Hardly any reports, and with no trophies that I know of, there is very little to say about last year.
However, it would be very disappointing if we didn’t have some kind of report on what turned out to be Jack’s final title year, so here it is. Stuart Hill is a promising younger billiards player who has improved since he lost to Harold Burkinshaw in the 1968 final. He beat the holder, Sid Burhouse, in the semi final with a score of 400 – 248, so Jack will have to play at his vert best to win. More than that, Jack will have known how good Stuart was as they were fellow club members at Paddock Institute and Conservative Club.
After a very slow and uneventful start to the match, and with the scores at 61 – 52 in Stuart’s favour, Jack hit form with breaks of 33, 51, 39, 30 and 46 to lead 251 – 115. He maintained that lead more or less until the end, to lead with 351 – 222 at the end of the first night. The second night didn’t really get any better as it was an hour before Jack made the first of two 30 breaks. Jack wasn’t at his best, but Stuart didn’t take full advantage and could only reduce the lead from 120 to 60 with the scores at this point being 501 – 441. Jack played a little better after the interval to lead 601 – 499 but Stuart had breaks of 22 and 42 to get within 36 at 616 – 580. With the scores at 691 – 654 Stuart’s last chance broke down at 16 leaving Jack to get the last 9 points for victory. He might have struggled but at nearly 56 years old he is still better than the younger man. To reach double figure Championship Titles is a magnificent achievement and is still a notable record, one he shares with Tommy Donlan.
Jack Mellor 