Women's Amateur Snooker Championship

The Women's Amateur Snooker Championship was a tournament held annually in the United Kingdom most years from 1932 to 1985.[1][2]

In 1932 an open snooker tournament (that is, open to both professional and amateur players) was organised by the Women's Billiards Association (WBA), which had been established in 1931.[3][4][5] Six players participated in the main tournament at Burroughes Hall, London.[6][4] Margaret Quinn was the youngest, aged 13 and 11 months, and won the title.[7][4]

Following this, the 1932 Annual General Meeting of the WBA resolved "That girls under 16 are only eligible for such WBA events as are run specially for young people."[2] It was further resolved, however, that Quinn would be allowed to enter to defend her title for as long as she held it.[2][8] Quinn retained the title in 1933 but lost it in 1934 when due to confusion about the date of her first match, she did not attend.[9][10]

As of 1947, the annual winner held the Burwat Trophy, the runner-up held the A.D.C. Cup, and the player who compiled maker of the highest break held the Grace Wise-Parker Bowl.[11]

The 1939 winner Agnes Davies regained the title in 1978.[12] Maureen Baynton won the title a record eight times, between 1954 and 1968.[1] Snooker historian Clive Everton wrote that Baynton would "have assuredly won more" had she not retired from competition for several years.[13]

The tournament was discontinued in 1986 and replaced by the UK Championship for women.[1]

Women's Amateur Snooker Championship finals
Year Winner Runner-up Final score Venue Ref.
1932  Margaret Quinn (ENG)  Irene Murkett (ENG) 3–0 Burroughes Hall, London [6][7][4][a]
1933  Margaret Quinn (ENG)  Miss Ballentine (ENG) 4–1 Burroughes Hall, London [14][9]
1934  Ella Morris (WAL)  Molly Van Norden (ENG) 4–0 Burroughes Hall, London [15][10]
1935  Molly Hill (ENG)  Helen McDougall (ENG) 4–1 Burroughes Hall, London [16]
1936  Vera Seals (ENG)  Margaret Quinn (ENG) 4–1 Kensington Billiard Club, London [17]
1937  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG)  Ella Morris (WAL) 3–2 Burroughes Hall, London [15][18]
1938  Ella Morris (WAL)  Molly Hill (ENG) 4–1 Kensington Billiard Club, London [15][19]
1939  Agnes Morris (WAL)  Victoria McDougall (ENG) 4–0 Kensington Billiard Club, London [20][21]
1940–46 Not held [15]
1947  Mabel Knight (ENG)  Aileen Bowmer (ENG) 4–3 Empire Billiards Club, London [22]
1948  Joan Adcock (ENG)  Mrs. Peters (ENG) 5–2 [23]
1949  Rosemary Davies (ENG)  Joan Adcock (ENG) 4–1 Burroughes Hall, London [24]
1950  Pat Holden (ENG)  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) 4–1 [25]
1951  Rosemary Davies (ENG)  Sadie Isaacs (ENG) 4–1 London [26]
1952  Rosemary Davies (ENG)  Pat Holden (ENG) 4–1 Burroughes Hall, London [27]
1953  Rita Holmes (ENG)  Maureen Barrett (ENG) 4–3 Burroughes Hall, London [28][29]
1954  Maureen Barrett (ENG)  Rita Holmes (ENG) 4–0 Burroughes Hall, London [30]
1955  Maureen Barrett (ENG)  Rita Holmes (ENG) 4–2 Burroughes Hall, London [31]
1956  Maureen Barrett (ENG)  Rita Holmes (ENG) 4–0 Burroughes Hall, London [32]
1957  Rita Holmes (ENG)  Pat Ayre (ENG) 4–2 Burroughes Hall, London [33][34]
1958 Not held [35][1]
1959  Rita Holmes (ENG)  Muriel Hazeldene (ENG)[b] 4–1 Burroughes Hall, London [38][35]
1960  Dorothy Thompson (ENG)  K.V.M. Bint (ENG) 4–3 Burroughes Hall, London [39][40]
1961  Maureen Barrett (ENG)  Thea March (ENG) 4–0 Burroughes Hall, London [41][42]
1962  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Rita Holmes (ENG) 4–1 Burroughes Hall, London [43]
1963  Rita Holmes (ENG)  Jean Halford (ENG) 4–2 [44]
1964  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 4–2 Burroughes Hall, London [45]
1965  S. Jeffries (ENG)  S. Bartley (ENG) 4–0 Burroughes Hall, London [46][47]
1966  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Thea March (ENG) 4–2 Burroughes Hall, London [48][49]
1967  Helen Futo (ENG)  P. Saddington (ENG) 4–1 [50]
1968  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 4–1 Windmill Snooker Club, London [51]
1969  Ray Craven (ENG)  Muriel Hazeldene (ENG)[b] 4–3 Windmill Snooker Club, London [52]
1970  Muriel Hazeldene (ENG)[b]  Ray Craven (ENG) [53]
1971  Muriel Hazeldene (ENG)[b]  Vera Selby (ENG) 4–1 Windmill Snooker Club, London [54]
1972  Vera Selby (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 4–0 London [55][56]
1973  Vera Selby (ENG)  Kay Godwin (ENG) 4–0 [57]
1974  Vera Selby (ENG)  Muriel Hazeldene (ENG)[b] 4–1 [58]
1975  Vera Selby (ENG)  Ann Johnson (ENG) 4–2 Windmill Snooker Club, London [59]
1976  Ann Johnson (ENG)  Vera Selby (ENG) 4-1 Windmill Snooker Club, London [60]
1977  Ann Johnson (ENG)  Vera Selby (ENG) 4–2 London [61]
1978  Agnes Davies (née Morris) (WAL)  Ann Johnson (ENG) 4–1 Wandsworth Billiards Club, London [12]
1979  Vera Selby (ENG)  Ann Johnson (ENG) 3–1 Craneswater Club, Portsmouth [62]
1980  Sue Foster (ENG)  Mandy Fisher (ENG) 2–1 Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, Leicester [63]
1981 Not held [64]
1982  Sue Foster (ENG)  Mandy Fisher (ENG) 3–1 Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, Leicester [65][66]
1983  Sue Foster (ENG)  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG) 6–2 Doncaster Snooker Centre [67]
1984 Not held [1]
1985  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Caroline Walch (ENG) 3–0 Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, Leicester [68]

