Oceania Region Billiards & Snooker. March 2018 Newsletter

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1 Oceania Region Billiards & Snooker World Billiards Ltd and World Snooker Federation March 2018 Newsletter Upcoming Events Support our Sport Billiards Tournaments 2018 Sydney Open Billiards Club Marconi, Bossley Park, NSW April 6 th April 8 th, 2018 Details Below and Entry Form attached Snooker Tournaments World Snooker Federation Championships Dolmen Hotel, Malta WSF World Championship WLBS Women s Championship WSF Seniors Championship **Check out the new WSF Social Media** This month s interview is with the Wayne Carey One of New Zealand s successful long-time Billiards player And a great supporter of our sport

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3 World Snooker Federation Championships, Malta The World Snooker Federation (WSF) has announced the beginning of its own official WSF Championships, which will run from March The event will be played at the Dolmen Hotel, Malta and provide new and exciting opportunities for amateur players. The winner of the main WSF Championship will receive a first prize of 10,000 and earn a two-year tour card for the World Snooker Tour. The four semi-finalists of the event will all be invited to compete at the 2018 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, England, which this year carries a record first prize of 425,000. The event will run from March. The WSF Championships will also consist of the official 2018 World Women s Snooker Championship, the champion of which will receive 6,000 and again the winner will qualify to enter the 2018 World Snooker Championship in April. There will also be an event staged for players over-40 years of age, to be known as the WSF Seniors Championship. There will be a first prize of 6,000 for this competition and following the recent WPBSA announcement regarding an official World Seniors Tour, the winner will receive a personal invitation to compete in a major international World Seniors event.

4 World Snooker Federation Championships, Malta Eligible players National Federations who are members of the World Snooker Federation can nominate the following players to compete at the WSF Championships: 4 players to WSF Championship (entries may be of mixed gender) (players must be aged 13 on 18th March 2018) 4 players to the WLBS World Women s Snooker Championship (consideration will also be given to the current WLBS ranking list) 4 players to WSF Seniors Championship (entries may be of mixed gender) must be 40 or over on 14th March 2018). Tournament information The Championships will consist of three events; the WSF Championship, the WLBS World Women s Snooker Championship and the WSF Seniors Championship. WSF Championship winner to receive a first prize of 10,000 and earn a twoyear tour card for the World Snooker Tour The four semi-finalists of the WSF Championship will all be invited to compete at the 2018 World Snooker Championship WLBS World Women s Championship winner to receive 6,000 and will qualify to enter the 2018 World Snooker Championship WSF Seniors Championship winner to receive 6,000 and will be invited to compete at a major international World Seniors event The best eight players of both the Women s and Seniors events will automatically qualify to play in the WSF Championship The events will also be played on Star tables, further preparing players before they join the lucrative professional circuit Further Information Learn more about the prestigious new event that will create new pathways to the World Snooker Tour and how National Federations can nominate their players for all three competitions now:

5 Interview with Wayne Carey New Zealand Billiards Player Wayne Carey is one of the great characters of our sport, a Billiards player with so many quality results over many years, and with his magnificent and long-standing support and commitment to see Billiards thrive for us all to enjoy, a great example for all of us to follow. Please enjoy the following interview Q. Where and when were you born? A. Wayne - Born in Auckland, New Zealand 25th September I was a Santa Claus baby! Q. Your career results in New Zealand and Oceania Championships? A. Have been lucky enough to win 122 Provincial and New Zealand Tournaments (a New Zealand record). I Won my first "Auckland B Grade" Billiard Tournament in 1977 and it took me 11 years to win my first "Auckland A Grade" in Have now won the Auckland Championships 25 times along with 5 x NZ Open Championships, 3x NZ Championships,15 x NZ Chartered Clubs Championships and this year was Honoured with "Life Membership" from my 'Bays Club' for this achievement, the Inaugural "2017 NZ Champion of Champions", 9 x North Island Championships along with multiple Provincial Titles. It would be fair to say that the competition in NZ is NOT nearly as strong as in other parts of the World, but one can only play the `Derby' field that enters on the day. I have lso been lucky enough to make 2 x Oceania Billiards Finals but lost both times to Australia s Les Higgins and Steve Mifsud.

