Following my recent game in the Macclesfield League one of the lads Wayne Holbrook from the opposing team came up to me after the game and said he was impressed with my game and wanted to know how to play billiards properly. I tried to explain that I was only just learning the game but he just did not understand he thought I was a great player.
I told him that I had only started playing the game in March and that there was no alternative but to practice and play the game as often as possible. I stayed behind after the match and gave him a few pointers but he clearly had no idea of the half ball shot.
I told him I really needed to spend two hours with him to show him the half ball and various other shots and cueing but that I wasn't really qualified to do this but I would give him details where he could find the information he needed.
I arranged a game on 16th at my local club. I spent two hours showing him the half ball shot from various places on the table and the basic principles. I showed him the Short Jenny and long Jenny as examples of widening the pocket. We finished off the night with a 200 up game. Which I won 200-106.
He is a very good snooker player frequently getting 70+ breaks in the league his highest last year being 75. He has already had a 50 break at billiards but admits that this was all pots with the odd in-off.
I now realise the progress I have made in this sport. Showing him these shots and how they work I now understand how good I am at this game. I am still rubbish when compared to the ABC and EBOS lads but when compared to your average club player I am brilliant.
Wayne played the long jenny from just below the middle pocket with my spotted white ball. I had shown him the shot and how the side is imparted on the ball. He simply could not get the side on the white and couldn't believe how much side I got on. I then realised how much I had already achieved in changing my cue action, learning the shots, playing with side, half ball and lots of other shots.
It took him 14 attempts to get the shot. I got 9 out of 10. He is going to practice for the next two weeks using Martins Goodwills website for guidance and once he has gone through the syllabus he will try the exam. He also is going to go to one of the ABC comps with me to see what the standard is and to try and pick up a few shots. It just shows there are many capable snooker players who are interested in the game and prepared to give it a go. I think Martins new book will be just the thing for him.
This has really inspired me to carry on with the game. it's very easy to get down in the dumps especially when you play people like Tong Clegg. But I really have realised that I am not hopeless I am well above average.
I sent an email to the new World Champion Pankaj Advani last week congratulating him on taking the title and wishing him well. (I felt a little guilty about this as his address was copied via an ebos email to me) However I hoped he would not mind. To my surprise he sent a nice reply thanking me and remembered me playing Rupesh at Bradford and encouraging me to keep going in the sport. Thanks Pankaj I appreciate your support.
Thursday 17 September 2009
Wednesday 16 September 2009
ABC 1 Leeds
Off to Leeds on a Sunny Sunday Morning first ABC not really in the mood I am in the middle of moving house but did not want to miss the first one especially as it is so close.
Registered and waited for the draw Clive and Peter not there this time but it still went quite smoothly. I drew Tony Clegg in the first round he plays in the Huddersfield League which I have signed up for, so I had a good long chat with him before the match and he was very pleasent and helpful and thought I would enjoy the league.
I played ok but found the table quite difficult it was so fast and the pockets quite tight didnt seem to affect tony much.
Tony Clegg 241 Peter Stanyer 140
I lost by 101 but I was quite happy, I played a steady game and Tony was not at his best he still scored a few 30-40 breaks but I did ok my only break being 30.
I played in the plate and lost by 1 point to Mark Scott. I played crap and was on 11 unfinished when the Bell went with a simple pot in the bottom. Still he also played rubbish what can you do.
I did ref a couple of games which was quite good I did Tony Clegg against Rob Hall, that was a good game and Phil Welham against Jamie Barker. I really enjoyed that on it was good fun both players were just thrashing the ball all over the place great to watch and some good breaks.
I had to leave but Phil won the event getting the high break of 217 and a 97 in the final well done Phil. I enjoyed the day and not to far to travel.
I also met John Ingleby who was helping coach some juniors. He offered me a hours coaching in the afternoon. I played with him for over an hour and he showed me a good 6-8 new shots to practice. He thought my cue action still needed work but was pleased with the progress I had made. I enjoyed the hours and picked up some lovely shots especially some angles from the D to drop onto balls on the cushion. Thanks John it was great.
You know these Billiard People are just so nice everyone is so helpful.
Registered and waited for the draw Clive and Peter not there this time but it still went quite smoothly. I drew Tony Clegg in the first round he plays in the Huddersfield League which I have signed up for, so I had a good long chat with him before the match and he was very pleasent and helpful and thought I would enjoy the league.
I played ok but found the table quite difficult it was so fast and the pockets quite tight didnt seem to affect tony much.
