SUNSHINE COAST SNOOKER LEAGUE

SUNRISE PROFILE: Jack Grant - a major influence to the Senior Snooker League.

Jack's family moved from St. John, New Brunswick to New Westminster when Jack was in his early teens. While still a teenager, he worked as a logger on the west coast of BC. In 1951 he began his business career in the auto industry at Trapp Motors in New Westminster. This successful career lasted for forty years, during that time he worked for several New Westminster auto dealerships and worked his way up to General Manger. He retired from Fogg Motors in 1991.
    In retirement, his love for the game of snooker led him in 1992, to Sunrise Seniors Centre and the snooker team. He soon became captain of the team that went on to win two league titles. He also was president of the "A" League for several years and was instrumental in the amalgamation of the "A" and "B" seniors leagues. He also organized the first Seniors Snooker League Awards Banquet that has since become a yearly league tradition. Jack is a founding Director of BC Senior Cue Sports Society (now known as BC Cue Sports Society) and held the position of Tournament Director for several years.
    Jack qualified in 1995, for an International Snooker Referee Certificate and that year he refereed the Canadian Amateur Champion Doubles match between Dennis Taylor/Willie Thorne and Brady Golen/Cliff Thorburn, Another notable match that he refereed along with Bruce Olson and Ted Wormworth was the BC Chinese 2003 and 2004 Snooker Tournaments in Richmond.
   For the past decade Jack, with his partner Ray MacDonald, provided a snooker and pool table refurbishing and maintenance service to the Lower Mainland of BC. Jack now continues the business on his own since Ray died a few years ago. If you need your snooker table recovered or moved give Jack a call.
    Unfortunately, we in the Lower Mainland Seniors Snooker League are going to see a little less of Jack because he and his wife Margaret, recently moved to Chilliwack, to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
    Jack and Margaret celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this year and Jack celebrated his 80th birthday. They have nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

   Don Hermansen

Jack and Ray MacDonald at work recovering a billiards table

Jack refereed the BC Chinese Snooker Tournaments 2003 and 2004, along with Bruce Olson

Jack and his friend Murphy Johnston

Captain of winning Sunrise Team

KYLE CENTRE PROFILE: Orme Payne
The Kyle Snooker Club salutes Orme.

Orme is one of those guys who always has a good story or joke to tell and he tells it well.
    Several present day longevity records at the Kyle Centre are held by Orme. He has been a snooker club member there since 1984, that's longer than anyone else. When he started playing seniors league there where three teams (A, B and C) representing Kyle Centre, with several women playing in the C Division. "We did manage to win a few league championships during the last 26 years. " said Orme, "I enjoy playing snooker and have made a lot of good friends over the years."
   On April 8, Orme will be celebrating his 90th birthday, so he also holds the record of "oldest member" of the Kyle snooker team. Age does not seems slow him down, as he plays a very strong game and has helped Kyle win the "B" League as recently as 2008 and 2009. In 2008, Orme won the "B" League High Run (52) Trophy for that season (see photo). Orme's brother Gerry was also a long time member at Kyle and a good snooker player.
    1947 to 1950, Orme and his brother Gerry, were a dynamic duo on the Port Moody baseball team – Orme catching and Gerry pitching. They played in what was known as the Dewdney League, against teams from Maillardville, Port Coquitlam, Haney and Hamond to name a few.
    He served in the Canadian Army from 1940 to 1945 and was stationed overseas for four and half of those years, serving in England, Italy and Holland. In 1945, while Orme was in Amsterdam, he played hockey in the Canadian Army League (see photo).
    The Dutch Government honored Orme a couple of times for having served in Holland, during the liberation. The first time was a few years ago when he and other Canadian soldiers were invited to Holland. Then again just recently when the Dutch Ambassador was here for the Olympic Winter Games, he invited Orme and others to the Dutch Pavilion.
    After the war Orme moved from Neville, Saskatchewan to Port Moody were he married Rita, and raised his family. He has three children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

   Don Hermansen

Amsterdam, November 17, 1945. Orme is second from the left in the back row.

