BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 12

BILLIARDS.

MANNERISMS OF GREAT PLATERS. (By "Marker.") Why do tho billiard professionals in* dulge so freelyiin mannerisms when playing? These wero tho remarks of a friend which, on reflection, 1 had to admit did not deviate the slightest bit from fact. Now when I.come to think of it, I liavii never yet met a billiard player who diii not possess somo little peculiarity of his own. John Roberts, for instance, always touches tho cloth with his cuo prior to making his stroke; Charles Dawson bad two pronounced mannerisms—his underlip had a habit of folding down just as ho delivered his 6uo and, when he mad<j (lie slightest mistake qvpr any stroke, pn« HDuldiliear.,l peculiar/guttijral sound.!'Mfrj-,'; bnurne.lninrin has'prbbabl.vas inaAj'll'icki l of manner as Hie whole of the other professionals combined. When playing a loin, shot he waves his cue and twists his boo' as-if to assist, the ball in its' course, and, if playing a losing hazard, ho moves hits head - from sido to side as if ,he rather hoped that some unseen force might gilida tho object ball according to the wagging of the striker's head. Hnrverson, too, has somo queer tricks. When viewing a position lie pouts but his heavy moustache and at: A in, when he lias missed a shot, lid will fold his arms and gaze gloomily atthe table for all tho world like the pictures we have seen of Napoleon, in. characteristic attitude. In a few weeks' time George Gray will have worked out his trade contracts with . composition ball manufacturers. He wili - then probably accept Cecil Harverson's challenge to a game for ,£IOOO asido of 16,000 up level, with ivory balls, Gray to choose tho table. ' In the London tournament, at Solid Square, Harverson gained his initial success, when, with 2250 start off Stevenson, ho won the thirteenth heat by 801 points. Tho great Hull player has, however, yet to win a game. TABLE OP RESULTS. Played. Won. -Lost. Diggle 5 i 1 Roeco 5 4 1 Inman 5 3 2 Harverson 5 1 i Stevenson 4 0 -4 It is rumoured that Burroughs and' Watts and the Bonzolino Ball Company, London, cabled an offer to Lindrum bt -CIOOO to play under their direction ill England next season. At the time of writing it is not known whether the Australian champion "has accented the offer. ,T. W. Reid, tho New Zealand champion, will shortly mako a tour of tho Nofth Island, playing exhibition games. Reiti has put in a lot of practice of late, am? is showing good form.