Right on cue

Don’t be deceived by the innocence of youth – this family of baby-faced pool sharks has a real bite to their game that can turn the tables on unsuspecting opponents.

By Raelee Tuckerman - Photography by Leon Schoots

Teenager Joseph Evans has gone from potting balls for fun in a country pub, to preparing to take on the world’s best junior exponents on the blackball tables of France. The 17-year-old and his sisters caught a lucky break when their parents bought the Courthouse Hotel in Eaglehawk in mid-2014 – they might never have discovered their talent with a pool cue otherwise. The family had their own pool table at home in Neilborough, but it was of little interest to the young trio before they started hanging out in the back room of the cream brick pub on Sailors Gully Road. “While mum and dad ran the pub, we kids were just chilling and playing pool,” recalls Joseph, now one of the nation’s most promising juniors in the games of blackball and eightball. “I was about eight when I started, and I was beating a lot of the adults by the time I was 12.” Sisters Scarlett, 14, and Amelia, 12, watched their older brother hone his skills and several years ago they, too, grabbed a cue and joined in. “Amelia literally couldn’t reach the top of the table at first,” laughs mum Kathy Howard. “But she somehow tiptoed up and leaned over and used her own special method to hit the balls. Most kids that age would have torn holes in the cloth, but she managed to play and avoid that.”

In April, all three Evans children represented Victoria at the Australian Blackball Junior National Championships in Queensland. Joseph placed fifth overall in the under-18 division, which earned him a spot in the Australian squad for the World Championships in Albi, France, in October. He will contest the singles and team events. The girls also performed admirably, with Amelia knocking on the door of the under-15 national team and Scarlett accepting the challenge of stepping up an age group to even out the numbers. “It was difficult, but I came away a better player for the experience,” she says. It’s a tough journey for juniors in what is traditionally a very adult sport. There are no underage competitions for youngsters anywhere in Victoria, except the annual state team try-outs. Events in Geelong, Melbourne and Albury allow juniors to enter, but they must play in open divisions against opponents who could be decades older and more experienced. Locally, Joseph has been part of a Courthouse team playing in the Bendigo Eight Ball Association’s Monday night competition since he was 10 years old, and has won three grand finals with them. “Though we had the table at home, the kids hadn’t really picked up a cue stick very often until we got to the pub,” says Kathy. “Joseph would watch everyone else there playing and when he got into it, he seemed to be a natural. Everyone encouraged him and eventually, they allowed him into the pub circuit team.

“He’s always been the youngest player and his stats were as good as some of the top men right from the beginning. They probably thought they’d have to take it easy on him, but they soon learned not to. It’s not much fun being beaten by a child!” For the uninitiated, blackball and eightball are both pool variations where players aim to pocket the seven balls from their chosen group (reds or yellows), before sinking the black. Rules differ slightly between the games. Joseph aims to become a professional pool player and recently took a giant step towards that goal when he was invited to the Pockets Junior Pro Series – run alongside Australia’s first major professional pool series. It features eight of the best senior and junior players in the country and he earned his call-up to fill in during one of the rounds. He hopes to secure a permanent place in the series next year. The Evans kids say the secret to success on the pool table is good vision, strong arms, deft hand-eye coordination, concentration and practice, practice, practice. The family sold their pub at the end of 2019, so now the table at home gets a regular workout. “Shots I miss in games, I’ll try to replicate at home until I get them in,” says Joseph, “and there’s lots of drills you can practise as well.” “We practise almost every day,” adds Scarlett. “Before school, after school, even before coming for this interview. Whenever Joseph is not on the table, we girls are usually playing.”

Amelia chimes in: “It’s quite a fascinating game – it’s fun figuring out which pockets to pot the ball in, and the hardest thing for me is getting my angles on the balls correct.” The whole family will travel to France to watch Joseph take on the world, including dad Ross who has played a huge role in his son’s development. “I have three inspirations,” Joseph says. “My dad, because he got me into pool originally and taught me so much. He’s always played Monday night pub rules. Then Nick Howie from Bendigo, who was top 16 in Victoria and has had a big influence on me. And thirdly, my favourite pro player Justin Sajich from Western Australia, who plays in the Pockets Pro Series. He’s just so good.” Joseph is seeking sponsors ahead of the World Blackball Championships, because juniors have to self-fund their trip. Any contributions would be gratefully received, with an opportunity to have their corporate logo featured on his Australian uniform for those donating $500-plus. The family is also keen to recruit other young pool players to join in formal competitions. “They’re always trying to recruit more juniors,” says Kathy. “There could be some real superstars out there, but they just may not realise the opportunity is there for them.” To support Joseph in his quest to play at the world titles, or for more information on how juniors can become involved, contact Kathy Howard on 0401 567 944.