6 Q. Your results of your travels to other World Billiards Championships and which Championships have you entered? A. I have competed in 11 World Championships, played in three World Billiards Ltd Championships in Leeds in UK, also twice in each Malta, India and Australia Championships, with my best result being at Carlow in Ireland 1999 at Jim Leacy's Ivy Rooms, making the last 16 where I met Australian Dave Collins. Q. Your high break and other interesting Billiards statistics, such as the number of breaks over 100 in competition play? A. Highest game break is 210 and 355 in practice. Have no idea on how many centuries except to say that I have had 3 in a game on a couple of occasions. Q. Did you first start to play Billiards or Snooker, and at what age? A. Started playing Snooker at 16 years old and got a 92 break at 16. Worked with my Dad who had a "Fish & Chip Shop" in the city and a couple nights a week he would go `sly grogging' so I would go down to the "Green Parrot" Snooker Hall and play till 10pm before picking him up & going home. After 6 months started playing "Kelly Pool". Was getting 3 a week with Dad and would win more than that in an evening at Kelly Pool and Snooker. Hardly played from 18yrs old, and at about 28yrs old after getting married to `Welsh Lass' Gaynor (now 49 terrific years) and after starting a family, returned to the game of Snooker. Q. How did you learn the skills of Billiards self-taught, watching other Billiards players, or mainly via a Billiards coach? A. About 40 years ago someone said that the way I stroked a ball, I should play Billiards. So started to play Ron Milicich 2 hours every week and he taught me the "open game of Billiards" which has been very good to me, but didn't know `top of the table` play. In NZ the "open game" can win tournaments, but not anywhere else in the World. Q. If a coach, who was it? A. Never got shown cue action or stance, just the `open game' by Ron Milicich. Although fair to say have had good coaching conversations with the "Masters" Robby Foldvari, Joe Minici, Mike Russell and the game's best Ambassador Peter Gilchrist Q. Have you changed your style or cue action over the years? A. Although I have never smoked or drank, in 1993 unfortunately I got cancer in the neck. Because of that operation, I lost saliva glands, one jugular vein, lymph nodes etc, and two 'right side' neck muscles, so had to shorten my stroke. Q. Which Billiards players has influenced you or you have admired over the years? A. In NZ, always admired Ron Milicich's open game, but the best and classiest NZ players to watch would be Brian Kirkness (who once got back to back 300+ breaks against Michael Ferreira) and Dave Meredith who both played wonderful TOTT'. To this day I still consider Meredith NZ s best in my time (of course not including Clark McConachy and Murt O'Donoghue). On the World scene, how could one not be in awe of the Aussies, and the Indian players Geet Sethi and Pankaj Advani. Also Peter Gilchrist, David Causier and of course the most perfect positional TOTT player of all... Mike Russell. I believe the closest to Russell's perfect positional TOTT play would be the Australian Robby Foldvari. Must also mention another Australian, the sensational Matthew Bolton, and played him once in a final at Bribie Island, Queensland, and I lost by 2200 points (4hrs) - Matt 2,575 (650,480, etc etc) to me 375 (72) - gee I've had some hidings!

