Billiard Politics

It's quite funny really that over the last 8 months I have tried to understand all the different aspects of Billiards as a game and try to immerse myself in the game to try and understand exactly what it stands for.

However I can understand the beauty of the game and how difficult it is and how it should be the number one cue sport in the world what I can't understand is how the people who play this wonderful game who travel (as I have) all over the place with the sole purpose of just playing and enjoying the game can be so negative towards each other.

The latest spats have broken out on Billiard junkies, the same people work in both organisations ranging from the ref's to the players and yet they just can't get along and people wonder why Billiards and Snooker are on the decline again. Why can't all these NICE people who love these sports get together and stop acting like spoilt children. It's really silly I can fully understand why these sports are dying out with this sort of attitude around.

It's really sad that the same people in the EABA, EBOS EASB and any other of the multiple abbreviated groups are unable to work together for the good of this game. I know some people may take the hump with these comments but come on it's the game that matters not politics.

St Georges B v Parkbridge Institute

Had to go and play snooker in the Manchester League as the team I had agreed to play for last year were a player short and I had agreed to play the odd game despite only playing Billiards this year.

I went on an played really well The handicap were even I was giving him 2 start. The balls didn't run well and the frame was tactical but I won by about 40 and potted really well especially with the rest for some reason.

Over to the Parkbridge Institute, Ashton to play Billiards. The club is really difficult to find along a very narrow dark lane by the side of a disused mill which is now a visitor center of some sort. It was an old Victorian Mill/Ironworks. They made the steels rivets for the Eiffel Tower and The Titanic here.

The club house is a typical Village Hall except it has been restored to its Victoria Past. I can honestly say it is the nicest club I have ever been in, it was like stepping back 150years. The Billiard Room has leather seating all round with a large Marble Fireplace taking up one wall with a roaring coal fire lit. The table is dated 1901 with a label saying Orme & Sons Coronation table Edward VII.

The table is fully restored and has been recently recovered, there are even the old gas light fittings hanging down from the roof although the lights are modern ones. Really nostalgic feeling to the place.
I hope I could play well as everyone said the pockets were really tight. I have had my handicap slashed to -50 and was playing a young lad who was on 25. A 75 start but I have been playing well.

I started off quite well just getting lots of little breaks and managed to get into positive scores quite quickly. I had a few breaks around the 20 mark but I really played well my long losers were great and my potting was outstanding. The main problem with the table was that it must be the fastest table I have ever played on so a gentle tap could run the length of the table. I won easy running to 100 before he had scored 60. I had no problems with the pockets they seemed fine cut perfectly very much like the modern tables over a Pontins.

I tested the table afterwards it ran 6 times hitting the ball over the spots sometimes nearly 7, that's really quick. Most tables I play on do about 4. Still enjoyed the night still not lost one in this league yet, that's 11/11 so far. I wish every club was like this one if anyone is ever in the area it is definitely worth visiting the club just to have a look at the room.

some info on Orme & Co.

http://www.normanclare.co.uk/Orme.html

Practice Silktown Macclesfield

After last nights thrashing I was glad when Wayne Holbrook rang me and asked if I was free for a couple of hours in the afternoon 2-4. We played over at Silktown and had an enjoyable session, I played quite well again so last night was nothing to do with my game Mathew was just too bloody good for me.

Wayne had had a coaching session with Peter Shelley the day before so I was a little worried he may have picked up some devastating shots. I played very well straight from the start with a 17 and a couple of 20's and ran away to an early lead of around 100 points. This was strange as last time Wayne did the exact same thing to me.

I played some really nice billiards my game seems to have changed a little lately I realise I am concentrating on drop cannons and close cannons a little more with some nice in-offs around the pink spot and trying to play less red ball play than I used to do. This seems to have been a natural thing rather than something I planned but it seems to be working quite well.

I knocked in a nice little 38 break where his ball was tight on the cushion below the middle bag and I worked both balls out into open play by some in-offs and a couple of drop cannons. I missed a very simple half ball cross loser from the red spot on the 3-6-9 shot. Which would have been a simple 50 break where the white was over the bag just a little careless really.

