BIG BILLIARDS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 February 1932, Page 6

BIG BILLIARDS.

LINDRUM’S NEW BREAK RECORD — 4137. (“Sun” Special). LONDON, "Wednesday. ' Walter Lindrum, continuing his ■break against Davis, broke lii, s OWIII billiards record of 3905 to-day, finish - ing Ms cue with a .total of 4137. A unique afternoon’s billiards, a Lindrum record, immediately followed by a Davis four-figure break, featured to-day’s play. The tense atmosphere ■yosenrbled that at Lord’s when a batting record is approaching. Every seat was filled, the doors were barred and hundreds were turned away to linger on the staircase and in the street listening to the repeated applause. Lindrum was inundated with telephone requests during the morning, includin'* many from titled people for reserved seats. He admitted slight nervousness when he made the opening stroke a dif&cult pot-the-red, which he achieved-

; Then, he gathered the balls, and continued brilliantly his faultless positional play, scoring at the rate of 100 within five minutes. As he approached his own record cf '3905 he was somewhat anxious, wiping his hands and his cue. At 3799 he asked the marker for the score; he apparently thought he was 10 higher. -When he was within, a few points of the record the crowd was so excited as to cease smoking. Lindrum was then nursery-cannoning.

With two to go, he stopped, smiled, chalked his cue, then made the delicate record-breaker. GOOD OLD WALTER.

Instantly there was a roar of applause, with coo-ees and shouts of “Good old Walter, ’ ’ such as might have been heard in a crowded stadium. Hats were thrown into the air. The applause lasted for five minutes. Hind rum, in response to requests, made a graceful speech.

Then he continued to play, quite unperturbed, still making the game look absurdly easy. The only poor shot was when he failed after a forced breakup of a nursery position, necessitating potting the red ini. the middle pocket. He sent the white behind the spot, a foot too far. His own ball was in the middle of the table. He attempted a swerve cushion cannon, with the aid of the jigger, but missed, •as he phrased it, by a butterfly’s kiss. Walter was obviously disappointed, and looked as he might have kicked the white if it was big enough. He said afterwards he felt fine, and like scoring for a week.

He was sorry he missed the 5000, on which he had set his heart. Hie has got another fortnight in London to fulfil his ambitioin. He has at least convinced the public that such a break Is possible. His record break lasted 175 -minutes, and included 15 sequence of nursery cannons, aggregating 2578. The closing scores were; — Davis (ree. 5000), 10,783 (best breaks 1247, 565, 299 unfinished) v. Lindruni 8175 (4137 full, 414, 519). THEIR FAILINGS COMFORT. “Magician Lindrum is always associated with Bradman when one thinks of record-breakers, ” the ‘ ‘ NewsvChronicle ’’ comments. “Both make their games look easy, but actually raise the standard to such a height that the ordinary performer has no hope of becoming extraordinary. It is quite comforting when Bradman makes a “duck” and Lindrum does not score.” (Published in “The Times.’’) ,

In a leading article 4 4 The Times” pays tribute to Lindrum’s unequalled endurance and the ease and rapidity pf his scoring. His pre-eminence is illustrated when brought into comparison with Ms opponents’ slow and laboured efforts, .the article says. Nevertheless, they are benefiting from his example. They are improving, as is proved by Davis’s break of 1247.