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Oswald-Sealy Trophy
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History of the Australian Billiards Championships
The Australian National Billiards Championship was first played in 1906, and has been played every year since (except during World Wars 1 and 2). This makes it one of the oldest prizes in Australian Sport.
For most of its history the championship field was entirely made up of the various state billiards champions, all of whom had to be amateurs. It often comes as a surprise to those outside the sport that the great Walter Lindrum never won an Australian National Billiards – he was a professional.
During the sport’s golden years, the championship was dominated by three great amateur players: Bob Marshall (19 wins), Jim Long (6 wins) and Tom Cleary (4 wins). Bob Marshall retired from competitive play in 1970, but in 1985 at the age of 76, he came out of retirement to again win the Australian championship. He was runner-up in the world championship that same year.
The Oswald-Sealy trophy, presented to the winner of the Australian National Billiards Championship, is an historical artifact in its own right, carrying the name of the champions since 1957. Cyril Hamilton Oswald-Sealy, after whom the trophy is named, was Treasurer of the Australian Amateur Billiards Council from 1935 to 1958. He also held the position of Secretary in 1935 and President in 1949. On his retirement from the Treasury in 1958 he was appointed the inaugural patron of the Council, a
title he held until 1984.
Robby Foldvari entered and won the 1982 & 1983 championships after which he turned professional where he won a number of titles including the World Professional in 1986, the World Matchplay in 1997 and the IBSF in 1998. Foldvari was the first overseas player to win the UK Professional championship in 1992 in it's 60 year history.
In 1986 the National championship was, for the first time, opened up to all comers – any Australian player could enter. Bob Marshall won it again! It has been an open entry event ever since.In recent years the event has been dominated by Matthew Bolton. He won 8 national titles in a row (the most by any player ever) until injury kept him out of the 2012 championships.
In 2001 the Australian Open billiards was added to the calendar – open to players from all countries. It has been won by Australians (Matthew Bolton 3 times, Steve Mifsud twice, David Collins twice, and Joe MInici once); and has also been won by international players (Pankaj Advani once and Peter Gilchrist twice).
In 2014 Matthew Bolton beat the long-standing National Championship record break with 736, beating Bob Marshall's break of 702 made in 1953.
The Australian National Billiards Championship was first played in 1906, and has been played every year since (except during World Wars 1 and 2). This makes it one of the oldest prizes in Australian Sport.
For most of its history the championship field was entirely made up of the various state billiards champions, all of whom had to be amateurs. It often comes as a surprise to those outside the sport that the great Walter Lindrum never won an Australian National Billiards – he was a professional.
During the sport’s golden years, the championship was dominated by three great amateur players: Bob Marshall (19 wins), Jim Long (6 wins) and Tom Cleary (4 wins). Bob Marshall retired from competitive play in 1970, but in 1985 at the age of 76, he came out of retirement to again win the Australian championship. He was runner-up in the world championship that same year.
The Oswald-Sealy trophy, presented to the winner of the Australian National Billiards Championship, is an historical artifact in its own right, carrying the name of the champions since 1957. Cyril Hamilton Oswald-Sealy, after whom the trophy is named, was Treasurer of the Australian Amateur Billiards Council from 1935 to 1958. He also held the position of Secretary in 1935 and President in 1949. On his retirement from the Treasury in 1958 he was appointed the inaugural patron of the Council, a
title he held until 1984.
Robby Foldvari entered and won the 1982 & 1983 championships after which he turned professional where he won a number of titles including the World Professional in 1986, the World Matchplay in 1997 and the IBSF in 1998. Foldvari was the first overseas player to win the UK Professional championship in 1992 in it's 60 year history.
In 1986 the National championship was, for the first time, opened up to all comers – any Australian player could enter. Bob Marshall won it again! It has been an open entry event ever since.In recent years the event has been dominated by Matthew Bolton. He won 8 national titles in a row (the most by any player ever) until injury kept him out of the 2012 championships.
In 2001 the Australian Open billiards was added to the calendar – open to players from all countries. It has been won by Australians (Matthew Bolton 3 times, Steve Mifsud twice, David Collins twice, and Joe MInici once); and has also been won by international players (Pankaj Advani once and Peter Gilchrist twice).
In 2014 Matthew Bolton beat the long-standing National Championship record break with 736, beating Bob Marshall's break of 702 made in 1953.
