By Harrison Borthwick
FRANKSTON South resident Gary Bradshaw is preparing to take to the world stage later this year as he heads to England to represent Australia at the WPA blackball pool championships.
The tournament, which will be played at Heathrow between the 20-28 October, will be the first time Bradshaw will be representing Australia.
Bradshaw was first introduced to the game while in primary school after his dad bought a table.
He now plays four to five times a week at JD’s Pool Hall in Frankston, where he has been a member for thirty years.
“To make an Australian side is something I never thought I would do. It’s pretty incredible,” said Bradshaw.
Bradshaw qualified for the WPA championships at a tournament in Rockingham in Queensland earlier this year which had over four-hundred participants.
He was initially in the area for work but along with a mate decided to enter the competition. His team lost in the preliminary final of the tournament, but it was enough for Bradshaw to qualify.
In the meantime, Bradshaw will be working on his craft to take on the world’s best come October.
“We will do as much practice as we can. It’s just a matter of making sure, like anything, that you’re in top order when you actually go over there and play that level because if you’re not you will get found out really quickly playing against the best from all around the world,” said Bradshaw.
“I know what to expect. I’ve watched a lot of the top-level English-based pool, and those guys are amazing to watch and we’re coming up against some of those guys, so it’s going to be a tough week but it’s going to be an awesome experience travelling overseas with Australia on my back. It’s a massive opportunity.”
While representing Australia, Bradshaw is hoping to shake the reputation of pool being exclusively a game for bikies and thugs, and rather a game for everyone to enjoy.
“We’ve had many people come through our club at JD’s (pool hall) and have had people just enjoy the game. It’s a very addictive and fun game. Long-gone are the days of smoked filled bars full of drunks, it’s now a game for everyone.”
“There’s now venues right around Victoria and Australia hosting tournaments, over both summer and winter, or you could just hire a table with some mates and enjoy the game for what it is.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 8 September 2026