British Junior English Billiards Championship

Billiards competition for players under age 19

Walter Donaldson won the inaugural championship

The British Junior English Billiards championship is an English billiards competition for players in the UK. There are three divisions, the "Girls" Championship for all female players under 19 years, the "Boys" championship for players under 16, and the "Junior" championship for players under the age of 19.[1] The under-16 competition was organised by the Billiards Association and Control Council from 1922.[2]

There were previous championships for young players. A 1905 article in the Darlington-based newspaper The North Star said that "boy billiard matches appear to be good drawing concerns now" and noted that there was an upcoming round-robin tournament at Burroughes and Watts, London.[3] Tom Newman recalled in a 1938 interview in The Billiard Player, that he won a Boys Championship in 1909 at the age of 15 at Burroughes and Watts.[4]

Rex Williams, Mark Wildman, Mike Russell, Peter Gilchrist, David Causier, and Chris Shutt all won Junior titles before going to win the World Billiards Championship. World Snooker Championship winners to have recorded wins in the Junior Billiards event are Walter Donaldson, Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis. Fred Davis, champion in 1928, went on to win world professional titles in both billiards and snooker.

In 2022, William Thomson of Southampton, Hampshire (9 years old) became the youngest-ever winner of the Under-16 event.[5]

Robin Wilson (Middlesbrough) holds the record for the most wins in the Championship, with 2 wins in the Boys and 5 in the Junior.

The highest Championship breaks recorded in each event are, Hannah Jones (Derby), 43 in the 2011 Girls, Donald Cruikshank (South Shields), 130 in the 1936 Boys and Glen Cromack (Middlesbrough), 150 in the 1989 Junior.

## Under-16 Champions

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2020)

|

Some of the entrants to the 1922 Boys' Championship, including future champions Willie Leigh (1923, middle of the top row) and Sydney Lee (1925, right of the top row) Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Ref.

