McCONACHY’S SUCCESS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 191, 15 May 1928, Page 13

McCONACHY’S SUCCESS

AMONG THE WORLD’S BEST

(By

“Amateur.”)

The success of Clark McConachy, the New Zealand professional champion billiards player, in defeating Walter Landrum, the crack ,Australian left-hander, in his first match of 18,000 up, has given great pleasure to billiards enthusiasts m the Dominion, who have all along been convinced that McConachy is in the first class of the world’s billiard players. The margin of victory was a small one, only 379, but the achievement is a remarkable one by reason of the fact that on the first week’s plaj' McConachy steadily fell behind until his score was over 2500 in arrears of Lindrum’s. He was playing in Australia for the first time on new tables, with bonzoline ballsLindrum declined to meet him on the subject of crystalate—and was amongst strangers. Lindrum is also regarded by the leading professionals in England as a star in the billiards firmament, so much so that Melbourne Inman was particularly anxious that 'Walter Lindrum should accompany him back to England from Australia, and was ready to guarantee the financial success Of. the trip. This did not eventuate, owing to a curious aversion on the part of Lindrum to leaving his native shores. W. Smith, who was expected to visit Australia this year, but has cancelled the visit until 1929, also desires to take Lindrum back as a kind of prodigy and

world beater, for Lindrum was making three-figure breaks when only 14 years Old. There was a difference of opinion between the pair, and Lindrum then challenged Smith to come to Australia and play a match for £lOOO. Smith then stated terms for the sharing of gates, and insisted that Lindrum should afterwards return with him to England and play, another match there for £lOOO, and there the matter rests at present. Meanwhile McConachy succeeded in reaching an agreement with Walter Lindrum to tour Australia, playing a series of matches, and rather than allow the negotiations to fall through McConachy agreed to play with bonzoline balls. During his tour of New Zealand earlier in the year he practised assiduously with them, left in mid-April for Sydney, and commenced the first match on April 30. The scores from day to day in the last fortnight have shown what a fine uphill fight he has played against the Australian. Doggedly the New Zealander stuck to his task, and with the beginning cf the second week’s play began to retrieve his position, although on Thursday he was still 1000 or so behind. Two brilliant sessions on Friday, the day before the closing stage, saw McConachy clean up the arrears and take the lead by about 30 points in the afternoon, which he increased to 500 at night. Saturday was the last day of play, when the New Zealander only wanted 1500 for game, and Lindrum a little over 2000. Lindrum rose to the occasion, and made four breaks from 200 to 516, but McConachy was master of the situation, and with nine three-figure breaks, of -which five were over 200, he ran to game with 379 to spare.

McConachy is a native of New Zealand, born in Dunedin, and learned, his billiards here. He has twice con-, tested the world’s championship in London, although on one occasion the entrance fee was raised from £5O to £2OO.