‘For those of you who are watching in black and white, the blue is behind the brown’. Ted Lowe
Pall Mall and Woodcote Park clubhouses both benefit from excellent full-sized billiards tables and two snooker professionals on hand to help improve your game and dispense useful hints and tips. There are regular men's and ladies competitions, ladders and social evenings throughout the year. All standards of player are welcome.
Pall Mall
Email billiardspm@royalautomobileclub.co.uk
Telephone 020 7747 3273
Woodcote Park
Telephone 01372 229242
Email billiardswp@royalautomobileclub.co.uk or
Email Robert Namey at Woodcote Park
Martin O'Donnell
I’m 23 and have been playing cue sports since the tender age of seven. My dad introduced me to snooker when I was ten, and I first played a professional match in an exhibition against Steve Davis aged thirteen. I made my first century at fifteen, and my first 147 at nineteen.
I won the English Under 17s tournament in 2004 and in 2006 reached the English Amateur final – an achievement that I’m incredibly proud of, given that it’s the most prestigious amateur tournament in the game. I travelled to Amman, Jordan to play in the World Amateurs, reaching the last 16 but losing to the eventual winner. I also played for England at senior level in 2006, contributing to our winning the Home Internationals.
I began working at the Royal Automobile Club in June 2007 and, thanks to the Club, completed a professional coaching course in July 2009. As a fully qualified snooker coach, I am able to provide members with a higher standard of coaching and have definitely improved my own game. I’m currently taking part in the Pontins International Open Series (PIOS) tour with a view to qualifying for the top 96 in the world.
My ambition is to reach the world top 16 and to one day win the World Championship in Sheffield.
Katie Henrick
I had a cue in my hand from a young age, learning to play pool first before taking up snooker when I was fifteen. I joined the World Ladies Snooker circuit when I was 16, slowly working my way up the Ladies Rankings to where I now stand at number four. My biggest achievements on the circuit thus far have been reaching the final of the Ladies World Championships in 2007, as well as winning my first tournament – the Ladies East Anglian Open – in the same year.
In 2004 I was asked to represent England on the ladies snooker team, and played for England in the European Championships – reaching the final in 2005 – and the IBSF World Championships. These tournaments took place all over Europe, and I’ve been lucky enough to travel to countries including Latvia, Malta, Poland, Holland and Austria. I’ve also represented England in the Home Internationals, where we were victorious against Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
I started working as a snooker professional at the Royal Automobile Club in 2003. The members have been incredibly encouraging and supportive; with some of the members even contributing to my first trip away playing for England. The Club has been very good to me and enabled me to gain my professional snooker coaching qualification last year.
I’m hoping to achieve more in snooker, and my main aims are to beat my highest competition break of 101, as well as winning another Ladies Competition.
Coaching and Handicaps
Coaching is available from the Snooker Professionals, Katie Henrick and Martin O'Donnell for those who want to learn or improve the level of their game. Lessons are for one hour and with Katie the cost is £15.00 for a single lesson or £25.00 for a double lesson (2 people). A lesson with Martin costs £12.00 or £18.00. Package lessons are also available, offering 3 or 5 groups of lessons.
To gain a handicap simply come down to the Billiards Room where the Professionals, Katie or Martin, will be happy to assess your play and give you the appropriate handicap. This should only take 30 minutes. There is a current handicap list on the notice board in the Snooker Room, where you can always check your handicap or that of other members.
Email snooker@royalautomobileclub.co.uk
Telephone 020 7747 3295
To contact the Snooker Professionals:
Email snooker@royalautomobileclub.co.uk
Telephone 020 7747 3273
Are you cueing straight?
Place the cue ball on the brown spot and hit it up the table (making sure it goes over the blue, pink and black spots, coming off the top cushion) - see if you can make the white travel back over the spots, back to where you started. Note - try hitting the ball slower and harder, you might find it more difficult to hit the cue ball straight when you do this.
Tips to help you strike the cue ball straight...
There should be 4 points of contact with your body and cue when you get down onto your shot and hit the white ball - your front hand (bridge hand), your back hand, make sure your cue is running along side and touching the side of your chest and also make sure your chin is on the cue. It is very important to remember to keep your head and body still when you strike the white ball, making sure you deliver your cue with a smooth action and in a straight line
Happy cueing!
For one-on-one advice and tips, book a lesson with the snooker professionals Katie or Martin, visit the snooker room or call 020 7747 3273 or email snooker@royalautomobileclub.co.uk