Congratulations are extended to both Balraj Dhaliwal and Maurice Chilton who reached the conclusion of a course of seminars designed to instruct potential referees. Today both were subjected to a searching examination, made all the more daunting by the presence of not one Class 1 Examiner or even two but which also included a third examiner in the shape of a mentored referee on his journey to becoming a Class 1 Examiner.

With flying colours is a phrase lost in the maritime practices of yesteryear but is certainly appropriate to describe the outcome of their exam in the case of both candidates. The VBSA and the ABSC warmly welcome two new referees of whom high hopes are retained for future success.

Many thanks must go to the new VBSA Secretary and Class 2 Mentored Referee Jon Moss for his input over all five weeks of the course and his assisstance during the examination. Thanks also go to experienced Class 3 Referee Michael Lang for his assisstance during the practical seminar and to VBSA President and Class 1 Examiner Paul Cosgriff for his expert and insightful contribution, also during the examination.

• Venue: Various
• Date: Saturday 12th June to Monday 14th June 2021
• Entries Close: Friday 4th June
• Tournament Director: George Hoy
• Enquiries to: tournaments@vbsa.org.au
• Mobile: 0403 047 840

1. Complete this form
2. Send proof of the bank payment (a copy of the receipt or transaction) by email to Treasurer@vbsa.org.au AND Tournaments@vbsa.org.au

2021 Victorian Womens Snooker Championship weekend of the 29th and 30th May.

Entries close 24th May

Payment (Entries will only be accepted with payment).

1. Send proof of the bank payment (a copy of the receipt or transaction) by email to Treasurer@vbsa.org.au AND Tournaments@vbsa.org.au

• Venue: Yarraville Snooker Academy
• Date: Saturday 19th June - Tuesday 22nd June
• Entries Close: Sunday 30th May
• Tournament Director: TBA
• Enquiries to: tournaments@vbsa.org.au
• Mobile: TBA 

• Venue: Yarraville Snooker Academy
• Date: Tuesday 15th June - Friday 18th June
• Entries Close: Sunday 30th May
• Tournament Director: TBA
• Enquiries to: tournaments@vbsa.org.au
• Mobile: TBA

1. Complete this form
2. Send proof of the bank payment (a copy of the receipt or transaction) by email to Treasurer@vbsa.org.au AND Tournaments@vbsa.org.au

Great to report that David Collins is making a great recovery from his recent illness.  David asked that his thanks be passed on to all those members who expressed their good wishes for his speedy recovery.

And on that note, Stan Gorski had a recent battle with a stroke but is now recovering well and expected to regain full use of his left arm.

Great news that these two stalwarts of Victorian and Australian billiards & snooker will be gracing the tables for many years to come.

The 2021 Victorian Junior Championships were held today at Yarraville.

Unfortunately numbers were down with the decision of Noah Newman (U12) not to enter this year leaving just brother and sister combination Mia and Luca Macheda from Yarrawonga as the only U12s. The decision was made not to hold the U12s due to vast difference in experience and ability between the siblings. Young Mia has been selected as the U12 Victorian representative for the State team. We also lost U16 Mia Newman to soccer. Mia is captain of her soccer team this year and we wish her all the best, but as a very talented cueist for her age we certainly hope we haven’t lost her forever. COVID also played a role in losing a few youngsters, as they had no access to tables some lost interest whilst a few others now have weekend jobs.

Congratulations to all the juniors who did compete today. We had a couple of new lads playing - Denzel Barkho who has played 8 ball but had never played snooker or billiards before and young Shan Thilakarathna who at just 12 years old has had some experience on the big tables with his coach George Spiteri. Shan had some success with two match wins one in the U18 billiards round robin and one in the U16 snooker round robin. Denzel was given the Encouragement Award for the day and we hope we have piqued his interest in both billiards and snooker.

I’d like to commend their more experienced opponents Sean and Ciaran Dempsey who both encouraged the new lads and were very understanding and happy for the referees to explain some rules to Denzel and Shan during the matches.

Both Sean and Ciaran were too strong on the day and finished on top of the round robins. Consequently, it was a family affair with the brothers playing each other for the U16 & U18 snooker titles as well as the U18 billiards title. Sean had a convincing win in the billiards, but Ciaran put up a good fight in the U18 Snooker to lead Sean at times.  In the end though Sean came out in front to win his third title of the day. Congratulations to both Sean and Ciaran who will be representing Victoria at the Nationals coming up in late June.

Pictured are (LtoR) Denzel Barkho, Sean Dempsey, Ciaran Dempsey and Shan Thilakarathna.

Shelly Ames Tournament Director 

The fixtures have now been uploaded to the VBSA website.  See https://www.vbsa.org.au/VBSA_scores/scores_index_detail.php?season=S1

As is always the case, there are a few anomalies required to ensure a fair spread of home & away games and best use of venues, but these have been kept to a minimum.

You can download the current scoresheet at https://www.vbsa.org.au/Front_page_upload/ScoreSheet_2019_11.pdf. Please DO NOT use old scoresheets and please make sure scoresheets are fully completed.  If anyone wants an editable version, please contact me.  It will be my intention to have match results completed by midday of the day following competition, dependent on results being submitted in a timely fashion.

The previously distributed COVID Guidelines are repeated here.  NOTE THAT MASKS ARE NOW MANDATORY (hopefully soon to be rescinded)

•             Only Referee to touch the balls.  When possible, players use only cue tip to position cue ball.

•             Short rests.  One per player, to be allocated to that player (not left on hooks).  If 2 rests not available, same rule as other rests.

•             Other rests.  Sanitise rest & hands after use.  Only player to touch rest.

•             Be aware of 1.5m rule and keep that distance apart. 

•             Mask to be worn at all times.

•             After frame/game, referee to sanitise short rests, table & clean all balls.  Reset table.  If consecutive frames being refereed, after
              second  frame.

•             Room capacities to be strictly observed.  Both captains to check & agree before start of play.  No spectators.

•             Player registration to be strictly observed.  QR codes or sheets.

•             Handshaking discouraged.

•             Home captain, in liaison with venue manager, to manage overall adherence to Guidelines, including provision of wipes, sanitiser, registration, etc.

Thank you to everyone involved in getting this season up & running, particularly our Fixturing guru, Simon Fortune & Webmaster, Alec Spyrou.

Best of luck to all teams & players.

Mark Dunn, Score Registrar.

The 2020 AGM was held at Yarraville Club on 6th January, 2021.  Please find attached the relevant documents emanating from the AGM, including a Letter of Appreciation from our newest Life Member, Robby Foldvari.

All queries to VBSA Secretary, David Chigwidden, at secretary@vbsa.org.au