Tony Clegg 241 Peter Stanyer 140
I lost by 101 but I was quite happy, I played a steady game and Tony was not at his best he still scored a few 30-40 breaks but I did ok my only break being 30.
I played in the plate and lost by 1 point to Mark Scott. I played crap and was on 11 unfinished when the Bell went with a simple pot in the bottom. Still he also played rubbish what can you do.
I did ref a couple of games which was quite good I did Tony Clegg against Rob Hall, that was a good game and Phil Welham against Jamie Barker. I really enjoyed that on it was good fun both players were just thrashing the ball all over the place great to watch and some good breaks.
I had to leave but Phil won the event getting the high break of 217 and a 97 in the final well done Phil. I enjoyed the day and not to far to travel.
I also met John Ingleby who was helping coach some juniors. He offered me a hours coaching in the afternoon. I played with him for over an hour and he showed me a good 6-8 new shots to practice. He thought my cue action still needed work but was pleased with the progress I had made. I enjoyed the hours and picked up some lovely shots especially some angles from the D to drop onto balls on the cushion. Thanks John it was great.
You know these Billiard People are just so nice everyone is so helpful.
Thursday 10 September 2009
SilkRoad Snooker Club V Disley
League match
Peter Stanyer +25 T. Corbett + 20 200-151
R. Clayton + 110 W.Holbrook +100 200-195
Geof.Yeoman +90 D.Whalley +75 200-169
Final Score 6-0 to Disley
High Break: P Stanyer 20,21,22,27
W.HolBrook 20
I won but it was not pretty. I felt quite nervous for some reason. I think it was the large crowd. I did just enough to win against a good potter but he knew very little about billiards, he kept smashing the balls around and getting a few canons etc. Still another win to me.
Peter Stanyer +25 T. Corbett + 20 200-151
R. Clayton + 110 W.Holbrook +100 200-195
Geof.Yeoman +90 D.Whalley +75 200-169
Final Score 6-0 to Disley
High Break: P Stanyer 20,21,22,27
W.HolBrook 20
I won but it was not pretty. I felt quite nervous for some reason. I think it was the large crowd. I did just enough to win against a good potter but he knew very little about billiards, he kept smashing the balls around and getting a few canons etc. Still another win to me.
Monday 7 September 2009
World Championship
Final Result: Pankaj Advani 2030-1253 Mike Russell
Well Done Pankaj, I got to see him play a little at Leeds and in the EBOS Yorkshire event. He seemed a good player but nothing special. Then he turns it on against Mike, looking at the list of breaks it must have been some show. I wish I had been there. I am sure Mike will return but that is two recent finals he has lost. I think Roxton beat him in Birmingham.
Maybe the others now believe they can win, the same thing happened to Davis and Hendry.
Nothing to report on the Billiards front, I have a couple of matches coming up this week so a full report on Thursday.
Well Done Pankaj, I got to see him play a little at Leeds and in the EBOS Yorkshire event. He seemed a good player but nothing special. Then he turns it on against Mike, looking at the list of breaks it must have been some show. I wish I had been there. I am sure Mike will return but that is two recent finals he has lost. I think Roxton beat him in Birmingham.
Maybe the others now believe they can win, the same thing happened to Davis and Hendry.
Nothing to report on the Billiards front, I have a couple of matches coming up this week so a full report on Thursday.
Friday 4 September 2009
Northern Snooker Center
Off to Leeds to see the World Championship. Got to give Martin some support. On arrival met Roger Morgan engrossed in the paper. Watched some of the games it was a little hard to watch as the layout of the tables prevented you seeing them unless you were sat at the table before the match started.
Still I watched Rupesh Shah, he really is a good player, needs a little match experience against the big boys but a threat to anyone.
Tried to watch Bem French play David Causier but couldn't get near looked like Bem was behind but he was still playing the same Long Losers very spectacular. Causier played an all round game but did mix it at the top of the table. A very good match from the distant viewpoint I had.
Martin wasn't playing till three so had some lunch with Roger. Fish and chips were nice. I met all the usual crew and had a long chat with David Causier. He is quite hateful of the organisation of Billiards which he feels has dragged the sport to it's knees. He does not think World Snooker had done anything for the game. He liked the concept of EBOS but did not like EABA policy.
Saw Geet and said hello and met Steve Crosland who I didn't spot as he was ref on one of the tables.
I started to watched Martins Match but I just couldn't stand the tension especially when he was behind by 210 points. I went to watch Rupesh play Ian Williamson. That was a good match. Martin seemed to rally and ran in a large break over 190. I had to leave at 4.30pm. It was a good day and I managed to impress Roger with my knowledge of older computer systems CP/M MP/M and Dos.
