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Peter Gilchrist Interview
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Introduction
Peter needs little introduction to most billiards and cue sports enthusiasts. Born in England, and now living in and playing for Singapore, Peter holds the world record break made under the current rules, a break of 1346 made in Hamilton, New Zealand, on 6th October 2007. He also hold the world record break in the 150-up format, a break of 157 unfinished made at the IBSF world championships in Carlow, Ireland in 2011 (getting to 149 and then making an 8-shot). He has won the world billiards championship in all formats. He is one of only a handful of players in the history of the game to make witnessed breaks of 1000+ in billiards and 147 in snooker. He is one of the great showmen in the sport today - very entertaining and stylish to watch.
Peter needs little introduction to most billiards and cue sports enthusiasts. Born in England, and now living in and playing for Singapore, Peter holds the world record break made under the current rules, a break of 1346 made in Hamilton, New Zealand, on 6th October 2007. He also hold the world record break in the 150-up format, a break of 157 unfinished made at the IBSF world championships in Carlow, Ireland in 2011 (getting to 149 and then making an 8-shot). He has won the world billiards championship in all formats. He is one of only a handful of players in the history of the game to make witnessed breaks of 1000+ in billiards and 147 in snooker. He is one of the great showmen in the sport today - very entertaining and stylish to watch.
Interview with Peter Gilchrist – March 2016
Billiards Australia: How old were you when you first started playing? Where was the billiard room?
Peter: 12 Years old- at the local fire station, Dad was a fire officer.
Billiards Australia: Tell us a little about the Teeside boys club? Why did it produce so many great players? Do you think that success could be reproduced somewhere today?
Peter: Ralph Macklin and Albert Hanson were the reason for the Teeside Boys League being such a huge success. The local working men's clubs would allow members sons into the club to play on the tables from 9am to 11.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings... And at its peak, had over 500 players competing. I don't think it could be replicated today, as kids are more interested in computer games.
Billiards Australia: Who was your first coach (or who first showed you the basic billiard shots)?
Peter: A guy called Walter Ormeston, he ran the boys team at Acklam Steelworks.
Billiards Australia: How long before you made your first 100 break at billiards? Do you still remember that day?
Peter: I was 16 years old and it was a 107 break... Missed a run through inn off with maximum right hand side... was in all the way- but short of speed.
Billiards Australia: When you were a young man improving, before you won your first major event, how many hours a week did you practice?
Peter: About 20 hours per week.
Peter: Billiards Australia: If you watch sport on TV (not billiards and snooker) – what do you watch?
Peter: Mainly football- that's real football- not the rubbish you watch in Australia, where you can use your hands!
Billiards Australia: Who do you follow?
Peter: Middlesbrough. We are leading the championship at the moment so hopefully will go up to Premier league next year.
Billiards Australia: Who is your sporting hero (outside of cue sports)? Why?
Peter: I've always liked Muhammad Ali- he stood up for his rights.
Billiards Australia: How many different cues have you used in competition over the years?
Peter: I started off with a 7 mm tip, as Bob Close was the best billiards player around the Teeside area- and that's what he used. My tip is about 9.7 mm now- I've used 4 different cues throughout my career.
Billiards Australia: Tell us about your current cue – how long have you had it, how long is it, how much does it weigh, maple or ash, what size tip do you use.
Peter: My cue is a Green Baize- has a 9.7 mm tip, 19 oz, 58 inches and is maple.
Billiards Australia: In my view, your cue action and stance is as near as possible to perfect. Is there anything you would change?
Peter: My back plays up now and then, so that's a problem- I lift my bridge hand on long in-offs, which isn't ideal!
Billiards Australia: How many countries have you played in? Is too many to name here?
Peter: Yes, too many to name! I’ve been to India about 50 times- billiards was quite big there about 20 years ago.
Billiards Australia: How important do you think it is for tournaments to provide good conditions? Would you rather see more events, even if the table conditions were not always terrific?
Peter: It's great to play in perfect conditions, but the more events the better for me.
Billiards Australia: I understand that you had to give up your UK passport when you became coach of Singapore. Was that a difficult decision? Any regrets?
Peter: No regrets, Singapore is a lovely country and I'm very fortunate to live here. I'm also quite lucky, as I manage to get back to the UK a few times a year for tournaments.
Billiards Australia: Which of the formats do you prefer (150 up, long up, timed)?
Peter: As a spectator, I prefer the 150 ups. As a player, I prefer long matches.
Billiards Australia: You hold the world record break under the current rules in both the timed and 150 up events, and have won several world championships. Do you still have goals in the sport?
Peter: No, not really, I just hope I can still enjoy playing.
Billiards Australia: Of all the billiard players you have seen play, who do you admire the most and why?
Peter: I've always liked the way Norman Dagley played- he had a great cue action.
Billiards Australia: I have seen you arrive at both minor events and world championships, and you never seem concerned about getting any table time before your first match. Why is this?
Peter: I've been competing for over 30 years, so a little bit of table time before the match doesn't make much difference.
Billiards Australia: How did you enjoy your time in Australia in September? What did you think of the new venue?
Peter: I loved my time in Australia- always do. The venue was fantastic.
Billiards Australia: Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about coming to Australia?
Peter: I love the people there.... I hate the flight- too long.
Billiards Australia: Do you think there is any particular weakness in your game – anything you would like to do better (technical or mental).
Peter: I'm quite happy with my game as long as I can put the hours on the practice table in.
Billiards Australia: This is just my assessment, but I think at times I’ve seen you struggle between choosing to play a safety shot (when it is called for) and playing a big crowd-pleasing shot. Is that a fair assessment? Do you enjoy being entertaining?
Peter: If there was a lot more money in the game, you would see a lot more safety shots!