Notes

  1. ^ This edition is omitted from the lists in the 1947 WBA Handbook and other sources
  2. ^ a b c d e The spellings Hazeldine, e.g. in the Birmingham Evening Mail in 1960,[36] and Hezeldene, e.g, in the Birmingham Evening Mail in 1975[37] are also found in some sources for this player.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Morrison 1989, p. 147.
  2. ^ a b c Carpenter, Thelma (July 1932). "Billiards for Women". The Billiard Player. p. 4.
  3. ^ "Women's Billiard Association formed". The Billiard Player. June 1931. p. 2.
  4. ^ a b c d McDougall, Victoria (May 1932). "Women's Billiards Association News". The Burwat Billiards View. Vol. III, no. 4. p. 63.
  5. ^ "Women's snooker". Evening Despatch. Birmingham. 21 March 1932. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Girl Snooker Wonder on way to championship". Daily Herald. 23 March 1932. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Child Snooker Expert". Liverpool Daily Post. 8 April 1932. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Girl Billiards Expert". The News. Adelaide. 18 March 1933. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Girl retains snooker title". The Daily Telegraph. 27 March 1933. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Sports in Brief". The Times. 26 March 1934. p. 5.
  11. ^ Munro Wright 1947, p. 33.
  12. ^ a b "Vera Selby retains women's championship". Snooker Scene. May 1978. p. 2.
  13. ^ Everton 1985, p. 155.
  14. ^ "(untitled article)". The Observer. 26 March 1933. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c d Munro Wright 1947, p. 32.
  16. ^ "(untitled article)". The Daily Telegraph. 25 March 1935. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Women's Amateur Snooker Championship". The Billiard Player. June 1936. p. 4.
  18. ^ "Women's Amateur Championship". Western Mail. 19 March 1937. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Sidney Smith Makes Certain". Daily News. London. 26 March 1938. p. 19.
  20. ^ "Women's Snooker Champion". The Bolton News. 28 March 1939. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Personality Page". The Billiard Player. May 1939. p. 20.
  22. ^ "Women's Snooker". The Billiard Player. April 1947. p. 6.
  23. ^ "A really grand finale!". The Billiard Player. June 1948. pp. 8–9.
  24. ^ "Women's Amateur Championship 1949–50". The Billiard Player. December 1949. p. 16.
  25. ^ "Women's Amateur Events". The Billiard Player. November 1950. p. 3.
  26. ^ "With the ladies". The Billiard Player. November 1951. p. 5.
  27. ^ "Mrs Pat Holden Loses in Final". Sunday Mercury. 16 October 1952. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Women's amateur snooker c'ship". The Billiard Player. November 1954. p. 9.
  29. ^ "Mrs Pat Holden beaten in women's snooker". Birmingham Gazette. 24 October 1953. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Youngest Woman Snooker Champion". Sunday Mercury. 24 October 1954. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Maureen wins again". Sunday Despatch. 23 October 1955. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Miss Barrett Keeps Title". The Guardian Journal. Nottingham. 8 October 1956. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Pat reaches All-England snooker final". Peterborough Evening Telegraph. 12 October 1956. p. 9.
  34. ^ "Rita Holmes again women's amateur snooker champion". The Billiard Player. November 1957. p. 15.
  35. ^ a b "Rita Holmes achieves third victory in Women's Amateur Snooker Championship". The Billiard Player. September 1959. p. 10.
