THE BILLIARD TABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17351, 16 May 1924, Page 12

THE BILLIARD TABLE.

(BY “ CUE.”) The billiards parlours are very busy just now, but lew are putting tourntLiu<*nts under way. Most of the player* arc too engrossed in h.eliy'B pool to play snooke ror billiards. The only parlour that appeares to be making a* start with snooker tournaments is Mr Phil Munn’s. The draw will Le made shortly. Arrangements are being made for P. Martin and VY. Smith to play another game of 500 up at the Pioneer Sports , Uiub’s rooms. Last night, the Pioneer Sports Club played its fourth flying fifty tourney. Two more of the first series of match remain to be played. So far the tournaments have been very successful. Last Thursday thirty-two entries were received. Tho date of the closing of entries for t.he* Christchurch Billiards League’s «*oropetitions has been till May 31. The heavier cue has come into its own. Now everybody is using it and playing better billiards. Newman’s recent iecord championslop break in his game with M'Conachy did not remain long at the head of the list, as recently he reached the magic four figures with a run of 1021, which at time of writing is the world’s record for a championship game (writes • Snooker ” in the Sydney “ Referee.”) It is a marvellous performance—not onlv making the thousand, but doing so in such an important engagement. In going through the list of thousand break makers, it is noticeable how few they are. PealL was the leader until the barring out of his break method. From then there were no four-figure runs until George Gray startled the world with the magnitude of his break's, making almost 30 from his trusty red ball. Stevenson was th© first Englishman under modern rules to reach the 1000. Then came- M’Con achy and Newman, who has passed the billiardists* Mecca on three occasions, his highest run being 1274. Thousand breaks were more common in Australia under the revised rules. Walter Lmdrum has passed the magic milestone on several occasions, heads the world list with his 1417 made in Sydney recently. Brother Fred has 1239 to his credit, and George Gray 1199. w hile t.ne late Charley Memmotr mad© the first thousand of note, with 1238, when playing the late Harry Evans in Melbourne. Tom R«ece was ahead at the halfway stage of the championship game with Newman. But Newman, with his big 1(»21 run. caught and passed the Lancastrian at 10.000 to 9722. Reec© has played excteflsutl j, and is not vet a light ot other "days, as many* thought. In fact. I am of opinion that he will List longer than e-nv of his contempdraries, from th© fact than he takes greater care of his eating.' drinking, outdoor and other exercises, which those who profess to know recommend to all and sundry for the longevity,” comments a Sydney writer, making and keeping of good health and And. after all, a defeat of 16,000 to 14.845 is rot sc great- considering that the victor has been breaking records most of the season now expiring or expired. Some of the be.gt performances of Claude Falkiner (who will be iu Australia text month) under the present rules are : 870 against Inman, in 1920, An English record ot 165 consecutive cannons in 1921. Frpm an unfinished 35 be made a break of BU2 in 50 minutes against W. Smith - averaging 787 for rhe session. Another fine ’performance was scoring 1722 points in ten consecutive visits to the table in the final heat of the 1920 championship against the rcdcubtable AY. Smith. Hi.s greatest sessional performance was scoring 2381 in two sessions (cuing tliiet. hours fortv minutes) against Newman in 1921. Falkiner is a stylist of stylists, with few surpassers at nursery cannons and close-range billiards. At the .annual meeting of th© X.S.W. Amateur Billiard Association a fortnight ago. the report showed a successful \4ar. so far as winning honours wore concerned, but poor results financially A letter was received from tho Queensland A.8.A.. asking if the X.S B amateurs would accent. the nomination of their represe'ntat ivc. L. I’. Simiuonds, in the Australian Amateur Championship. The hon secretary was instructed to replv that as the parent, body—the British Billiard Association--had decided that anyone who was not eligible to play in an amateur '•■hampionsbip. the nomination would not be accepted, as Simmonds had taken part in and won such an