Best Man Not Free For World Event

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30529, 26 August 1964, Page 18

Best Man Not Free For World Event

The six-times winner of the New Zealand championships, A. Twohill (VSest Coast), dropped a bombshell at yesterday’s New Zealand billiards championships. Twohill, whose form makes him an obvious choice to win his seventh title, has advised the New Zealand president, Mr F. Holz, that “win, loose or draw, I will be unavailable to compete in the world amateur championships at Pukekohe in November” because of business commitments.

As the New Zealand association will nominate the winner and the runner-up as competitors it will now have to name one of the two semifinalists as the second player. The president of the Canterbury association, Mr E. Simons, said the best way to select the second player would be to have a play-off. Twohill left the remainder struggling in his wake, with a magnificent exhibition in yesterday’s games. Matching his skills with the South Auckland representative, F. Holz, he scored 704 points, and included breaks of 146. 118, 82, 69 twice, 62 and 58. Judging by his present form the seventh title is 6 mere formality.

Convincing Win Canterbury's E. Simons gave of his best during his game against J. Proctor (Southland), winning most convincingly. These two players were the first of the tournament to reach the 1000 points for the two hours' play. D. Higgins and R. O'Callaghan maintained the local association's unbeaten record with good wins.

O’Callaghan's performance against S. Moffit (North Otago)—conqueror of A. Redmond—was a particularly fine effort. Higgins’s victory over Southland’s J. Weavers was by a margin of 427. Champion Extended

The reigning champion, H. Robinson (Wellington), was fully extended- to beat G. Geddes (North Otago) and except for a bad tactical error by the latter, the final decision could have easily been reversed. With only six points dividing the two players, and 24 minutes* play remaining, Geddes attempted

—and missed—a difficult red when, by potting the white ball that was inside the jaws of the pocket he would have gained an elementary position to carry out another series of losing hazards. Robinson capitalised on this indiscretion with a break of 32 and 42 to assure himself of the game.

Canterbury's T. Yesberg continued on nls winning way, beating Auckland's W. Glass by 75. a very lethargic attempt at scoring In the final 45 minutes by Yesbetg enabled Glass to close the gap by 111 points. S. Moffit (North Otago) disappointed in this two games, losing to both R. O'Callaghan and B. Paretevleh. Much was expected by this relatively young player after Monday's win over the redoubtable Aucklander. A. Redmond. Beat Harcourt In the final game ot the evening Redmond caused a minor surprise by convincingly beating W. Barcourt, of Wellington. Harcourts form in this match was well below his beat. Redmond jumped away to an early lead, scoring 277 In his first 70 visits to the table against a meagre fie to Harcourt's credit. The Wellington exponent improved bls play constructively io the latter stages Of the game, but at no time looked a winner. Detailed results, with the best breaks in parenthesis, were:—A. Twoblll 704 (145, 116. 82. a, «t. 52, M) beat F. Hols 260. B. O'Callaghan 415 beat S. Moffit 310. H. Robinson 407 <56. 45. 43. 42) beat G. Geddes S5l. D. Higgins 531 (58. M. 53 . 44. 4» beat J Weaver 195. R. O'Callaghan 509 <65) beat B. Paretovlch 353 E. Simons M 3 (SO. SO. 43). T. Yesberg 427 (47, SI) beat W. Glass 352 (43). B. Paretovich 402 <«) beat S Moffit 327. F. 49. 40) beat J. Proctor 436 <SS. Hawkins 470 beat B. Woke 355. A. Redmond 510 (54) beat W. Harcourt 332 ( 54).