Whilst the VBSA has made the decision to refrain from returning to competition with the current face covering restrictions in place, we are pleased to advise that with the easing of restrictions from midnight tonight, venues are allowed to reopen. Please see below for the current restrictions as the VBSA understands them, with application to Indoor recreation venues;

• Face coverings must be worn at all times when indoors unless an exception applies (eg: medical exemption)
• Density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm
• Maximum venue capacity of 50
• Maximum group size of 10

For competition we understand the following restrictions to also apply;

• Limited to minimum number of people required to participate in and facilitate the activity (ie: players, coaches, officials) and there is a strict “no spectators” rule, with the exception  of (trainers, coaches and parents/guardians for juniors)

There is no change to the current VBSA guidelines regarding the use/handling of ancillary equipment and sanitisation procedures.

Please also consider that venue capacities will differ from venue to venue. 

• Venue: Yarraville Snooker Academy
• Date: Saturday 31st July - Tuesday 03rd August
• Entries Close: Sunday 20th July
• Tournament Director: TBA
• Enquiries to: tournaments@vbsa.org.au
• Mobile: TBA 

• Venue: Yarraville Snooker Academy
• Date: Tuesday 27th July - Friday 30th July
• Entries Close: Sunday 17th July
• 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

• Venue: Yarraville Snooker Academy & Brunswick Snooker Club
• Date: Saturday 24th July - Sunday 25th July
• Entries Close: Sunday 14th July
• Enquiries to: tournaments@vbsa.org.au
• Format: Knockout  best of 5 frames semi best of 7 frames final best of 9
• Tournament TD George Hoy 

• $60 Adult
• $30 Women & pensioners
• $20 juniors

Payment (Entries will only be accepted with payment).

BARRY LANE: 5/7/1934 - 4/6/2021

The VBSA Board and members are saddened to learn of the overnight passing of Barry Lane, a long-serving Board Member of the Association, after a heart attack on Tuesday.

Barry and his wife, Eileen, were stalwarts of the VBSA, and managed a number of Billiards/Snooker venues in Melbourne and the City of Geelong.

With Johnny McKay, Barry and Eileen were the original architects of our Junior Development Program, and spearheaded a very successful sub-committee.  Through the efforts of that sub-committee, our juniors were able to showcase their talents in a number of Shopping Centres in the Metropolitan area. During these times the VBSA had the involvement of up to 30 juniors, and many have become champions at all levels of our sport.

The VBSA is extremely grateful for the services of Barry Lane, and passes our condolences to Eileen, and all of their family members.

Paul Cosgriff, VBSA President

• Venue: Various
• Date: TBA
• Entries Close: TBA
• 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

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