Once home I looked up the result on Cue Sports India as the EBOS was not updated. Martin had Won. Bloody hell great result from behind to. I am so pleased for him although it does mean he will meet Mike Russel in the semi rather than the final. But all matches are tough at this level and Martin can Beat anyone on his day.
I did not like the baulk line rule rather silly, the whole point of billiards is break building. I saw 3 break over 90 fail due to the rule. You might as well ask a player to play the next few shots left handed. Simply a stupid rule badly thought out and spoils the fun.
I went off to Disley to play in the Macclesfield League at 7.15pm. The standard was quite good certainly better than Stalybridge. The first game I watched one old chap ran away with it beating our captain Geoff 200-101 and he was getting 45 start. The next game was fairly close both players on +80. We won that game and Ian on our team had a 25 break.
I played next giving 60 start. My handicap is + 40 he was on +100. The table was quick with a good nap the ball drifted on long shots so I adopted a lot of drag which seemed to help. I felt really at home and started with 5 losers off the red in the middle. I pushed the red into baulk and played safe. He was really hopeless and missed I played safe again pushing my ball onto the cushion. He smashed balls around and I got 21 and missed a sitter in the bottom. My goal was to get to the top of the table but I did not really have the chance so I played Red Ball, losers most of the game. I got another 25 break and played safe. He still had not scored a point but he smashed the balls around and potted the red. He then smashed the red off its spot and double kissed the white in the middle. He potted my ball and finished on 8.
I played 5 long losers all around the pink spot and kept really tight position in the middle. I missed again a simple pot in the middle that's was two bad shots. He missed a simple pot and I potted a long straight red and ended up in perfect top position. I knew I was going to score I felt really comfortable and my arm was going well and ran in 39 all around the top before I had to play a cross loser off the black spot which stuck in the jaws. I was a little disappointed but I got the high break of the night and won 200-71. He was the worst player there but I never left him anything at all.
Funny how I am winning all my league matches but can't get a win in EBOS or the ABC's to save my life. I think it's just the players have so much more match experience. They know what to do which helps.
Still I watched Rupesh Shah, he really is a good player, needs a little match experience against the big boys but a threat to anyone.
Tried to watch Bem French play David Causier but couldn't get near looked like Bem was behind but he was still playing the same Long Losers very spectacular. Causier played an all round game but did mix it at the top of the table. A very good match from the distant viewpoint I had.
Martin wasn't playing till three so had some lunch with Roger. Fish and chips were nice. I met all the usual crew and had a long chat with David Causier. He is quite hateful of the organisation of Billiards which he feels has dragged the sport to it's knees. He does not think World Snooker had done anything for the game. He liked the concept of EBOS but did not like EABA policy.
Saw Geet and said hello and met Steve Crosland who I didn't spot as he was ref on one of the tables.
I started to watched Martins Match but I just couldn't stand the tension especially when he was behind by 210 points. I went to watch Rupesh play Ian Williamson. That was a good match. Martin seemed to rally and ran in a large break over 190. I had to leave at 4.30pm. It was a good day and I managed to impress Roger with my knowledge of older computer systems CP/M MP/M and Dos.
Once home I looked up the result on Cue Sports India as the EBOS was not updated. Martin had Won. Bloody hell great result from behind to. I am so pleased for him although it does mean he will meet Mike Russel in the semi rather than the final. But all matches are tough at this level and Martin can Beat anyone on his day.
I did not like the baulk line rule rather silly, the whole point of billiards is break building. I saw 3 break over 90 fail due to the rule. You might as well ask a player to play the next few shots left handed. Simply a stupid rule badly thought out and spoils the fun.
I went off to Disley to play in the Macclesfield League at 7.15pm. The standard was quite good certainly better than Stalybridge. The first game I watched one old chap ran away with it beating our captain Geoff 200-101 and he was getting 45 start. The next game was fairly close both players on +80. We won that game and Ian on our team had a 25 break.
I played next giving 60 start. My handicap is + 40 he was on +100. The table was quick with a good nap the ball drifted on long shots so I adopted a lot of drag which seemed to help. I felt really at home and started with 5 losers off the red in the middle. I pushed the red into baulk and played safe. He was really hopeless and missed I played safe again pushing my ball onto the cushion. He smashed balls around and I got 21 and missed a sitter in the bottom. My goal was to get to the top of the table but I did not really have the chance so I played Red Ball, losers most of the game. I got another 25 break and played safe. He still had not scored a point but he smashed the balls around and potted the red. He then smashed the red off its spot and double kissed the white in the middle. He potted my ball and finished on 8.
