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Post by barbelman on Mar 19, 2014 9:16:11 GMT
hi dave, can you recommend somewhere in colchester that has decent beer and a table? thought might as well get some extra practise in! thankls Chris The only pub with a table on the bar billiards map is the Foresters Arms, Castle Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 1UW but there is no guarantee the table is still there..... Tony
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Post by chrishaynes (R.I.P.) on Mar 19, 2014 23:29:38 GMT
ok. we'l have a look and see, if not, any others nearby? not too far in cab in other words, cant waste beer tokens! ha ha
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2014 23:58:28 GMT
ok. we'l have a look and see, if not, any others nearby? not too far in cab in other words, cant waste beer tokens! ha ha Hi Chris, If you travel SW towards Maldon (7 miles away) you have (not quite as far) a choice of the Swan (Little Totham) or the Chequers (Goldhangar) - I believe there is a bus service to both. For the nearest League venue, in the direction of Sudbury, you have the Thatchers Arms (Mount Bures) although I'm not really surprised that Barbelman couldn't bring himself to say that one ! Regards, tommo
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 20, 2014 0:11:08 GMT
There will be 8 tables at The Grover & Allen in Sudbury on the Friday night but that's a good £25 each way in a cab from Colchester but you coulld always get the train just check you get the right time train from Colchester to Marks Tey or you could end waiting at the station for an hour and there is naff all there apart from a cold waiting room. When we played at the Thatchers earlier this year the beer was OK-ish but they had some nice chilli nuts, I think it could be more of a food pub at the weekends as its in the middle of nowhere so you could end up fighting for space with diners so it may be a good idea to ring the pub and ask if you are thinking about going
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Post by Chris_Sav on Mar 20, 2014 8:22:56 GMT
There will be 8 tables at The Grover & Allen in Sudbury on the Friday night
And Sav doing his AEBBA duty by faithfully standing guard over our precious tables on Friday evening in a busy pub, things I have to do for bar-billiards . Might need the trolley to get me back to the B&B after
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Post by barbelman on Mar 20, 2014 8:47:23 GMT
There will be 8 tables at The Grover & Allen in Sudbury on the Friday night
And Sav doing his AEBBA duty by faithfully standing guard over our precious tables on Friday evening in a busy pub, things I have to do for bar-billiards . Might need the trolley to get me back to the B&B after
We are in awe of the sacrifices you have to make for bar billiards - having to stay in the pub all night! Whatever next! PS see you there
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2014 9:28:04 GMT
Better not leave the mushrooms out overnight: they grow in the dark ! LOL
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 20, 2014 10:47:26 GMT
There will be 8 tables at The Grover & Allen in Sudbury on the Friday night
And Sav doing his AEBBA duty by faithfully standing guard over our precious tables on Friday evening in a busy pub, things I have to do for bar-billiards . Might need the trolley to get me back to the B&B after
Right, we have managed to find three mugs, I mean volunteers to stay at the pub Friday night to guard the tables. icelands is just down the road from the pub, it'll be worth a pound to get a trolley and see how far we can get pushing Sav back to the B&B, it's quite bumpy as the roads date back to the times of horse and carts
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 23, 2014 10:09:11 GMT
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curtd
Distinguished Member
Posts: 616
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Post by curtd on Mar 23, 2014 10:10:31 GMT
Congratulations to Nigel Senior on winning the 4-pin Open yesterday .
I had a great day myself reaching the final trying to defend my title but Nigel was to strong and deserved the win.
Well done to Chris Saville on winning the plate.
Thanks to all the organisers of this event and let's look forward to 2015 ??
Curt
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 23, 2014 10:14:47 GMT
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 23, 2014 10:25:14 GMT
A BIG thank you to everyone that came along and Congratulations go to Nigel Senior on winning the main Competition and Chris Saville for taking the plate. I hope everyone had a good day and on behalf of everyone I send out a huge thank you to Jeremy Fry M.D. of our generous sponsors SPECFLUE, I don't know the final figure for the money collected for Suffolk Family Carers, but it was well over £500 Thanks again Dave
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2014 12:28:14 GMT
A most enjoyable and memorable day.....a great achievement by the Sudbury League in their first go at running a national tournament. The venue was perfect for the occasion, a reasonably priced menu, everything you needed at your fingertips.
