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]

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]
The tournament was discontinued in 1986 and replaced by the UK Championship for women.[1]
Finals
Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final score | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1932 | ![]() |
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3–0 | Burroughes Hall, London | [6][7][4][a] |
1933 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [14][9] |
1934 | ![]() |
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4–0 | Burroughes Hall, London | [15][10] |
1935 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [16] |
1936 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Kensington Billiard Club, London | [17] |
1937 | ![]() |
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3–2 | Burroughes Hall, London | [15][18] |
1938 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Kensington Billiard Club, London | [15][19] |
1939 | ![]() |
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4–0 | Kensington Billiard Club, London | [20][21] |
1940–46 | Not held | [15] | |||
1947 | ![]() |
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4–3 | Empire Billiards Club, London | [22] |
1948 | ![]() |
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5–2 | Leicester Square Hall | [23][24] |
1949 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [25] |
1950 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [26][27] |
1951 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [28][29] |
1952 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [30] |
1953 | ![]() |
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4–3 | Burroughes Hall, London | [31][32] |
1954 | ![]() |
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4–0 | Burroughes Hall, London | [33] |
1955 | ![]() |
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4–2 | Burroughes Hall, London | [34] |
1956 | ![]() |
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4–0 | Burroughes Hall, London | [35] |
1957 | ![]() |
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4–2 | Burroughes Hall, London | [36][37] |
1958 | Not held | [38][1] | |||
1959 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [41][38] |
1960 | ![]() |
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4–3 | Burroughes Hall, London | [42][43] |
1961 | ![]() |
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4–0 | Burroughes Hall, London | [44][45] |
1962 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [46] |
1963 | ![]() |
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4–2 | Burroughes Hall, London | [47][48] |
1964 | ![]() |
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4–2 | Burroughes Hall, London | [49] |
1965 | ![]() |
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4–0 | Burroughes Hall, London | [50][51] |
1966 | ![]() |
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4–2 | Burroughes Hall, London | [52][53] |
1967 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Burroughes Hall, London | [54][55] |
1968 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Windmill Snooker Club, London | [56] |
1969 | ![]() |
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4–3 | Windmill Snooker Club, London | [57] |
1970 | ![]() |
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unknown | London | [58][59] |
1971 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Windmill Snooker Club, London | [60] |
1972 | ![]() |
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4–0 | London | [61][62] |
1973 | ![]() |
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4–0 | London | [63][64] |
1974 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Windmill Snooker Club, London | [65][66] |
1975 | ![]() |
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4–2 | Windmill Snooker Club, London | [67] |
1976 | ![]() |
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4-1 | Windmill Snooker Club, London | [68] |
1977 | ![]() |
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4–2 | London | [69] |
1978 | ![]() |
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4–1 | Wandsworth Billiards Club, London | [12] |
1979 | ![]() |
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3–1 | Craneswater Club, Portsmouth | [70] |
1980 | ![]() |
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2–1 | Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, Leicester | [71] |
1981 | Not held | [72] | |||
1982 | ![]() |
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3–1 | Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, Leicester | [73][74] |
1983 | ![]() |
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6–2 | Doncaster Snooker Centre | [75] |
1984 | Not held | [1] | |||
1985 | ![]() |
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3–0 | Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, Leicester | [76] |
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f Morrison 1989, p. 147.
- ^ a b c Carpenter, Thelma (July 1932). "Billiards for Women". The Billiard Player. p. 4.
- ^ "Women's Billiard Association formed". The Billiard Player. June 1931. p. 2.
- ^ a b c d McDougall, Victoria (May 1932). "Women's Billiards Association News". The Burwat Billiards View. Vol. III, no. 4. p. 63.
- ^ "Women's snooker". Evening Despatch. Birmingham. 21 March 1932. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Girl Snooker Wonder on way to championship". Daily Herald. 23 March 1932. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Child Snooker Expert". Liverpool Daily Post. 8 April 1932. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Girl Billiards Expert". The News. Adelaide. 18 March 1933. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Girl retains snooker title". The Daily Telegraph. 27 March 1933. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Sports in Brief". The Times. 26 March 1934. p. 5.
- ^ Munro Wright 1947, p. 33.
- ^ a b "Vera Selby retains women's championship". Snooker Scene. May 1978. p. 2.
- ^ Everton 1985, p. 155.
- ^ "(untitled article)". The Observer. 26 March 1933. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Munro Wright 1947, p. 32.
- ^ "(untitled article)". The Daily Telegraph. 25 March 1935. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Women's Amateur Snooker Championship". The Billiard Player. June 1936. p. 4.
- ^ "Women's Amateur Championship". Western Mail. 19 March 1937. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sidney Smith Makes Certain". Daily News. London. 26 March 1938. p. 19.
- ^ "Women's Snooker Champion". The Bolton News. 28 March 1939. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Personality Page". The Billiard Player. May 1939. p. 20.
- ^ "Women's Snooker". The Billiard Player. April 1947. p. 6.
