About the PanAm Cup
The PanAm Cup (formerly Americas' Cup) and Vimy Ridge English Billiards Pro/AM tournament came about as a result of several members from the Winnipeg Veteran's English Billiards League getting together and wanting to hold a World Championship event.
It started in 2009 when Fraser Durham went across the pond to compete in the Jersey Open Billiards championship. Although he did not fair well, a lot was learned and discussions started. In 2010 Fraser and Rick Kendall went back to Jersey to compete once again. As the Lockwood Tournament Finalists, they were sponsored.
At that second trip, it was suggested our league try to hold an international tournament and bring top players to Winnipeg to compete for prize money, fellowship and coaching. In 2012 planning started for the first tournament, called the Americas’ Cup & Vimy Ridge to be held in 2013 at the Manitoba Club in Winnipeg, MB.
After several more trips made by Rick, Fraser, later on Al Senkiw, Greg Harder, Jon Miller, Don Senkiw and Dave Blacklaw joined them. Canada was now on the international Billiards map.
With only 6 months to put together a venue, prize money, our committee gathered several sponsors, held a social evening and other events. Hard to believe that in this short period of time we were able to gather the required prize pool money, venue fees etc. for the first ever Americas' Cup and Vimy Ridge Pro/AM tournament August 23rd thru August 29th at the historic Manitoba Club.
This inaugural event was a huge international success and future events and planning started for the 2015 event.
As it will be our leagues 100th anniversary in 2021, the committee is also entertaining hosting the World Championships in Winnipeg.
We also hold a couple of records for an International tournament
· Kevin Augusta was the first ever Canadian player to have a break of 100 or more in a sanctioned International match
· Dhruv Sitwalla of India was the first player ever to have a break of 400uf in a 400up match
From not being known in the billiards world to now, in 2019 holding the largest cash prize tournament, outside of the Worlds