Chch to host world billiards

Press, 24 August 1977, Page 42

Chch to host world billiards

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

It is not often that New Zealand, much less the South Island, gets to stage a , world championship. Howjever, there will be such an I occasion this year when the Jw or I d open billiards jchampionshp is held in Christchurch. The venue will be the Ngaio Marsh Theatre at IIam ( and the tournament will run for three weeks, beginning on November 28. The organiser is Mr Frank I Holz, who filled the same role when the event was last staged in his home town of iPukekohe in 1972. Mr Holz

z intends shifting to Christ--5 church shortly to take i charge of the planning and - he will have the assistance > of the Canterbury Billiards ■ and Snooker Association. i From the 20 entries rei i ceived a field of 12 has been selected and comprises four ! professionals and eight amaijteurs. A number of the amai teurs will contest the world amateur championship in Melbourne on their way to i Christchurch. 5; The four professionals are tiPaddy Morgan (Australia), f John Barry and Kingsley t Kennerley (both England)

• and Satish Mohan (India). > The eight amateurs are I Michael Ferreira (India), ■ Clive Everton (Wales), Mark ii Wildman (England), Girish IPraikh (India), Jack Bates • (Scotland), George Ganim i (Australia), Alf Nolan (Eng- • land) and Syed Aleem ■ (India). ■ The only New Zealander; I who would be up to this; i company is Clark McCona-, > chy and although he was invited McConachy felt that at >lB2 he was past such high- , • level competition. However, z I Brian Kirkness, of Christ- ): church, will be kept in re-

serve to cover any late withdrawals.

The outstanding Australian cueist, Eddie Charlton,! was interested in competing, but his requests for substan-’ tial appearance money felll on deaf ears. | The tournament, which! I will be sponsored by South! Pacific Television and Citi-! 'zen Watches, will begin with! I a series of round-robinj matches and the top six; qualifiers will compete fori places in the final. All proceeds will go to the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind.

Mr Holz also plans to run a snooker tournament in conjunction with the bilI i a r d s championship. Employing the same 12 players, it will be held in I chartered clubs around the country, with the final prob-i ably in Christchurch. The’ top Canterbury player, Dave Meredith, is a likely reserve for the snooker.

Les Driffield (England) j won the title in 1972, beatling Morgan in the final. The ! beaten semi-finalists were I Mohan, who was the top i qualifier, and Ferreira.