Cue News 11th January 2012

The draws for all three Northern Billiards Championships have been posted, with round robin matches over one hour to decide the semi-finalists.

In “A Grade” defending champion David Bates lines up against fourth seed Adrian White and Gary Bjarnoe-Elliott, in he top half of the draw while Graeme Pickett faces third seed Peter Donati and Keith Coomber. Over one hour anything can happen with all players capable of reasonable breaks.

For the 2012 Northern Championship, David Bates is the form player, during interclub billiards, from October till now, he has knocked in no fewer than 6 century breaks, the biggest being 132, on the other hand Graeme Pickett has reached 99. However it might come down to what happens on the day, I wouldn’t write of Pickett, who has been there many times before and is from a family, that is recognized for their sporting achievements.

Graeme Pickett and David Bates Head to Head:

Graeme Pickett played most of his early days in Broken Hill where he was inspired by Pot Black and the Winfield Masters, and learnt the game emulating players like Ray Reardon and Eddy Charlton. He moved to Launceston in 1990 and excepting for a few years in WA has played for the Works Blue team and has been part of many interclub premierships.

David Bates was born in Melbourne, where he was coached by Stan Wood, at the Walter Lindrum rooms, in Albert Park. David first moved to Launceston in 1994, and played for the Works Black team. In his early days he was a regular player in the Australian Billiards Championships, reaching the Quarter finals in 2003.

Similar to Pickett, Bates doesn’t play in Australian Championships of late, however he did play in the Australian Masters Snooker in NSW, last year, making the Quarter finals.

For the 2012 Northern Championship, David Bates is the form player, during interclub billiards, from October till now, he has knocked in no fewer than 6 century breaks, the biggest being 132, on the other hand Graeme Pickett has reached 99. However it might come down to what happens on the day, I wouldn’t write of Pickett, who has been there many times before and is from a family, that is recognized for their sporting achievements.

The Tasmanian Championship has been on an “open” format since 1987, which means sixteen players compete in groups of four, a round robin is played in the first round, followed by knockout quarter, semi and grand finals. Both Bates and Pickett will enter the 2012 event to be played on the North West Coast, in June, regardless of the Northern result, with both striving to end Les Higgins dominance of the event since he beat Harold Roberts-Thomson in 1986.

The “A Reserve” Championship has defending Champion Wayne Purdon matched against Alan Armitage and Andrew Saltmarsh in the top half, Barry Glover, runner-up in 2011, meets Dean Wilson and John Saggers in the bottom half. Four players will advance to the semi-finals and final on Saturday 25th. February.

On form, John Saggers, who has won all four interclub matches played, is the player to watch.

The “B Grade” Championship is a full round robin between Heath Rainbow, Dennis Collins, Ethan Brown, Josh Rainbow and Zane Brown, with the top two players contesting the Championship final on Saturday 3rd. March.

On interclub form all five players rank in the top ten players on handicap.

Interclub Billiards resumes this week, after the Christmas break, with Works Black v Works Green and Raiders v Works Red on Wednesday night at the Works Club. On Thursday night Works Blue v Launceston RSL White and Works Gold v The Flaming Devils at the Works Club, Exeter Social Club v Works Navy at Exeter.

For more information visit the cue sport website, www.nteba.com.au or call the Secretary on 0487 171 966