 Ramba uchiverenga ndima iyi - Pashure pokukunda kwake mumakwikwi enyika, Thorburn akatenga imba muEngland aine chinangwa chokupedza nguva yakawanda muBritain. Akakunda Canadian Open kwegore rechitatu rakatevedzana muna 1980, achikunda Griffiths 1710 mufainari, uye aive chikamu cheCanada Team iyo yakasvika kumagumo e1980 World Challenge Cup, kwavakarasikirwa ne58 kuWales. Akatungamirira Higgins 51 muhafu yekupedzisira ye1981 Masters, asi akarasikirwa nemutambo 56. Pa 1981 World Championship, semutambi anodzivirira, akasvika kuma semi-fainari kwaakarasikirwa 1016 kuna Steve Davis. Pashure pokurasikirwa ne410 kuna Jimmy White mumutambo wokutanga we1982 World Snooker ChampionshipThorburn akasarudza kudzokera kuCanada. Thorburn akanga ari nhamba mbiri mu a hrefSnooker20world20rankings201980198119801981 world rankingsa, uye akasvika nhamba imwe mu a hrefSnooker20world20rankings201981198219811982 rankingsa. Akakunda 1983 Masters, achidzoka kubva 25 shure neCharlton kuti akunde 65 mu semi-fainari, uye kukunda Ray Reardon 97 mufainari. 