BILLIARDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 224, 9 October 1909, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

A Christchurch Competition.

The billiard event, of the year m Uhristchurch was the Alcock competition for £100 worth of prize money m the Christchuxch Cycling Club's rooms. There were 14.4 competitors and 148 games were playea ' m the tournament of 300 up. The money was divided thus : Ist prize £50, 2nd £20, third £10, fourth £G ; for highest average break, £4 ; balance b't £10 portioned out m consolation prizes. The four left itf the semi-final were W. G.. Noble (20), J..G-. Martin (35), L. H. Herdmari (30), and G. Wilkiusbiv (80). "Jimo" Martin then defeated "Cocky 1 Her dman after a good game, during the course oh Which Martin put a 70 run to his credit, Herdman's best being 41. Wilkinson was vanquished by Noble, and, considerable interest was manifested m the final between Noble and Martin. Noble is an bid war horse at tournament games and stood the strain better than his much younger opponent, ...whose best break was 29, whilst Noble's highest was 35. The table was comparatively strange to Martin, and the conditions were so adverse ;ihat lie ' froze after 126 had been reache|k.and :'was thereafter an animated North ; 'i Pole, standing six-feet odd m his sox. .His score stood at ISO when Noble put on his ■ last 23, amidst loud applause from', the packed assembly. Herdman and Wilkinson agreed to divide the third and' fourth prizes. Martin, the runr.er-iip, is a phenomenally improved billiardist who has been playing toe game for three short years only. , In. addition to second prize, he won the cheque, for the highest average break, and his record ..during the tournament was so remarkable (probably constituting an amateur- , tournament record m New Zealand) that a 'number of his admirers conferred earnestly together and incited handicappcr R.," Spencer to, present the popular .player; with a magnificent set of Loewe pipesl ' Martin's highest breaks during the tournament were :— 56, U6, 107, 63, 50, i 12,-62,:63, 66, 03, 71, 61, 58, .82, 67; '82, 6.6, 119, 63, 53, 70., Mar-tin-is a lightning jerker m the. local office, and it Is somewhat of a coincjb dence that Another Morse code man,"'-'J. M. Hamilton', r was runner-up to Barrett, winner of last. year's competition. President Tomkins chaired, a smoke social m- the Club's rooms at the conclusion of the final, when the prizes were, presented, toasts were honored, and a pleasant time was epent, an exhilarating ■ feature being Noble's address m Maori, and his blood-curdling war cry, assisted by two savages from the -King" Cpuntry. The Messrs r Alcock wired intimating that their century of sovereigns for prize money. would be encored next season, and ! the billiard table people , were toasted^ with great enthusiasm. ,