Who was your mentor?

[yorkshireterrier]

Who was your mentor when you first started playing Bar Billiards?

Mine was a dear old gentleman called Mori Taylor

I started playing bar billiards in 1971 at The Cricketers in Longparish near Andover. A few of us used to mess around playing BB with the local girls hoping to get a decent score ;D

Dear old Mori used to sit next to the BB table in the same chair night after night and he must have seen some potential because he started taking an interest in coaching me and my mate Derek

He taught us the shots, the angles and a few tricks which I still use today (not going to divulge those though).

We started playing in the Andover league div 2 in the 72/73 season and quickly became hooked. By the end of our first season we were both knocking in decent breaks. In my second season I got the highest div 2 break of 10560 (I've kept that trophy to this day) and it was all thanks to Mori whose skill and tuition were second to none - Thanks Mori

Is there anybody out there who remembers Mori - he was a terrific player in his day and a real kind gentleman.

[Kevin Pringle (R.I.P.)]

Mine were Bob Frisby and Dave Jones at the Bell Headington in Oxford both a little crazy to say the least !

Well, we did have this thread going a while back, Alan:

barbilliards.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1158261720

But yours does have a slightly different angle on it, as there were also a couple of old boys out Billingshurst way who seemed to dedicate their very existences to following and encouraging the teams, preparing the home table with tender loving care etc. (although the teams I started with were quite mediocre ones in the lower divisions).
One was Arthur Cheesman who used to insist on scoring every game in our league matches at Ye Olde Six Bells and used to drag the markers along the scoreboard with a very mean looking stick with a hook on the end of it. ;D
And there was dear old Charlie Francis who used to look after the Railway table and used to pass on useful advice such as (describing how to do a fine cut on a ball) "just clip its ears, boy !"
Both sadly long since passed on.

I had two....is that greedy?

For learning how to play was my stepfather Roy. (Obviously he wasn't very good!!) And for aspiration it was KT, of course. Fortunately he still inspires me.

tommo said:

Well, we did have this thread going a while back, Alan:
But yours does have a slightly different angle on it

Thought I'd "Bump" this thread as IMHO there's lots of mileage left in it.
Thinking back now, my mentor in my early days was Bill Phillips of Ye Olde Six Bells and the Railway Billingshurst. I think he possibly recognised in me a flawed diamond, and was always threatening me with personal injury (such as breaking my legs) against taking unnecessary risks. As a result for years and years I won a helluva lot of games but not with very good scores.
In fact the first time I met him he was straight on my case. It was about five games into the season, and this guy was there watching avidly who I didn't know from Adam. I managed to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat and was feeling rather pleased with myself when he approached me and said "you were bloody lucky to win there, boy !" My reaction was a terse "And who the effing hell are you ?" He brushed this aside goodhumouredly and explained that he was part of the team but had been away on holiday. When it was my turn to watch him play I was spellbound at how 'correct' his stance was and how controlled his play. Some of the tables we played on in those days had vicious rolls, and he is the best player I've ever seen at allowing for a roll and 'straightening up' the object ball for a pot. He hasn't played for a few years now, but whenever I pop in the Railway he's usually there and we always make a point of buying each other a beer.

[keithmacdonald]

Sorry don't recall Mori but do remember playing in Longparish for both the Rack and Manger and White Heart, Penton Mewsey, in the early to mid eighties. In those days Roger Chilton (remebered by many) and Alan Whitewick were the two mega stars and two of the best players never to have played for England (sounds like a name for a new thread!!). The White Heart had a great team with the Fort brothers, Ron and Reg.
I played for a team of "mercenaries" from Winchester who thought they were great. I remeber first ever game in Andover walked in tall, shot down in flames by Roger's Coronation Arms team 4-1, left with tails between our legs!!

Keith

keithmacdonald said:

In those days Roger Chilton (remebered by many) and Alan Whitewick were the two mega stars and two of the best players never to have played for England (sounds like a name for a new thread!!).
Keith

Good idea Keith, ;)
And you've given me an idea for a new thread about Leagues which don't exist any more.

Jun 15, 2007 6:19:40 GMT keithmacdonald said:

In those days Roger Chilton (remembered by many) and Alan Whitewick were the two mega stars and two of the best players never to have played for England (sounds like a name for a new thread!!).
Keith

Bumping this thread as it contained a good idea from Keith MacDonald for a thread which we never took him up on:

So if anyone is inclined, please start a new thread entitled:

Best player never to have played for England.

Please note, though, that this is intended to highlight great unsung heroes from the past, and NOT to put forward the case for a candidate for the current England team !