I followed the break with a 33 a few shots later again missing a fairly simple loser. I won by about 70 points in the end. Wayne again started out potting and missed quite a few which stopped him scoring. Once he started to play some in-offs and cannons he began to get going. Next time we must practice a few more shots.

I was quite happy with the way I played against Mark last time and against Wayne regular high 30 breaks are fine by me especially when I seem to have moved on from regular 25 breaks. I am sure if I keep going it will be regular 50's soon. I must admit the only way to progress in this game is to keep control, once you get the balls in those easy scoring positions breaks seem to happen without trying.

I have really avoided potting at all cost lately trying to only get a pot when I have used a cannon to push the balls near the pocket, this means that it's usually a very short distance pot rather than a dangerous long pot. this seems to have worked wonders for my game. I hate to say it but I really am beginning to see what this game is all about and visualise patterns of regular play. My inoffs have really improved lately all the practice seems to be working.

Huddersfield League - New Mill V Brockholes

The weather was ok going over the Woodhead Pass tonight. We lost the first two games and I went on last against Mathew Peaker. I getting 170 start, Mathew having to score 300 points me 130.

I knew straight away things were going to be tough when he knocked in 48 on his first visit, he missed and I scored 10. He then proceeded to knock in 44, 38, 46 and 31 on his next visits. He never missed a ball and when he did I struggled to get going as he tended to miss long in offs which left the balls separated.

He got a couple of 15 breaks to finish off the game, I was totally outclassed I can't complain to much as I had won my last 7 games. The final score being 200-137 I managed to score 67 which surprised me as I hardly had a chance.

Still there is always next time, first match we had lost we need to win next week as it's Lindley who are in second place.

Also met a nice chap Mike Holding who had come over from Holmfirth to watch the game. He knows John Ingleby and has read this blogg. He is thinking of taking up Billiards and trying the exam. Hopefully we may get together for a game sometime. I think he will enjoy it.

As usual the journey home was like driving in a monsoon, driving rain the like of which I have never seen before. The Woodhead Pass was just a river, I thought it was bad luck that it rained every tuesday I think it some weird thing that only inflicts tuesday nights in Huddersfield.

Handicap Changes - Stalybridge League

Just received an email from the Stalybridge League who play 100 up on the thursday nights. Not good news my handicap has gone from scratch to -50 following complaints from several teams and that I have not lost a game all season and won by 80 last week. Not my fault the league rule is all new players start on scratch.

Well I am quite happy as I have looked at my results and I have always won by a big margin so it just means I get more time at the table to score a few more quite often it can be over in a handful of visits.

They have also dropped my snooker handicap to -18 which is a bit mean as I have only played a couple of games when they have been short.

Off to New Mill tonight the weather looks pretty bad as is usual for a tuesday night. I will up the results later we are playing a very good side tonight Brockholes who have 3 really good players. Mathew and David Peaker (they play in a few ABC's) and another lad who is quite useful.

Display V Silk Town Macclesfield League

Surprise Surprise I drew Wayne Holbrook (again). We had a nice quick game Wayne potting his way to a win, we both played quite well nothing fancy just quick scoring. If you remove the handicap I'm giving 60 start to him when he is just as good as me if not better then I won by 7.

We lost the next and I had to dash off to my other match at Stalybridge. Just made it in time my friend Steve went straight on and beat Tony Fletcher and he played well.

I won an easy Billiards match 100-58. I was miles better but he managed to smash the balls around and get 7 flukes and score 28 off them. I had no flukes. Won easy my handicap will change by 50 next week due to my 10 wins. That should make things a little more difficult.

No breaks but a couple of 20s. Then forced into playing doubles and managed a nice win playing with Steve Cannon.

Practice before Match

Mark Carrington asked me for a game of snooker this afternoon as he had a match coming up. I reluctantly agreed, I have been avoiding Snooker as I feel it interferes with my Billiards.

We played for two hours and he beat me 8-2, he did not play that well on what was a slow table. He still managed a couple of 50 breaks and a nice 78 which should have been a lot more. I picked up two frames which was OK one was very scrappy and the other I managed a 31 and a 25.

He agreed to play an extra hour of billiards at the end which suited me nicely before my match.

