Bob Close makes a 398 break in the CIU Qtrs.
The year 1984 seems to be the beginning of the Open Billiards Competitions in the UK. Dagley beats Close in a Comp in Clacton, 453 to 143, while in another Open Comp in Grimsby, Close defeated Everton by 246 to 169
Adverts for the Personalised Snooker Towel appear. Obviously a must-have accessory for the up and coming Billiard player too. I presume you all possess one of these?
A World Professional Title in London was won by Ray Edmonds defeating Norman Dagley by 3 games to 1, each game of 400 up. Alex Higgins also entered but was beaten I the first round by Ray Edmonds 3-0.. In the Qtrs. Dagley beat Karnehm 3-0, Foldvari beat Fred Davis 3-0, Wildman beat Francisco 3-0 and Edmonds beat Ian Williamson 3-1. Highest breaks were 253 by Dagley, 245 by Wildman and 252 by Edmonds.
Ray Edmonds wins the Eng. Am for the 3rd time defeating Ken Shirley by 2493 to 2060, Dagley having turned professional. No breaks of any significance from the last 16 onwards.
It was said that the conditions were “appalling” with the behaviour of the tables highly questionable for such a major tournament of the amateur game.
1985, the year of THAT famous Crucible Final, with its “unforgettable climax”. I’m sure you can guess what it was.
Table for sale advertised, with 12 legs, said to be one of the 3 original tables so built, by Burroughs and Watts. It claims to have been played on by Lindrum, Smith, McConachy and Davis, with 12 Thousand breaks on it by Lindrum, and 2 each by Smith, McConachy and Davis. Owner selling up and going abroad. Anyone know who that might be?
Bob Close wins the CIU for the fourth time in succession. Defeating Alf Nolan by 696 to 566.
Bob Marshall returns from retirement after 15 year, at age of 75, to win the West Oz championship, defeating Neil Bolton (any relation to Matthew Bolton?) by 1051 to 919. Marshall had previously won the World AM four times, 1936, 1938, 1951 and 1962, and had won the Oz title 19 times between 1936 and 1970
Marshall also wins the Oz Am title defeating Phil Tarrant by 2205 to 2036. Marshall despite his arthritis recovered from being 200 down with 30 minutes to play. Marshall had 15 centuries in the tournament and a high break of 186. Can’t be bad for a 75 year old, eh?
Marshall previously held the world record break (in 1953) of 702 under the 2 pot rule before being overtaken by Subash Agrawal’s 716 in 1984.
Mike Russell and Peter Gilchrist come on the scene, Russell winning the UK under 16 title, including a break of 92. And in the Under 19 title Stephen Naisby defeated Peter Gilchrist by 306 to 181
Clive Everton wins a pro-am in Cheltenham defeating Herbert Beetham by 278 to 104. Other notable names in the tournament were Wildman, Tom Terry (Of Quarterly Review fame), John Murphy, Dick Watts, Ken Shirley, Des Heald, Hugh Pinner, Terry Ward, and Bill Dennison.
Harry Walsh defeats Noor Rahim for the London title. I played Noor a number of times in the Hammersmith League. I believe he represented Ceylon in the World Am at one time in the past.
Geet Sethi, youngest ever winner, defeats Bob Marshall to win the World Am title in Delhi by 3809 to 2453, Marshall being the oldest ever finalist. It was said that conditions were ideal for the final, with the table running true and at a speed of 3 and a half to 4 lengths.
In Group A Marshall finished top with 7 wins out of 7 and Ferreira 6 out of 7. Top breaks were 396 unfinished by Marshall and 347 by Ferreira, with Ferreira’s only loss against Marshall.
In Group B Sethi finished top with 7 wins and Agrawal second with 6. Top breaks were 604 by Sethi and 599 by Agrawal.
In the first semi Ferreira led by 600 before being overtaken by Sethi, Sethi winning by 2513 to 2379, and had a double and triple in the game.
In the second semi Marshall thrashed Agrawal by 2782 to 1872, with a double and a triple also,
In the final Sethi trailed by over 200 in the first session. Marshall tired thereafter and Sethi stamped his authority on the game with a break of 546, 348 and further breaks of 119,235 and 225 to run out a clear winner.
It was said that Sethi’s strength was at Postman’s Knock, a skill that he learnt from Satish Mohan, before Mohan’s untimely retirement from the game.
In a pro Am at Windsor Joe Jordan defeated Mark Wildman by 349 to 349.Wildman with a 157 break was pulled back by Jordan with breaks of 105, 105 and 78 to lead by 11 with 30 seconds on the clock. Wildman score 10, then DROPPED HIS BALL ON THE FLOOR, and was unable to retrieve it fast enough to score the cannon that would have won him the match. I know we have all won and lost games in tight finishes, but DROPPING your balls is surely a no-no.
