Billiard
Arthur Conan Doyle started billiard very late, after his 50th birthday. He won his first competition in 1913 and he achieved a "record" in becoming so proficient in this difficult game in so short a period (three years) [1].
Photos
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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle competing in the Amateur Billiard Championship (7 february 1913). -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle competing in the Amateur Billiard Championship (7 february 1913). -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Lady Jean Conan Doyle at the English Amateur Billiards Championship with J. Earlam (Runcorn), Winner and C. M. Heyler (Middlesbrough), Runner up (1926). -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle playing billiard at Windlesham (ca. 1927).
List of competitions
List of known billiard competitions attended by Arthur Conan Doyle.
| Date (d/m/y) |
Competition | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07.02.1913 | Amateur Billiard Championship | ACD (1000) vs G. W. S. Willins (940) ACD (468) vs J. H. Kino (500) ACD (624) vs H. Evans (1000) |
Orme & Son's Hall, Soho Square, London. |
| 11.03.1914 | B.C.C. Amateur Championship | ACD (106) vs Major Fleming (236) | Great Windmill Street, London. |
| 17.05.1920 | Amateur 100 up billiards handicap | ACD as Referee | Burroughes Hall, St. James-street. |
| 13.03.1924 | Match | ACD (93) vs P. Walters (100) | Ex-Service Men's Club, Crowborough. |
| 09.03.1926 | Amateur Billiards Championship | ACD presented the cup | Palace Hotel, London. |
| 14.07.1926 | Wright Cup Handicap | Lost vs J. T. Evens (by 98 pts) | Billiard Control Club. |
Arthur Conan Doyle about Billiards
Autobiography
Articles
- Some Recollections of Sport (september 1909)
- Some Personalia About Mr. Sherlock Holmes (december 1917)
« Upon one occasion, as I was entering the hall to take part in an amateur billiard competition, I was handed a small packet which had been left for me. Upon opening it I found a piece of ordinary green chalk such as is used in billiards. I was amused by the incident, and I put the chalk into my waistcoat pocket and used it during the game. Afterwards I continued to use it until one day, some months later, as I rubbed the tip of my cue, the face of ice chalk crumpled in, and I found it was hollow. From the recess thus exposed I drew out a small slip of paper with the words, "From Arsène Lupin to Sherlock Holmes." Imagine the state of mind of the joker who took such trouble to accomplish such a result! »
Related articles
- B.C.C. Amateur Championship (5 december 1913)
- St. Dunstan's Billiards-Day (30 april 1920) : Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the referee of the amateur 100 up billiards handicap, Burroughes Hall, St. James-street, on Monday 17 may 1920.
- ↑ Sporting Life, 11 february 1913, p. 5.
