Kirkness impresses

Press, 25 June 1979, Page 6

Kirkness impresses

The defending champion-. Brian Kirkness, was the outstanding player in the preliminary rounds at the week-end of the Canterbury billiards championship.

Kirkness was unbeaten in his six games and in all but one he scored highly. He had the pest total, 997, and also made the best break, 231. In all, he compiled seven century breaks. The only game in which he was tested was in the last of tiie second section rounds. His opponent, Bob Karaitiana, needed to win to have a chance of qualifying and with lOmin to go he trailed by less than 30. However, a couple of bad leaves by Karaitiana allowed Kirkness to extend the gap. Kirkness was the top qualif.er and in the quarter-finals tonight he will meet his Riccarton team-

mate, Graham Foster. The other quarter-finals will be between Dick O’Callaghan and Eric Simons, Dave Meredith and Bill Adams and Bill Burney and Ken Giles.

Giles, the second top qualifier, made two century breaks, as also did Meredith, who showed

(glimpses of the form that hag twice won him the title. DespitA failing to reacli the last eight) Karaitiana was also impress)?/ at times and he recorded on* century break.

Results of the second gecHort rounds were;

G. Foster 417, R. Karaitiana 379; W. Adams 722, R. Orsboun* 316; E. Simons 630, L. Adams 438; D. Meredith 691, N/Whit# 247; B. Kirkness 997, T. Thompson 317; K Giles 786, B. Wars’ 337: J. Montgomery 357, IE O’Callaghan 352; W. Burney 476, G. Templeton 377.

Kirkness 775, Foster 332; Gilds 733, Orsbourn 405; O’Callaghad 482, L. Adams 411: Burney 571< White 303: Karaitiana 709 J Thompson 399: W Adams 761, Ware 440; Simons 696, Montgom* ery 245; Meredith 738, Templetod 295.

Foster 552, Thompson 326) Ware 553. Orsbourn 494; L. Adams 596, Montgomery 285; White 377, Templeton 359; Kirk* ness 514, Karaitiana 411; Giles 596, W. Adams 518; Simons 636, O’Callaghan 416; Meredith 559, Burney 353.