I thought the group stages part worked really well, and it was a nice touch from the Admin Desk in projecting the progressive draw onto a flatscreen TV. The competition was able to run to schedule, and getting scorers wasn't a problem.
Congratulations go to Nigel on his triumph and to beaten finalist Curt who has managed a brace of East Anglian trophies. Both players masters of the ability to change their game according to required circumstances.
Some great performances on the day came also from....... - Sudbury's own Luke Cole-Watts, Semi-Finalist this year and only narrowly beaten by Nigel......Luke would probably be a force if ever he turned his hand to 3-Pin. - The other Semi-finalist being Colin Southouse who took my trousers down in the quarter-final to the tune of 4k and in fact scored high throughout the day. (Memo to self: learn the Eastbourne break in time for next year) - Plate winner Sav, victorious over Milko in the semifinal, and who kindly donated his prize money back to the charitable cause; - Plate runner-up Nathan Mitchell, another youngster from Sudbury, who denied Chrissie Newson a place in the final only on the last ball.
(We had a good run up there in the car, and can recommend to anyone coming up from the south, stay on the A12 almost as far as Colchester and then turn off on the B1508 through Bures. Coming back we stuck to the main roads via Braintree and Chelmsford and it was horrible, too many roundabouts and diversions, and it added half an hour to the journey).
Thanks once again to Dave Lillee, Chris Cass and the rest of the organising body, and to Sav and Gill and whoever else helped with delivery/setting up/dismantling/retrieval of the tables......See you all again in 2015 (back in Sudbury?) hopefully.
tommo & Margo
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Post by Chris_Sav on Mar 23, 2014 14:04:43 GMT
Well done to the Sudbury organisers, a very social weekend!
Took me a few games to get used to the touch shots on the break but I improved after the groups (couldn't have got worse!)
Only tinged with sadness for me over some petty vandalism to my trailer forcing entry when it wasn't locked up, being empty. A couple of the cable eyes have been ripped out of the tarp with resulting rips and damage to the tarp itself, trying tp find a repairer. A long long day, getting home at 0125hrs and up today at 0730 for a club motor-cycle run.
Well done to Nigel who stuck a 2k break past me from 1k down to qualify in the final game of the group. Punchline was we both thought he had fouled when the ball returned over the baulk line at the end of his break, however four pin baulk line is where the black stuff starts!
Sav
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Post by lewisstrat26 on Mar 23, 2014 14:39:22 GMT
Really enjoyable tournament, definitely giving it another go next year
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 23, 2014 16:54:39 GMT
OK I think my head is finally getting back into gear after an amazing weekend.
It was great the hear so much positive feedback on the day and it's nice to read the same on here.
Our committee worked hard planning the day and we think it paid off, although on the day we would of fell to pieces if it hadn't been to the dedication of Sarah, who sat at the admin desk all day and night.
We think the group stages worked perfect and made things a little more interesting and also made getting scorers a little easier and on that note it was noticed that everyone chipped in with scoring games and that was certainly appreciated by all.
I don't think there were any real problems with people grasping our rules, I know there was a little confusion in the game between Sav and Nigel re the baulk line, but that was sorted in seconds and didn't result in anyone coming to blows. I do remember while standing waiting for Tommo to come off the table in our game I had plenty of time to look around and on a few of occasions i was shouting "Red Ball" at players on other tables, indeed I even had to do it to one of the Suffolk Players,Steve Hale who just likes to play so dam quick. One of these days I'm going to stick the ferrule back on his cue with super glue.
The venue worked well, maybe a little compact at times but there were plenty of viewing areas which also drew in some members of the general public who were interested to see what was going on, although it was a strange feeling playing while people passing by outside stopped to look through the windows. The Grover & Allen have already indicated that for them the day was a great success and are looking forward to accommodating us again next year. I think the only problem we, well I had was when they ran out of London Pride.
