Agnes Kimura Q&A

New Zealand’s Agnes Kimura has played a key role in the development of women’s snooker in her home country, encouraging new players to take up the sport and helping to organise competitions.

We caught up with her ahead of this year’s Australian Women’s Snooker Open to reflect on her recent trip to China to compete at this year’s World Championship and to look ahead to the future…

Hi Agnes, it was great to see you compete at this year’s World Women’s Snooker Championship alongside your fellow Kiwis Heihera Rehu-Brown and Rita Toamau. How did you find the experience both on and off the table?

The opening was amazing, everyone all over the world was so friendly, even with a language barrier it was easy to get a smile out of nearly everyone, such friendly people and easy to get on with. The volunteers were such great help at the hotel and playing venue, just helpful with everything till the end. It was overwhelming at first when walking from players room to designated table to play, as you only see that on TV at home, and don’t really picture yourself on the screen.

I learnt a lot on how to get by in China compared to our country. I had good reason and intentions on my attendence to China this year, playing was a bonus for me. And as always, to me even if I have a great relationship with these ladies, Im greatful and appreciate them all, and will always look forward to seeing them all again.

I loved everything about attending this event, and can’t wait to hopefully bring more kiwis next year. I definitely am grateful for Matt, Diana and of course our wonderful president Mandy Fisher, for what you continue to do for our women’s sport which keeps it alive.

Taking things back to the beginning, how did you first become interested in snooker?

My partner used to play snooker, and I would go watch him. Then I ended up working in a snooker hall around 1999/2000.

I didn’t know how to play, I was watching everyone including the New Zealand coach Stan Bunn. He had all the top players like Chris McBreen, Daniel Haenga, Farnsworth brothers, Richard Muller and David Bailey just to name a few, who would come into the cue rooms. I didn’t know them at first, but I was working in the snooker rooms and watched them a lot, saw what they were doing.

I watched Pot Black when I was younger and I wasn’t interested; I didn’t understand the repetitiveness of putting balls back. But now I wish that I had because I absolutely love it.

My partner got coaching from Mr Bunn, and I thought I wouldn’t mind having a go. My boss Mr Bunn, the New Zealand coach, said to hop on a table, gave me some pointers and told me to do that every morning when I was at work.

I was never good enough to play these top guys, but watched them play for many hours, all day and sometimes night games. I started refereeing games to learn. Next minute I wanted to play and that’s how I got involved.

Who are your snooker role models?

I’ve always loved Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan. Stephen Hendry was my favourite when I started but then he stopped playing, my idol became Ronnie O’Sullivan admired how he played.

Our son Mario Hildred absolutely loves Jimmy White and my partner loves Judd Trump. Then along comes Zhao Xintong!

In terms of your own career, how important are WWS events like the Australian Open to you?

I think they are really important. I’m trying to build more interest with our women in New Zealand and it is succeeding. I count ourselves lucky to have such an event so close to our country, a world ranked event, being able to rub shoulders with international players, and some of the best players in the world, gaining experience. This is the closest we will get to attend a world event for the experience, so I fully encourage attending WWS Australian Women’s Open Snooker.

It’s definitely important to be part of the world tour and have New Zealand on the map. You used to have to fly to the other side of the world to learn and gain experience, now you just need to fly across the ditch, hop skip & jump. I keep coming and I keep learning every time. Here you can experience how it is and if you want to be part of it, that’s your choice.

I know there are a handful of New Zealand ladies able to do 40 breaks, but we just aren’t consistent enough. But why would you not come?

You are lucky to be here, it’s nice watching international players, but to play them is something else, a racing heart beat, to a new friendship, to playing someone you admire on the tv ending with a smile and the shaking of hands.

The social side of these events is clearly a big thing to the players – how important is this to you?

That plays a big part because without your involvement with everyone you are sort of blocking yourself out, and I’m the total opposite. When us ladies get together, we like to involve everybody and it’s just the ones who don’t want to be involved which I totally respect & understand. They might not want to be involved with groups of people, they may need to keep focused, but we just like to be able to not leave anyone out.

I’m always in touch with Carlie [Tait] a lot and wanting to do stuff with the girls, get together and we always do.

Who are your biggest friends on the circuit?

I’m friends with all of them, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Alice Wu, Jessica Woods & Carlie Tait. What I like to do is to get to know the ladies individually because everyone is different and you know how to approach them or show other people how to approach individuals.

I stopped playing for about seven years because the ladies game had died, the numbers had gone. Then I played a bit of pool, but I didn’t enjoy it so I was wondering why I played it.

Then the new Board asked if I would go back on there and I said yes and I have loved it ever since. I would do anything to promote the sport, I have travelled away at my own expense to promote the sport many times, but I am very greatful on occasions for the support from Toi Foundation, 24/7 Security, AW147, Mihis Place, Mitre 10 Mega New Plymouth, BOPBSA, ABSA, NZBSA, and all my family & good friends that support me on my journey.

I have always run the New Zealand Women’s Snooker Facebook page to promote women’s snooker, even when I wasn’t playing or on the Board. I just wanted people to know what is going on with women’s snooker.

It started off at about four female players, grew to 8-12 and is now 20+. We have about 56 tournaments in general throughout the year for NZBSA. For women’s we have 6/7 tournaments a year which I’ve added womens billiards this year, and then I come here [Australia] for the Asia-Pacific and WWS Australian Women’s Open.

When I go to tournaments, I try to let the ladies know that it’s ok to learn from playing against the men. You only get better playing the men’s as well which is good for them. People say they are going to beat us, but it’s all apart of learning. You don’t know, and you are going to learn either way. Lastly a huge thank you to Mr Chris Maltby who has been a huge influence to both myself and our son Mario Hildred with our snooker.

Thank you to Agnes for her time and we look forward to seeing her back on the baize soon in Sydney for the Australian Women’s Snooker Open!

Enter online via the ABSC website.