I started off with a little 15 break and a few little 6/7's. Mark knocked in a 27 all pot reds. The game went scrappy and both of us struggled. I played a nice drop cannon and pushed the red over the top back and left me at the top. I got a lovely 41 all really nice flowing cannons and cross losers up to the middle bag. Only a cover stopped me. Mark missed a pot and I went to the table and carried on scoring getting 39, missing a long loser. Mark potted my ball and baulked me, I hit a sweet fluky cannon and knocked a 36.

We carried on and in the hour I scored over 370 points in the hour to Marks 160. He did manage a 43 break mainly potting.

I can honestly say I have never played better flowing billiards every shot seemed really easy and in total control. It was like some sort of dream where no matter what I did everything did exactly as I wanted. Every shot was mm perfect. Just for 20 minutes I felt like Martin Gooodwill or Roy Bacon. Almost like someone had thrown a switch and made me into a good player for an hour. What a lovely feeling to finally play the game even for a brief time really well.

Mark was quite impressed he said I was playing like the old chap he had seen in Huddersfield (Tony Clegg - I had forgotten he had come to watch my game two weeks ago) he said my use of side and drag were just like Tony, well that's high praise hope I can keep it up. After that I will probably play rubbish tonight.

Huddersfield League - NewMill V Milnsbridge Liberal

Went to SilkTown at 2pm for a game with Wayne Holbrook, again he raced off to a fantastic start, he never missed a pot for the first 30 minutes ending about 100-10 ahead.

However you can't keep potting and Billiards will always beat a snooker in the end as it gives you room for errors. I slowly started scoring and finding my distance. The table threw a little wide but after 30 minutes I never missed a long in-off.

I quickly caught him up and he kept missing the same shots mainly screw shots or stuns into the pocket. He knew to play these with reverse side but seemed to be struggling with them. I quickly caught him up getting a few 20's and never missed a long one.

We played for 2 hours and I ended up winning by about 35 despite being 100 behind and Wayne knocking in a 41. It was a very interesting game from a pure Billiards point I played very well hardly missing when I had the chance and got some great positional shots. Wayne potted so well I must play him a snooker one day he must be really sharp. The game exposed the difference between us, although I have only been playing a few months longer than Wayne some of my billiard shot are more advanced than Wayne. His half ball and long in-offs have really improved lately but he still misses them more than me. The little stuns under the 90degree rule I get nearly all the time he missed loads of these but he never missed a pot.

Next time we should practice a few shots for him first. He is still opting for potting when there is a perfectly good in-off.

Off to Milnsbridge Liberal club, Huddersfield. Just for a change the the weather is well like a bloody hurricane. Every Tuesday it pours down with gale force winds over the pennines. Had to go across the M62 this time the spray from the wagons was bloody awful. The club is perched in the bottom of a valley with really steep access roads very hard to find even with my sat nav.

I knew I was going to be late so I was playing last. When I arrived Derek Hey was playing he was a little rusty after his trip to New York. Bit of pressure on me as my handicap has been slashed from 85 to 70 as I have now won 6/6 games plus the two warm ups.

I played John Brook who was on 85 and quite a good player. I managed to catch him up and stayed about 15 ahead until the end when I knocked in a nice 21 and a 19 to finish the game off with me needing only 15 to win. He played poorly by all accounts but I didn't leave him anything and never missed a ball on which was nice.

We won 3-0 and that puts us clear at the top of the league on 16 points. Seven of which I scored. Although I have managed to avoid most of the good players so far. I am quite happy with my game at the moment, still not getting any breaks but playing much better.

English Amateur - Derby

Over to Derby to the Beaconsfield club on Wilson Street for my English Amateur games.
I have drawn a really tough group of Peter Shelley, David Reece and Norman Routledge.

I arrived at 10.30 and meet everyone, they are all so nice these old chaps its a delight to be involved with this game. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Geoff Brassington was there and a few others I knew.

My first game was against the inform Peter Shelley. What can I say about the game Peter was magnificant his shot selection, in-offs and control were awsome he scored over 700 points in the 90 minutes I managed a paltry 100. I was quite lucky as he was 428-2 up at one point. He had endless breaks missing a simple red on 98. I was not upset it was a pleasure to watch a master a work. He is one of the few players who changes his grip according to the shot he is playing from a tight grip for a pot to a loose hold with his fingertips for a screw back. Awsome to watch, he also played very quickly and went to the Top which did surprise me as I expected him to be a long distance all round player.

