Mark Carrington a close friend of mine who I have mentioned before is an ex-pro Snooker Player rang and we arranged to have a game tonight. We played Snooker first he won 6-0. Having a 55, and a 40+ in every frame.
We then played 200 up at Billiards, he said he had been looking at Martins site and watched a few games on the internet. He started with a 37 and a few 8-10 breaks. I came back scoring only 10's and 12's. I managed to get ahead slowly when he knocked in a 48 mainly from losers and top of the table, he missed a simple red. I played safe he slammed in a long red and got 38 next visit.
I soldiered on and managed to peg him back I eventually scored a 20 and a 19 to win by 16 points. What annoyed me most about this is I look at all the practice I have put in over the past months and he beats my highest break without any difficulty.
Damn Game. I know I won by scoring lots of little breaks but sooner or later he will thrash me every time we play.
He has decided to enter a few of the ABC comps to see how he gets on, I shouldn't be sad at least its a game.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Top of the Table
First chance of a practice since my holidays. Went up to the club, as usual no one to play but had two hours of reasonable play. Despite being a little rusty most of my shots were crisp. I resumed my new cue action without problem in fact I don't know how I managed to pot a ball before.
Played a few set pieces and concentrated on playing from the middle to the top of the table and trying to score as many as possible. I seemed to find the floating top the best just holding the white around the black spot and running back up to the middle when out of position.
It's only when you try this you realise how hard it is. Got a couple of 20-30 breaks from this position before either missing or running out of position. The worst thing is once I move the other players ball away from around the black spot I usually cannot bring it back. (Geet or Mike seem to have no trouble at all).
At 9-30pm an old chap came upstairs and asked if I wanted a game of Snooker. I agreed and set up the balls. He wasn't very good, but going from Billiards to Snooker is a little strange. For the first 10 minutes I couldn't pot a ball. He smashed to pack open and left me a long straight red.
I potted it in the bottom and ran in a 54 break. I missed a Red in the Yellow Bag after running out of position. I was delighted with this especially on such a tight table and especially as I had not played much snooker since February.
As usual after a break I could not pot a ball, But won by about 90.
I have just checked my diary's and realised it's two years since i had a 50+ break at Snooker. My god I used to get them in my Sleep. Strange really must be an eye thing, in 2004 I had 4 breaks over 50 in the league and a 65 in the individuals. 2005, None recorded but a few in practice.
2007, 58 in the Chrismas Handicap. 2008, none in the league or practice. 2009, none till yesterday.
Played a few set pieces and concentrated on playing from the middle to the top of the table and trying to score as many as possible. I seemed to find the floating top the best just holding the white around the black spot and running back up to the middle when out of position.
It's only when you try this you realise how hard it is. Got a couple of 20-30 breaks from this position before either missing or running out of position. The worst thing is once I move the other players ball away from around the black spot I usually cannot bring it back. (Geet or Mike seem to have no trouble at all).
At 9-30pm an old chap came upstairs and asked if I wanted a game of Snooker. I agreed and set up the balls. He wasn't very good, but going from Billiards to Snooker is a little strange. For the first 10 minutes I couldn't pot a ball. He smashed to pack open and left me a long straight red.
I potted it in the bottom and ran in a 54 break. I missed a Red in the Yellow Bag after running out of position. I was delighted with this especially on such a tight table and especially as I had not played much snooker since February.
As usual after a break I could not pot a ball, But won by about 90.
I have just checked my diary's and realised it's two years since i had a 50+ break at Snooker. My god I used to get them in my Sleep. Strange really must be an eye thing, in 2004 I had 4 breaks over 50 in the league and a 65 in the individuals. 2005, None recorded but a few in practice.
2007, 58 in the Chrismas Handicap. 2008, none in the league or practice. 2009, none till yesterday.
Friday, 24 July 2009
Florida
I can confirm there is no Snooker or billiards in Florida. I did check on the internet and local newspapers. There is only one pool hall in Orlando that I could trace and they only have Nine Ball and two Bar Billiards tables.
The owner does not know of any clubs with full size tables still he was nice to talk to and quite aware of Snooker and who won the world championships but had never heard of English Billiards, strange but he did know Walter Lindrum played Billiards although I don't think he understood it was three ball.
He said he knew of an ex-pat who had a table at home but did not know his address.
Anyway glad to be back looks like there are a few comp's coming up in September.
The owner does not know of any clubs with full size tables still he was nice to talk to and quite aware of Snooker and who won the world championships but had never heard of English Billiards, strange but he did know Walter Lindrum played Billiards although I don't think he understood it was three ball.
He said he knew of an ex-pat who had a table at home but did not know his address.
Anyway glad to be back looks like there are a few comp's coming up in September.
Monday, 6 July 2009
Denis Wood - Day Two
Back to Birmingham for the Plate Match.
I played really below average. I lost and only scored 99 points. But quite glad as it did mean I could watch the main draw matches.
