Edwin Kentfield

Edwin Kentfield (11 January 1802 – 29 August 1873) also known as Jonathan Kentfield, was an English player of English billiards. He claimed the Billiards Championship in 1825 and held it uncontested until 1849.[2]

Edwin Kentfield
Born11 January 1802
Brighton, Sussex, England
Died29 August 1873
Brighton, Sussex, England[1]
Sport country England

Biography

Edwin Kentfield was born at Brighton in 1802.[3][4] In about 1815, John Carr, better known as Jack Carr, took a job as a billiard marker, a role that involved keeping the score of billiards matches. In this role, he learned how to play billiards with the use of side, which was at that time almost unknown. He successfully played challenge matches for money, to the extent that by 1825 he had backers for him to play for 100 guineas a side against any challenger.[2]

In 1825 Kentfield challenged Carr, but Carr was too ill to play, and Kentfield assumed the title of Champion, for which he was unchallenged for 24 years.[2][5]

Kentfield authored a book on billiards, which was published in 1839[6]

In 1849, John Roberts Sr sought to challenge Kentfield for the title, and when Kentfield declined to play, Roberts took the title of champion.[5][2][7]

Kentfield ran a billiards club in Brighton, which was offered for sale at auction in 1864 following his bankruptcy.[8] He died on 29 August 1873.[9][10][1]

Kentfield's highest break was 196.[5]

References
  1. "Edwin Kentfield, 1873, Brighton, Sussex, England, in England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007, database". 4 February 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023 – via FamilySearch.
  2. Everton, Clive (2012). A History of Billiards. englishbilliards.org. pp. 18–24. ISBN 978-0-9564054-5-6.
  3. "Edwin Kentfield, 11 January 1802 in England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database". 4 February 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023 – via FamilySearch.
  4. "Edwin Kentfield, Brighton, Sussex, England in England and Wales Census,1851, database". 8 November 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2023 – via FamilySearch.
  5. Ainsworth, Peter. "The Early Champions". Retrieved 15 October 2023 – via World Billiards.
  6. Edwin Kentfield (1839). The Game of Billiards: Scientifically Explained and Practically Set Forth, in a Series of Novel and Extraordinary Strokes; and Illustrated by Numerous Appropriate Diagrams. To which is Added the Rules and Regulations which Govern the Numerous Games as They are Played at the Present Day in All the Countries of Europe. Smith, Elder, & Company.
  7. "The Board of Green Cloth". The Sydney Mail. Vol. LXXXV, no. 2411. 22 January 1908. p. 27. Retrieved 15 October 2023 – via Google Books.
  8. "Notice of sale". Brighton Gazette. 25 February 1864. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. 1896. p. 10.
  10. "National Sports". Illustrated London News. 6 September 1873. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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