By Elliott West
“My father had a club in London [the Midland Billiards Club] with seven tables and my interest came from watching the men play from quite a young age, I used to go into the club when I was a youngster and I was always quite fascinated by it”. (Rita Holmes)
Introduction
One of the greats in the history of women’s snooker has to be Rita Holmes. Holmes who won the world snooker title four times (1953, 1957, 1958 and 1963), became champion in a different era of snooker, where sadly the achievements that women made in sport and it is only in recent years that we have really started celebrating these pioneers of the sport. In a time where snooker was not a widely recognised entity and considered more of a parlour game, played behind closed doors with few experiencing its magical qualities and the true skill needed to play it at the highest level.
The Glory Days
Now 86, Rita should be very proud of her efforts in snooker and how she helped shape the modern game. Like so many players, you have to go back to her childhood to fully understand why this future champion decided to pick up a snooker cue and play. It all started with her father, a man who owned the Midlands Billiard Club in London. A club that housed seven snooker tables and somewhere where Rita was taken on numerous occasions. Here she sat and watched in fascination as the various people filed in and out to play snooker do a few hours. It was a man’s world but Rita wasn’t phased by it. She had the snooker bug and wanted to play.
It wasn’t until she was 19 and started playing snooker properly that her father, who recognised that his daughter had natural talent, sat Rita down and asked her if she wanted to be coached. She agreed and was introduced to Sydney Lee. Sydney, a professional player at the time set Holmes to work and after 11 months of practice, suggested she enter the British Championship in 1953. A tournament that she won on her first attempt.
This first successful bite at the cherry came in hallowed surroundings. Held at Burroughs Hall in Soho Square, London, the whole tournament was played on one table, a venue that was complemented with a throng of cinema-style tip-up seating in a tiered formation. A formidable achievement for a player who already had a highest break of 74.
Men Only
Holmes had to literally sneak around to practice with snooker clubs at the time having a men-only policy and most of the women that did play at the time, were often wealthy with their own tables. Fortunately with access to her father’s club. It was here that got to practice against men, the likes of Joe and Fred Davis but she still wasn’t able to play men in competitions.
However, despite this cruel discriminatory red tape, Holmes managed to be introduced to the snooker stars of the day. One such occasion is a ball at the Park Lane Hotel where Jackie Rea, Horace Lindrum and the Davis brothers were present. An upmarket affair where Rita was the only woman invited.
Holmes went from strength to strength, finishing the decade by reaching the final of the British Championship on ten occasions and successful in four of them. It was at this stage that Rita decided to go out on a high and put her cue away in its case. Instead, she set up two dance academies, teaching over 170 students and producing her own musicals every year.
Return to the Baize
After treatment for a persistent back problem, Rita returned to snooker and took part in the WWS event at the 2006 British Open in Derby. A tournament where she would reach the quarter-finals defeating Laura Alves 3-0 before losing to Suzie Opacic 2-4. A tournament that she remembers with fond memories:
“After my therapist was able to heal my back problems I said that I used to play snooker and wondered if I could play again,” continued Holmes. I found my cue after so many years and found that I could play, so I spoke with Mandy Fisher and explained who I was. She knew about me and said that there was a women’s circuit and so I went back to play and I held my own quite well for 73, I was doing alright!”
Holmes went on to enter the 2007 World Championship in Cambridge after having some coaching from Dominic Dale. However seven days before she was due to play, disaster struck and Rita suffered a stroke. Undeterred, she still decided to play, perhaps a foolish decision, as her eyesight had been hampered by the recent stroke. A feat that was brave but caused her to lose her confidence and she never played again.
Life after Snooker
Rita Holmes has continued to have a massive interest in snooker and struck up a close friendship with Dominic Dale, sharing coaching tips and a love of memorabilia. They would often go out for a meal together and got on like a house on fire. Despite her advancing years, Homes still doesn’t rule out a comeback to the green baize, leaving us with this parting thought :
“Never say never – once you have played you keep in touch with people and it is good!”
Rita Holmes