- ^ "A really grand finale!". The Billiard Player. June 1948. pp. 8–9.
- ^ "Snooker Champion: Walsall Girl Started on Small Table Five Years Ago". Walsall Observer. 29 May 1948. p. 7.
- ^ "Women's Amateur Championship 1949–50". The Billiard Player. December 1949. p. 16.
- ^ "Women's Amateur Events". The Billiard Player. November 1950. p. 3.
- ^ "Women's Snooker champion". Belfast Telegraph. 23 October 1950. p. 8.
- ^ "With the ladies". The Billiard Player. November 1951. p. 5.
- ^ "Women's Billiards Title". Belfast News-Letter. 22 October 1951. p. 7.
- ^ "Mrs Pat Holden Loses in Final". Sunday Mercury. 16 October 1952. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Women's amateur snooker c'ship". The Billiard Player. November 1954. p. 9.
- ^ "Mrs Pat Holden beaten in women's snooker". Birmingham Gazette. 24 October 1953. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Youngest Woman Snooker Champion". Sunday Mercury. 24 October 1954. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Maureen wins again". Sunday Despatch. 23 October 1955. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Miss Barrett Keeps Title". The Guardian Journal. Nottingham. 8 October 1956. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pat reaches All-England snooker final". Peterborough Evening Telegraph. 12 October 1956. p. 9.
- ^ "Rita Holmes again women's amateur snooker champion". The Billiard Player. November 1957. p. 15.
- ^ a b "Rita Holmes achieves third victory in Women's Amateur Snooker Championship". The Billiard Player. September 1959. p. 10.
- ^ "Keen Struggle". Birmingham Evening Mail. 5 May 1960. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Barry, Ed (22 February 1975). "Top Women Cue Up for Miles". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Women's Amateur Championships". The Billiard Player. May 1959. p. 16.
- ^ "Sports in Brief". The Times. 4 May 1960. p. 17.
- ^ Holt, Richard (June 1960). "WBA Finals". the Billiard Player. pp. 6, 16.
- ^ "Billiards and Snooker". Daily Herald. London. 28 April 1961. p. 12.
- ^ "WBA Championships. Maureen Barrett still supreme: Miss T March's splendid feat". Billiards and Snooker. June 1961. p. 8.
- ^ "Snooker". Birmingham Daily Post. London. 5 May 1962. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "untitled article". Billiards and Snooker. May 1963. p. 11.
- ^ Holt, Richard (June 1963). "Rita Holmes again and Sadie Issaacs repeats 1947 billiards win". Billiards and Snooker. pp. 16–17.
- ^ "Snooker: Women's Champion". The Birmingham Post. 11 April 1964. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Snooker". The Daily Telegraph. 2 April 1965. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Snooker". The Daily Telegraph. 3 April 1965. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Womens's Billiards Association". Billiards and Snooker. February 1966. p. 8.
- ^ "Maureen Baynton wins both billiards and snooker titles again". Billiards and Snooker. May 1966. p. 9.
- ^ Buxton, John (June 1967). "Turnabout". Billiards and Snooker. p. 8.
- ^ "Women's Amateur Championship". Daily Express. 23 March 1967. p. 18.
- ^ Tabor, Ethel (August 1968). "Women's Championships". Billiards and Snooker. p. 8.
- ^ "Great Recovery". Billiards and Snooker. June 1969. p. 15.
- ^ "B'ham woman in final". Birmingham Evening Mail. 22 May 1970. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Nelson, Olive (3 June 1970). "Snooker - it's ideal for women". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ March, Thea (July 1971). "Hemlines". Billiards and Snooker. p. 7.
- ^ "New first lady". Snooker Scene. June 1972. p. 5.
- ^ "Snooker Title for Mrs Selby". The Journal. Newcastle. 14 April 1972. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vera wins final spot". The Journal. Newcastle. 14 April 1973. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "First lady again". Snooker Scene. June 1973. p. 13.
- ^ Hamilton, Alex (22 March 1974). "Winning Women: Hot Pot". The Guardian. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "First lady again". Snooker Scene. July 1974. p. 21.
- ^ "Vera Selby retains women's championship". Snooker Scene. July 1975. p. 11.
- ^ "Ann beats Vera at last". Snooker Scene. June 1976. p. 38.
- ^ Benger, Geoffrey (19 April 1977). "Ms Pot black pockets a title". Western Daily Press. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vera Selby regains women's snooker title". Snooker Scene. June 1979. p. 28.
- ^ "New Women's Champion". Snooker Scene. October 1980. p. 8.
- ^ "Sue back on winning cue". Atherstone Herald. 8 October 1982. p. 72 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Morrison 1987, pp. 156–157.
- ^ "Sue goes marching on to major title". Coleshill Herald. 10 December 1982. p. 72 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Foster's Maltese Mission". Birmingham Evening Mail. 19 October 1983. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Shepherd, Nick (April 1985). "Allison Fisher in class of her own". Snooker Scene. p. 27.
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.