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|
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1922 Jun | Walter Donaldson | 1000-686 | H Renaut | [6]
1923 Apr | Willie Leigh | 600–482 | Frank Edwards | [6]
1924 Apr | Laurie Steeples | 750–330 | George Cooper | [7]
1925 Apr | Sydney Lee | 750-575 | George Cooper | [8]
1925 Dec | Reggie Gartland | 750–698 | Sydney Lee | [9]
1926 Dec | Reggie Gartland | 750–282 | Robert Bennett | [6]
1928 Apr | Robert Bennett | 750–559 | Jack Forrester | [6]
1928 Dec | Fred Davis | 750–529 | Harold Bennett | [6]
1929 Dec | Harold Bennett | 750–452 | W H Dennis | [6]
1931 Jan | Charles Desbottles | 750–623 | Terence Steeples | [10]
1931 Dec | Dennis Hawkes | 750–298 | Willie Swinhoe | [11]
1932 Dec | Jack Wright | 750–596 | G. Jenkins | [12]
1933 Dec | Willie Swinhoe | 750–739 | Donald Cruikshank | [6]
1934 May | Ronald Ballard | 300–239 | G Sparks | [6]
1934 Dec | Donald Cruikshank | 750–568 | Ronald Ballard | [6]
1935 Dec | Donald Cruikshank | 750–618 | Harry Stokes | [6]
1936 | Donald Cruikshank | 750–647 | Harry Stokes | [6]
1937 | Douglas Curson | 750–485 | Willie Milburn | [13]
1938 | No Contest | [6]
1939 | Richie Smith | 400–307 | Alan Walker | [14]
1940 | Barrie Smith[a] | 400–307 | Walter Cox | [15]
1941–1946 | No Contest | [6]
1947 Dec | Rex Williams | 400–349 | Jack Carney | [16]
1948 Dec | Rex Williams | 400–280 | Michael Leydon | [17]
1949 Dec | Marcus Owen | 400–152 | Michael Leydon | [6]
1950 Dec | Emlyn Parry | 400–383 | Marcus Owen | [6]
1951 Dec | Markham Wildman | 400–355 | John Burgess | [18]
1953 Jan | Clive Everton | 400–197 | Jack Lambert | [6]
1954 Jan | Henry Burns | 400–300 | David Deakes | [6]
1955 Jan | David Deakes | 400–331 | G Waite | [6]
1955 Dec | Colin Dean | 400–360 | Alan Gadsden | [6]
1958 Jan | Patrick Morgan | 400–260 | David Bend | [6]
1959 | No Contest | [6]
1960 Jan | Tony Matthews | 400–160 | R. Tumman | [6]
1960 Dec | Bernard Whitehead | 400–205 | Keith Richardson | [6]
1961–1967 | No Contest | [6]
1968 | Christopher Williamson | 299–238 | David Ross | [6]
1969 | Peter Bardsley | 398–386 | Christopher Boden | [19]
1970 | Willie Thorne | 310–263 | Peter Bardsley | [20]
1971 | Peter Bardsley | 378–300 | Brian Fairall | [21]
1972 | Peter Bardsley | 365–260 | Dennis Rothwell | [6]
1973 | Trevor Wells | 577–316 | Dennis Rothwell | [6]
1974 | Peter Allen | 340–177 | Clint Houlihan | [6]
1975 | Steve McNamara | 369–306 | John Barnes | [6]
1976 | David Bonney | 291–192 | Keith Martin | [6]
1977 | David Bonney | 263–156 | Ged Calvey | [6]
1978 | Kevin Walsh | 234–142 | Danny Adds | [6]
1979 | Tony Pyle | 200–147 | Kevin Walsh | [6]
1980 | Kevin Walsh | 197–165 | Paul Jones | [6]
1981 | David Presgrave | 197–170 | Ian Marks | [6]
1982 | Stephen Naisby | 307–164 | Robert Williamson | [6]
1983 | Peter Gilchrist | 230–175 | Simon Snee | [6]
1984 | Chris Rowntree | 286–257 | Jon Birch | [6]
1985 | Mike Russell | 464–111 | N. Prior | [6]
1986 | Lee Connor | 290-208 | Paul Roulston | [22]
1987 | Rod Lawler | 342-190 | Paul Boden | [23]
1988 | Sacha Journett | 221–220 | Daniel Bewick | [24]
1989 | Lee Cuthbert | 319–235 | David Causier | [6]
1990 | Lee Lagan | 310-152 | D. Lewis | [25]
1991 | Michael Westthorp | 364-185 | Peter Sheehan | [26]
1992 | No Contest | [6]
1993 | Chris Shutt | 501–128 | Phil Johnson | [6]
1994 | Alan Scott | 279–211 | Previn Shukle | [6]
1995 | Chris Brunskill | 274–155 | Robin Wilson | [6]
1996 | Dean Bavister | 213–152 | Robin Wilson | [6]
1997 | Robin Wilson | 313–235 | Martin Shutt | [6]
1998 | Matthew Sutton | 319–196 | Robin Wilson | [6]
1999 | Robin Wilson | 450–175 | Allan Taylor | [6]
2000 | Peter Gamblin | 254–164 | Billy Bousfield | [6]
2001 | Peter Gamblin | 300–163 | Danny Beagrie | [6]
2002 | Michael Donnelly | 406–226 | Daniel Dobbs | [6]
2003 | Jamie Edwards | 253–181 | Callum Robinson | [6]
2004 | Dominic Mulhall | 289–199 | Ross McDonald | [6]
2005 | Darren Cook | 315–277 | Ricky Easter | [6]
2006 | Darren Cook | 435–325 | James Halpin | [6]
2007 | James Halpin | 351–331 | Ryan Clark | [6]
2008 | Ryan Clark | 690–224 | Michael Williams | [6]
2009 | Aaron Hatton | 313–226 | Ben Wanley | [27]
2010 | Johnathon Snee | 261-107 | Ryan Jackson | [28]
2011 | Luke Christian | 226-141 | Adam Stewart | [29]
2012 | Sam Betts | 200–181 | Adam Stewart | [30][31]
2013 | James Eyre | 196-151 | Jack Easter | [6]
2014 | Jack Easter | 183-136 | Callum Lawlor | [6]
2015 | Reggie Edwards | 232- 97 | Jack Easter | [32]
2016 | Nathan Boughen | 130–88 | Merlin Knight | [33]
2017 | Finley Brown | 162–107 | Callum Wilson-West | [5]
2018 | Callum Wilson-West | 177-141 | Finley Brown | [6]
2019 | Finley Brown | 247–107 | William Chambers | [34]
2020 | No Contest |
2021 | Harry Grimmett | 208–156 | Danny Overson | [35]
2022 | William Thomson | 200–174 | Danny Overson | [36]
2023 | William Thomson | 279–113 | Charlie Sutton | [37]
2024 | William Thomson | 191-127 | William Chambers | [38]

## Under-19 Champions

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2020)

|

Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Ref.