I note also that one Roy Bacon won the plate at this event defeating P Webb by 144 to 89. I’m sure I played him once before when he stuffed me in the Eng. Am with a 170+ (Sorry Roy, I forgive you)
In the Ilford pro-Am Hugh Pinner defeated Eugene Hughes by 307 to 264. In the semis Hughes beat Gilchrist and Pinner beat Everton. On a personal note at a time when Eugene Hughes stock was in the rise in snooker circles, I defeated him in a best of 5 Snooker Am tournament in Richmond. I can’t imagine he has ever forgiven me, as one Irishman to another.
Robbie Foldvari wins the Oz Professional title defeating Paddy Morgan by 3608 to 3238. Morgan from Belfast emigrated to Oz land some time before, had held the Oz pro title since 1972. High break in the match was a run of 327 by Foldvari. Averages for the match were 19.6 and 18.3 by Morgan.
The B&SCC propose that all matches in the Eng. Am, up to the last 16 should be played on the basis of best of 3 at 200 up, best of 3 at 250 up for last 16, and best of 3 games of 300 in the semis and final. I have entered the Eng. Am every year since around 1972 and for the life of me I cannot remember this arrangement. Can anyone else?
I notice that a Cushion Rest is advertised for sale, with one leg and the second leg capable of being swivelled onto the cushion if need be, otherwise it is an extended leg with suitable cue level capability. Anyone ever use one of these?
So also is the Tele Cue, a cue with telescopic extension capability. Was this the forerunner to the butt extension capability that is now the standard accessory for all wannabes?
A pro-Am at Kings Cross in London was won by Mark Wildman defeating Norman Dagley by 248-247. All of these pro-Ams were played on an hour basis. All the usual suspects of the time turned up. In the Qtrs. Wildman beat Andress, Ward beat Hayward, Dagley beat Russell, Hughes beat Jordan. It was said that Russell showed outstanding capability for such a young player beating Pinner, Heald and Beetham on his way to the Qtrs.
In another pro-Am at Rugby Foldvari beat Dagley by 386 to 135.
I think 1985 was the beginning of the Billiards pro-Am tournaments, all played over an hour, a blind draw, you pays your money and get on with it. I hugely enjoyed those matches when you were more than likely to meet the crème de la crème of the billiard world as not. Twas bliss.
(Reminder - all "Down Memory Lane" articles writte by Jerry Conba, UK).
The year 1984 seems to be the beginning of the Open Billiards Competitions in the UK. Dagley beats Close in a Comp in Clacton, 453 to 143, while in another Open Comp in Grimsby, Close defeated Everton by 246 to 169
Adverts for the Personalised Snooker Towel appear. Obviously a must-have accessory for the up and coming Billiard player too. I presume you all possess one of these?
A World Professional Title in London was won by Ray Edmonds defeating Norman Dagley by 3 games to 1, each game of 400 up. Alex Higgins also entered but was beaten I the first round by Ray Edmonds 3-0.. In the Qtrs. Dagley beat Karnehm 3-0, Foldvari beat Fred Davis 3-0, Wildman beat Francisco 3-0 and Edmonds beat Ian Williamson 3-1. Highest breaks were 253 by Dagley, 245 by Wildman and 252 by Edmonds.
Ray Edmonds wins the Eng. Am for the 3rd time defeating Ken Shirley by 2493 to 2060, Dagley having turned professional. No breaks of any significance from the last 16 onwards.
It was said that the conditions were “appalling” with the behaviour of the tables highly questionable for such a major tournament of the amateur game.
1985, the year of THAT famous Crucible Final, with its “unforgettable climax”. I’m sure you can guess what it was.
Table for sale advertised, with 12 legs, said to be one of the 3 original tables so built, by Burroughs and Watts. It claims to have been played on by Lindrum, Smith, McConachy and Davis, with 12 Thousand breaks on it by Lindrum, and 2 each by Smith, McConachy and Davis. Owner selling up and going abroad. Anyone know who that might be?
Bob Close wins the CIU for the fourth time in succession. Defeating Alf Nolan by 696 to 566.
Bob Marshall returns from retirement after 15 year, at age of 75, to win the West Oz championship, defeating Neil Bolton (any relation to Matthew Bolton?) by 1051 to 919. Marshall had previously won the World AM four times, 1936, 1938, 1951 and 1962, and had won the Oz title 19 times between 1936 and 1970
Marshall also wins the Oz Am title defeating Phil Tarrant by 2205 to 2036. Marshall despite his arthritis recovered from being 200 down with 30 minutes to play. Marshall had 15 centuries in the tournament and a high break of 186. Can’t be bad for a 75 year old, eh?
Marshall previously held the world record break (in 1953) of 702 under the 2 pot rule before being overtaken by Subash Agrawal’s 716 in 1984.
