Con Stanbury

Conrad Stanbury (c. 1894–1975) was a Canadian professional snooker player. He was the first player to make an officially-recognised century break at snooker. In 1935, he became the first player from outside the British Isles to compete in the World Snooker Championship.

Conrad Stanbury
Bornc. 1894
Died1975
Sport countryCanada

Career

Con Stanbury was born in about 1894.[1] In 1922, he compiled a break of 113, recognised as the first snooker century break.[2][3] He won the 1932 national snooker championship of Canada, known as the Dominion Championship, by defeating A. Corteau 10–1 in the final.[4] A few weeks later, he defeated Tom Newman 4–3 in a challenge match.[5]

In 1934, it was announced that funds were being raised to send Stanbury to compete in the World Snooker Championship. Newman wrote in the News of the World that he regarded Stanbury as "the most likely man I know" to defeat champion Joe Davis, and praised Stanbury's play, particularly his ability with screw shots.[6] Stanbury travelled to England for the 1935 World Snooker Championship, and was the first player from outside the British Isles to compete in the World Championship.[7] He lost in the deciding frame of his first match, 12–13 to Willie Smith in a quarter-final.[8]

In the 1936 Championship he defeated Alec Mann before being eliminated by Alec Brown in the quarter-finals, and at his next attempt in 1938, lost 4–27 to Sidney Smith at the same stage. After competing in five further championships from 1939 to 1948, but winning only two matches, Stanbury won three successive matches all 18–17 in 1949, against Herbert Francis, Jackie Rea and Herbert Holt, before losing 13–58 to Walter Donaldson. His final entry to the championship was in 1950, and saw him defeated 15–20 by Sidney Lee[8]

Whilst the British players of the time had a background in English billiards, which was played with a delicate touch, Stanbury played snooker more like pool, with powerfully hit shots.[9][7] A correspondent for The Times wrote in 1939 that "it should not be forgotten that the present popularity of the game [of snooker] dates from the time he came to this country to challenge the leading players."[10] Stanbury was a British resident for the rest of his life after emigrating in 1935,[7] and worked as a coach at a billiard hall in London for many years.[1] He also appeared as himself in the 1949 film It Happened in Leicester Square alongside other professional players.[11] Stanbury died in 1975.[9]

References
  1. "Con Stanbury ill". Billiards and Snooker. Billiards Association and Control Council. March 1969. p. 11.
  2. Shamos, Mike (1999). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York City: Lyons Press. p. 35. ISBN 1558217975.
  3. The Billiards and Snooker Control Council Handbook and Rules. London: Billiards and Snooker Control Council. 1971.
  4. "Corteau is defeated: bows to Stanbury in Dominion snooker final". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 5 March 1932. p. 20.
  5. "Stanbury beats Tom Newman in snooker match". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 26 March 1932. p. 15.
  6. "Stanbury may compete for world title". The Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 1 December 1934. p. 24.
  7. Morrison, Ian (1986). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker. Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. p. 19. ISBN 0600501922.
  8. Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. p. 915. ISBN 978-0954854904.
  9. Everton, Clive (1985). Snooker: The Records. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 135. ISBN 0851124488.
  10. "Snooker – The Professional Championship". The Times. 30 January 1939. p. 4.
  11. "It Happened in Leicester Square (1949)". bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
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