Snow Snow Snow

I know these pictures are nothing to do with Billiards but I have nothing else to put on at the moment. Desperate for a game things are getting bad down here. No billiards running out of food next and my wifes off work so she has extra time to nag me.

Woke up and looks like NO billiards again even more snow now.
A few pictures for those interested in Australia the white stuff is Snow.

For those in Canada I know it's hardly anything just a light dusting.

Igloo & Emily

Me in Igloo

Bloody Cold igloo

Lane at the Back of the House

Main A57 Road to Sheffield from Gee Cross

Note lack of any traffic at all during rush hour 8 am

Paula and Emily at Back of House I need to replace the fence.

Snow Again

Damn weather is playing havoc with my billiards this year. Went to Frames with Mark Carrington last night the room was really cold and the balls were giving rather strange kicks, I played quite well beating him 5-2 which is the first time i have beaton him for about 5-6 years.

We tried some billiard but we just couln't get going and due to weather I left early to try and get home. had to abandon my car on the main road as the side streets were dangerous about an inch of snow on freezing ground.

Had to walk back up the hill. The new house is proving very difficult in bad weather due to the hill climb. I ran Derek at the Huddersfield League and cancelled Tuesdays game no way I could make it over the Woodhead Pass.

New Mill V Bradley & Colne Huddersfield League

Very Strange playing in the gap between Christmas and New Year, most leagues have a break at this point. I was very concerned due to the weather. We have had snow on the ground since the 22nd and the forecast was quite bad.

I drove over the M62 and as I reached the top of the pass it started snowing again which was freezing at -4. I managed to get to the venue which was another very nice club with outstanding tables very quick with a lovely cloth. I don't think I have seen a bad table in this league at all they are all of the highest championship standard quite amazing for little clubs dotted about in the middle on no where. They certainly put most of the clubs in Manchester to shame.

When I arrived Derek Hey was playing and looked like he was going to lose to an old chap called Frank who looked quite a dangerous player. He managed to pull back and won by just a few points.

I went on second and was giving 15 start to the same lad I had played before at our home club in the first half of the season. I think his was called Patmore. I was a little disappointed as I really fancied playing John Inglby. The game was OK I played quite a steady game getting lots of little breaks a few 15-20 breaks and breaking down. I must admit the table threw me a little it was so fast and I still hit the ball to hard and on this table a tiny tap ran the length of the table. I managed a 25 break and a 21 at the end to win by quite a lot about 60 points and I had given him 15 start.

Quite happy but I decided to head home as the last match started Peter Atkinson v John Inglby. Quite disappointed as it's really nice to watch John play he has an awesome cue action and stance and is a very capable billiards player and coach. He looked in good form as I left getting a nice 20 break first visit.

The journey home was a nightmare I left at 9.45pm and the M62 motorway was closed due to a fatal car crash at Junction 24. This left me few options to get home. I headed to the Woodhead and as I neared the turn off the Snow Warning signs were showing the road was closed. I turned round and headed to the Greenfields road as I gained height the snow was awful and with no 4x4 drive I was forced to turn back I tried to cut across onto the A62 Oldham Road but got stuck in the lanes. I eventually worked my way back onto the lower roads and headed through Huddersfield Town Center and joined the road from the other side of town.

I managed to get across Saddleworth at about 4 miles per hour and didn't get home till nearly 12pm. At one point I was going to turn round and try the local hotels. Fortunately some of the wagons were going over the A62 when they were diverted off the M62 which had kept the roads passable.

I found out Peter lost to John who had a nice 55 break final score 2-1 to us.

Snooker Knockout 28th Rileys

Got invited with Mark Carrington to play in a knockout on the 28th Handicapped at Rileys BelleVue.

Played rubbish the lad I played had the luck of the devil never seen anything like it he had a 38 first visit which was all flukes. Even at the end of the frame I only needed brown to black to win but he flukes the brown and I then snookered him on the blue a really nasty snooker which he managed to hit and then snooker me behind the pink.

I gave up at this point. The funny thing was he drew Mark Carrington in the next round. Mark was giving him 40 start but I told Mark if he has the same luck not to bother playing. I watched the match and sure enough he had all the running and scoring 28 in the first frame off a fluke and in the next mark had a 48 but was already 68 behind. Again Smithy won off a few amazing pot/flukes.

He lost in the next round and admitted he had not luck at all? Yes right

We grabbed a table and had some practice we both played pretty rubbish nad we had an hour of billiards again we both were pretty rubbish. Just one of those bad days I think.
Just noticed I have no link to the Manchester web site. I will add it in the next few days but here it is for the moment. They have a good website.

http://www.manchester-snooker-league.com/

Happy Christmas

This is my last post before Christmas and so I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a great New year.

What's really bad is the Snowman got a higher break than me. He definitely has an eye for the game.

Huddersfield League Snowbound

Due to 8 inch's of Snow I was unable to make it to the latest match over in New Mill. The Woodhead Pass was shut due to drifting snow and the M62 was open but Huddersfield Road was still shut. I did not want to miss the game but it was just not possible.

