Bar billiards


Bar billiards is a form of billiards which developed from the French/Belgian game billiard russe, of Russian origin.
Bar billiards in its current form started in the UK in the 1930s and now has leagues in Sussex, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Kent, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Suffolk and Northamptonshire. These counties comprise the All England Bar Billiards Association. There are also leagues in Guernsey and Jersey where the annual world championships take place.

History

Bar billiards is a form of billiards which involves scoring points by potting balls in holes on the playing surface of the table rather than in pockets. The game of bar billiards developed originally from the French billiard, which due to the expensive tables in the fifteenth century was played only by the French monarchy and the very rich. The game was transformed into Billiard Russe during the 16th century for the Russian Tsars and a derivative of Bagatelle played by French royalty.
Bar billiards was first imported into the UK during the early 1930s when David Gill, an Englishman witnessed a game of billiard russe taking place in Belgium. He persuaded the Jelkes company of Holloway Road in London to make a similar but not exact bar billiards table. It is now a traditional bar game played in leagues in the English counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Kent, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire, and also the Channel Islands. The game's governing body is the All England Bar Billiards Association. There are also leagues in Guernsey and Jersey. Tables were also made by Sams, Riley, Burroughs & Watts and Clare. The standard "league" tables have a playing surface approximately 32 inches wide. Sams also made a narrower version with a 28-inch width playing surface.

Gameplay

Bar billiards is played on a unique table with no side or corner pockets but with nine holes in the playing surface which are assigned various point values ranging from 10 to 200. There are eight balls in all, seven white and one red, white balls score points as shown and potting the red ball scores double the points as shown. Three mushroom-shaped pegs are positioned on the playing surface, the two white pegs positioned either side of the 100 hole with one black peg in front of the 200 hole. If a white peg is knocked over then the player's break is ended and all points acquired during that break are discarded. Knocking down the black peg ends the player's break and all points accumulated in total are lost. In the case that a white and a black peg are both knocked over, then the first peg to be knocked over is counted. All shots are played from the front end of the table so access to all sides is not required which is ideal in a smaller bar or pub. At the start of the game or when there are no balls remaining on the table a white ball is placed on the spot on the 'D' and the red ball is placed on the spot in front of that. This 'Break shot' may be done a maximum of three times if both balls are potted before one ball must remain on the table known as the '1-up', failing to leave this one ball up results in a foul and loss of break. The next shot attempted is the 'split shot' where the object ball is usually potted in the 50 hole and the cue ball is potted in the 100 hole. There are variants to this; sometimes it is necessary to pot the balls into the 50 and 10 holes for example. If successful, the break shot can be used again and so on. Players take alternate turns or 'breaks' at the table playing from where their opponent has left off. If the player fails to pot a ball then the break has ended and the second player takes his break by placing another ball on the first spot. If all balls are in play, then the nearest ball to the 'D' is removed and put on the spot. If a player fails to hit a ball, then the break ends and all points earned in that break are lost. The play is time-limited to around 15 - 20 minutes of play dependent on region, after this time a bar drops inside the table stopping any potted balls from returning, leading to a steady decrease in the number of balls in play. The last ball can only be potted into either the 100 or 200 hole having been played off either side cushion.
The Bar Billiards world championship takes place each November on the island of Jersey.

World Championship results history

The Bar Billiards World Championship is held every year in Jersey.
YearWinnerfromRunner-upfromReference
1981Harry SiddallDerek Payne
1982Graham BissonClarrie Querrie
1983Tim RingsdoreMicky Daw
1984Peter NoelDon Cadec
1985Bernie McCluskeyPeter Webb
1986Dave HarrisPeter Noel
1987Wayne PoingdestreKevin Tunstall
1988Alan Le BlondMicky Daw
1989Trevor GallienneBob Taylor
1990Steve AhierTerry Race
1991Steve AhierSimon Tinto
1992Dennis HelleurHarry Barbet
1993Kevin TunstallGraham Bisson
1994Kevin TunstallTony Walsh
1995Tony WalshMark Brewster
1996Terry OakleyDon Cadec
1997Jim MillwardSteve Ahier
1998Keith SheardNick Barnett
1999Peter NoelTerry Race
2000Bernie McCluskeyBob King
2001Jim MillwardKevin Tunstall
2002Terry RaceNigel Ryall
2003Jim MillwardTerry Race
2004Terry RaceNigel Ryall
2005Graeme Le MonnierHarry Barbet
2006Kevin TunstallJim Millward
2007Trevor GallienneJim Millward
2008Trevor GallienneKevin Tunstall
2009Phil CollinsPaul Sainsbury
2010Jim MillwardGraham Bisson
2011Kevin TunstallSteven Sheard
2012Kevin TunstallPaul Sainsbury
2013Mark TraffordNigel Senior
2014David IngramKevin Tunstall
2015Paul SainsburyJames Jeanne
2016Matthew JonesMark Brewster
2017Mark TraffordKevin Tunstall
2018Paul SainsburyPhil Osbourne
2019Kevin TunstallMartin Cole
2020----

Roll of Honour

Multiple World Champions
Kevin Tunstall 6, Jim Millward 4, Trevor Gallienne 3, Peter Noel 2, Steve Ahier 2, Bernie McCluskey 2, Terry Race 2, Mark Trafford 2, Paul Sainsbury 2.
Winning County/Country
11, 10, 7, 5, 3, 1, 1, 1