BILLIARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16737, 19 May 1922, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

NEW ZEALAND’S PRESENTATION TO M'CONACHY. (From Our Correspondent.} LONDON, April o. When Clark McConachy takes up his cue this afternoon at Thurston s world famous billiard rooms ho will have hanging on his chain a gold tiki presented to him to-day bv Sir James Allen tho High Commissioner at New Zealand House. The presentation was a private one hurriedly arranged so that he might know of New Zealand’s good wishes now when he is in the midst of the championship struggle, and, but for that oircumstance a number of prominent New Zealanders would have been there to add to the High Commissioner's and to Oaptain Donne s very hearty encomiums. Tho High Commissioner read the letter to him, which accompanied tho pretty charm. It was sent from Billiards Ltd., of New Zealand, and was signed by Mr Vosseler, Wellington, and was as follows: —“ A number of billiard enthusiasts have subscribed for n. gold Tiki which tbv desire should b* presented to Cl Ak MlcConachy,. tho New Zealand champion, who is in Kngland to compote for tho world’s championship in billiards. This small emblem of good luck it is hoped will show our representative that ho lias well-wishers hero who desire his success. Would you be good enough to convey to him our best wishes for his success. McConachy is highly thought of throughout tho Dominion, not only because he is a great player, but because ho is in tho true sense a gentleman. Tn asking you to make this presentation on behalf of our local players we trust we have asked you for something you will find it a pleasure in doing and that you will not regard it as presumption in doing so.” Sir James, though not a player, expressed himself as extremely pleased with, the task set him, and Captain Bonne added that he was going to Thurstons to see him play and that lie would win. Tho following impression of tho Now Zealand billiard champion appears this afternoon in one of the daily “ causeries ” dear to the London press. “ Until yesterday I had never witnessed a professional billiards tourney, hut now that I have tasted its excitements lam eager for more. Tho occasion was the match between Tom Reece and Clark McConachy, the New Zealand champion, at Thurston's, in I -io««ter Square and the championship of England is the issue. Th© atmosphere was cloistral—th© dim religious light, tlie tense faces of the devotees grouped round the room, and tho two protagonists trying hard to look unconcerned but obviously strung up No sound but th© clicking of the. ivories. r< now' Reece and then McConachy, with an amazing delicacy and ease run up their scores. When I entered the room Reece was in play. I wntold by Dmrston’s courteous manager that ho has made nearly half a mil lion—no, not sterling, but points - nt the anchor stroke. This break ter m inn tod before he bad registered fifty nn what looked like a simple stroke To an average player like myself, that is one of the surprising things aboul profeesional play. After a brilliant display of dexterity tho break wil como to an untimely end on somethin $ that you or T would swear wo eoulc Accomplish without mishap. No doubt one is deceived, and the simplicity o: the stroke is more apparent than real MrC'onachj' is tlio more temporamenta player, and his stvl© a trifle showiei than his opponent’s, but Reece give* the impression of being sure of himself. I must see them again.” (McConachy was beaten by Roecf by 1233 points, the scores being: Reece 8000; McOonachv 6767.