By Elliott West
Introduction
Mark Wildman is a player that spanned the generations in both billiards and snooker. His early career began in the 1950s when billiards was still more popular than snooker and anyone who wanted a chance of success in either had to embrace and play both games. An apprentice who cut his teeth in the British Isles Championships, held over two weeks at Burroughs and Watts, Soho Square, London, an era when there was only one television channel and few could afford to buy one of the expensive television sets at the time and the few programmes that were broadcast, were filmed often live and in black and white. An era where billiards and snooker were played in hazy rooms and cue sports were considered to be at the bottom of the pecking order for transmission. Both were games and played for pleasure rather than monetary reward.
A Different Era
Born in 1936, Mark Wildman was a very successful junior player in both billiards and snooker, becoming the British Under-16 champion in billiards in 1951 and the British Under-19 victor in 1952 and 1953. In snooker, he was triumphant, becoming British Boys’ champion in 1954. An age where if you were lucky enough to compete in a tournament, your expenses were paid and got to stay at plush venues such as the Cora Hotel in Upper Woburn Place in North-West London, a venue that could seat an audience of 125 but as soon as you lost, were sent packing on the next steam train home.
Wildman was one of the lucky ones and managed to sustain the gruelling week and got to rub shoulders with Rex Williams, Cliff Wilson, Clive Everton, Ray Edmonds, John Virgo and Marcus Owen. These players were overseen by great referees such as Frank Collins, the resident referee, a man who dressed in Edwardian style with a high collar and had a moustache. Someone who looked fierce, despite being barely five foot tall and 70 years old. Frank had refereed them all, including Walter Lindrum and Tom Reece. A character who held the record for a one-handed break made in 1902.
Later Career
In 1968, Mark won the English Amateur Billiards Championship, defeating Clive Everton 2,652 – 2,540 in the final. However, in terms of snooker, he turned professional relatively late in his career in 1979, having made his first televised century break on ATV in November 1960, managing a 107 break. His career as a professional didn’t really bring much success and his best performances were was probably when he nearly beat Terry Griffiths in the first round of the 1984 World Championship, losing 10-8 and reaching the semi-finals of the 1984 Classic. A tournament that was won by Steve Davis that year. Wildman did reach a high in the rankings of number 24 in the 1983-1984 season and attained his highest break of 115 in the UK Championship.
However, Wildman did do exceptionally well in billiards in his latter years. He was runner-up in the World Billiards Championship in 1980, losing to Fred Davis 2,064 -3,037, and to Rex Williams in 1982 1,785 – 3,000. He did however win the tournament in 1984, defeating Eddie Charlton 1,045 – 1,012.
After putting away his cue, Wildman turned to commentary and was a major figure in the ITV team for their snooker broadcasts during the 1980s and 1990s. He also later worked for Sky Sports and Eurosport for their coverage of the International Pool Tour.
Mark was also a very accomplished coach, a former coach to Shaun Murphy and a coach and mentor to many billiards players such as former champions, Matthew Sutton and Phillip Welham. He also ran a junior academy at Raunds which produced three national Junior Billiards Champions in a five year period. Wildman is now 85 years old and still widely regarded in both sports.