I then played David Reece who I had met a Woking. this was his home club and I knew he was a great player. I managed to keep up with him for 20 minutes then he knocked in 48 and followed it with a 94, he missed a difficult cannon which if he had got he would have been in prime position. He beat me by quite a lot in the end. I did score 150 which was my target for each match. David was struggling with his hip which was obviously very painful, I tried to wind him up before the match saying he should not carry one playing as he was in so much pain. Didn't work but we did have a great game nice to watch he plays with a lot of side very interesting slow deliberate style I think I could learn a bit of David given a a few hours practice.

Next came Norman Routledge, I have played him before and lost getting a massive start.
He was a little tired after all games, He still beat me but only managed one decent break in the game. I keep forgetting he's quite old now but still a great player.
I played quite well scoring 200 points he scored 425.

I felt a little sorry for him at the end as everyone thought he had qualified for the next round as the referee had not put my extra 100 on the bottom of the board even though the top showed the 100. Only after I signed the card did every one realise I had scored the extra 100 which meant that Geoffs friend John had qualified by a few points.

Enjoyed the day, very tiring these longer matches but lots of practice for me. I would gladly pay the £ 20 entry fee just to watch these guys in action.

Stalybridge 'B' v Mosley 'A'

Played very well tonight played at home venue without a practice before hand and played the quickest 100 up I have managed.

5 Visits won 100-23 had a 17,28,25,4 ran in unfinished on 28. All over and done in about 20 minutes. Very pleased and I managed a Phil Davis shot but slightly varied the shot to make a difficult cannon.

Dont think I played any long losers which seems very strange. It was all cannons and pots tonight.

Also my mate Steve has started playing for us and He won the snooker after playing really well.

Huddersfield League - New Mill V Springwood BC 'A'

Quite looking forward to this game as they have a couple of really good players on their team.
Tony Clegg who plays in some of the ABC and English Am competitions. He is a very good player with a lovely touch and Rob Armitage who I saw play in the ABC at Leeds.

The trip over was a bit slow the Woodhead was covered in thick fog / low mist managed to get their on time and Mark Carrington decided to come and watch.

The first game was just starting which we won John Bowden played quite well for us.

I had drawn Rob and was getting a massive start he is on -95 I am on 85. I was a little worried as I am not playing that well and I had seen his list of massive breaks. I broke off and the game was a little scrappy. I played safe but he managed to pot the red down the rail and got 68 off it. He is clearly a snooker player rather than a billiards player but he combines the two quite well. he reminds me of Geoff Brassington in his style although I think Geoff is the better billiards player.

I had a couple of visits and tried to leave him safe I only scored about 30 points in 10 visits. he had a couple of 30's and then knocked in a 58.

I managed a few points but he was catching me rapidly and having all the luck with several flukes around the table. He ended up 15 points behind with me needing 65. I decided to change tactics and just played safe. He started to go for a few shots and I still played safe unless a ball was over the bag. Suddenly he left me at the top and I managed 15 points and played safe leaving my ball and his on opposite cushions.

The game went tactical and he realised I had change my game. I potted his ball a couple of times and tried to leave a double baulk. He missed an easy pot and left me nothing. I smashed his ball down the rail and somehow screwed back half way up the table (not intended) but left a tough red. I went for it and both balls ended in baulk. He missed and left me on in baulk and I scored 20 all cannons. I played a long loser and missed but fluked the red in the middle. The tide had changed and I ran in 21 to leave me one point short I played safe and left a double baulk he missed giving me the game.

I was quite happy I had beaten him over the last 80 points he had hardly scored anything but without the start I would have been overwhelmed.

Peter Akinson went on last and lost but we had maintained our unbeaten record. I had also drawn Robert in the handicapped cup so the game counted double as he had agreed to treat the league match as the cup game. So I am also through in the cup. Double delight for me.

Still a nice night however a little spoiled by Robert who had a silly argument with one of our players rather unsporting maybe he was upset at losing but its the first time I have seen any billiards player have a fall out it's usually so friendly.

