Billiards

As many of you will know, billiards came before snooker, and although its not as popular as it was it is still played by quite a few people around the country.

Again, we are most fortunate at Thorne Snooker because a regular visitor is our very own Branson 'Brian' Hoole.

Brian, as he was more popularly known, moved from Sheffield to become a local shoe salesman in Epworth. In 1985, Brian successfully converted an ex-clothing factory into Thorne Snooker Club. Yes, he is also the founder of our club, which he continued to run until 1995.

Brian has played billiards for 60 years and is the 10 times winner of the Isle of Axhome Billiards Championship (a record).

He also won the Lincolnshire Billiard Championship a few years ago and as recent as 1997 represented England in a friendly match against Northern Ireland. He was ranked number 5 in the UK on the amateur circuit.