This cue is a facsimile of George Gray's Champion Cue. It has an ash shaft on an ebony butt with an ivory badge. There are also examples which have a snakewood butt, but these are much less common.
George Gray's Champion Cue commemorates the break of 2,196 made by the Australian boy wonder, George Gray, in a match against Cecil Harveson at the Holborn Town Hall, London, on 13-18 March 1911.
The badge on this particular cue is a little unusual because, on most cues of this type, the words "Regd" appear below the signature.
George Gray's Champion Cue was manufactured by E.J. Riley Limited, to whom George Gray was contracted. A similar cue was also made by G.W. Briggs of Harrogate.
George Gray's Champion Cue was manufactured over a long period of time, probably from 1911 until at least the beginning of the Second World War and perhaps even later.
To see trade catalogues, published by E.J. Riley Limited, advertising the George Gray Champion Cue,