Jeremy Fry, our sponsor for the day has agreed to pay for the table hire next year, which would leave us with the entry fees to pay for trophies, engraving, prize money and admin costs. This year Chris Cass done almost all of the printing and posting out of programmes, score sheets etc. off his own back.
Remembering that, during the day I did have rather a lot to drink I am a little confused how I ended up in the pub next door with Michelle, Nigel and Jeremy at midnight playing bar billiards and I have a feeling that Jeremy and myself agreed to enter a 3 pin competition, lambs to the slaughter I think
Thank you to everyone for making the day a great success
Dave
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Post by Chris on Mar 23, 2014 17:58:35 GMT
Fabulous well run day, thank you to Chris, Dave and all the committee and helpers, especially Sav The staff of the pub were great, as were the facilities. Great to get a minimum of 4 games, the group style worked exceptionally well Everyone was very friendly, helpful and approachable BUT guys sorry I wish I had never ever come .... I have heard nothing for the past 24 hours except, 'what a great game the 4 pin is, I want to play it weekly, wish we had it near here'. Now those that know Mr Chris well, will know what I am saying, I have had the whole game, scenarios, definitive shots, all about the pace to use and so on in my ears constantly I will be back next year, and may consider giving him a lift, as not only will I hear about the 4 pin and how fab it is on the home journey but also all the way up and it's 3 hours each way Dave I know you won spray tan, could someone donate some ear defenders for the rafflenext year please !!!!
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 23, 2014 18:32:43 GMT
I'm Glad you enjoyed the day, we tried our best. I think I was set up with the raffle prize and NO i wont be showing my white bits I'm happy to say the voucher was sold on and the money put into the charity fund. Dave
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Post by lukecw1 on Mar 23, 2014 18:39:28 GMT
Competition Results.xlsx (43.12 KB) I have attached the results from the tournament. Very enjoyable day overall and was great to see how many of the 3-pin players played. Glad I could almost keep up with some of them but in the end I didn't quite cut it. I am looking forward to coming to a three-pin tournament and if I think I stand a chance I may enter another tournament. Luke
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Post by Colemanator on Mar 23, 2014 19:47:56 GMT
Well I really enjoyed the day. I'm a big fan of how the group stages were done, how refreshing that is! That's a lesson of how not to complicate a simple game, take note. Well done to the winners. Nice venue, nice food.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2014 9:32:59 GMT
It was good to catch up with the Northants lads again and the Colemanator's red boots were most impressive. Try and coax Jase into coming next year, he'd do well at this and I'm sure he'd appreciate the ale prices. Chrissie - if NewstheJuice has become hooked and is looking for the nearest 4-pin league to play in, there is always the Crawley Summer League coming up again, played over 6 weeks (25/6, 2/7, 9/7, 30/7, 6/8 and 20/8 this year). Three players can form a team (you go round twice) but you would need to play from a home base somewhere within the Horsham District (eg the Limeburners, Billingshurst). Have gone off topic so will bring it back with a list of the highest single leg scores from Saturday - nineteen in all over 3k - an exceptionally high standard for 4-Pin: 5270 Phil Osborne Eastbourne 1 4750 Phil Osborne Eastbourne 1 4620 Colin Southouse Eastbourne Q 4490 Curt Driver Kent 2 4360 Curt Driver Kent S 4360 Nigel Senior Sussex F 4330 Phil Osborne Eastbourne 2 4200 Colin Southouse Eastbourne 1 4180 Nigel Senior Sussex 2 4070 Curt Driver Kent S 3810 Colin Southouse Eastbourne 1 3640 Nigel Senior Sussex Q 3520 Gareth Dell Eastbourne 1 3410 Gareth Dell Eastbourne 1 3410 Mal Spier Sussex 1 3210 Chris Saville Kent Q 3070 Mal Spier Sussex 1 3070 Keith Sheard Oxon Q 3030 Lewis Stratford Oxon 2
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Post by milko on Mar 24, 2014 13:58:01 GMT
