Longest Professional Careers

[100-uper]

Smith didn't retire after this particular meeting with Davis, and continued to tour with him. I have references to them playing each other at Scarborough in November 1957 and January 1958, at the Burroughes Hall, London, in the same month, also at the same location in January 1959 and February 1960; and my records are far from comprehensive. I would additionally take the opportunity to point out that all these matches, including the one in 1955 when Davis made his 147 break, were exhibition games. To say that these performances are not part of their playing careers is to display a lack of understanding of the conditions which prevailed at that time.

[Cyril]

As a matter of interest, 100-uper, what are your sources of references. I am always interested to learn of snooker fans who have nice collections of memorabilia and who can share their knowledge with like minded history buffs. I have a fairly large quantity of magazines ("The Billiard Player"), old tournament programms and old billiards and snooker books myself, though not as many as you, I'm sure.

I have to agree on the exhibition quote. Well, by the late 50's that was pretty much all that existed in the professional game.

[cajt]

I am always interested to learn of snooker fans who have nice collections of memorabilia and who can share their knowledge with like minded history buffs.

I have a vast collection of Snooker Scene magazines dating back to 1971. The set is complete from 1982 onwards but I am missing about 20 copies from the earlier years. I also have a collection of about 140 snooker programmes pictures of which can be seen by clicking on the link on the home page of my website

[100-uper]

As a matter of interest, 100-uper, what are your sources of references.

References to Smith's matches after his "retirement" in 1955 mainly come from the Billiard Player magazine. Each of these references details a different match. (The key is Source/Month/Year page No.)

[BP0555 p.14] [BP1255 p.3] [BP0157 p.12] [BP1257 p.11] [BP0258 p.8] [BP0258 p.3] [BP0259 p.13] [BP1259 p.3] [BP0160 p.14] [BP0460 p.15] [BP0261 p.9]

If you have mags from this period you should be able to go straight to the relevant article.

[Cyril]

cheers 100-uper, I will have look to see if I have any of those editions. I can recall an article from The Billiard Player about Willie playing a billiards exhibition with Claude Falkiner when they were both getting on a bit. Can't remember of the top of my head if was prior too, or after 1955? Neither produced the form of their golden years, some thirty or so years previously but it was a great occasion for nostalgia. The more I think about it, I am inclined to think they played at Leicester Square Hall, which would date it before Joe's 147.

[100-uper]

The match between Smith and Falkiner at the Leicester Square Hall was 17th-22nd January 1949. The article in the Billiard Player magazine you refer to was probably one of these: [BP0953 p.13][B&S1066 p.6]

[Cyril]

Found it! It is indeed Sept. '53, page 15. Page 14 shows a photo of Willie observing Claude perform one of his renound masse cannon strokes.

[Cyril]

What an interesting thread this was!

[dantuck_7]

Clark McConachy, one of the few players to have made a 147 at snooker and a 1,000 break at billiards, must come into the reckoning. At 67 years old he was the oldest World Champion at any sport, holding the billiards title at that age.

What about bowles?

[100-uper]

He was listed in the Guinness Book of Records at the time he held the title so I assume that they would have checked the other sports. That may have been the oldest reigning World Champion, rather than oldest of all time, I can't remember exactly.

[ADR147]

umm - needs looking into that one but i would imagine bridge, scrabble or bowls or maybe backgammon might have the oldest - chess is only 58 if that helps!

[Valderie]

Well I play Bridge and if amateurs are anything to go by, the average age is about 75!!!

[ADR147]

my local bowling club is like a honda showroom and there is a zimmer service provided.

[Cyril]

It certainly isn't bowls. True a lot of oldies do play the game but, if we're talking World Champions, they are nearly all in their 20's and 30's. The oldest I can think of is the legendary David Bryant C.B.E. (the guy with the pipe), who won his first World Singles title in 1966, aged 34 and his last in 1988, aged 56.

[ADR147]

maybe boule - petanque?