Clark McConachy
Encyclopedia
Clark McConachy, MBE
(15 April 1895 – 12 April 1980) was a New Zealand
professional player of English billiards
and snooker
.
His endurance and longevity as a sportsman was astonishing. He was the New Zealand professional billiards champion from 1914 until 1980. He also held the title of World Professional Billiards Champion
from 1951 until 1968, when he was defeated by Rex Williams
.
He was the runner-up in the World Snooker Championships of 1932 and 1952.
Clark was a keen advocate of physical fitness and regularly ran up to four miles every day. A strict teetotaller and non-smoker; he attributed his continued success well into his senior years to these things. He was also well-known for walking around the table on his hands before the match started.
He is a member of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(15 April 1895 – 12 April 1980) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
professional player of English billiards
English billiards
English billiards, called simply billiards in many former British colonies and in Great Britain where it originated, is a hybrid form of carom and pocket billiards played on a billiard table. Billiards is less well known as "the English game", "the all-in game" and "the common game".The game is for...
and snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
.
His endurance and longevity as a sportsman was astonishing. He was the New Zealand professional billiards champion from 1914 until 1980. He also held the title of World Professional Billiards Champion
World Professional Billiards Championship
The World Billiards Championship is an international cue sports tournament in the discipline of English billiards. It has been played annually since 1980, is one of the oldest sporting World Championships in the world, dating in earnest to the mid-19th century...
from 1951 until 1968, when he was defeated by Rex Williams
Rex Williams
Rex Williams , son of Minnie Roberts and William Williams, is a retired English professional snooker and billiards player.Williams was an excellent junior player in both snooker and billiards. His professional career began in 1951, during a period of decline in snooker...
.
He was the runner-up in the World Snooker Championships of 1932 and 1952.
Clark was a keen advocate of physical fitness and regularly ran up to four miles every day. A strict teetotaller and non-smoker; he attributed his continued success well into his senior years to these things. He was also well-known for walking around the table on his hands before the match started.
He is a member of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is an organisation commemorating New Zealand's greatest sporting triumphs. It was inaugurated as part of the New Zealand sesquicentenary celebrations in 1990. Some 160 members have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception representing a wide...