I played 5 long losers all around the pink spot and kept really tight position in the middle. I missed again a simple pot in the middle that's was two bad shots. He missed a simple pot and I potted a long straight red and ended up in perfect top position. I knew I was going to score I felt really comfortable and my arm was going well and ran in 39 all around the top before I had to play a cross loser off the black spot which stuck in the jaws. I was a little disappointed but I got the high break of the night and won 200-71. He was the worst player there but I never left him anything at all.
Funny how I am winning all my league matches but can't get a win in EBOS or the ABC's to save my life. I think it's just the players have so much more match experience. They know what to do which helps.
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Yorkshire Billiards EBOS Open Classic
Sunday off to Leeds for the Open Classic. I arrived with plenty of time only 35 miles door to door. That makes quite a nice change from 200miles.
Cue Gardens is a nice club, with a great eating area and the tables looked quite nice a little bare on a couple and a few marks on the cloth. Met Peter Cooper and Clive both seemed happy as usual.
My first game was against Norman Whaley he beat me 237-90. He played a fluid game with a soft delicate touch to the ball. I just could not get my arm going at all. There again he did not leave me much. I only managed a 25 break. Norman is quite a character and plays some really daring shots and when he gets a fluke he is really pleased and laughs it off in a nice way. Luck of the Irish perhaps. He didn't get any big breaks but he had 3 x 40+ breaks which soon add up. It was good fun though.
I played Colin Lewis in my second match he won 186-140. Again I was a little disappointed he was not much better than me. In fact I would say overall I was the better player we were level with 11 minutes to play. When he ran in a 16 and a 17 to win the game. He also began to play very safe with a few minutes to go. He won through experience rather than being the better player but a win is a win. I had a chat with him afterwards he is also a coach at both billiards and snooker and gladly gave me advice on a few of my shot selections which cost me the game at the end.
I also refereed a match which was Geoff Brassington v S.Kothari. Geoff is a really good player he absolutely dominated the game winning 231-132. What was interesting was that he got 190 in front before Kothari had scored anything. and then for 30 minutes Geoff hardly scored.
Geoff missed a simple ball in the middle bag on 48 and missed a red pot in the side pocket on 44 whilst at prime top of the table. Certainly an exciting player to watch and deserved his win. He did qualify from his group which was the second hardest to get through.
My last match was my toughest against Rupesh Shah one of the Indian young players. He was really a class apart in the group recording 66, 90, 96, 103 in his games. He played me and instantly went for top of the table getting 103, quite a hard break he just kept missing his position and had to start again getting to the top. He then missed and ran in 66 at his next visit also with a couple of 30 and 40 breaks. Still the one thing that occurred to me is that when these top players do eventually miss a shot usually they leave you in a good position. He did just that and I managed to score 16, 25, 21 and a 37 break. taking my total to 142 for the hour which was my highest. He ran out 399 in the hour which is 100 points every 15mins. Quite high scoring.
As usual I enjoyed the day and managed to watch some really great game. I think my favourite player was Bem French. I know Mike, Roxton and Geet etc are fantastic but they play a very boring style of the game. When I watched Bem play he makes the games look visually very interesting. His ability to get long the long loser is second to none and he matches that with an uncanny knack of keeping the ball in the middle of the table. Lots of red ball play and he managed a 70+break in every game. I think these top lads should be banned from the top of the table play for more than a few goes say 20 and then play around the table. That would make the TV side of the game a little more interesting. I know the skill involved in what they do is incredible but its a thought.
I couldn't manage the plate on the Monday due to some work coming up. But I did find out about the ABC on Friday and I am also going to watch the world champs on Thursday and hopefully Saturday. Again I tried to avoid getting upset at getting thrashed every time and view this as a massive learning curve each time I play. Bem informs me he is nearly 65 and has been playing since he was 14. That just show the experience of these guys.
Funny how each player has developed their own style within the game. This is more noticeable than those playing snooker. I know you get Ronnie and Jimmy playing fast and the odd slow player. But most of the top snooker players play the same old boring style.
Rupesh Shah was interesting. He is clearly a class player with the same ability of Geet at the top of the table, but has not quite mastered the art yet. If Mike is 100 at the top, Geet 99 and Gilcrest 98 then Rupresh is around 93. He just missed out on position by half an inch every 20 shots or so. This hardly seems much but that is the only difference between the top few players.
