Women's Amateur Snooker Championship

The Women's Amateur Snooker Championship was a tournament held annually in the United Kingdom most years from 1932 to 1985. ^{[1] [2]}

Maureen Baynton (pictured in 1953) won eight titles between 1954 and 1968.

In 1932 an open snooker tournament (that is, open to both professional and amateur players) was organised by the Women's Billiards Association (WBA), which had been established in 1931. ^{[3] [4] [5]} Six players participated in the main tournament at Burroughes Hall, London. ^{[6] [4]} Margaret Quinn was the youngest, aged 13 and 11 months, and won the title. ^{[7] [4]}

Following this, the 1932 Annual General Meeting of the WBA resolved "That girls under 16 are only eligible for such WBA events as are run specially for young people." ^[2] It was further resolved, however, that Quinn would be allowed to enter to defend her title for as long as she held it. ^{[2] [8]} Quinn retained the title in 1933 but lost it in 1934 when due to confusion about the date of her first match, she did not attend. ^{[9] [10]}

As of 1947, the annual winner held the Burwat Trophy, the runner-up held the A.D.C. Cup, and the player who compiled maker of the highest break held the Grace Wise-Parker Bowl. ^[11]

The 1939 winner Agnes Davies regained the title in 1978. ^[12] Maureen Baynton won the title a record eight times, between 1954 and 1968. ^[1] Snooker historian Clive Everton wrote that Baynton would "have assuredly won more" had she not retired from competition for several years. ^[13]

Finals

Women's Amateur Snooker Championship finals

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Final score	Venue	Ref.
1932	Margaret Quinn (ENG)	Irene Murkett (ENG)	3–0	Burroughes Hall, London	[6] [7] [4] [a]
1933	Margaret Quinn (ENG)	Miss Ballentine (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[14] [9]
1934	Ella Morris (WAL)	Molly Van Norden (ENG)	4–0	Burroughes Hall, London	[15] [10]
1935	Molly Hill (ENG)	Helen McDougall (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[16]
1936	Vera Seals (ENG)	Margaret Quinn (ENG)	4–1	Kensington Billiard Club, London	[17]
1937	Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG)	Ella Morris (WAL)	3–2	Burroughes Hall, London	[15] [18]
1938	Ella Morris (WAL)	Molly Hill (ENG)	4–1	Kensington Billiard Club, London	[15] [19]
1939	Agnes Morris  (WAL)	Victoria McDougall (ENG)	4–0	Kensington Billiard Club, London	[20] [21]
1940–46	Not held				[15]
1947	Mabel Knight (ENG)	Aileen Bowmer (ENG)	4–3	Empire Billiards Club, London	[22]
1948	Joan Adcock (ENG)	Mrs. E. M. Peters (ENG)	5–2	Leicester Square Hall	[23] [24]
1949	Rosemary Davies (ENG)	Joan Adcock (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[25]
1950	Pat Holden (ENG)	Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[26] [27]
1951	Rosemary Davies (ENG)	Sadie Isaacs (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[28] [29]
1952	Rosemary Davies (ENG)	Pat Holden (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[30]
1953	Rita Holmes (ENG)	Maureen Barrett  (ENG)	4–3	Burroughes Hall, London	[31] [32]
1954	Maureen Barrett  (ENG)	Rita Holmes (ENG)	4–0	Burroughes Hall, London	[33]
1955	Maureen Barrett  (ENG)	Rita Holmes (ENG)	4–2	Burroughes Hall, London	[34]
1956	Maureen Barrett  (ENG)	Rita Holmes (ENG)	4–0	Burroughes Hall, London	[35]
1957	Rita Holmes (ENG)	Pat Ayre (ENG)	4–2	Burroughes Hall, London	[36] [37]
1958	Not held				[38] [1]
1959	Rita Holmes  (ENG)	Muriel Hazeldene  (ENG) [b]	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[41] [38]
1960	Dorothy Thompson (ENG)	K.V.M. Bint (ENG)	4–3	Burroughes Hall, London	[42] [43]
1961	Maureen Barrett  (ENG)	Thea March  (ENG)	4–0	Burroughes Hall, London	[44] [45]
1962	Maureen Baynton (née Barrett)  (ENG)	Rita Holmes  (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[46]
1963	Rita Holmes  (ENG)	Jean Halford (ENG)	4–2	Burroughes Hall, London	[47] [48]
1964	Maureen Baynton (née Barrett)  (ENG)	Ray Craven (ENG)	4–2	Burroughes Hall, London	[49]
1965	S. Jeffries (ENG)	S. Bartley (ENG)	4–0	Burroughes Hall, London	[50] [51]
1966	Maureen Baynton (née Barrett)  (ENG)	Thea March  (ENG)	4–2	Burroughes Hall, London	[52] [53]
1967	Helen Futo (ENG)	P. Saddington (ENG)	4–1	Burroughes Hall, London	[54] [55]
1968	Maureen Baynton (née Barrett)  (ENG)	Ray Craven (ENG)	4–1	Windmill Snooker Club, London	[56]
1969	Ray Craven (ENG)	Muriel Hazeldene  (ENG) [b]	4–3	Windmill Snooker Club, London	[57]
1970	Muriel Hazeldene  (ENG) [b]	Ray Craven (ENG)	unknown	London	[58] [59]
1971	Muriel Hazeldene  (ENG) [b]	Vera Selby  (ENG)	4–1	Windmill Snooker Club, London	[60]
1972	Vera Selby  (ENG)	Ray Craven (ENG)	4–0	London	[61] [62]
1973	Vera Selby  (ENG)	Kay Godwin (ENG)	4–0	London	[63] [64]
1974	Vera Selby  (ENG)	Muriel Hazeldene  (ENG) [b]	4–1	Windmill Snooker Club, London	[65] [66]
1975	Vera Selby  (ENG)	Ann Johnson (ENG)	4–2	Windmill Snooker Club, London	[67]
1976	Ann Johnson (ENG)	Vera Selby  (ENG)	4-1	Windmill Snooker Club, London	[68]
1977	Ann Johnson (ENG)	Vera Selby  (ENG)	4–2	London	[69]
1978	Agnes Davies (née Morris)  (WAL)	Ann Johnson (ENG)	4–1	Wandsworth Billiards Club, London	[12]
1979	Vera Selby  (ENG)	Ann Johnson (ENG)	3–1	Craneswater Club, Portsmouth	[70]
1980	Sue Foster  (ENG)	Mandy Fisher  (ENG)	2–1	Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, Leicester	[71]

