A fierce rivalry that first started out from a friendly game will continue nearly 50 years of interstate snooker and billiards in Launceston.
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The annual Andrews/Atkins Shield commenced on Friday night between a multitude of Tasmanian and Victorian up-and-coming players with a cue in hand.
Launceston resident Ron Atkins, who turns 80 in April, officially opened the tournament in the absence of Victorian Harry Andrews who could not make the trip. But memories of the Shield’s origins are far from gone.
“Harry and Ron even had to play a game themselves to work out who was going to be first – whether it was going to be Andrews-Atkins or the Atkins-Andrews Shield,” daughter Leanne Atkins said.
“It came down to, I think, the pink ball in the best-of-seven frames. Might’ve even have been the black ball.
“It’s been a fierce, but a very friendly rivalry.”
Atkins is a former national snooker champion, having once played in the 1980 world championships held at Launceston’s Albert Hall where he reached the final.
Both men came up with the idea of continuing the rivalry between their two home states to promote snooker and billiards to also include women’s and juniors among the interstate teams.
Play continues on Saturday from 9am at the Launceston Working Men’s Club.
It’s been a fierce, but a very friendly rivalry
- Leanne Atkins
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