Derek Hey rang me they lost 2-1 which means we have lost the top spot for Christmas, a little disappointing as the team that beat us were very low in the rankings.

Instead I went for a game with Mark Carrington, I could not get my car out due to the Snow so I walked up the Hill in my boots to get to the main Road snow plough has still not been anywhere near my road.

We went to frames in Hyde for a change and played on table 14 which is a fast but slightly tight table. I won the first frame by about 50 points however Mark won the next 7 in a row. I could have won several frames but missed out when he cleared the colours after I missed. He managed an nice 58 in frame 3 and an 85 missing a black off it's spot should have been 100 again.

We did manage an hours billiards I set off like a train and managed a few 20-30 breaks and got about 150 in front. He settled in and scored about 100 points without me scoring. I ran away an easy winner but it was nice to see Mark playing well and not potting the red. He really concentrated on cannons and top of the table.

I also managed to play a nice run through loser along the top rail even though it was just off the rails and slightly further away from the cushion practice makes perfect.

Billiard Junkies

I was really sorry to see the end of Billiard Junkies. In my past year I was an IT manager at a school I will look into opening a similar site I have a few people who I may be able to twist arms etc.

We shall see in the new year, if anyone is willing to support me by actually visiting the site after it is created then maybe. Felix posted that the site costs £ 400 per year to maintain seems rather expensive to me. I can host and update a site for much less on my own server.

If anyone else is doing something to resolve the problems let me know maybe I can help.

Macclesfield League - Disley V Mac Liberal Club

Thursday night off to Macclesfield for a match I had to go on first and dash off to stalybridge as I had two games on the same night in different leagues. I played an old chap who beat me a couple of months ago by 20 points. I played really well the table was very quick and the cloth was slightly worn but massive pockets. I was giving him 100 start first to 200. He was on 110 I'm on 10. I played well getting a 31 on my second visit I quickly followed this with a 30 and a 33. I had ovetaken him very quickly and wrapped it up in about 30minutes the final score being 200-148. He had only scored 38. I was very happy but a little disappointed not to make a really high break as the bags really were massive.

I shot off to St Pauls Stalybridge for my next game (25miles) I arrived and went straight on but for some reason I think it was that the table was very slow and the pockets are really tight when compared to the other table I had already played on, I played poorly. i got a few 10-15 breaks but I was giving another massive start 80 points he was on 25, my handicap is now -55 and he could play a decent game. I managed to catch him up and need 13 to win he needed 2 points. I ran in 9 and played safe. He missed and I played a cannon and tried to push the red near the bag. The red ended up safe so I attempted to pot his ball it joggled in the jaw my ball end up right next to the red. He got the cannon and won by 2. That was my first loss in the stalybridge League things have got a lot harder now they have slashed my handicaps.

I enjoyed both games but I still cant work out how I can play so well one minute and then awful the next.

Practice - Run through Loser

Over the past 6 months I have always avoided the run through shot close to the cushion unless there has been any other shot on and usually I have played the pot along the cushion.

Looking back on my notes I realised I have not really spent anytime trying the shot. Martin and John Inglby both showed me the shot but I have never really worked out the aiming point. When I have tried it I usually get one every 10 shots and the further from the pocket the harder it is. So I have just avoided it.

I saw Rob Hall get one from just below the middle bag so I decided to try a hour or two until I could get the shot regularly.

The local clubs tables are rather poor but I spent one hour trying the shot from various spots along the top cushion. After a hour I had still made little progress I just could not figure out the aiming point. I knew If I aimed directly at the ball and then a little left an eighth of an inch I got the shot a few time but very irregular.

I marked the spots where the balls were positioned and then spent an hour playing plain ball shots with my spotted training ball to see where the balls ended up. Then playing with side to see how the balls reacted. Finally I found out where the aiming point is and it surprised me as the aiming point with strong side to widen the pocket is basically straight at the ball.

Another half hour and I was getting the shot all the time, I can't understand how I could have had so many problems with the shot when it's quite simple really especially with side. That's the thing about billiards it's really just practice and repetition over and over until the shot just becomes a variation on another shot.

The half ball drop cannon going back over my diary used to cause me endless problems but now it just seems so easy. Going back only 3 months I would get the shot regularly but fail in controlling position after the shot. Now I usually end up with the position I wanted or at the very least some half decent position at the top. Just lately I have realised I am even placing my drop cannon to push the red towards a pocket instead of hitting the true half ball full in the face.

Funny how certain shots are now just simple ones, another 3 years I think I will be OK at this game.

Huddersfield League - New Mill B V Springwood B

Off to New Mill for my next match for once the weather was great no rain or snow. John won the first game I played second as usual playing Paul Raynor he has already had a couple of breaks recorded on the sheet so I knew I had to be careful. I played very well getting an early lead with a 22 and a 19. I was on 70 Paul on 75 first to 200. I had reached 140 and knocked in a nice 37 missing a simple pot red when in prime position at the top. I ran in an easy win 200-140.

Derek Hay went on last and lost by about 30, Looks like we will be top by one point at Christmas not to bad at the halfway stage. Just missed out on the high break for my handicap group should have concentrated a bit more rather careless. Still got on the break list cant complain.