MOUNT Gambier’s Benni Rosman will don the Australian colours when she takes to the world stage this November to compete in the Blackball Nations Cup.
Rosman is relatively new to the sport, which is closely aligned to eight-ball, but has played the latter discipline competitively for over a decade in both state and national titles.
The opportunity arose after she was invited to represent South Australia in the Blackball nationals earlier this year.
“I have been to nationals for eight-ball and I have played in the state carnival for probably more than 10 years for Mount Gambier,” Rosman said.
“They did not really have a state team as such for blackball, so they invited me because they knew I was a good eight-ball player.
“It is a pretty new game, so I did not really know the rules too well, but it is still a cue sport and you still have to pot balls.”
Rosman said she did not expect too much from the event and treated it as a learning experience.
Her aim heading into the nationals was to have a go and hopefully be in a good place to try and make the Australian team next year for the world championships which are to be hosted by Australia in Geelong.
However, after a few games to adjust to the rules, Rosman found she enjoyed the game and was not too bad at it either.
“I went hoping to be competitive, but being new to the Blackball rules I did not ever expect to qualify for the Australian team,” she said.
“The rules of Blackball really complement my way of playing and it felt very natural after a few games.
“It is a bit more aggressive than eight-ball and it is probably a bit more spectator friendly.
“It is more of an attacking game and is a bit more exciting to watch.”
Rosman impressed and was selected in one of two Australian women’s teams which will make the trip to Cyprus, a Mediterranean island, for the event held from November 10 to 17.
“I never thought I would get to represent Australia in anything,” she said.
“It is pretty awesome and a bit of an honour.”
The competition will be tough with players having to back up constant games across the 10-day competition.
“We will probably go a week early just to get over the jetlag,” Rosmann said.
“They are really long days – you start at 8am in the morning and then finish at 8pm at night, it is 10 days solid, so it is quite a mental marathon.
“We only get one rest day I think in the middle of it.”
Rosman said she is excited for the opportunity and can not wait to test herself against the world’s best.
Her love for cue sports is clear and she said it has become an addiction, which is reflected by her long involvement.
“I play 2-3 nights a week and then I am still happy to pick up a cue and play on the weekends with friends – you get addicted to it,” Rosmann said.
“Cue sports are a fantastic way of being able to be part of the community.
“Players come from all walks of life and vary from teenagers right through to 70-year-olds.”
