Pooling their resources – eight ball aces head across the ditch

They have been showing the way on the top of the south scene for many years, now Celia Bason and Caryn Robertson get a chance to take on Australia’s best eight ball pool players.

The Marlborough-based duo boarded a plane on Tuesday and few out to Rockhampton in Queensland for the 2025 Australian Eight Ball championships.

For the first time in 40 years the Aussie champs, featuring eight state sides, have been expanded to include Kiwi teams with North and South Island women’s and men’s teams participating. The Kiwis will field teams in the over-50 men’s grade, over-50 women’s section, open under-23s and open 60s.

Celia and Caryn are part of the South Island over-50 women’s combination, Celia ranked number two with Caryn as yet unranked after being called up late.

The pair have been prominent on the local scene for decades, playing in the club leagues and part of the highly-successful Seddon Shield team over many seasons.

Celia played in the Island League, against the North Island, then the national champs earning a ranking among the top 12 in the country which qualified her for the Aussie trip.

Although she did not have a ranking, when one of the originally-selected South Island team pulled out, Caryn was called up.

“She’s a great player,” said Celia, “so I persuaded her to come along.

“But I forgot to tell her that they play with a small white ball, while we play with a bigger white. That puts us behind the eight ball for a start but that’s part of the challenge.

“Anyway, we will get in some practice and I am sure she’ll have a ranking at the end of it and next year she’ll come to the South Islands and have a ranking.”

There is another Tasman connection in the South Island women’s team, with Nelson’s Gina Grimwood captaining the side and playing number one.

“She is way more up with the play that we are,” said Celia, “but it is all quite new to all of us.

“It will be a fun experience at the very least.”

Eight ball pool is experiencing a period of growth worldwide, with various competitions opening up and Celia would like to be a part of it.

She would like to repeat the Aussie adventure and maybe look at a shot at the world champs. This year they were staged in Ireland, next year they will be played in Morocco.

“I would love to do this again,” she said, “and how cool would it be to go to Morocco to play.

“It is not out of the question, if I applied myself and gave myself the time, I could maybe have a good shot at it,” she added.