  36. ^ "Keen Struggle". Birmingham Evening Mail. 5 May 1960. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Barry, Ed (22 February 1975). "Top Women Cue Up for Miles". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Women's Amateur Championships". The Billiard Player. May 1959. p. 16.
  39. ^ "Sports in Brief". The Times. 4 May 1960. p. 17.
  40. ^ Holt, Richard (June 1960). "WBA Finals". the Billiard Player. pp. 6, 16.
  41. ^ "Billiards and Snooker". Daily Herald. London. 28 April 1961. p. 12.
  42. ^ "WBA Championships. Maureen Barrett still supreme: Miss T March's splendid feat". Billiards and Snooker. June 1961. p. 8.
  43. ^ "Snooker". Birmingham Daily Post. London. 5 May 1962. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Holt, Richard (June 1963). "Rita Holmes again and Sadie Issaacs repeats 1947 billiards win". Billiards and Snooker. pp. 16–17.
  45. ^ "Snooker: Women's Champion". The Birmingham Post. 11 April 1964. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Snooker". The Daily Telegraph. 2 April 1965. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "Snooker". The Daily Telegraph. 3 April 1965. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Womens's Billiards Association". Billiards and Snooker. February 1966. p. 8.
  49. ^ "Maureen Baynton wins both billiards and snooker titles again". Billiards and Snooker. May 1966. p. 9.
  50. ^ Buxton, John (June 1967). "Turnabout". Billiards and Snooker. p. 8.
  51. ^ Tabor, Ethel (August 1968). "Women's Championships". Billiards and Snooker. p. 8.
  52. ^ "Great Recovery". Billiards and Snooker. June 1969. p. 15.
  53. ^ "b'ham woman in final". Birmingham Evening Mail. 22 May 1970. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ March, Thea (July 1971). "Hemlines". Billiards and Snooker. p. 7.
  55. ^ "New first lady". Snooker Scene. June 1972. p. 5.
  56. ^ "Snooker Title for Mrs Selby". The Journal. Newcastle. 14 April 1972. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "First lady again". Snooker Scene. June 1973. p. 13.
  58. ^ "First lady again". Snooker Scene. July 1974. p. 21.
  59. ^ "Vera Selby retains women's championship". Snooker Scene. July 1975. p. 11.
  60. ^ "Ann beats Vera at last". Snooker Scene. June 1976. p. 38.
  61. ^ Benger, Geoffrey (19 April 1977). "Ms Pot black pockets a title". Western Daily Press. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "Vera Selby regains women's snooker title". Snooker Scene. June 1979. p. 28.
  63. ^ "New Women's Champion". Snooker Scene. October 1980. p. 8.
  64. ^ "Sue back on winning cue". Atherstone Herald. 8 October 1982. p. 72 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ Morrison 1987, pp. 156–157.
  66. ^ "Sue goes marching on to major title". Coleshill Herald. 10 December 1982. p. 72 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ "Foster's Maltese Mission". Birmingham Evening Mail. 19 October 1983. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ Shepherd, Nick (April 1985). "Allison Fisher in class of her own". Snooker Scene. p. 27.

Books

  • Everton, Clive (1985). Frei, Beatrice (ed.). Snooker: The Records. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives. ISBN 978-0-85112-448-3.
  • Morrison, Ian (1987). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker (Revised ed.). Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. pp. 156–157. ISBN 978-0-600-55604-6.
  • Morrison, Ian (1989). Snooker: Records, Facts and Champions. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives. ISBN 978-0-85112-364-6.
  • Munro Wright, Bessie, ed. (1947). Illustrated Handbook of the Women's Billiards Association. Women's Billiards Association. pp. 32–33.