BRILLIANT DISPLAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21323, 18 April 1939, Page 12

BRILLIANT DISPLAY

BILLIARDS CHAMPION IN ACTION Brilliant displays of billiards and snooker and an amazing exhibition of trick shots were given in Timaru last night by Clark McConachy. There was a large crowd present and at times it was astounded at the facile ease with which the champion achieved the seemingly impossible. In a match against J. Lang, McConachy gave away a handicap of 700 in 1000 and required 23 when Lang, after a fine display for an amateur, reached the 1000 mark. Playing snooker against L. d'Eganneh, McConachy opened with a break of 70 and, clearing the table in four shots, won easily although giving away 42. In a second game with the same handicap he lost. McConachy’s best break at billiards was 265 and he made five or six over the hundred and one or two approaching the 200. Lang’s best break was 67. The feature of the champion’s display was his top of the table play in which he showed his skill in the manner in which he brought the balls together and kept them together. His short screws and cross cannons were amazing.

Praise for Timaru Player

Introducing McConachy, Mr E. G. Kerr referred to his long acquaintance with the champion, whose first game in public was against him. For that reason he was pleased to be present to introduce him and looked forward to seeing him in action again. At the conclusion of his display McConachy thanked Mr Kerr for his remarks and praised the play of Lang who was one of the best amateurs he had played in the Dominion. It was not easy for an amateur to beat a leading professional even with a large handicap and he wished to congratulate Lang on his win. With practice on the correct lines he would be a really fine player.