Championship would surely be of great interest to billiards enthusiasts, but who would publish it; who would have the necessary time and resources to undertake such a labour of love?
The English Amateur Championship Format
The Championship will be played to a format similar to that used in the C.I.U event. A draw will be made after which it is the responsibility of the home player to contact his opponent and offer him three possible dates on which to play the game, or on any other agreed date within the deadline. It is not clear whether or not this stage of the competition will be zoned. This will eliminate entrants down to the last 32. The last 32 will play in North and South groups of 16 to arrive at the last 16 players The final stages, last 16, will be played at the Atack Snooker Centre, Nuneaton.
All matches from the last 32 stage will be played with the new balls. At the time of writing it was reported that there were over 80 entries. There is no information on entry numbers for the new English National Championship.
BQR Golf Day
The BQR Golf meeting was a great success. We were very lucky with the weather and the course was in first class condition. The only drawback to the day was the fact that I awarded the third prize to the wrong man. There is little doubt that most of the billiards pros are much better at billiards than they are at golf. However, there were quite a few people there who are just a bit better at golf than at billiards. There were also a few who are pretty useless at either game - but they enjoy it.
A Musical Offering
Whilst listening to the radio the other day I heard for about the millionth time, a record of Frank Sinatra singing, if that is the correct term, "Mai - ai -ai y Way." You know, the one in which "Ole Blue Eyes," informs us that he bit of more than he could chew and then spat it out! He also goes on about doing something or other, "without exemption." Anyway, this particular load of drivel set me to thinking that maybe billiard players should have a theme song. Perhaps the tune could be played as background music as the Tournament Director introduces them to the spectator (usually me), or as is some times the case, the spectators. Maybe the tune could come in as back ground music at appropriate times during the game.
This age of technological miracles offers some intriguing possibilities, but just for musical starters how about the following:-
- Mike Russell: "Don't Worry; Be Happy" or "Always look on the Bright Side"
- Peter Gilchrist: "Feeling Groovy". (Hold on you move too fast) Geet Sethi (Raj Travel) "Come Fly with Me."
- Norman Dagley: "I'm in the Mood for Love."
- Michael Ferreira: "Yesterday" (All my troubles seemed so far away.)
- Robby Foldvari: "Around the world I've searched for you."
- Bob Close (Perhaps after just potting the white): "You know that was the last thing on my mind."
- Ian Williamson (When on a break): "Night and day"
- Roxton Chapman: "Hit me with your rhythm stick"
- For all Professionals outside the top half dozen or so: "Somewhere over the Rainbow" or maybe "I can dream can't I?".
Readers suggestions welcomed.
David Causier
BQR would like to congratulate David Causier on his remarkable professional debut. Causier played in three Grand Slam qualifying rounds and the World Championship. He qualified for the final stages of two of the Grand Slams, and lost to Mike Russell by only one game in the third. He lost by only four points to Peter Gilchrist in the world championship. I do not think that anyone including Russell, Dagley, or Gilchrist, has ever made such an immediate impression on the professional game. Causier is a formidable addition to the professional ranks, and it should not take him too long to reach the top eight.