Mike Russell was playing he was staggering he just seemed to be able to place the ball anywhere and score. He never moved out of position more than an inch or two. He ran in a 400 followed by a 300 another 300 at 200 and a few 50-90 in the same 90 minute game.
I wont go into details about the matches as it's all on the ebos web site. But Roxton played fantastic, Mike and Geet were dazzling. The standard was so high I realise I am just floundering and hacking around on the table when I play.
Still it was one of the most enjoyable weekends I have had for some time. All the staff did well. The refs were good. Peter Cooper makes me laugh he is always so happy and full of life.
Clive Scott as usual was a super TD. He seems to make that job look so easy.
Finally Thanks to Paul for giving us the chance of the competition on behalf of his dad. It's due to him I had the chance to play Geet Sethi, world champion. It's something to tell the grand kids about. I may have lost to him but at least I won the String and was ahead for the first 5 minutes.
I played really below average. I lost and only scored 99 points. But quite glad as it did mean I could watch the main draw matches.
Mike Russell was playing he was staggering he just seemed to be able to place the ball anywhere and score. He never moved out of position more than an inch or two. He ran in a 400 followed by a 300 another 300 at 200 and a few 50-90 in the same 90 minute game.
I wont go into details about the matches as it's all on the ebos web site. But Roxton played fantastic, Mike and Geet were dazzling. The standard was so high I realise I am just floundering and hacking around on the table when I play.
Still it was one of the most enjoyable weekends I have had for some time. All the staff did well. The refs were good. Peter Cooper makes me laugh he is always so happy and full of life.
Clive Scott as usual was a super TD. He seems to make that job look so easy.
Finally Thanks to Paul for giving us the chance of the competition on behalf of his dad. It's due to him I had the chance to play Geet Sethi, world champion. It's something to tell the grand kids about. I may have lost to him but at least I won the String and was ahead for the first 5 minutes.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Denis Wood Memorial Birmingham
Off to Birmingham to play in this new Open Comp. I arrived at 9.15am and Saw Paul Wood the sponsor waiting outside. I introduced myself to him later in the day. He seems a lovely man very keen on sports and so was his dad.
My targets for day were to win a game or at least score 100 or more in each game.
First game playing Paul Snowden. He was a little rusty not having played for 6 weeks. But he was still to good for me at the half way stage we were level on 70 points each. he began to find his form and pulled away with a couple of 40 breaks. The highest I got was 23.
Result Paul Snowden 232-140
My second game was against Geet Sethi. I was prepared for an absolute thrashing. We strung off to see who would start, I WON. He broke off and I scored 14. He missed again and I scored 25.
I played another shot missed and he knocked in 107, followed by 87, 43,59, 37,44.
Final Result Geet Sethi 447-128
Played Mick White next I had not seen him play but he was quite a steady player. I ran in breaks of 25,26,31. He got several 40 breaks. Nice chap though he had quite a bit of running but deserved to win.
Final Result Mick White 300 - 196
My next match was against Michael Williams, one of the Juniors coming through into the senior ranks. He played very a nice game always looking to get to the top of the table. I played fairly well against him holding him to a level game after 45 minutes. He had a nice 52 break and followed it with a 36. I had 38,26,29. At the end it was only his last two breaks that separated us.
Geet was on the table next to me playing Mick White. He hardly missed a shot running away by 700 points after getting a 300 break and another two 100 breaks. Awesome.Perhaps I did OK against him in that case.
I refereed a couple of matches Tina Owen-Sevilton v Eddie Fielding. Tina can really pot not bad at Billiards she got a couple of nice 30 breaks. She was just beaten by Eddie who got a nice 50 off an outrageous fluke.
I also refereed Phillip Welham and Joe Graham. The match was very scrappy. After 30minutes Phil Knocked in a 65, and followed it with a couple of 30's and a 49. In 20 minutes he had pulled away 200 points. Very nice touch he has especially around the top of the table.
Back to Birmingham in the morning for the plate matches. I was a bit upset as I would have booked a hotel for the night if I had known there was going to be a plate. I had already checked this with Paul Dunning. Still it's only a bit of fun. I think there was a bit of an outcry that there wasn't a plate. At least I will get to watch the finals.
Still I scored over 100 in each match so I was delighted. Just wish I could have won a game.
As an additional note Paul Snowden also knocked in a 100 break against Mick White.
My targets for day were to win a game or at least score 100 or more in each game.
First game playing Paul Snowden. He was a little rusty not having played for 6 weeks. But he was still to good for me at the half way stage we were level on 70 points each. he began to find his form and pulled away with a couple of 40 breaks. The highest I got was 23.
Result Paul Snowden 232-140
My second game was against Geet Sethi. I was prepared for an absolute thrashing. We strung off to see who would start, I WON. He broke off and I scored 14. He missed again and I scored 25.
