The Bunbury Pool Association has started its 48th year of competition pool and has high hopes for the season ahead.
The organisation was formed in 1970 when the publican of the Wellington Hotel (now Trafalgar’s) called a meeting to see if any local pool players were interested in holding a regular competition.
Eleven teams nominated in that first year.
At pool’s peak popularity in the early 1980’s, there were fifty six teams spread over four divisions and playing competition pool at most of the hotels and clubs in Bunbury and surrounding town, each Monday night.
This year thirty one teams will be competing in four divisions on Monday and Tuesday nights.
Since 1970, there have been many changes to the playing rules and the format and composition of teams.
All games are now played as a singles format (no doubles/partners), and the balls are no longer numbered 1-15, but are red and yellow, plus the black ball.
Two female and four male Bunbury competitors have played pool for Western Australia at the annual National Pool Championships, while two others have played in the Australian Masters Team against South Africa and New Zealand.
Bunbury Pool Association president Denis Hynes said the competition promises to be very even with any of the teams capable of winning this year’s premiership.
The off season has seen a number of players move between clubs while some started new teams.
It is encouraging that two venues which have not had teams for some years have returned to the competition.
The reintroduction of pool at the South West Italian Club has resulted in two A, one B and two C division teams playing from the venue this season.
Italian club president Frank Mustica said his venue was looking forward to being involved in the competition again.
The club last hosted pool teams in 1995 and have installed two new tables for the coming season.
Ongoing refurbishments of the Parade Hotel has meant that six pool teams have had to find alternative venues.
Five of them will now move to the Commercial Club, which doubles as the Bunbury Pool Association’s heaquarters, while the sixth team will play at the Parks Tavern which has also not hosted pool teams for many years.
The Parade pool club has been the most successful in the history of pool in Bunbury winning fifteen A Division grand finals alongside 11 titles in other divisions.
For more information about the Bunbury Pool Association phone president Denis Hynes on 0427 251 432 or search for them on Facebook.
