TRIBUTE TO LINDRUM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1047, 11 August 1930, Page 13

TRIBUTE TO LINDRUM

PROPOSAL THAT EXPECTS TOO MUCH BILLIARDS CHAMPION’S VIEWS Walter Lindrum is a very great billiards player, says Joe Davis (the British professional champion), the greatest I have ever seen. I admit that without a shadow of reservation, and I also admit, on revealed form, that a handicap is necessary to infuse genuine competitive interest Into the “big four” tournament which will open under Mr. Camkin’s management in the autumn. As I am champion, with a record break of over 2,000 and a record aver- j ago in the premier event, I think that by writing in the above manner I have paid a fair tribute to the genius of Walter Lindrum. But I see no reason for pushing things to an extreme, and I must say that in my opinion excesse is indicated in the suggestion that Lindrum should give starts, varying from 10,000 to 14,000 points in a fortnight, next season, to Clark McConacliy, Tom Newman and myself. TOO MODEST I do not know who may be responsible for this suggestion, but I very much doubt whether Lindrum has anything to do with it personally, as he has never offered to give anyone a point in his life, being much too modest and sporting to swagger on the old lines about his ability to concede a start. The consequence is that we realise and admit that he can do it, but the figures I have quoted must have emanated from some Lindrum enthusiast, who expects Walter to do what only a super-optimist would ask him to perform. I know what he can do; but 1 also know that the strain of competitive tournament or championship play is a verv different thing to exhibition billiards. This makes 10,000 or 14,000 points start in a couple of weeks a terrific strain even for a single match, and the suggestion that it shall continue over a tournament lasting for months makes me feel that a “society for the prevention of cruelty to Lindrum” would not be at all a bad idea .