The story is getting monotonous as Jack once again put paid to Albert’s chances of progressing in a competition. On the second night, Jack had another century break, 120, and never gave Albert much of a chance. Jack would now represent Yorkshire in the Championship proper in London for the third time in four years. Even “Half Butt” had to agree that Jack deserved to win but goes on to criticise Jack’s play. He said that Albert’s break of 107 was more entertaining than Jack’s grand 165 as it used more variety of shot. Could that be because he runs out of position, whereas Jack has greater ball control and therefore can rely on the red losing hazard which he is so good at?
1955
Jack found himself 200 behind after the first hour thanks to breaks of 82 and 55; both of which included flukes by Hey. Jack fought back with breaks of 53 and 65 and, with the first session coming to an end, he made a splendid 108 to be just 14 behind. The second session saw Hey open up a gap of 101 but Jack came back again with breaks of 67 and 54 to lead 867 – 848. The match was very close up to the last twenty minutes, but Hey with a break of 98 meant that Jack would go out of the competition for the last time.
1956
Jack started the defence of his Halifax Billiards Championship with a good victory in the first round. Harold Burkinshaw had to withdraw due to ill health in the round of 16 which meant that Trevor Bottomley went into the quarter-final. He beat his quarter final opponent and went on to meet Jack in the semi-final. Albert Birkby was awaiting the winner of that semi-final and must have hoped that Bottomley could beat Jack. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and, as we see from the headline across, Jack beat him with some ease creating another record and winning his third Championship in four years.
The Halifax players have finally found a way to stop Jack from winning their beloved Billiards Championship. “Half Butt” was always saying it was good to have a player of Jack’s quality in Halifax, but on the other hand kept mentioning a residential qualification would prevent him from playing. After each Parish League game, a collection was held for the benefit of local deserving causes and Jack had attracted big crowds to see him play – thus increasing the funds. Well the saying that comes to mind is “don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg”: too late was the cry; farewell Halifax; it was nice but now it’s over.
1956
So after another two years of dedication to the game he loved, it seems Jack’s appetite for playing hadn’t diminished. He continued to enter as many competitions as he could, but as we now know that won’t include any of the Halifax ones unless he was to move house. The last two years hadn’t been quite as successful as the previous two years but they had still culminated in the following.
- Yorkshire Area Final Winner of the English Amateur Billiards Championship (twice)
- Huddersfield Billiards Champion (twice)
- Huddersfield Snooker Runner-up
- Halifax Billiards Champion (twice)
- Halifax Parish League High Break Winner (twice)
- Halifax Parish League Century Break Records.
- Yorkshire Billiards Inter-District Champions (twice with Huddersfield)
- That equated to 9 finals in two years, and still one of the best amateur players in the county on his day.
Jack Mellor 