|
|
|
|

1949 | George Toner | 500–298 | Ron Gross | [39]
1950 | Rex Williams | 747–322 | Jack Carney | [40]
1951 | Rex Williams | 751–270 | Jack Carney | [41]
1952 | John Sinclair | 442–363 | Brian Simpson | [39]
1953 | Mark Wildman | 529–520 | Emlyn Parry | [42]
1954 | Mark Wildman | 582–497 | Donald Scott | [43]
1955 | Donald Scott | 538–360 | Clive Everton | [39]
1956 | Clive Everton | 429–277 | Granville Hampson | [39]
1957 | Colin Myers | 381–306 | Colin Dean | [39]
1958 | Christopher Marks | 414–351 | Colin Dean | [39]
1959 | Paddy Morgan | 446–321 | Peter Shelley | [39]
1960 | David Bend | 468–408 | Colin Davies | [39]
1961 | Paddy Morgan | 538–357 | Tony Matthews | [39]
1962 | Tony Matthews | 485–395 | Dennis Rhodes | [39]
1963 | Tony Matthews | 572–323 | Michael McCann | [39]
1964–67 | No Contest | [39]
1968 | Dennis Taylor | 684–536 | Dave Burgess | [44]
1969 | Dave Burgess | 501–436 | John Terry | [39]
1970 | John Terry | 606–287 | William Blake | [45]
1971 | Willie Thorne | 728–321 | Russell Toombes | [46]
1972 | Willie Thorne | 497–240 | Clive Palmer | [39]
1973 | Willie Thorne | 598–566 | Peter Edworthy | [39]
1974 | Trevor Wells | 414–285 | Denis Rothwell | [39]
1975 | Eugene Hughes | 440–325 | Ian Williamson | [39]
1976 | Steve Davis | 435–259 | Ian Williamson | [39]
1977 | Ian Williamson | 289–133 | John Barnes | [39]
1978 | Ian Williamson | 328–105 | John Barnes | [39]
1979 | Mick Garvey | 237–192 | Paul McGowan | [39]
1980 | Geoff Charville | 216–187 | Martin Goodwill | [39]
1981 | Shaun Hawkins | 264–166 | Mark Heller | [39]
1982 | Robert Marshall | 296–239 | Kevin Walsh | [39]
1983 | Stephen Naisby | 328–228 | Stephen Walker | [39]
1984 | Stephen Naisby | 308–181 | Simon Snee | [39]
1985 | Stephen Naisby | 306–181 | Peter Gilchrist | [39]
1986 | Mike Russell | 428-279 | Dave Finbow | [22]
1987 | Mike Russell | 395-166 | Peter Gilchrist | [23]
1988 | Mike Stocks | 218–203 | Nick Hayward | [39]
1989 | Glen Cromack | 304–202 | Michael Leach | [39]
1990 | Mike Dunn | 363-131 | Shaun Golightly | [25]
1991 | David Causier | 320-285 | Lee Lagan | [26]
1993 | Michael Westthorpe | 417–276 | Peter Sheehan | [39]
1994 | Lee Lagan | 317–225 | Michael Westthorpe | [39]
1995 | Chris Shutt | 417–188 | Chris Brunskill | [39]
1996 | Chris Shutt | 503–208 | Chris Brunskill | [39]
1997 | Robin Wilson | 359–244 | Matt Willard | [39]
1998 | Robin Wilson | 343–223 | Matthew Sutton | [39]
1999 | Matthew Sutton | 293–129 | Jimmy Chambers | [39]
2000 | Robin Wilson | 399–188 | Martin Shutt | [39]
2001 | Robin Wilson | 354–193 | Jimmy Chambers | [39]
2002 | Robin Wilson | 456–158 | Peter Gamblin | [39]
2003 | Dominic Mulhall | 270–210 | Jamie Edwards | [39]
2004 | Billy Bousfield | 399–220 | Michael Donnelly | [39]
2005 | Dominic Mulhall | 353–320 | Jamie Edwards | [39]
2006 | Dominic Mulhall | 666–281 | Darren Cook | [39]
2007 | Dominic Mulhall | 588–361 | Steven Kerr | [39]
2008 | Ryan Clark | 503–264 | Bruce Welham | [39]
2009 | Darren Cook | 464–323 | Johnathon Buglass | [27]
2010 | Aaron Hatton | 230-182 | Finley Lang | [39]
2011 | Aaron Hatton | 211-204 | Jonathan Snee | [39]
2012 | Aaron Hatton | 261–158 | Jonathan Snee | [30][31]
2013 | George Pragnall | 386-221 | Sam Betts | [39]
2014 | Mathew Lyon | 276-131 | Ryan Jackson | [39]
2015 | Mathew Lyon | 313-163 | Jack Easter | [32]
2016 | Jack Easter | 238–120 | Nathan Boughen | [33]
2017 | Harry Cobbold | 167–110 | Nathan Boughen | [47]
2018 | Nathan Boughen | 150-139 | Harley Dyson | [39]
2019 | Nathan Boughen | 205-158 | Harley Dyson | [39]
2020 | No Contest |
2021 | Finley Brown | 230-165 | Alec Chalmers | [35]
2022 | Harry Grimmett | 242-123 | Matthew Boughen | [36]
2023 | Ethan Llewellyn | 193-183 | Riley Ellis | [37]
2024 | William Chambers | 157-138 | Casey Turner | [38]

