First Maximum and early Breaks

[Global Snooker Centre]

Further to the threads about maximums etc, I've dug out some dusty
old books to have a look - namely the Sotry of Billiards and Snooker
by Clive Everton:

I quote:
"There was some good snooker being played in the Antipodes, notably
by Murt O'Donoghue, who became the first player to clear the table
from the opening stroke with a 134 in auckland in 1928, followed
shortly after with 136 and 138....."

"...Horace Lindrum made an unofficial 139 break in Melbourne in
March 1933... Alec Mann of Birmingham in late 1932, took first 12
reds, 11 blacks and a pink for a break of 95, the first time anyone
came within striking distance of a maximum.
...O'Donoghue on September 26th 1934 playing in his own club at
Griffith, New South Wales, against Maurie O'Reilly actually achieved
the 147, not on a standard table, but the first maximum. A special
certificate signed by 135 spectators was later presented to him..."

"...Joe Davis held the Official record with 114 and in 1933
increased the World championship record to 72...."

"...In December 1936... a new world record of 133 by Sidney Smith,
the first ever "official" total clearance... in the Daily Mail Gold
Cup"

"...Lindrum made breaks of 141 and 135 in beating Davis 39-36 in
Manchester (receiving 7 start)... though his failure to apply for
record recognition suggests the pockets may have been more generous
than standard"

"... in 1938 Davis pushed the official high break up to 138 in The
Daily Mail Gold Cup.."

"..in 1939 World Championship Fred Davis made a new Championship
record break of 113".

"...in 1947... Joe Davis made a new world record break of 140
against Walter Donaldson... and then made 112 - 14 reds 14 blacks.

"Joe Davis... brought his career to a climax by compiling the game's
first official 147 against Willie Smith on 22nd January 1955.

It goes on to day that breaks of 147 had been made but never in a
match, with a paying audience watching and with a refereeing
officiating and most important on a table where the pockets had been
tested with official templates..
It still took two years for the B&ACC to recognise the break...

and the rest - as they say - is history!
Janie
Global Snooker Centre