Billiards Australia: You seem very relaxed, even in pressure matches, often having a joke with the other player or the referee or spectators. Is this just your personality, or is it also your way of relieving pressure?
Peter: I just want to enjoy playing really. If I’m not enjoying it, then there's no point in playing.
Billiards Australia: What is your proudest achievement in billiards?
Peter: Winning the World Championship in 1994... It meant a lot at the time.
Billiards Australia: I know you have a view on the recent split between IBSF and WBL? Would you like to share that view? Is there an outcome you would like to see?
Peter: I would just like to see the best players in the World all at the same tournaments.
Billiards Australia: Thanks for your time. Much appreciated.
Peter: My pleasure. Keep up the great work.
Billiards Australia: How old were you when you first started playing? Where was the billiard room?
Peter: 12 Years old- at the local fire station, Dad was a fire officer.
Billiards Australia: Tell us a little about the Teeside boys club? Why did it produce so many great players? Do you think that success could be reproduced somewhere today?
Peter: Ralph Macklin and Albert Hanson were the reason for the Teeside Boys League being such a huge success. The local working men's clubs would allow members sons into the club to play on the tables from 9am to 11.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings... And at its peak, had over 500 players competing. I don't think it could be replicated today, as kids are more interested in computer games.
Billiards Australia: Who was your first coach (or who first showed you the basic billiard shots)?
Peter: A guy called Walter Ormeston, he ran the boys team at Acklam Steelworks.
Billiards Australia: How long before you made your first 100 break at billiards? Do you still remember that day?
Peter: I was 16 years old and it was a 107 break... Missed a run through inn off with maximum right hand side... was in all the way- but short of speed.
Billiards Australia: When you were a young man improving, before you won your first major event, how many hours a week did you practice?
Peter: About 20 hours per week.
Peter: Billiards Australia: If you watch sport on TV (not billiards and snooker) – what do you watch?
Peter: Mainly football- that's real football- not the rubbish you watch in Australia, where you can use your hands!
Billiards Australia: Who do you follow?
Peter: Middlesbrough. We are leading the championship at the moment so hopefully will go up to Premier league next year.
Billiards Australia: Who is your sporting hero (outside of cue sports)? Why?
Peter: I've always liked Muhammad Ali- he stood up for his rights.
Billiards Australia: How many different cues have you used in competition over the years?
Peter: I started off with a 7 mm tip, as Bob Close was the best billiards player around the Teeside area- and that's what he used. My tip is about 9.7 mm now- I've used 4 different cues throughout my career.
Billiards Australia: Tell us about your current cue – how long have you had it, how long is it, how much does it weigh, maple or ash, what size tip do you use.
Peter: My cue is a Green Baize- has a 9.7 mm tip, 19 oz, 58 inches and is maple.
Billiards Australia: In my view, your cue action and stance is as near as possible to perfect. Is there anything you would change?
Peter: My back plays up now and then, so that's a problem- I lift my bridge hand on long in-offs, which isn't ideal!
Billiards Australia: How many countries have you played in? Is too many to name here?
Peter: Yes, too many to name! I’ve been to India about 50 times- billiards was quite big there about 20 years ago.
Billiards Australia: How important do you think it is for tournaments to provide good conditions? Would you rather see more events, even if the table conditions were not always terrific?
Peter: It's great to play in perfect conditions, but the more events the better for me.
Billiards Australia: I understand that you had to give up your UK passport when you became coach of Singapore. Was that a difficult decision? Any regrets?
Peter: No regrets, Singapore is a lovely country and I'm very fortunate to live here. I'm also quite lucky, as I manage to get back to the UK a few times a year for tournaments.
Billiards Australia: Which of the formats do you prefer (150 up, long up, timed)?
Peter: As a spectator, I prefer the 150 ups. As a player, I prefer long matches.
Billiards Australia: You hold the world record break under the current rules in both the timed and 150 up events, and have won several world championships. Do you still have goals in the sport?
Peter: No, not really, I just hope I can still enjoy playing.
Billiards Australia: Of all the billiard players you have seen play, who do you admire the most and why?
Peter: I've always liked the way Norman Dagley played- he had a great cue action.
Billiards Australia: I have seen you arrive at both minor events and world championships, and you never seem concerned about getting any table time before your first match. Why is this?
Peter: I've been competing for over 30 years, so a little bit of table time before the match doesn't make much difference.
Billiards Australia: How did you enjoy your time in Australia in September? What did you think of the new venue?
Peter: I loved my time in Australia- always do. The venue was fantastic.
Billiards Australia: Is there anything in particular you like or dislike about coming to Australia?
Peter: I love the people there.... I hate the flight- too long.
Billiards Australia: Do you think there is any particular weakness in your game – anything you would like to do better (technical or mental).
Peter: I'm quite happy with my game as long as I can put the hours on the practice table in.
Billiards Australia: This is just my assessment, but I think at times I’ve seen you struggle between choosing to play a safety shot (when it is called for) and playing a big crowd-pleasing shot. Is that a fair assessment? Do you enjoy being entertaining?
Peter: If there was a lot more money in the game, you would see a lot more safety shots!
Billiards Australia: You seem very relaxed, even in pressure matches, often having a joke with the other player or the referee or spectators. Is this just your personality, or is it also your way of relieving pressure?
Peter: I just want to enjoy playing really. If I’m not enjoying it, then there's no point in playing.
Billiards Australia: What is your proudest achievement in billiards?
Peter: Winning the World Championship in 1994... It meant a lot at the time.
Billiards Australia: I know you have a view on the recent split between IBSF and WBL? Would you like to share that view? Is there an outcome you would like to see?
Peter: I would just like to see the best players in the World all at the same tournaments.
Billiards Australia: Thanks for your time. Much appreciated.
Peter: My pleasure. Keep up the great work.
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