There will be a tournament on the 26th November, at the Corn Exchange, Derby. This tournament may be held as a, "Round Robin" - depending on numbers.
BQR has received the following letter from Arthur Johnson. It is through the good offices of Arthur that his company Auchton, Ltd, has for some years sponsored the Widnes Pro-Am. The Widnes event held on the 29th October attracted only some twenty competitors:-
Dear Tom,
Having sponsored many Mini-Prix events at both Widnes Snooker centre and Potters Club, Middlesbrough, my frustration regarding the politics between amateur and professional - so called - organisers of the game have finally got the better of me, and I have therefore made a decision to end my association with all events outside of my local area.
As many readers will be aware, the annual Pro-Am held at Widnes on the 29th October, was reported - and advertised - to be sponsored by the WPBSA Billiards Committee to the tune of £250. Chairman Mark Wildman had stated to the new Mini-Prix organiser, Stuart Bennett, that ten events would be sponsored each for £250 the first one to be held in Carlisle. The Carlisle event was indeed sponsored.
Six days prior to the Widnes event, local player Eddie McNicholas, informed the Widnes Snooker Centre owner, Nigel Benbow, that the sponsorship had been withdrawn. This information had been passed on to Eddie by Bob Close during a telephone conversation mainly relating to other matters. Nigel Benbow contacted the Mini-Prix Organiser who said that he was not aware that the sponsorship had been withdrawn. Stuart Bennett then contacted Mark Wildman who stated that he had been premature in telling him (Mr. Bennett) that the sponsorship was available, and that when the matter was recently put to the Billiards Committee. Messrs Everton and Close had voted to withdraw the sponsorship.
The writer has no problem with the sponsorship being withdrawn, that is the prerogative of the Committee. However, I would have thought that Messrs Wildman and Co., would have had the courtesy to inform the organiser rather than that all the interested parties should learn second hand from remarks made during a telephone conversation.
Quite frankly, if this is the style of organisational behaviour which exists, then I wish to have no further association with the Billiards Committee. Unfortunately, the only losers will be the billiards playing community. Lack of private sponsorship will reduce, if not totally destroy any further Mini-Prix events.
Arthur Johnson.
Ex Mini-Prix Sponsor, President Widnes & District B&S League, President Garston & District B&S League.
Well Arthur. I can remember the days when the Widnes Mini-Prix turn-out was always just about the best of the season precisely because of the enhanced prize money. The days when pros were glad of the opportunity to pick up two or three-hundred quid for a day's work. I might mention that I can also remember the days when top snooker professionals were glad to be engaged for a "One night stand," for a few hundred pounds! Widnes was an event which always attracted the top professionals. I have played there, and I have watched and admired such players as Russell, Gilchrist, Sethi, Ferreira, Close, Foldvari, top amateurs including Causier, Goodwill, Shutt, and many others. For some reason or other those days seem to have gone. Quite clearly the sponsorship has been withdrawn because of lack of support for the events. It seems that Mr. Bennett should not have been told that sponsorship was available until the matter had been put to a meeting of the full Billiards Committee.