I played another shot missed and he knocked in 107, followed by 87, 43,59, 37,44.
Final Result Geet Sethi 447-128
Played Mick White next I had not seen him play but he was quite a steady player. I ran in breaks of 25,26,31. He got several 40 breaks. Nice chap though he had quite a bit of running but deserved to win.
Final Result Mick White 300 - 196
My next match was against Michael Williams, one of the Juniors coming through into the senior ranks. He played very a nice game always looking to get to the top of the table. I played fairly well against him holding him to a level game after 45 minutes. He had a nice 52 break and followed it with a 36. I had 38,26,29. At the end it was only his last two breaks that separated us.
Geet was on the table next to me playing Mick White. He hardly missed a shot running away by 700 points after getting a 300 break and another two 100 breaks. Awesome.Perhaps I did OK against him in that case.
I refereed a couple of matches Tina Owen-Sevilton v Eddie Fielding. Tina can really pot not bad at Billiards she got a couple of nice 30 breaks. She was just beaten by Eddie who got a nice 50 off an outrageous fluke.
I also refereed Phillip Welham and Joe Graham. The match was very scrappy. After 30minutes Phil Knocked in a 65, and followed it with a couple of 30's and a 49. In 20 minutes he had pulled away 200 points. Very nice touch he has especially around the top of the table.
Back to Birmingham in the morning for the plate matches. I was a bit upset as I would have booked a hotel for the night if I had known there was going to be a plate. I had already checked this with Paul Dunning. Still it's only a bit of fun. I think there was a bit of an outcry that there wasn't a plate. At least I will get to watch the finals.
Still I scored over 100 in each match so I was delighted. Just wish I could have won a game.
As an additional note Paul Snowden also knocked in a 100 break against Mick White.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Practice Again
When for a game with Mark last Night as my final practice before Saturday. Again we had and hour of snooker and an hour of Billiards.
It was very hot and humid in the club. Mark had a 37 and a 52 in the first frame. I got a 33 and went in off the pink in the second. He won 3-1.
I played him the hour at Billiards. I told him we would play as if in a match with no talking just playing. I set off like a train with lots of little 10-20 breaks and played really safe when I missed. I got to 100 and he had only scored 10. The game went messy and I neither of us could score.
I eventually won 200-102. I was a little disappointed but happy to get some practice. The only difference is if I miss on Saturday I may be sat down for a very long time.
It was very hot and humid in the club. Mark had a 37 and a 52 in the first frame. I got a 33 and went in off the pink in the second. He won 3-1.
I played him the hour at Billiards. I told him we would play as if in a match with no talking just playing. I set off like a train with lots of little 10-20 breaks and played really safe when I missed. I got to 100 and he had only scored 10. The game went messy and I neither of us could score.
I eventually won 200-102. I was a little disappointed but happy to get some practice. The only difference is if I miss on Saturday I may be sat down for a very long time.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Palace Snooker Club
Went to the Palace Snooker Club, Woodley for a game with Mark Carrington. Table 5 has just been recovered. We played Snooker for 2 Hours and Billiards for 1 hour.
I played really well at snooker he won 6-2. I lost 3 game where he clear the colours to win. I have a few 20-30 breaks but hardly missed a ball on and played some really nice safety my short back swing seems to be working lost a little power but made up for by more accurate potting in particular in the middle bags.
On to the Billiards we played for 1 hour. I played quite well up to 100 getting a few little 10-15 breaks. Mark played steady getting to 40. He was really trying to play Billiards rather than pot which is him normal game. He amazed me with some really nice cannons and a few nice half ball losers around the pink area.
I got going and ran in 25, a couple of shots later I ran in 38 which was a really nice break as I lost his white but managed to carry on. Mark at the next visit ran in 33. Again a really nice well structure break with a mix of cannons, losers and a bit of potting.
I finished 250-155. Mark is beginning to get to grips with the game as an ex-snooker pro you only have to show him a shot once.
Really happy today I played really well my eyesight seems clear cue action seems really to be working.
I played really well at snooker he won 6-2. I lost 3 game where he clear the colours to win. I have a few 20-30 breaks but hardly missed a ball on and played some really nice safety my short back swing seems to be working lost a little power but made up for by more accurate potting in particular in the middle bags.
On to the Billiards we played for 1 hour. I played quite well up to 100 getting a few little 10-15 breaks. Mark played steady getting to 40. He was really trying to play Billiards rather than pot which is him normal game. He amazed me with some really nice cannons and a few nice half ball losers around the pink area.
I got going and ran in 25, a couple of shots later I ran in 38 which was a really nice break as I lost his white but managed to carry on. Mark at the next visit ran in 33. Again a really nice well structure break with a mix of cannons, losers and a bit of potting.
I finished 250-155. Mark is beginning to get to grips with the game as an ex-snooker pro you only have to show him a shot once.
Really happy today I played really well my eyesight seems clear cue action seems really to be working.
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