BILLIARDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 579, 22 July 1916, Page 11

BILLIARDS.

(By "Fluke.") Dave Pllmer, of the Central Billiard Parlors, Lambton-quay, is now swinging that sore arm of his about. Dave reports excellent business m his room, all tables going at top. • • • Also. "Mac" (of Morris's room, Courtenay-place). reports tip-top busts' 11 '? , room has advanced wonderful y ot late. It has quite a big following of patrons. • • • The hairdressers' billiard tournament which .has been m progress at Blr.imP8 l r.i mP^ re BUHard Saloon ' Manneii?i« < f- " dvanced a stage last week, and the following will give an idea aa to ?90 V nnf P PayersH ayers stand; W. Kennedy }"* on?' ■m'K' to ,. me6t - M -- McNaught Lit ° n)> J his w ".complete the third heat. Those eligible for the semifinal up to the time of writing are: a l.ees, who beat J. Lust by 102; R. MoGuffog beat R. Cornealbv 29. This really was a ding-dong game. The most exciting and Interesting game of R n» w rnam 5 nt was P^yed between R. Caplin and A. Duncan. Both men nnT d rt * xcellent Milliards, and it was t^ o^ 3 gnme U P to the last point, when Dunc a secured the verdict by 1 on^p t * V, k l c ° ns Wera that the final niXS. .k be b » etweGn Kennedy and ?« wk aan^ n ° u Kn Lees or McGuffog are both likely to upset "the applecart" and land the tomato. • • • "Fluke" received quite an entertain-' .*V g i>n ® r » fro . I V ono s tenlng himself A.R.8., Auckland, which is as follows: Have followed with Interest your weekly notes on billiards, and it Is a pleasure to know that lovers of the great Indoor pastime now look weekly for your column. After all, more poopie play billiards than play football, and it is singular that the daily press gives no space to the most scientific of nil games. Many clubs keep break books registering breaks of over 50 made by members, and this interesting mothod of recording breaks might well be adopted ?»y public rooms. Doubtless, most bllllard-room proprietors and club stewards would be pleased to forward particulars of any century breaks made, and this would give "Truth" readers a good idea of what amateurs are doing, and after all, they are the backbone of the game. Being Interested In the game, and constantly travelling about New Zealand, I have endeavored to get particulars of notable breaks, und the experience is interesting inasmuch aa most extraordinary claims ore made by players whose methods and sytitems show that they are not even acquainted with the rudiments of the game. These boasters, called In vulgar parlance, "skitea," are well known In all classes of sport, but billiards appears to bo their most congenial home. A prominent medical man conversing on the subject lately explained that these Individuals really suffer from a welldefined form of lunacy, known among experts as the madness of exultation. Had cases are common enough m mental hospitals where the unfortunate victims usually labor under tho delusion that they aro exalted persons, such us tho King of England, or the Emperor of China. The German Kaiser la a criminal case of this madness. All this is rather a degression, but is interesting to those who havo run across the man with the imaginary centuries he used to make at billiards. Even where break books are used caro must be taken before accepting performances. In one lnutanco of a recorded two hundred, break In Wellington I found it was made by the agency of the anchor cannon, plus tho balls eventually being jammed m the pockets. It was. of course, valueless as a record, as we have at least a dozen amateurs In New Zealand who can muke a thousand off the anchor position. After careful Investigation the following Is, I bollove, an uuthentio list of breaks over 200, made by amateur In New Zealand undter present rules, together with localo: Mr. C.. Seldoberg (Crystallato Cup holder), Dunedin, 260, 218, mado on his own private table: Mr. Tom Mujr (rhvcrcarglll), 246, 236, mado on Cycle Club table; Mr. Sweet, now deccasod (GlsborriQ), 213, mado m a public room; Mr. Chas. Chevannes (Wanganul), 208 219. 279 (N.Z. record), mado In Commercial Hotel, Wanganul; Mr. E. W. Warren (N.Z. Amateur Champion), 220, 216, made In Commercial Travellers' Club, Auckland. Both Seldoberg and Warren's breaks wero mado on standard tables, giving thorn merit over the other performances; but I would be inclined to rank Aiuir's perform-

ances higher than the others, as his breaks were made mainly by top of the table play, while the others are red-ball performances. It Is hard to say who our best amateur Is, but on all tables. Warren would be hard io beat, as I find records of hIR making centuries In" In'vercargill, Dunedin, Tlmnru, . Chrlsichureh. Wellington, Mastertori.Palmerston, Wangumit, Napier, Glsborne and Hamilton, indicating- a versnbility rnroly seen outside tho professional ranks. In addition to holding the record In the New Zealand championship and for Auckland, I noto that ho made a break of 171 at the Travellers' Club, Wellington, which, as far as I know, has never been beaten there. He is. by tho way, n pupil of Tom Mulr's .and I consider the latter a greater authority on method than cither .7. 1\ Mennock or Hlsso Levi, tho noted English writer on billiards. I would consider Chevunnes the greatest wing hazard player we have, and It is interesting to Know that he worked out the present Gray method twenty- five years ago for himself, and believed that properly exploited by professionals, it would prov* more effective than the top of tbj» tablo play. /'Billiards is evidently a fine form o* exerclso, as both Mulr and Chevannea ore over sixty, and play as well aa ever, although disinclined Cor tho worries of championship play. As both Seldcborg and Warren aro on the right sldo of forty they should do botter an time goes on. I can Bee no young amateur of any great promise coming on, and put It down to the fact that most of them, after, learning to j>lay a shot with skill, think they know all about it, without realising that It is at this period when the real work begins. Now that McConaehy Is away, Stophenson m the only professional \vu havo worthy of the name. Ho recently went over GOO twice In billiards, besides making a snooker break of 91. Given good health it would bo hard to know hlB limitations." • • • That venerable Institution of gro.it learning, the Otago University, has just installed an Alcock billiard table. Evidently It Is recognised that hard study Is only possible when diluted with pleasurable recreation, and after all. what is botter than the green cloth and tho clinking cryatalatea? c • # Since- tho last Issue, several moro games havo been played oft In tho Crystalato Cup contest m Auckland, tho results being as follows: F. Farrell, beat W. H. Madlll; A. B. M assay, beat A. Austin, In the third heat, A. B. Mttsscy defeated J. O'Rourkc. Further games will be played during tho week at Messrs. Alcock and Go's showrooms. • * • Mr. O. Wood, of Mnstorton, has Just inHtulled a .fourth Alcock tablo Into his Mastertoti room. Renovations, too, havo been carried out und tho saloon is now us comfortnblo und as attractive as It possibly could bo.