Mike Russell and Peter Gilchrist come on the scene, Russell winning the UK under 16 title, including a break of 92. And in the Under 19 title Stephen Naisby defeated Peter Gilchrist by 306 to 181
Clive Everton wins a pro-am in Cheltenham defeating Herbert Beetham by 278 to 104. Other notable names in the tournament were Wildman, Tom Terry (Of Quarterly Review fame), John Murphy, Dick Watts, Ken Shirley, Des Heald, Hugh Pinner, Terry Ward, and Bill Dennison.
Harry Walsh defeats Noor Rahim for the London title. I played Noor a number of times in the Hammersmith League. I believe he represented Ceylon in the World Am at one time in the past.
Geet Sethi, youngest ever winner, defeats Bob Marshall to win the World Am title in Delhi by 3809 to 2453, Marshall being the oldest ever finalist. It was said that conditions were ideal for the final, with the table running true and at a speed of 3 and a half to 4 lengths.
In Group A Marshall finished top with 7 wins out of 7 and Ferreira 6 out of 7. Top breaks were 396 unfinished by Marshall and 347 by Ferreira, with Ferreira’s only loss against Marshall.
In Group B Sethi finished top with 7 wins and Agrawal second with 6. Top breaks were 604 by Sethi and 599 by Agrawal.
In the first semi Ferreira led by 600 before being overtaken by Sethi, Sethi winning by 2513 to 2379, and had a double and triple in the game.
In the second semi Marshall thrashed Agrawal by 2782 to 1872, with a double and a triple also,
In the final Sethi trailed by over 200 in the first session. Marshall tired thereafter and Sethi stamped his authority on the game with a break of 546, 348 and further breaks of 119,235 and 225 to run out a clear winner.
It was said that Sethi’s strength was at Postman’s Knock, a skill that he learnt from Satish Mohan, before Mohan’s untimely retirement from the game.
In a pro Am at Windsor Joe Jordan defeated Mark Wildman by 349 to 349.Wildman with a 157 break was pulled back by Jordan with breaks of 105, 105 and 78 to lead by 11 with 30 seconds on the clock. Wildman score 10, then DROPPED HIS BALL ON THE FLOOR, and was unable to retrieve it fast enough to score the cannon that would have won him the match. I know we have all won and lost games in tight finishes, but DROPPING your balls is surely a no-no.
I note also that one Roy Bacon won the plate at this event defeating P Webb by 144 to 89. I’m sure I played him once before when he stuffed me in the Eng. Am with a 170+ (Sorry Roy, I forgive you)
In the Ilford pro-Am Hugh Pinner defeated Eugene Hughes by 307 to 264. In the semis Hughes beat Gilchrist and Pinner beat Everton. On a personal note at a time when Eugene Hughes stock was in the rise in snooker circles, I defeated him in a best of 5 Snooker Am tournament in Richmond. I can’t imagine he has ever forgiven me, as one Irishman to another.
Robbie Foldvari wins the Oz Professional title defeating Paddy Morgan by 3608 to 3238. Morgan from Belfast emigrated to Oz land some time before, had held the Oz pro title since 1972. High break in the match was a run of 327 by Foldvari. Averages for the match were 19.6 and 18.3 by Morgan.
The B&SCC propose that all matches in the Eng. Am, up to the last 16 should be played on the basis of best of 3 at 200 up, best of 3 at 250 up for last 16, and best of 3 games of 300 in the semis and final. I have entered the Eng. Am every year since around 1972 and for the life of me I cannot remember this arrangement. Can anyone else?
I notice that a Cushion Rest is advertised for sale, with one leg and the second leg capable of being swivelled onto the cushion if need be, otherwise it is an extended leg with suitable cue level capability. Anyone ever use one of these?
So also is the Tele Cue, a cue with telescopic extension capability. Was this the forerunner to the butt extension capability that is now the standard accessory for all wannabes?
A pro-Am at Kings Cross in London was won by Mark Wildman defeating Norman Dagley by 248-247. All of these pro-Ams were played on an hour basis. All the usual suspects of the time turned up. In the Qtrs. Wildman beat Andress, Ward beat Hayward, Dagley beat Russell, Hughes beat Jordan. It was said that Russell showed outstanding capability for such a young player beating Pinner, Heald and Beetham on his way to the Qtrs.
In another pro-Am at Rugby Foldvari beat Dagley by 386 to 135.
I think 1985 was the beginning of the Billiards pro-Am tournaments, all played over an hour, a blind draw, you pays your money and get on with it. I hugely enjoyed those matches when you were more than likely to meet the crème de la crème of the billiard world as not. Twas bliss.
(Reminder - all "Down Memory Lane" articles writte by Jerry Conba, UK).