BREAKING his own records is nothing new for Patrick Wallace.
During a competitive snooker career that has spanned 41 years, 16 as a professional, the Dungannon man has proved his consistency and longevity time and time again.
Last week, at the age of 55, he secured his ninth Northern Ireland amateur title, beating Raymond Fry from the host club 10-7 in the final at the Antrim Sports Club.
For context, the first of those nine titles came way back in 1993. The seventh, in 2015, which was the fourth leg of a five-in-a-row streak, surpassed the six won by Jack McNally between 1931 and 1946.
Only three players have won four each – Jim Stevenson between 1951 and 1955; Dessie Anderson between 1961 and 1969; and, more recently, Jordan Brown between 2008 and 2018.
‘‘Lots of people have been saying since Sunday that they didn’t realise it was so long since my last, but I certainly knew how long it was.
— Patrick Wallace
Wallace is way out on his own, though, and only a fool or a madman would bet against him reaching double figures before he puts the cue away for good.
‘‘It’s extremely satisfying and makes me so proud,’’ he says.
‘‘Lots of people have been saying since Sunday that they didn’t realise it was so long since my last, but I certainly knew how long it was.
‘‘In saying that, since 2016 I have been there or thereabouts most years and just either lost close games or came up against somebody playing really well, so I never gave up hope that I could win another.
‘‘It’s even more special because it’s so hard to even win one, never mind nine.
‘‘When I think of some of the great players down the years who haven’t won one – the likes of Joe Swail, Kieran Erwin, Andy Sharpe, and Raymond (Fry) – the enormity of what I’ve achieved hits home even more.’’
Last week’s success was also Wallace’s third consecutive NIBSA ranking title victory after wins in events five (Dalys in Derry) and six (Antrim Sports Club) of the seven-event calendar for 2024-25. That run of form has yet again propelled him to the top of the ranking list.
It’s also the second year in a row that he has won three ranking titles, a notable achievement on an increasingly thriving and competitive local circuit full of promising talents much younger and with more scope to improve.
‘‘It’s funny how things can turn around. I went two years without winning a tournament from 2021 to 2023, but my game needed a few technical adjustments and I worked a bit with Darren Oldroyd, a coach at the Drumaness club, and then won three in a pretty short space of time.
‘‘Then, this season, I didn’t have a great first half but in the last few months I really found form and my confidence really grew.’’
NIBSA number two Fry had sent out a warning to Wallace in his 6-2 semi-final win over club-mate and two-times champion Declan Lavery that he was ready to break his title duck, but Wallace rose to the challenge in familiar style. Something that is hugely satisfying for him.
‘‘Raymond had played so well in his semi against Declan that it shook me up a bit and helped me focus. He scored really heavily and fell short on a 147 attempt on the 15th black, so I knew he was playing really well, and that I had to raise my game just to compete with him
‘‘It was a great game to be involved in and the conditions were top class. I must admit that when it went from 9-4 to 9-7 I was feeling it. Luckily, though, I got over the line.’’
The same day that Wallace was making more history, a fellow Tyrone man, Coalisland’s Fergal Quinn (25), was achieving a lifetime dream by winning a two-year card to the professional Main Tour and Wallace was delighted to be part of a memorable double.
‘‘It’s fantastic for Fergal,’’ admits Wallace.
‘‘I’m delighted he will get a crack at the professional game. He spoke to me the day after his win (at Q School) and he said some really nice words about how much he learned a lot from playing me. That’s nice to hear and I hope he can get that little bit of luck that we all need in the game to survive.’’