B League High Run Trophy winner for the 2007/2008 season.

DOGWOOD PROFILE: Trevor Fisher
       One of the most popular players in the Lower Mainland Senior Snooker League is Trevor Fisher of Dogwood Pavilion.
       Trevor was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan where he was an all around athlete. He played senior men’s baseball and hockey, had a 6 handicap in golf and of course curled. In fact, in 1972 Trevor skipped his rink to the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship.
       In 1945, at the age of 12, Trevor started playing snooker. He and his friends learned the game at the local YMCA as they were too young to get into the pool halls. Trev took to the game immediately and soon was spotting his opponents 80 points and still making money. He became so proficient that when George Chenier, the North American Champion, was coming to

Trevor at the 2002 League Banquet,
Open Singles Trophy Winner

Regina, an exhibition match was set up
between Chenier and Trevor. Folks jammed into National Billiards to see the local kid take on Canada’s best player. Trevor defeated George Chenier three games to two!
      In 1958, Trev packed up his family and plumbing tools and moved to beautiful British Columbia. Here, he renewed his friendship with George Chenier, which led to weekly competitions between these two great snooker players. During this time, Trevor captured the B.C. Snooker Championship and Chenier went on to become acknowledged as one of the top players of his era and held the North American Championship from 1948 until his untimely death in 1970. Chenier took part in the World Snooker Championships in 1950 and promptly made a break of 144, which was a record at the time.  

       Trevor joined Dogwood about 15 years ago and was recruited for the “B” team. After running a 139 in league play, it was determined that perhaps he should be playing at a higher level. Trevor now struggles with Parkinson’s disease and has since joined the “B” team where he is an inspiration to all of us. He still has outstanding skills and enjoys the competition and the friendship of all of the players. All the members of the team benefit greatly from his skills and knowledge.
      These days, away from the snooker room, you'll find Trevor enjoying family and friends, watching curling, and spending time at the local casino.

Bryan Evans and Dave Cairns

Walter Bird turned 88 on March 1, 2011. He started playing snooker at the age of 14. Walter was raised in Prince Rupert, BC and left there in 1940 to join the Canadian Army. He served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, and was with the Canadian Forces landing at Normandy Beach.
   After leaving the Armed Forces in1946, Walter embarked on a career with BA/Gulf Oil and worked there until retirement in 1985. Walter and his family moved to Vancouver in 1956 later settling in Pitt Meadows in 1957 where he resides today.
   Upon retirement in 1985, Walter learned that they had a snooker club playing out of an old building on Harris Road. He joined the Club and the "A" league and has been playing every season since. He won the Pitt Meadows

Club Championship in 1985 and 2002 and was runner up in 1995. This year he was a regular with the Pitt Meadows "B" team that won the LMSS league finals. His passion for the game of snooker and competitive nature makes him one of the best players in the league for his age. He is known for his great sense of humour and classic one-liners. For example, after he made a poor shot one day, he said " Walter", there is no prescription for stupidity." He is always quick to recognize an opponent's good play and exhibits good sportsmanship at all times.
   Walter has always been very involved at the Pitt Meadows Snooker Club and together with Bob Hunt they made the overhead table lights and the score boards. He is also a very skilled

carpenter and one of his favorite works is a beautiful grandfather clock that sits in his dining room.
   Walter and his wife May have been married for 64 years. May is very supportive of him playing snooker regularly. They have three daughters, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.   
    Mal Hanczik

Walter Bird, died October 10, 2011. Walter was a long time member of the Pitt Meadows seniors snooker team. Our condolences to his family and friends. At Walter's request, there will be no service. Donations to the McKenney Creek Hospice would be appreciated.

