Tattler Summer 2015 45 Snooker Club Our annual overseas tour set off in early September with a record nine players. The destinations this year were Bangkok and Singapore. The memorable trip is reported at greater length below, so I will contend myself with noting that it was thoroughly enjoyed by those who took part, smoke haze in Singapore notwithstanding. We are already planning our next trip which will be to Hong Kong in early April to enable us ‘rugby tragics’ to take in the International Sevens as well. Nearer to home, our annual competitions proceed apace with the final of the pairs handicap about to be played between the much fancied team of Jim Wicks and Greg Webb, and the giant slayers, Mike Cassidy and Derek Barlow. The giant slayers defeated the other favourites, Mal Waygood and Michael Needham in a thrilling three-framer to reach the last round. In another exciting three-framer, Jim and Greg overcame Mike and Derek to take the first prize. In the Championships, Mal Waygood, Michael Needham, Jim Wicks and Wayne Duncan have You have not experienced true hospitality until you have visited our Reciprocal Clubs in Asia. They truly treat you as an honoured guest. The Snooker Club went to Bangkok and Singapore in September to watch the World Six Red Snooker Tournament and of course to have a few friendly matches with our Reciprocal Clubs. The tournament was held at Fashion Island and was won by a local Thai player, which will be great for the sport in Thailand and the tournament itself. Tim Woolley, Neville Veal, Mal Waygood, Michael and Vivienne Cassidy, John and Vickie MacDonald, Lance and Di Baker, Mike and Lyn Hay as well as grandson Jarrod and myself were all in attendance for the tour and we were joined in Bangkok by local Member Maurie Carroll. The first game was against the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Truly living up to its name, it has an 18 hole golf course in and around a race track, tennis courts, swimming pool, badminton, table tennis, snooker tables and smaller pool tables. This was the first time we had played the RBSC and we will have to up our game next time. We played a different format of two frames of six red snooker as opposed to the normal one frame of 15 reds. This resulted in a 13 to nine frame victory to the RBSC, a far closer result than Tattersall’s progressed to the semi-finals of the A Grade. The B Grade has also reached the semi-final stage with matches to be played between Lance Baker and Michael Browning, and John McDonald and Warwick Oxenford. The tri-club series between Tattersall’s Club, the Brisbane Club and the Queensland Club took us to the latter on Thursday 27 August where we were successful against a good team and excellent hosts. On Thursday 24 September we played the Brisbane Club, again with a successful outcome after one or two nervous moments. These matches ensure that we retain the annual trophy for a second year. The end of season and prize giving dinner will be held on Wednesday 18 November at Tattersall’s Club and all those who have taken part throughout the series are welcome to attend. The Snooker Club Christmas drinks and 9 Ball competition will take place in early December (the exact date is still being finalised) at which we hope for the usual good turnout for an entertaining evening. deserved. The RBSC players were exceptionally skilful and I believe took it a bit easy on us. They were fantastic hosts and welcomed us with open arms and generous spirits making all players and their wives feel very comfortable. Next off the bat was the Royal Bangkok Polo Club. They are closely linked to the RBSC, but not a Reciprocal Club of ours. Again we were treated to a high level of hospitality and friendship, which we can only try to replicate when they come and visit us. A similar result of a 12 to seven frame victory to the Polo Club occurred. Phone numbers and emails were exchanged and more than a few friendships established. Next was Singapore, where we lost Neville Veal and were joined by Warwick and Shelly Oxenford and daughter Lilly. Unfortunately we were greeted by a high level of smog and pollution, the result of burn offs in Indonesia. When a level of 90 PSI is bad and you are getting between 120 PSI and 220 PSI things are not looking good and this affected a few of the team. First up was a match against some old friends at the Singapore Cricket Club. It should be noted that they were a great help in 1 2 New Members and players are always welcome, and there will be coaching evenings for players of any level to improve their game, and beginners to pick up some tips. Contact Michael Needham on 0413 620 228, our Games Director Lance Baker on 0427 328 574 or me on 0410 839 113. organising this tour and we are very indebted to Victor Yeong for his help. Victory again eluded us, despite springing the six red format on them in the last minute. They won 12 to six. We were again treated to more food and drink than we could handle despite a solid effort to do so from Mal Waygood and myself. Mal even tried to sneak in a nanna nap halfway through the night. The final match was played against the Tanglin Club, who are again some old sparring partners of ours. In a homage to our relationship we ended the night and the tour with a nine to nine draw, thanks to Jarrod Hay (Mike’s grandson who was playing due to Mike taking ill) doubling the black to win. A few Members stayed on in Singapore to watch the Grand Prix from the comfort of the SCC and enjoyed themselves immensely. From a win/lose point of view the snooker element of the tour cannot be described as a success, but we were overwhelmed by our reception and the hospitality we received, and the Club motto of “friendship is life” was truly adhered to and applied and we won more than a few new friends and cemented some old ones. By Michael Needham Tim Woolley 1. Some of the players at the Tattersall’s Club versus Brisbane Club match. 2. Finalists in the Handicap Pairs. TATTERSALL’S SNOOKER CLUB BANGKOK TO SINGAPORE TRIP
Tattler Summer 2015
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