## Girls

[edit]

The Girls' championship was first held in 1933.[48] The age limit was 16 for the 1933 event, but was raised to 18 the following year.[49] The competition was revived in 1950 after a break of more than ten years, this time with an age limit of 17.[50]

Hannah Jones (pictured in 2024) won the title four times. |

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2020)

|

Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Ref.

|
|
|
|

1933 | Helen McDougall | 200-182 | Nancy Fenn | [48]
1934 | Helen McDougall | 200-195 | Jessie Banks | [51]
1935 | Jessie Banks | 200-196 | Helen McDougall | [52]
1951 | Maureen Barrett | 195-83 | Clare Hackett | [53]
1952 | Maureen Barrett | uncontested |  | [54]
1953 | Maureen Barrett | uncontested |  | [55]
2009 | Danielle Maud | bt | Bethanie Duke | [56]
2010 | Hannah Jones | 191-114 | Rochy Woods | [56]
2011 | Hannah Jones | 235-112 | Jazmin Cainey | [56]
2012 | Hannah Jones | bt | Josie Wright | [30][31]
2013 | Hannah Jones | bt | Rochy Woods | [56]
2014 | Rochy Woods | bt | Josie Wright | [33]
2015 | Rochy Woods | 173-30 | Hannah Greeno | [33][32]
2016 | Rochy Woods | 175–56 | Hannah Greeno | [33]
2017 | Rochy Woods | 152–48 | Brittany Chambers | [47]
2018 | Hannah Greeno | 109-104 | Brittany Chambers | [57]
2019 | Hannah Greeno | 83-74 | Lexie Greeno | [58]
2021 | Lexie Greeno | 77-34 | Bella Hemsley | [35]
2022 | Bella Stowell | 67-33 | Ruby Jeffries | [36]
2023 | Lexie Greeno | 92-29 | Bridie Callaby |
2024 | Bridie Callaby | uncontested |  |

