The Army and Navy Billiard Championship, promoted by Thurston and Co., has made its usual successful appeal to sportsmen in both the Services. Even during the summer months some blue-jackets were so keen that they forwarded their entries from ships cruising in distant waters, but due home in time for the Championship. Soldiers serving in India and other stations beyond the seas also forwarded their names, with the explanation that they expected to be in England during the progress of the competition.
But, of course, the bulk of the entries poured in when the usual invitations were sent out to ships and units at home. Every post brought its quota of entries to Leicester Square, and by the time the last entry arrived it was evident that the fourth Army and Navy Championship had appealed as strongly as any of its predecessors to all ranks in both Services.
This gratifying result is due in no small measure to the efforts of individual officers, warrant officers, and non-commissioned officers, who have taken a close interest in the competition and worked really hard to ensure its success.
Obviously, it would be invidious to mention names in this connection, but the promoters are glad to take this opportunity of thanking those who have helped so splendidly.
They also desire to record their appreciation of the truly sporting spirit in which the Championship has been received ever since its commencement. This is the real secret of its success, it would be quite impossible to carry out such a gigantic competition year after year if the contestants were not the best of sportsmen; and it is indeed a solid tribute to the sporting qualities of soldiers and sailors that the thousands of games played since the Championship was started have never resulted in a single protest or dispute of sufficient gravity to give the promoters the least anxiety.
The idea of regimental and local championships grows apace every year, and it is to be hoped that this desirable feature will continue to increase and prosper. It adds greatly to the interest of the competition if a representative entry of cuemen from each unit is secured. They are invariably drawn against each other until the best man is produced, when he is pitted against the champion of the nearest unit. This provides many "local Derbies," and on such occasions Thurstons are often informed that— "The room was packed, and the game was honoured by the patronage of the Colonel and Officers of the Battalion."
It is to be hoped that this praiseworthy characteristic of the Championship will increase in popularity every year, until the competition is regarded as a means of settling the billiard championship in every unit and station. At present the best men in every unit and station enter as a matter of course, but in some parts they are not challenged, while in others a long list of competitors proves that the local champions will have to fight hard to maintain their supremacy. The latter tendency is in every way preferable, as the Championship is intended to provide the greatest amount of sport for the greatest number.
A glance through the long list of entries reveals many familiar names, including a couple who participated in the final games when the first Championship was decided. These are Sergeant Goundrill, of the 16th Lancers, who was a lance-corporal when Sir Edward Ward handed him his first medal, and Sergeant-Major Wark, R.A., who was a sergeant when the first Championship was won and lost.
Both these competitors must have quite a collection of finalists' medals, as they were in the last sixteen at Aldershot last year. In the Navy, the name of First-Class Steward Davis is very noticeable, and as he made a break of over ninety in his first game, it seems more than likely that we shall have the pleasure of witnessing his fine play in the concluding games this year. What a sight it will be if he and Thomas get into the final, and what weight the infantryman will be giving away, to be sure. Thomas is competing again, but as his result form is not to hand at the time of going to press, we have no indication of his form to date.
Mention of Thomas brings to mind the curious fact that if there had been a Championship prior to the introduction of the event by Thurston's, it would in all probability have fallen to a Private Thomas, who served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was a very good player indeed, and on leaving the ranks conceded a start to such a useful exponent as Mr. Virr—in the record before us he is credited with a break of 224. What the form will be like this year it is impossible to state with any certainty, as the number of results to hand at the time of writing is not sufficient to enable a reliable estimate to be formed. But as far as can be seen, the improvement manifested each year since the commencement of the Championship will be fully maintained. Breaks of forty or fifty are quite frequent, and prove that billiards in the Army and Navy continues on the up-grade. Representatives have been allotted as under. The venue for the final games has not been absolutely decided upon as yet, but will be notified in due course.
COMMANDS. No. OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
Aldershot.......... 3
Eastern............ 3
Irish.............. 1
London............. 2
Northern........... 1
Scottish........... 1
Southern........... 3
Western............ 1
Royal Navy......... 1