Billiard Table Recovering and Maintenance.
Quality workmanship. Also a variety of used tables for sale in all sizes. Special rates for seniors. Email Jack Grant - or phone 1-604-846-6274 cell 604-240-6840

DeRoo Cues
Custom fitted cues and repair work. 1-piece, 2-piece and 3/4 cues, 9-piece laminated cues, built-in extensions, break cues, jump cues, layered tips and extra shafts.
Kevin (604) 534-8338
Email: sales@deroocues.com
www.deroocues.com

Classic Games and Billiards - for tables, supplies and equipment
#106 - 6039 196 Street, Surrey BC
Phone: 604-539-9890 Fax: 604-539-9895
www.classicgamesandbilliards.com

Home Billiard Sales and Service - for tables, supplies and equipment
1644 Marine Drive SE, Vancouver BC
Phone: 604-321-5553 Web: http://home-billiards.com

WORTH Enterprises is Canadian distributor of PARADON, the world's oldest cue manufacturer. Also carries table supplies, West of England cloth, cushion rubber, etc. (Ted Wormworth) 604 833-8151 http://www.peradon.com/

Snooker Glasses - Doug's Eye Care Optical
Doug can make a pair to fit you and your requirements.
Just bring in your prescription.
11973 - 88 Avenue, Delta BC V4C 3C9
Phone/fax: 604-590-4114

Send or phone in your ad. Registered Lower Mainland Senior Snooker League players wanting to buy or sell cue sports related items, email don@hermansen.ca or phone 604-469-3694.

FOR SALE - Used 5' x 10' Snooker Table $1000

National "Carmel" table in excellent condition. A nice looking piece of oak furniture. Price includes snooker, numbered and billiard balls, cues, lights, vinyl cover and accessories. For more information call Don Hermansen 604-469-3694
or email don@hermansen.ca.

FOR SALE: Two new 3/4 hand spliced ash cue sets ,57" with 9mm tips, aluminum cases, telescopic extensions and 6" butt extensions along with a new push-on telescopic extension I would like to find a home for at very reasonable prices, e.g. cue set $125.00, push-on extension $50.00. Shipping from Barrie Ontario. Email Bob Little or call 705-739-7565

5' x 10' Snooker Table Dimensions
These dimensions are standardized as much as possible and all dimensions given are approximate and may vary with different table makers.
1. Playing surface is 56" x 112"
2. The centre line is 28" in from the edge of either side cushion
3. The balk-line should be 23.2" (23-3/16") from the edge of the bottom cushion.
4. The half circle "D" has a 9.2" (9-3/16") diameter and on the centre line. This gives you the yellow, brown and green spots.
5. The blue spot is in the center of the table on the centre line, 56" from either end cushion.
6. The pink spot is 28" from the edge of the top cushion or half way between the blue spot and the edge of the top cushion and on the centre line.
7. The black spot is 10.2" (10-3/16") from the edge of the top cushion on centre line.
8. The height of the top of the cushion to the slate bed is approximately 1.4375" (1-7/16")
9. Table height from the top of the cushions to the floor 34" (33.5" to 34.5")
10. Corner pocket openings are 3.5" (3-1/2")and can range between 3.375" (3-3/8") and 3.625" (3-5/8") at the fall of the slate.
11. Side pocket openings are 4" across at the fall of the slate.

CUE RETIPPING - Easy to follow step by step guide on how to remove your old tip and put a new tip on your cue. Three page PDF to view or print.

Table Care and Maintenance
1. Cover your tables when not in use, dust settling into the cloth will cause it to break down over time.
2. The cloth can be occasionally vacuumed to get the accumulation of dust out and ironed to flatten the nap.
3. Be sure to keep drinks away for the tables, water and other liquids will stain the cloth and once stained there is no way to get the stain out.
4. Dead cushions, the rubber can harden over time (especially if the table is not used for long periods of time) and should be replaced every few years. Snooker table rubber is known as "L" rubber because of its shape.
5. Cloth should be replaced every few years depending on the amount of use the table gets.