ABC Woking

Went to Woking with Wayne Holbrook who has just started the game. Bloody long way to go for a game but I wanted him to see the players in action and the way the matches were organised.

I got Tina Owen-Sevilton who potted like a dream she won 251-115. I was a little disappointed as I played really poorly. I think the drive down and the drive from Scotland the previous day took it's toll on me.

Wayne got Craig Murphy in his draw. I didnt tell him how good he was but Craig never missed a ball. He had a 104 and a 51 finishing 362-157. Wayne did quite well getting a 38 break towards the end. with 30 minutes to go he had hardly scored a point, it just goes to show how things change in a game. Wayne outpointed Craig in the last 20 minutes.

We watched quite a few game until the plate and I had drawn Wayne. He set off like a train and beat me quite well, 122-68.

Wayne really enjoyed the day although I was too tired especially with a the drive back. We saw some great games and witnessed a few hundred breaks. Quite worthwhile for the experience.

Stalybridge 'B' V Mossley 'B'

Off across the Pennines to Mossley another little tiny club in the middle of no where. They were quite a good team and have the best billiards player in the league a chap call Darren Beswick who is on -80. The unfortunate thing is that as a new player in the league I have to start on scratch '0' even though our Captain put to the commitee that I should be on the same as Darren.

Once I have played half the season they can then adjust my handicap, seems stupid but never mind. I drew Darren which I was pleased about as I have been playing nice and steady.

I broke off and left the classic red in baulk an white on cushion. He played a cannon but hit the middle jaw and kissed across the table hit the other middle jaw and up to get an cannon. First shot a fluke sort of sums up my luck. He then ran in 29 from it and missed a simple pot.

I ran in 15 and played safe. The game went a little scrappy but every time he scored I scored the same or similar amounts. I ran in 24 unfinished to win. 100-12.

This meant he scored 92 I scored 100 so I won by 8 and I didn't feel that I played well at all I know I can play miles better than that. Nice win and pleased to show everyone there is a new kid in town.

Huddersfield League - Upper Hopton V New Mill 'B'

Bloody awful stormy night again over the Pennines again, this is the furthest club and very remote tucked up on the side of a hill in the middle of absolutely no where.

Nice table with under table heaters as the club gets very cold in the winter.

We won 2-1, my game was quite a strange affair I went on last playing Dennis Rourke who is a very good player he was on -60 I am still on +85 giving me 145 start. I played very steady just scoring in 7 and 8's, he had a bit of a nightmare game missing some easy balls and some easy pots. I potted very well but the table was really difficult it had a really wide throw so I missed many in-offs during the game so I stuck to my plan of potting his ball and scoring off the red when I could. If I had an easy opening I would take the billiards shot if possible.

The final score was 200-77 to me, he scored 137 I scored 115 so I was reasonably happy with the result he admitted afterwards this was his worse game so far. I did nothing really my highest break was 13 unfinished to run out.

Another win to me that's 5 in a row where I have just scrapped home. The team must be top of the league again after that win.

Stalybridge League - Beaky Conservative Club

Went to Beaconsfield Conservation Club on Thursday and played an old chap giving him 25 start.
He could actually play a little bit and managed to score 20. The table was bloody awful I don't think the cloth had ever been changed, it was actually shiny the cloth almost like an old pair of trousers when they have been Ironed to much.

The balls were terrible very very old I can honestly say they were the worst I have ever played with. They were so light covered in tiny cracks like a crazed plate.

I still won and played very well for some reason. It was all over in 6 visits to the table. I ran in
18 and followed it by a 25 I potted the red off its spot and left my white covering the red spot so that it would go on the pink spot leaving me a simple cannon onto the white which was below the middle pocket. The ref put it on the blue spot. I pointed out his error but they insisted after a rather a hated argument that was correct. From now one I will carry a full copy of the rules with me as they have no idea. Instead of a simple cannon I had a really hard screw across shot which I missed.

Next visit 20, 18 and ran in unfinished on 16 to win. Started at 8:10pm finished 8:23pm. God they are rubbish in this league I have still not seen anyone who can really give me a game.

Added a couple of pictures again courtesy of Peter Manns web site hope they don't mind.

Just about to play a shot against Phil Mumford

Collecting my runners up Certificate and Prize money and having my hand broken.