Notes

1. This edition is omitted from the lists in the 1947 WBA Handbook and other sources
2. The spellings Hazeldine, e.g. in the Birmingham Evening Mail in 1960, ^[39] and Hezeldene, e.g, in the Birmingham Evening Mail in 1975 ^[40] are also found in some sources for this player.

References

1. Morrison 1989, p. 147.
2. Carpenter, Thelma (July 1932). "Billiards for Women". The Billiard Player. p. 4.
3. "Women's Billiard Association formed". The Billiard Player. June 1931. p. 2.
4. McDougall, Victoria (May 1932). "Women's Billiards Association News". The Burwat Billiards View. Vol. III, no. 4. p. 63.
5. "Women's snooker". Evening Despatch. Birmingham. 21 March 1932. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Girl Snooker Wonder on way to championship". Daily Herald. 23 March 1932. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Child Snooker Expert". Liverpool Daily Post. 8 April 1932. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Girl Billiards Expert". The News. Adelaide. 18 March 1933. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Girl retains snooker title". The Daily Telegraph. 27 March 1933. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Sports in Brief". The Times. 26 March 1934. p. 5.
11. Munro Wright 1947, p. 33.
12. "Vera Selby retains women's championship". Snooker Scene. May 1978. p. 2.
13. Everton 1985, p. 155.
14. "(untitled article)". The Observer. 26 March 1933. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Munro Wright 1947, p. 32.
16. "(untitled article)". The Daily Telegraph. 25 March 1935. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Women's Amateur Snooker Championship". The Billiard Player. June 1936. p. 4.
18. "Women's Amateur Championship". Western Mail. 19 March 1937. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Sidney Smith Makes Certain". Daily News. London. 26 March 1938. p. 19.
20. "Women's Snooker Champion". The Bolton News. 28 March 1939. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Personality Page". The Billiard Player. May 1939. p. 20.
22. "Women's Snooker". The Billiard Player. April 1947. p. 6.
23. "A really grand finale!". The Billiard Player. June 1948. pp. 8–9.
24. "Snooker Champion: Walsall Girl Started on Small Table Five Years Ago". Walsall Observer. 29 May 1948. p. 7.
25. "Women's Amateur Championship 1949–50". The Billiard Player. December 1949. p. 16.
26. "Women's Amateur Events". The Billiard Player. November 1950. p. 3.
27. "Women's Snooker champion". Belfast Telegraph. 23 October 1950. p. 8.
28. "With the ladies". The Billiard Player. November 1951. p. 5.
29. "Women's Billiards Title". Belfast News-Letter. 22 October 1951. p. 7.
30. "Mrs Pat Holden Loses in Final". Sunday Mercury. 16 October 1952. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Women's amateur snooker c'ship". The Billiard Player. November 1954. p. 9.
32. "Mrs Pat Holden beaten in women's snooker". Birmingham Gazette. 24 October 1953. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Youngest Woman Snooker Champion". Sunday Mercury. 24 October 1954. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Maureen wins again". Sunday Despatch. 23 October 1955. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Miss Barrett Keeps Title". The Guardian Journal. Nottingham. 8 October 1956. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Pat reaches All-England snooker final". Peterborough Evening Telegraph. 12 October 1956. p. 9.
37. "Rita Holmes again women's amateur snooker champion". The Billiard Player. November 1957. p. 15.
38. "Rita Holmes achieves third victory in Women's Amateur Snooker Championship". The Billiard Player. September 1959. p. 10.