It's good they got a chance to practice as this will help the standard for the World. I don't think the tables were very good at Bradford I saw lots of kicks and a few balls turned off the spots as they ran over them.
John Hartley managed to get the balls locked in the jaw of the pocket and ran in a series of canons across the balls in the jaw. I have never seen that in a match before. It was really nice to watch. I mentioned it to him afterwards he said its the first time he had got in that position in a match and thought he would give it a try. I think he scored about 30 before knocking the red in.
Cue Gardens is a nice club, with a great eating area and the tables looked quite nice a little bare on a couple and a few marks on the cloth. Met Peter Cooper and Clive both seemed happy as usual.
My first game was against Norman Whaley he beat me 237-90. He played a fluid game with a soft delicate touch to the ball. I just could not get my arm going at all. There again he did not leave me much. I only managed a 25 break. Norman is quite a character and plays some really daring shots and when he gets a fluke he is really pleased and laughs it off in a nice way. Luck of the Irish perhaps. He didn't get any big breaks but he had 3 x 40+ breaks which soon add up. It was good fun though.
I played Colin Lewis in my second match he won 186-140. Again I was a little disappointed he was not much better than me. In fact I would say overall I was the better player we were level with 11 minutes to play. When he ran in a 16 and a 17 to win the game. He also began to play very safe with a few minutes to go. He won through experience rather than being the better player but a win is a win. I had a chat with him afterwards he is also a coach at both billiards and snooker and gladly gave me advice on a few of my shot selections which cost me the game at the end.
I also refereed a match which was Geoff Brassington v S.Kothari. Geoff is a really good player he absolutely dominated the game winning 231-132. What was interesting was that he got 190 in front before Kothari had scored anything. and then for 30 minutes Geoff hardly scored.
Geoff missed a simple ball in the middle bag on 48 and missed a red pot in the side pocket on 44 whilst at prime top of the table. Certainly an exciting player to watch and deserved his win. He did qualify from his group which was the second hardest to get through.
My last match was my toughest against Rupesh Shah one of the Indian young players. He was really a class apart in the group recording 66, 90, 96, 103 in his games. He played me and instantly went for top of the table getting 103, quite a hard break he just kept missing his position and had to start again getting to the top. He then missed and ran in 66 at his next visit also with a couple of 30 and 40 breaks. Still the one thing that occurred to me is that when these top players do eventually miss a shot usually they leave you in a good position. He did just that and I managed to score 16, 25, 21 and a 37 break. taking my total to 142 for the hour which was my highest. He ran out 399 in the hour which is 100 points every 15mins. Quite high scoring.
As usual I enjoyed the day and managed to watch some really great game. I think my favourite player was Bem French. I know Mike, Roxton and Geet etc are fantastic but they play a very boring style of the game. When I watched Bem play he makes the games look visually very interesting. His ability to get long the long loser is second to none and he matches that with an uncanny knack of keeping the ball in the middle of the table. Lots of red ball play and he managed a 70+break in every game. I think these top lads should be banned from the top of the table play for more than a few goes say 20 and then play around the table. That would make the TV side of the game a little more interesting. I know the skill involved in what they do is incredible but its a thought.
I couldn't manage the plate on the Monday due to some work coming up. But I did find out about the ABC on Friday and I am also going to watch the world champs on Thursday and hopefully Saturday. Again I tried to avoid getting upset at getting thrashed every time and view this as a massive learning curve each time I play. Bem informs me he is nearly 65 and has been playing since he was 14. That just show the experience of these guys.
Funny how each player has developed their own style within the game. This is more noticeable than those playing snooker. I know you get Ronnie and Jimmy playing fast and the odd slow player. But most of the top snooker players play the same old boring style.
Rupesh Shah was interesting. He is clearly a class player with the same ability of Geet at the top of the table, but has not quite mastered the art yet. If Mike is 100 at the top, Geet 99 and Gilcrest 98 then Rupresh is around 93. He just missed out on position by half an inch every 20 shots or so. This hardly seems much but that is the only difference between the top few players.
It's good they got a chance to practice as this will help the standard for the World. I don't think the tables were very good at Bradford I saw lots of kicks and a few balls turned off the spots as they ran over them.
John Hartley managed to get the balls locked in the jaw of the pocket and ran in a series of canons across the balls in the jaw. I have never seen that in a match before. It was really nice to watch. I mentioned it to him afterwards he said its the first time he had got in that position in a match and thought he would give it a try. I think he scored about 30 before knocking the red in.
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