By Elliott West
Introduction
Snooker has produced a number of memorable players over the years and one such person is Bob Harris. Nicknamed ‘Flash Bob’, Harris was expelled from school, aged 15 and began playing snooker for money. Described as having a “raw talent on the snooker and pool table”, Bob was a real character on the circuit and used to hustle with Tony Meo and Jimmy White.
Career
As an amateur, Bob shone and made a championship record break of 123 on his way to the southern area final of the 1981 English Amateur Championship. He was beaten in the final by Vic Harris, 9-13. Turning professional in 1982, Harris’s first stab at a tournament, was the 1982 International Open, where he he lost 4-5 to George Scott in the qualifiers. He also did well in the 1982 UK Championship, defeating Graham Cripsey, 9-6 and Mike Watterson, 9-3 in the qualifiers to reach the first round. He was then beaten, 6-9 by Patsy Fagan.
In 1983, he entered the UK Championship again and won his matches against Eddie McLauglin, 9-8 and 9-3 against Jack Fitzmaurice. He subsequently lost again in the first round to Ray Reardon, 7-9. This progress was equalled in the 1985 Grand Prix where he reached the last 32 stage, beating John Spencer, 5-4 before losing to Terry Griffiths, 3-5. His best performance at the World Championship has to be in 1988 when he had wins against Patsy Fagan and Eddie Sinclair before losing to Eddie Charlton, 4-10. He also reached the last 96 of the Welsh Open in 1992 and 1993 and round 3 in 1995. Harris also did well in the 1994 European Open, making round 4, the 1994 Dubai Classic, reaching round 4 , the 1995 International Open, reaching round 4, and the British Open in the same year, round 3.
Conclusion
Bob Harris never made the heady heights of the top 16 but did get to a high of 45 in the rankings. He lost his place on the tour in 1995 after competing in the Welsh Open, reaching the last 256, falling to 188 in the rankings. Bob never played a professional match again and made professional career earnings of £42,948 and spent 14 seasons as a professional. A player that will never be forgotten in the snooker community and one that the former referee Alan Chamberlain clearly remembers, refereeing his first match between Bob Harris and Steve Davis at the 1983 Lada Classic.
