Veteran English Billiards
OUR HISTORY
In 1921 our league was formed compiling of just a few teams. The teams’ players were mainly members of the Fort Osborn Army Barracks in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Although the army barracks are no longer there, we must remember their contribution to the forming of the league.
Originally, each team rated their players as #1, #2, #3 etc. and they played against the other teams same rated players. (Player #1 on one team would play Player #1 on the opposing team). After a while, some players were increasing their skills to the point of the matches becoming unfair, so a handicapped system was adopted into the league.
At one point in time, each match night consisted of 3 matches, partially due to some clubs only had one table and the number of players on each team. When matches were played at these clubs they tried to start the matches as early as 5:30 p.m. (instead of 7 p.m.) to be able to finish the matches that night. But as the popularity of the game of English Billiards grew in the Winnipeg area, they found that 3 matches per Thursday night wasn’t enough, so they adopted to four matches per Thursday night. Our league at one time supported 22 individual teams and is presently supporting 9 teams.
Veterans English Billiards LEAGUE
The Veterans English Billiards League is a handicap league. The game is played to 200 points using a handicap system. There are approximately 8 to 12 teams with an average of up to 8 players per team. Matches are held throughout the Veteran Clubs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
The handicaps range from plus 50 to over minus 400. New players start at plus 20 or whatever their ability is and increase by 10 points for a win or decrease by 10 points for a loss for their first 10 matches. After 10 matches it decreases to 5 points per match. Four games per club are played each Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights starting at 5:30 p.m. and are 2-hour matches for all handicaps except for -200 and up, whose matches would be 2-1/2 hours.
The home team must put up 4 names and the visitors may match any of their players against the home team. For example, the visiting team captain can play a minus 250 players against a plus 20 players. The minus 250 player must make 450 points while the plus 20 player needs only to make 180 points. Each match is refereed by a player from the home team. Currently the top 8 teams will play off for the championship shield. Rules are those used by the IBSF.
During the regular season individual tournaments are played.
The Lockwood Trophy – for the top 16 players in the league and is played with no handicaps.
The Bardal Trophy – for players minus 55 and up.
The McLean Trophy – for players minus 5 to minus 50
The Ray Trinder Trophy – for players from 0 to +50.
NORWOOD/ST BONIFACE LEGION #43 HISTORY
In 1989 the Norwood/St Boniface Legion #43 welcomed the league by sponsoring 2 teams until the ’95-’96 seasons; ’96-’97 – ’98-’99 season – 1 team, 1999-2000 – no teams, 2000-2001 – 1 team, 2001-2002 – 2 teams, 2003-2004 / 2005-2006 – 1 team, 2006-2007 to present – 2 teams, in 2023-2024 we welcomed 2 more teams.
Since this union was formed no other club has had the success and the bragging rights to display the various trophies that the teams have won!
In 32 years (as of 2022-2023) the Norwood teams have won:
Jack Sparrow Memorial Shield (Champs) 14 times
Jim Simm (Aggregate) 10 times
Thomas Spearman (2nd place) 9 times
Jock Milton (3rd place) 6 times
St George’s (4th place) 4 times
INDIVIDUAL TROPIES
Harry Lockwood (top 16) 23 times
Neil Bardal minus 55 and up – 10 times
Jack Maclean -5 to -50 7 times
Ray Trinder +50 – scratch 5 times
Ken Vincent – best record/most feared 10 times
Syd Spence – High Break for handicap of -35 to +50 5 times
Warde Tulloch – Most Sportsmanlike 2 times
Tom Hargraves – High Break for handicap of -130 and up 6 times
Chuck Werner – MVP player 6 times
The Club also has the privilege of having the league’s best player “Fraser Durham”
– 16 Lockwood’s with Norwood and special thanks to the “Coach” Ray Trinder (Deceased Jul 2013)
For more information, schedule or play and stats go to their website at https://www.wvebl.com