Annual Stewart Pool Tournament keeps alive memory of its founder
Hot Shots Billiards owner Joe Hull, left, hosted the Stewart Thanksgiving Pool Tournament for the third year in a row. The tournament was orginally started by John Stewart, who formerly owned The Rock in Marble Rock where the tourney first took place. This year’s tourney was formally dedicated to Stewart, who died over the summer. Pictured with Hull is Stewart’s surviving son, Justin Stewart
By John Burbridge | sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — If you can’t beat them … or have hard time beating them … become a part of their family.
That’s how Joe Hull got to know the Stewarts.
“I was on a pool team, and Justin (Stewart) was on another team that we would always face in leagues and tournaments,” Hull said. “They were one of our toughest rivals, and Justin was their top player.
“When their team disbanded, I asked Justin to come on our team. And we’ve played together ever since.”
Hull now considers Stewart as one of his best friends. He also got to know several of Stewart’s family members, in particular his parents John and Betty Stewart.
“They were owners of The Rock in Marble Rock,” Hull said. “That’s where John started an annual Thanksgiving pool tournament held the days before and after Thanksgiving.”
The tournament proved to be popular, but when The Rock closed down in 2008, the holiday event discontinued.
When Hull opened up Hot Shots Billiards in fall of 2014, he asked John Stewart if he could re-boot the tourney with his blessing. He agreed.
“We posted on our Facebook page ‘It’s Back!’,” Hull said.
This past tournament was the third hosted by Hot Shots.
“But we decided to formally dedicate this one to John,” Hull said of the elder Stewart, who died unexpectedly this past summer.
“He was just a great guy,” Hull said. “When he heard I was opening this place up, he was there to assist me in any way he could.
“Obviously, I didn’t know him as well as Justin or (Justin’s brother) Jesse, but the last time I saw him was in Hy-Vee and we stood in the aisle for 45 minutes to an hour talking. People constantly had to go around us. We were like two old ladies.”
For this past tournament, you had to really ‘hustle’ to reserve a spot.
“For 8-Ball and 9-Ball, we could only take 32 entries,” Hull said. “This morning (Wednesday), I had about 45 messages on my phone to get in but the spots were already filled.”
Hull — having to manage employees, tend bar, update the brackets, and troubleshoot … sometimes at the same time, couldn’t participate in Wednesday’s 8-ball and Friday’s 9-ball tournaments, but found time to place first with Ryan Miller to win Saturday’s 8-Ball Doubles tournament.
Justin Stewart placed third in 8-Ball Doubles with Ky Knapp.
“I won the tournament’s traveling plaque the last time the tournament was held at my dad’s bar,” Stewart said. “I still have it. Maybe we can create another traveling plaque.”
Other champions included Nick Marsolek in 8-Ball and Todd Ransom in 9-Ball.
Denny Ungs was drawn for the 10-Ball Break and Run challenge, and managed to run the complete rack for the $110 prize.
Stewart Thanksgiving Tournament
Nov. 23, 25, 26
At Hot Shots Billiards
8 Ball Results
1st — Nick Marsolek
2nd — Joe Carroll
3rd — Todd Ransom
4th — Clint Benson
5/6th — Chuck Knapp/Jeff Uhlenhake
9 Ball Results
1st — Todd Ransom
2nd — Borg
3rd — Bryan Brandau
4th — Ky Knapp
5/6th — George Williams/Tracy Ingham
8 Ball Doubles Results
1st — Joe Hull & Ryan Miller
2nd — Alan & Curtis Schares
3rd — Justin Stewart & Ky Knapp
4th — Jake Mallo & Shane Uker
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