A LINE ON CLARK McCONACHY

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1936, Page 1 (Supplement)

A LINE ON CLARK McCONACHY

FIRST 1000 BREAK AT AGE OF I}.

JpWERY sphere of sport has its champions, and billiards is no exception. It is a well-known fact that there are four masters of this game— Walter Lindrum, of Australia, Joe Davis and Tom Newman, of England, and Clark McConachy, of New Zealand, McConachy’s visit to Whangarei recently for the purpose of giving exhibitions aroused keen interest and also afforded an “Advocate” representative an opportunity to learn something of the famous cueist’s career.

He was born at Glenorchy, at the head of Lake Wakatipu, in 1895, and commenced playing billiards in his father’s saloon at Timaru at the age of 13. After four years, he compiled his first, 1000 break. At that time it Was all red-ball billiards, so different from the game as played under the present baulk-line rule. Just previously, McConachy had visited Australia with his father. The only highclass prcfessionaK in the Commonwealth then was A. C, Williams, one of the noted English players of that day. However, v nothing eventuated in the way of matches, and he returned to New Zealand rather disappointed at not having been able to arrange a big match. At the age of 18, he commenced touring New Zealand as a professional and made a number of breaks over 500, the largest being 739 in the Civic Billiard Parlour, Auckland, then run by the Tate Bill Stevenson. Stevenson was then professional champion of the Dominion, and when 20, McConachy defeated him to annex his first title, in 1905. Shortly afterwards, he was advised that Fred Lindrum, the Australian ■champion, was prepared to play him in matches and was soon in Melbourne. Here, they engaged in two matches, Lindrum conceding the New Zealander a start of 2000 in 18,000. McConachy was successful and so had the satisfaction of winning his first really big professional go. In the intervening years, McConachy has toured practically the entire British Empire, including Australia, India, Canada, ' South Africa and the British Isles. In a match with Walter Lindrum at Wellington last year, he established the new world’s record break under the present baulk-line rule of 1178, but this has since been eclipsed by Newman with 1300 odd, and then Davis with over 1700. The third new record, 1796, standing now, was compiled by Lindrum in Sydney. It was rather remarkable that the three feats should be accomplished within a week. McConachy was definitely of the opinion that four-figure breaks were more difficult of accomplishment now than under the old rules, so much so that Walter Lindrum’s phenomenal run of 1000 odds had been considerably curtailed.

McConachy considers himself a better player now than ever and was disappointed last year in that no world’s championship was played. His form was so good that he greatly favoured his chances, even against Lindrum.

He last visited Whangarei 10 years ago when he played exhibition matches with local exponents. Frank Coburn, now resident in Auckland, impressed him more than anybody else.

McConachy stated that Lindrum, now in Australia, was endeavouring to arrange a series of matches for the world’s championship, to take place at the Adelaide centenary, being celebrated at the end of this year. If this eventuates, the New Zealander will be a participant. Later it is his intention to pay another visit to England.