7 Q. Do you have any plans to coach in New Zealand to further enhance the popularity and playing standard? A. Was asked by "Barton and McGill" to become their resident Coach, and all is working very well. Also did some with Masse, the most progressive Cue Club in New Zealand. Masse did also sponsor me to the WBL Tournament in Sydney and to the WBL Worlds at Leeds in England this year. Q. How do you see the future of Billiards in New Zealand, Oceania and on the World scene A. Hugely disappointed with what happened a couple years ago (2015) when the IBSF absolutely stole (no nice way to put that) the NZ "WBL" September Billiard dates. There needs to be changes for Billiards to grow and maybe the WBL/WSF needs to have more input in our region. WBL (World Billiards Ltd) need to control World Billiards. It is that simple. The WBL are already doing a wonderful job. Billiards in NZ will meander along. Q. What are your proudest moments during your career A. I have been very lucky to have had plenty of them. But winning my first Auckland `A' Grade Championship in 1987 against my `Coach' Ron Milicich by just 17 points after a 4 hour `war' has to be right up there. Another would be that in 1999, played 12x NZ & Provincial Tournaments and won all 12 including the `big 4' - NZ Open, NZ Champs, NZ Chartered Clubs and North Island Championships. This record still stands today. Another highlight was in the NZ Open against Peter Shelley, UK and winning at my last visit at the table and my first NZ Championship against Derek Gibb by just 3 points after 4hrs play. Q. Any other information that you would like to include? A. There was a funny one. I was won the NZ Billiard Championships in We have a TV Show in NZ called "Crowd Goes Wild" and they cover a lot of Sports and interviewed me after the win. They sometimes bring in some fun questions and asked about my bald head, to which I replied, "I pluck it, saves on hair shampoo, I'm on the pension now so have to watch my pennies, and it stops hair getting into my eyes when playing". They commented that I was possibly the oldest winner of this Championship at "69yrs and 289 days". Anyway after a few more `taking the micky' shots later, they asked me to play a few shots for them to film. Well, for the uninitiated or people who haven't seen Billiards played, after a series of long losers, cross losers, magic circle, short Jenny's, long Jenny's and run through in-offs etc, they were quite stunned, and when I played the 10 foot run through in-off against the nap along the cushion with `running side' and the spotted white ball spinning furiously into the `baulk end yellow' pocket, it really blew them out. So when they actually put their piece to air, they were kind in their comments, with the finishing comment of that show "and you my friend are "God of the Felt". Must have really impressed them- lol!

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9 World Billiards Ltd News 2018 UK Billiards Open Championship The 2018 UK Open will take place at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, UK between Friday 30th March and Monday 2nd April. The entry fee is 60 and you can enter here. To see who has entered click here. See here for prize money breakdown. Billiards Australia News Memberships Memberships for 2018 are now payable. Please renew by mid-january so we can prepare our budgets for the coming year. Members who are not financial will be deleted from the database in February Billiards Australia Inc. is focused on promoting the sport in Australia and elsewhere and providing more opportunities for Australian players of all levels to compete. We will be providing funding and logistical support to at least 5 events in 2018 and have played a major role in getting new events on the calendar. We can only achieve this with the support of our members. We spend members money sparingly we have no honorary or life members, so everyone pays the same membership fee, and web site and administration expenses are donated all members money goes back into the development of the sport. Support our sport by renewing your membership or join as a new member just $50 per year! Sydney Billiards Open Entries are now being accepted for the 2018 Sydney Open Billiards Championship. Full Details: Sports Quote of the Day When you ve got something to prove, there s nothing greater than a challenge

10 Websites and Social Media Billiards Australia World Billiards World Billiards & Snooker Association World Snooker Association Facebook Twitter: The Mission and of Vision Statement World Billiards Ltd, Oceania Region World Billiards World Billiards Ltd organises Tournaments, Championships, Coaching Courses and other promotional opportunities for English Billiards World Billiards Mission Statement To grow World Billiards position and profile through amicable and successful working relationships, inspirational and innovative thinking, and a dynamic management team delivering the world s best English Billiards Tournaments and World Championships World Billiards Vision Statement To foster the development and participation in the game of English Billiards by way of open entry, and to reward excellence, and provide encouragement to all players to improve and enjoy the game of English Billiards World Billiards Tournaments Currently World Billiards is organising around 20 world ranking events, plus a number of UK based events and importantly, the World Billiards Championship. Tournaments are held in modern short multiple game format, long single game format and the more traditional timed format. World Billiards Coaching The World Billiards Coaching Scheme is aimed at personnel who wish to become a WPBSA approved World Billiards Coach, and promote the game of English Billiards by coaching in their region World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association The WPBSA is responsible for the governance of Billiards and Snooker worldwide. As the World Governing Body for Billiards and Snooker, the WPBSA recognises that in addition to supporting the professional players on the World Snooker Tour, it also has a key role to play in the development of both Snooker and Billiards at all levels Contact Details World Billiards Ltd Director: Jason Colebrook jason1953@live.com Mobile: World Billiards & Snooker Oceania: Mike Peachey mpeachey6@bigpond.com Mobile: