Hendry's prime cue is broken in flight
Seven-times World Champion's cue broken by baggage handlers
Clive Everton
Mon 1 Sep 2003 21.05 EDT First published on Mon 1 Sep 2003 21.05 EDT
The cue with which Stephen Hendry won his seven world titles has been broken by airline baggage handlers. It gives Hendry a dilemma. Changing cues can be an ordeal for the top players because no two are the same. Players can only insure their cues for face value, which is usually no more than £40. Increased airline security since September 11 has stopped players taking their cue cases into aircraft cabins. Hendry, 34, discovered the breakage on his return to Heathrow from tournaments in Hong Kong and Bangkok and now hopes that his cue doctor, Lawrie Annandale, can repair the damage. The season's first world ranking tournament, the LG Cup, is only five weeks away.
"The bottom 15 inches is broken off but the shaft is still intact," said Annandale. "I'm going to fix another butt. Stephen seems calm, but is obviously very worried and only Stephen will know if the cue plays exactly the same."
Hendry had used the cue - a gift from his parents when he was a child - throughout his professional career. He nearly lost it in 1990 when it was stolen during the Rothmans Grand Prix. It was, however, returned when a reward of £10,000 was offered.
