GOOD MAN TO TAKE A CUE FROM

NZ Truth, Issue 1108, 24 February 1927, Page 6

GOOD MAN TO TAKE A CUE FROM

WHEN we hold our hands up m pious horror and say of poor So-and-So that "he made a. bit of a break, don't-eher-know," we don't talk of billiard players) ; . They are the exclusive school who. are always - proud of their breaks— good, bad or -indifferent. Even Clark McConachy, the brilliant New Zealand champion arid international .figure m the world of cue and ivories, comes through his Customary modesty to say he was proud of his first hundred |^?« break as a lad, and still more proud of his first thousand after four short years' practice. ' * , And when young . Clark made that thousand break and startled the lads about town he had sown the seed of achievement. A few years later . he was playing before Royalty against world-beaters; everyone rem e.nrb c r s his first visit to London, when he came up m the closing stages of the exhibition game with the world champion, Tom Newman, to win handsomely. Unfortunately it was not a championship game. '■-.''. .: As a lad, CM. was always a diligent chap who believed that if anything" m the world was worth doing at all it -Was worth*' doing properly. Hence, when— at his father's billiard room— he learned the A.B.C of the three-ball game at thirteen and a -half, he -yyent at it like the proverbial n,ull at the gate. "V ' '

' He ,had a wonderful eye, steady temperament, discernment and quick, perceptive faculties. The kid from Timaru had grit, to 6. and it must have been a proud" moment when he actually found himself m the big swim. Three times he went to England, and although he only entered for the English championship twice he came through with credit. His many victories over notable players yin various parts of the world '-never 'turned his akmaaamaaamam head, because whatever else Clark McConachy might be, I he is a gentleman and sports- | man of the- first water. .. Steady, quiet talker, extremely modest and —on first- acquaintance—-appar-ently highly strung, Clark becomes a calm, smoothlyrunning machine, m big championship play. If you want to see. him these days you will have to ascend the stairs of the Strand billiard parlor, m Manners Street, Wellington, where he ministers to the needs of the billiardist. ' Meantime the. New Zealand champion—he has held the honor since 1916 — is endeavoring to get m touch with the Australian, Lindrum, with a view to arranging a New' Zealand meeting and possibly a return call to the New Zealander m Aussie. One-time keen oarsman .always enthusiastic trout fisherman and a leaning; towards tennis, Clark keeps well m touch with the figures m sport. A wife and. two fine boys are his domes,tic delights;