A NOTED BILLIARDIST.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4704, 28 May 1924, Page 3

A NOTED BILLIARDIST.

MR. C. FALKINER. VISIT TO PAEROA. The members of the Ohinemuri Chib, Paeroa, were afforded a special treat when Mr Claude Falkiner, the noted English billiardist, played his first game in New Zealand at the Club last evening. Mr Falkiner was matched against Mr H. G. Somervell, of Paeroa, in a game of 800. Mr Somervell was conceded half the points, and playing a steady, consistent game throughout, stood up to the champion very creditably, but, as was to be expected, despite his handicap of 400 Mr Falkiner hau no difficulty in disposing of his opponent. Although the champion had only disembarked from the Makura at Auckland the evening before, and had not played a game on a table in New Zealand, he gave a brilliant exhibition, and by his quiet, unassuming manner and thorough, mastery pi the game Won the admiration and applause of those present. The balls used were of British composition, known as vitalite. Altogether Mr Falkiner paid thirty visits to the table, and ran out a winner with an unfinished break of 41. Some of his biggest breaks were 117, 99, 89, Gi>, and 56, and only on one occasion did he play a shot without scoring. On one occasion, with only the red ball on the table, Mr Falkiner scored 87 by potting the red and going in-off. The biggest break made by Mr Somervell was 33. At the conclusion of the game the champion congratulated Mr Somervell on his good showing, and stated that the table had been entirely satisfactory. , A game of snooker was a-so played by the same two. The scores were : Falkiner, 57 ; Somervell, 33. At the conclusion of the games Mr Falkiner gave an exhibition of trick shots, fairly mystifying the spectators by the way he could twist and twirl the balls at will by means of his cue. Some of the exhibition shots were allround canons off four, five, and six cushions, a canon while the three balls were in motion, middle-pocket canons, and a series of interesting masse shots and “screw-backs.