BILLIARDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 886, 28 February 1907, Page 12

BILLIARDS.

(By

“ Pyramid.”)

[The writer of this column will be glad to answer any Questions on the game.]

As showing what a phenomenal player H. W. Stevenson is it may be mentioned that this season he has made 211 breaks of a century or over, 65 of 200 cr over, 18 of 300 hundred, 10 of 400, and six of 500 or over. He has compiled 98,663 points for an average of 59 and 46 per cue.

Locally very little is doing in the , billiard world, but with the coming cooler, weather matters in this line will soon liven up.

Says the “Referee”: Messrs, Andre wUsher and Co., of whisky fame, have offered a sum of £l2O in gold, to be played for between eight or ten of the very best players in the colonies. The handicap is desired to be an invitation contest, and £lOO to go to the winner, while the runner-up would take £2O. Another well-known billiard enthusiast offers £lO, to be given to the player making the highest proportionate break. The handicap will be made by the players themselves —i.e., each player to handicap all others in the contest except himself—and as there will be but eight or ten players, there should be little or no difficulty in this direction. In all probability the handicap will be formed from the following-mentioned players:—New South Wales: Frank: Smith, Ted James, and Walter Parker. Victoria: Charlie Memmott, W. Sawkins, and T. Bragge. Queensland: Harry Gray. West Australia: F. Lindrum, jun., and Bert Teague. New Zealand: E. J. Campbell.

According to the “Referee” an exhibition match of 750 up was played in the Ideal Saloon in the basement of the Melbourne Coffee Palace, between the well-known professionals, W. Sawkins (champion of Victoria),, and E. J. Campbell (the so-called champion of New Zealand). Both were slow at getting away, Campbell being first in with 36 and 48. Then Sawkins caught form in a nicely played 149, compiled with the assistance of some good all-round play. Campbell opened up and sent in a good break of exactly 100, comprising some fine top-of-the-table play, and almost immediately afterwards brought forward another excellent run of 81, which brought him well to the front, and he remained in this position until he finally ran out a winner by 84 points. Campbell averaged 13.7, and Sawkins 11.9. The latter player was not altogether at his best, for alterations in his saloon prevented him from practising; Campbell’s best runs were 36, 48, 100, 30, 81, and 77.. Sawkins made 30, 149, 35, 44 and 81.

A movement is on foot in Christchurch to promote a New Zealand Amateur Championship during the coming season, in which it is said most of those who are expert on the cloth of green thereabout will compete. A professional championship contest is also mooted.