In spite of considerable research, we have been unable to ascertain the date of the birth of Edwin Kentfield. No mention is made of it in that standard authority, the Badminton "Billiards," which, after stating that Kentfield held undisputed possession of the title of champion for twenty-four years, gives the following interesting information concerning the subject of our sketch: — "There is no doubt that Edwin Kentfield, who died in 1873, was very superior to most of his profession. He was a man of refined tastes, passionately devoted to horticulture, with which he was thoroughly conversant, and he had the shrewdness to see that the table and all the accessories of the game which were in use when he began to play were very crude and imperfect, the tables having list cushions, wooden beds, and coarse baize coverings. He spent many years in improving tables, cushions, balls, cues, etc., and, thanks to his energy, and to the acumen of Mr. John Thurston—the founder of the present well-known firm of billiard table makers, who thoroughly believed in Kentfield, and was always ready to support his views and carry out his suggested improvements—the old order of things was gradually superseded by rubber cushions, slate beds, and fine cloths."
Various impressions of Edwin Kentfieid (better known as Jonathan; as a player have been handed down to us. Mr..Mardon, an old writer on the game, wrote: "Were I to relate all the extraordinary performances of Mr. Kentfield at the period when list cushions and pockets of large dimensions were in vogue, the reader would imagine I was bordering on romance. On one occasion, when playing the winning game, 21 up, Mr. Kentfield gave his opponent 18 points, and won sixteen successive games, in playing the winning and losing games, 24 up, he won ten games, his adversary never scoring. The games were thus played: Mr. Kentfield, in playing off, doubled the red ball for one of the baulk corner pockets, placing his own ball under the side cushion. His opponent played to drop it into the corner pocket, failed, and left on each occasion a cannon; that was made and the games were all won off the balls. At another time he was playing the non-cushion game, 16 up. On going off he twisted his ball into the corner pocket off the red, and won in that manner six games, his adversary not having a stroke. Desirous of ascertaining how many games of 24 up could.be played within the hour, he commenced the task with a player of considerable eminence; and they completed thirty games within the specified time. Forty seven games of 100 up were also played in eight and a half hours. In a match that did not exceed two hundred games, he beat his opponent eighty-five love games."
It is but fair to point out that the foregoing account of Kentfield's prowess is handled severely but justly in the Badminton "Billiards," and it is certain that we must turn to other sources to get a correct view of Kentfield as a cueman. Mr. Mardon is too blind a worshipper of his idol for our purpose. Captain Crawley says of Kentfield: "In my day, Kentfield—or Jonathan, as he is called—was the great player. His forté lay rather in cannons and gentle hazards than in tours de force. The difference between his play and that of Roberts, Bowles, Hughes, or any of the great 'cracks' of these times, is that he makes very little use of the side-stroke, while they employ it for almost every hazard." One of these "cracks," John Roberts, sen., said of Kentfield, that he "played a very artistic game, but possessed very little power of cue. He depended on slow twists and fancy screws, and rarely attempted a brilliant forcing hazard. He gave misses, and made baulks whenever practicable, and never departed from the strict game." His best break was 196, and his record at the spot stroke was 57 consecutive hazards. As an author he was responsible, in 1839, for: "The Game of Billiards: Scientifically Explained and practically set forth, in a series of novel and extraordinary but equally practical strokes; and illustrated by numerous appropriate diagrams." This volume was published by John Thurston, reprinted in 1886, and for years held a leading position among books on billiards. Notwithstanding the vast number of books of instruction which have appeared since that date, there is still a considerable sale for Kentfield's production.
"The historical meeting between Kentfield and John Roberts, sen., is well worth noticing," says "John Roberts' Billiards Annual." "This was in the beginning of 1849, at Brighton, in the Cocoa Tree Club. Mr. Roberts explained that he was the best player in Lancashire, and wanted to play with him (Kentfield). It is said that the interview between the two took place in a private room, which Kentfield locked, so that no one could see the game. They commenced a friendly game of 100 on level terms, this game Kentfield won by 40. They started another, which Roberts won by 30, but Kentfield won the third game. Kentfield wished to know whether Roberts was now satisfied that he could not beat him. Roberts replied in his characteristic fashion that he could give him ' twenty in one hundred easily and beat him/ Roberts and his friends tried every inducement with Kentfield to get him to play a game for the championship, but Kentfield declined to be drawn. He had nothing to gain but everything to lose by risking a contest. Roberts then assumed the title of champion in 1849."
The portrait of Edwin Kentfield, like that of John Roberts, sen., which appeared last month, is a reproduction of a unique water-colour drawing painted in 1859 by G. Watkins, and now in the possession of Thurston and Co.