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Later known as John Barrie

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Everton, Clive (1985). Guinness Snooker – The Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 125\. ISBN 0851124488.
2. ^ The Billiards and Snooker Control Council Handbook and Rules. London: Billiards and Snooker Control Council. 1971.
3. ^ "The North Star". Darlington. 9 March 1905. p. 4 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ Lewis, Harold (October 1938). "He beat John Roberts by 2000". The Billiard Player. pp. 10–14.
5. ^ a b Lamotte, David (7 April 2017). "Sport – Major". Great Yarmouth Mercury - via NewsBank.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh "Under 16 Champions". eaba.co.uk. English Amateur Billiards Association. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
7. ^ "Big breaks by a boy". Grimsby Evening Telegraph. 14 May 1924. p. 2 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Billiards: Boys' Championship". The Daily Telegraph. 6 May 1925. p. 17 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Boy Champion's 114 Break". Liverpool Daily Post. 2 January 1926. p. 11 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "CWF Desbottes wins Boys' Championship". Western Daily Press. 3 January 1931. p. 11 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Dennis Hawkes wins Noys Billiards Championship". Western Daily Press. 1 January 1932. p. 9 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Earl Shilton Boy's Triumph". Leicester Evening Mail. 2 January 1933. p. 11 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "Boy Billiard Finalists". Sunday Mercury. 3 January 1937. p. 11 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ "(picture caption)". Sunday Dispatch. 1 January 1939. p. 19 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ "Cambs. Billiards Champion". Saffron Walden Weekly News. 5 January 1940. p. 10.
16. ^ "Billiards: aged 14, wins title". Western Morning News. 5 January 1948. p. 4 - via Newspapers.com.
17. ^ "(Untitled article)". Dundee Courier. 3 January 1949. p. 2.
18. ^ "FJJ's column about sport and sporting people: Rising star". Peterborough Standard. 4 January 1952. p. 7 - via Newspapers.com.
19. ^ "Champ at 13". Western Daily Press. 11 April 1969. p. 4 - via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ "Billiards". The Birmingham Post. 3 April 1970. p. 27.
21. ^ "Cradley's Turley helps set the pace". Birmingham Evening Mail. 17 April 1971. p. 5.
22. ^ a b "Youngest Snooker Champion". Snooker Scene. June 1986. p. 23.
23. ^ a b "Russell's parting shot". Snooker Scene. June 1987. p. 29.
24. ^ "Stocks and Journett end Teeside billiards monopoly". Snooker Scene. June 1988. p. 28.
25. ^ a b "Yet Another Teeside Double". Snooker Scene. June 1990. p. 33.
26. ^ a b "Sports round-up: Billiards". The Daily Telegraph. 29 April 1991. p. 40 - via Newspapers.com.
27. ^ a b Hartley, J. (1 July 2009). "Champion show – Tees youngsters dominate championships". Evening Gazette. Middlesbrough. p. 44 - via NewsBank.
28. ^ "National Junior finals day". English Amateur Billiards Association. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
29. ^ "EABA Junior Finals". English Amateur Billiards Association. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
30. ^ a b c "Junior Finals Day" (PDF). eaba.co.uk. English Amateur Billiards Association. August 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
31. ^ a b c "Junior Billiards – Finals Day". English Amateur Billiards Association. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
32. ^ a b c "2014/15 – Junior Finals Day". English Amateur Billiards Association. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
33. ^ a b c d e "West Norfolk players pot three national junior titles". Lynn News. 7 June 2016 - via NewsBank..
34. ^ Plummer, G. (25 April 2019). "Youngsters show great promise at Lynn's Maltings Q Club". Lynn News (England) - via NewsBank..
35. ^ a b c "English Junior Championships 2021". English Amateur Billiards Association. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
36. ^ a b c "English Junior Championship 2022". English Amateur Billiards Association. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
37. ^ a b Dunkley, Tim (17 April 2023). "Ten-year-old retains national junior billiards title". Cuestars. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
38. ^ a b "English Junior Finals 2023-2024". English Amateur Billiards Association. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay "Under 19 Champions". eaba.co.uk. English Amateur Billiards Association. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
40. ^ "Billiards champion at 16". Dundee Courier. 4 March 1950. p. 4.
41. ^ "Williams is first dual champion". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 17 February 1951. p. 6.
42. ^ "Youth Billiards Champion". The Daily Telegraph. 7 February 1953. p. 14 - via Newspapers.com.
43. ^ "Markham Wildman". Birmingham Gazette. 30 April 1954. p. 6 - via Newspapers.com.
44. ^ Everton, Clive (5 Apr 1968). "Late start - by request". The Birmingham Post. p. 42.
45. ^ "Billiards". The Birmingham Post. 26 March 1970. p. 28.
46. ^ "Johnson gives Yorkshire first win". Snooker Scene. May 1971. p. 9.
47. ^ a b "West Norfolk players to the fore in Junior Billiards Championships". Lynn News. 4 April 2017 - via NewsBank..
48. ^ a b "Girls' billiards title". Sheffield Independent. 9 January 1933. p. 9.
49. ^ "Girls' billiards". Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough. 4 January 1934. p. 8.
50. ^ "Billiards revivial". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 4 January 1950. p. 9.
51. ^ "Girls' billiards title". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 6 January 1934. p. 10.
52. ^ "Miss Jessie Banks: Barnsley girl wins billiards title". Sheffield Independent. 10 January 1935. p. 9.
53. ^ "They just took their cues - and got to the Final!". Daily Herald. 2 January 1951. p. 2.
54. ^ "Hewitt is pleased with his combination team, but he must be realistic". South London Observer. 10 January 1952. p. 6.
55. ^ "No challengers for her title". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. 2 December 1952. p. 6.
56. ^ a b c d "Junior Girls Champions". English Amateur Billiards Association. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
57. ^ "West Norfolk players complete a billiards clean sweep". Lynn News. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
58. ^ Plummer, Greg (25 April 2019). "Youngsters show great promise at Lynn's Maltings Q Club". Lynn News. Retrieved 21 January 2023.