COFFEE as good as any Lygon Street cafe and several full-sized billiards tables.
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What more could a world champion want?
Warrnambool is proving the perfect training base for Anna Lynch - the reigning World Women's Billiards Champion - as she waits for travel exemption to join her partner in the United Kingdom.
Lynch, one of the sport's global superstars, is based in Melbourne but spent much of Victoria's COVID-19 lockdown with immediate family in Warrnambool.
The music teacher, an accomplished concert pianist, held Zoom lessons to engage students and was enjoying the sea-change to the south-west.
There was only one issue. Lynch scoured the region for competition-sized tables but couldn't find anywhere to practice her beloved sport - until the Warrnambool Senior Citizens Club popped up.
In rooms attached to the Archie Graham Centre on Timor Street, Lynch found three regulation-size tables perfect for training and a small contingent of dedicated players.
"I love it. It's a gorgeous town," she said.
"You've got Melbourne quality coffee and full-sized tables so it's got the tick from me."
You've got Melbourne quality coffee and full-sized tables so it's got the tick from me.
- Anna Lynch
Lynch said her practice sessions typically covered a number of bases.
"Typically, I practice snooker first. It just gets my potting arm going," she said.
"It makes sure I'm really striking the ball in a positive manner.
"I like to then work on a few things that aren't my strengths. If I'm feeling like I have a weakness in my game, I'll try to turn that around. Next time that shot comes up, you're not thinking 'oh no, I'm going to miss that'.
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"I'm just trying to turn every weakness, every negative, into a positive."
Billiards has roots tracing back to pre-1800s England.
Unlike pool or snooker, there are just three balls in billiards. There is a separate cue ball for each player - one of them white and the other yellow - and a red ball.
The aim is to score points through different shots, like potting the red ball or the player's own cue ball after it strikes another.
Cannoning the red ball into the opposition cue ball is another way to score.
Lynch, who hopes to return to competitive billiards as soon as possible post-pandemic, urged Warrnamboolians to take up the sport.
"I don't know of any other full-sized tables. t'd be great to get a competition going here," she said.
Players of all ages are welcome to play or try the sport. Billiards take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Archie Graham Centre.
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