The final games in the Army and Navy Billiards' Championship were decided during- the last week of April at the Church of England Soldiers' Institute, Aldershot. The Committee of the Institute very kindly placed their Concert Hall at the disposal of Thurston & Co., who erected a standard table specially for the occasion. Play was quite on the useful side all through the week, and some of the contests drew quite good houses. As a detailed statistical account of the various games is appended, it is only necessary to refer here to points of general interest.
First, let it be noted, that thanks to the admirable arrangements on the part of the Manager and staff of the Institute the competitors were made extremely comfortable and were quite a family party. Special thanks are due to the Rev. J. Pickance, who evinced the liveliest interest in the competition and supported it enthusiastically. The finals were under the distinguished patronage of General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Aldershot, and Major-General Lomax, General Officer Commanding the First Division, Aldershot, kindly attended on Saturday evening and presented the prizes and medals.
It is most gratifying to the promoters to see that year after year this Championship continues to merit and receive the patronage and support of those who hold important positions in the Service.
This has been the case ever since the commencement of the Championship, and shows that those in authority are ever keen to recognise and support anything which tends to improve the life of the soldier.
As regards the players, Private Thomas, 1st Leicestershire Regiment, is undoubtedly a cueman of more than average ability. He is a left-hander, and strikes a winning hazard with wonderful accuracy. His touch is quite good and he is endowed with considerable power of cue. In addition, he possesses a useful all-round knowledge of the game, and is sure to improve on his present form, good as he is already. His fault lies in framing his game rather too ambitiously. At the top of the table especially he is apt to play too "big" a game, which would prove tremendously costly against a player of his own class who did not take such risks.
Sergeant-Major Wark, the runner-up, did not do himself justice in the final game. He is quite a useful player, with a very pretty style, and a sound knowledge of the game. But he lacks that continuity of accuracy which makes for big breaks, and in the final, although the balls ran atrociously for him at times, he was undoubtedly well beaten by the better man.
Sergeant-Major Plunkett and Corporal Goundrill, the two other semi-finalists, are both cuemen who could more than hold their own in quite useful amateur billiards, and the same may be said of the remainder of the competitors.
At the conclusion of the final, Major-General Lomax congratulated the winner and expressed his appreciation of the Shield and prizes presented by Thurston & Co. Mr. C. Howard Craggs.
Managing Director of Thurstons, made a suitable response, and the Rev. J. Pickance was also good enough to speak. A hearty and unanimous vote of thanks to the General was passed with acclamation, and the proceedings terminated after Sergeant-Major Plunkett had said a few words of thanks on behalf of the competitors.
Sgt.-Major F. Wark, R.H.A., v Sgt. W. C. Frith, R.G.A., 400-372. Breaks: (Wark) 20, 28, 34. (Frith) 20, 20, 22, 29. Time: 1 hour 25 minutes.
Corpl. Brain, 2/S.W.B., v. Cr.-Sgt. Nolan, Dublin Fus., 282-400. Breaks: (Brain) 19, 21, 15, 16,18, 14unf. (Nolan) 15, 35, 27, 17, 17, 19, 16, Time: 1 hour 50 minutes.
L.-Sgt. McDermott 2/D.F., v. Cpl. A. Goundrill, 16th Lancers, 276-400. Breaks: (McDermott) 21, 18, 15, 20, 44, 18, 21. (Goundrill) 19, 15, 15, 27, 29, 19, 19, 35, 26, 31unf. 24 and 30 off red. Time: 1 hour 55 minutes.
Gr. R. S. Adams, 136 By. R.F.A., v. Sgt. Symons, K.R.R., 227-400. Breaks: (Adams) 16, 20, 11, 17, 18, 16. (Symons) 17, 18, 17, 37, 20, 34, 56. Time: 1 hour 55 minutes.
Sgt. Gosterlow 1st Hants. R., v. Pte. Thomas, Leicester Rgt., 200-400. Breaks: (Gosterlow) 37, 17, 15, 18. (Thomas) 18, 33, 26, 28, 38, 51. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
C.E.R.A. R. J. Real H.M.S. "Caesar" v. C.S.I.M. Dickson, A.S. Walk-over for Dickson.
Sgt.-Major Plunkett, v. C.S.I.M. J. Dickson, A. & S.H., 400-307. Breaks: (Plunkett) 13, 15, 23, 31, 53, 22, 36. (Dickson) 18, 17, 33, 23, 19, 16, 18. Time: 1 hour 45 minutes.
Sgt.-Major F. Wark, R.H.A. v. Sgt. Symons, K.R.R., 400-390. Breaks: (Wark) 18, 16, 18, 18, 20, 27, 31, 27, 34unf. (Symons) 15, 16, 15, 38, 16, 22, 27, 23, 25. Time: 1 hour 55 minutes.
Cr.-Sgt. Nolan, Dublin Fus. v. Pte. Thomas, Leicester Regt., 247-400. Breaks: (Nolan) 16, 16, 17, 17, 31, 41, (Thomas) 47, 29, 36, 32, 35, 18, 75. 19, 17. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
Corpl. A. Goundrill, 16th Lancers, bye.
Sgt.-Major Plunkett, v. Sgt.-Major F. Wark, R.H.A., 614-750. Breaks: (Plunkett) 19, 19, 19, 26, 38, 32, 30, 37, 24.(Wark) 22, 25, 34, 19, 19, 47, 24, 39, 35, 25, 26. Time: 3 hours 25 minutes.
Pte. Thomas, Leicester Regt., v. Cpl. A. Goundrill, 16th Lancers, 750-530. Breaks: (Thomas) 25, 23, 33, 33, 28, 61, 60, 21, 21, 78, 23, 34, 41, 24, 26, 24unf. (Goundrill) 29, 25, 19, 18, 27, 28, 27, Time: 2 hours 55 minutes.
Private Thomas, 1st Leicestershire Regt., beat Sergt.-Major Wark, R.H.A., Woolwich, by 487. Breaks: (Thomas) 79, 48, 45, 48, 41, 40. (Wark) 26, 22, 21.