THE LONGEST BREAKS ON RECORD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 100, 8 January 1870, Page 7

THE LONGEST BREAKS ON RECORD.

The past week has witnessed some of the greatest triumphs ever achieved at billiards. Mr. Mardon, writing in 1848, mentions an extraordinary display by Kentfield, the celebrated " Jonathan " of Brighton, who, some years before, scored 57 consecutive spot-hazards, and made altogether a break of 196. This seems to have been the highest run then known. Fourteen years later" John Eoberts, who succeeded to the championship, and who still retains the title, in a match at Saville House, Leicester-square, put together 346, including 10-4 spot-haz-ards, and up to Monday last this remained the best run, although J. Eoberts, jun., W. Cook, jun., Charles Hughes, J. Bennett, and J. Herst all managed to approach it pretty closely. The two first-named have long been looked on as the " coming men ; " they have played two matches for money, and won one each, whilst the entertainments in which they have contested have ended first in favour of one, then the other. Both are engaged for a series of exhibitions in the provinces, and on Monday they met at the Eoyal Hotel, Dale-street, Liverpool, to play 1000 up, even. The game ended disastrously to Eoberts, jun., who wac defeated by 351 points, Cook, jun., scoring break* of 104, 351 (including 77 spot-hazards), and winding up with 123, in which were 34 "spots," Eoberts's best runs being 71 and 102. Time, 2 hours smin. On Tuesday they played a second match of 1000 up, even, at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Moss-side, Manchestei*, and again Cook's star was in the ascendant, Eoberts being beaten by 633, Cook making breaks of 64, 97, 143,- and 359, including 112 spot-hazards. Time, 1 hour 38min. It is needless to say that two such breaks stamp Cook as one of the most skilful players the world ever produced. The balls used were 2 l-16th inches in diameter. — " Sportsman," Oct. 23, 1869.