39. "Keen Struggle". Birmingham Evening Mail. 5 May 1960. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
40. Barry, Ed (22 February 1975). "Top Women Cue Up for Miles". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
41. "Women's Amateur Championships". The Billiard Player. May 1959. p. 16.
42. "Sports in Brief". The Times. 4 May 1960. p. 17.
43. Holt, Richard (June 1960). "WBA Finals". the Billiard Player. pp. 6, 16.
44. "Billiards and Snooker". Daily Herald. London. 28 April 1961. p. 12.
45. "WBA Championships. Maureen Barrett still supreme: Miss T March's splendid feat". Billiards and Snooker. June 1961. p. 8.
46. "Snooker". Birmingham Daily Post. London. 5 May 1962. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
47. "untitled article". Billiards and Snooker. May 1963. p. 11.
48. Holt, Richard (June 1963). "Rita Holmes again and Sadie Issaacs repeats 1947 billiards win". Billiards and Snooker. pp. 16–17.
49. "Snooker: Women's Champion". The Birmingham Post. 11 April 1964. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
50. "Snooker". The Daily Telegraph. 2 April 1965. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
51. "Snooker". The Daily Telegraph. 3 April 1965. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
52. "Womens's Billiards Association". Billiards and Snooker. February 1966. p. 8.
53. "Maureen Baynton wins both billiards and snooker titles again". Billiards and Snooker. May 1966. p. 9.
54. Buxton, John (June 1967). "Turnabout". Billiards and Snooker. p. 8.
55. "Women's Amateur Championship". Daily Express. 23 March 1967. p. 18.
56. Tabor, Ethel (August 1968). "Women's Championships". Billiards and Snooker. p. 8.
57. "Great Recovery". Billiards and Snooker. June 1969. p. 15.
58. "B'ham woman in final". Birmingham Evening Mail. 22 May 1970. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
59. Nelson, Olive (3 June 1970). "Snooker - it's ideal for women". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
60. March, Thea (July 1971). "Hemlines". Billiards and Snooker. p. 7.
61. "New first lady". Snooker Scene. June 1972. p. 5.
62. "Snooker Title for Mrs Selby". The Journal. Newcastle. 14 April 1972. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
63. "Vera wins final spot". The Journal. Newcastle. 14 April 1973. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
64. "First lady again". Snooker Scene. June 1973. p. 13.
65. Hamilton, Alex (22 March 1974). "Winning Women: Hot Pot". The Guardian. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
66. "First lady again". Snooker Scene. July 1974. p. 21.
67. "Vera Selby retains women's championship". Snooker Scene. July 1975. p. 11.
68. "Ann beats Vera at last". Snooker Scene. June 1976. p. 38.
69. Benger, Geoffrey (19 April 1977). "Ms Pot black pockets a title". Western Daily Press. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
70. "Vera Selby regains women's snooker title". Snooker Scene. June 1979. p. 28.
71. "New Women's Champion". Snooker Scene. October 1980. p. 8.

Books

• Everton, Clive (1985). Frei, Beatrice (ed.). Snooker: The Records. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives. ISBN   978-0-85112-448-3.
• Morrison, Ian (1987). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker (Revised ed.). Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. pp. 156–157. ISBN   978-0-600-55604-6.
• Morrison, Ian (1989). Snooker: Records, Facts and Champions. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives. ISBN   978-0-85112-364-6.
• Munro Wright, Bessie, ed. (1947). Illustrated Handbook of the Women's Billiards Association. Women's Billiards Association. pp. 32–33.