I'm very pleased to be on that list, Tommo, with my first 3k score because all those others were made by playing the brk shot in both 50 pockets, where as mine was made by going up the top of the table every time, so takes more time and shots to amalgamate that amount. I know the chap with the beard who marked that game (sorry don't know his name?) couldn't stop laughing all the way through it! Though if I want to win this in the future I'm going to have to master that shot because I won't do it my way, unless the tables are set a little bit down hill as they were last year so that shot is harder to achieve. There were a lot more players this year than last year that managed that feat so well done to them, brilliant to watch. Keith
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Post by milko on Mar 24, 2014 15:23:18 GMT
Well, where do I start ? Firstly can I say well done to Nigel on his win over Curt in a high quality final, the scores could have been a lot closer if Curt had not lost a break when closing in on Nigel’s lead in the 2nd leg. On a personal note I would have liked to have made the K.O stage of the Main comp but Luke & young Lewis both played well in beating me and they went on to lose to the two finalists. Chris (Sav) also thrashed me in the Plate even though I got three reds and one white in the 200 pocket! The venue itself was large and the area for the tournament was cosy, maybe a little too much at times, especially by table 3 due mainly to the fact that the end seating table was too close. It was also a shame that we had two breaks during the day that extended the tournament longer than need be. These are only minor moans as everything else was excellent. My pint of John Smiths beer was only £1.99 a pint, so managed one or two of them through the day! Congratulations to all those that organised this event and hope to be back next year. Keith PS Me and Lin both thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Suffolk. The Swan Inn (Little Waldingfield) proprietors were very friendly and the annex room they put us in was very nice but we asked for a double and got a twin! We were told in the morning at breakfast that they had no confirmation of the booking and thought we were another couple who had booked a twin room so they had to have our double, even though I spoke to them twice by phone and had the confirmation letter! (booking.com) We visited Clacton on Sea (Essex) on the Sunday and contrary to what we were told thought it was a very nice place, with the world’s biggest pier I’m told ?.....didn’t it use to be Southend ? Sorry for going off topic by the way. Keith
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Post by gandalf the untidy on Mar 24, 2014 17:27:54 GMT
My pint of John Smiths beer was only £1.99 a pint, so managed one or two of them through the day! Chris Haynes enjoyed the prices sooo much he fell asleep while scoring Many congrats to all officers for the event especially the lovely lady coordinator! If I had to tinker with anything I would certainly ensure that the breaks were even and that there were an equal number of 1st breaks for all players, I know of 1 unfortunate chap who lost All of the coin tosses so didn't get the 1st break all day! otherwise great event PS any idea who got the highest break of the day, I think it was my EASTBOURNE pal Phil Osborne who played brilliantly throughout with an average over 4k for the group stage thanks to practicing with 4 lumps of cheese placed strategically on his table in the conservatory Was it "Phil Osborne with the Cheese in the Conservatory" regs cs
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Post by NigelS on Mar 24, 2014 19:56:16 GMT
Thanks guys for the congrats on the win. I am very pleased to have won the 2nd 4 pin open - proof that I can play more than 3 shots Thanks must go to Dave Lillee, Chris Cass and all the helpers who made the day run smoothly. It was good to see the update of the groups on the flatscreen TV to help keep abreast of what was going on. It certainly helped me figure out that Phil Osborne and Colin Southouse were knocking in some big scores and I better figure out what they were doing - and I could see that the 50-50 break was on and I changed my game, which certainly helped me through the tournament. I also want to thank whoever made the 4 pin rule of ignoring the baulk line unlike the 3 pin game. I was quite lucky to get out of my group as I needed to beat Sav to progress in my last game. Sav got 1k in front and I had 2k break going but left a ball in the middle of the table between the 100 and 30 hole (30 hole being the middle back hole in 4 pin). I caught the object ball a bit thin and to my horror it was going over the baulk line. Game over I thought, but I was to be told by Chelle (the 4 pin expert) that the ball was still in play. Sorry Sav (who was now 1k behind with a ball on the baulk line) - but at least you won the plate! Well done to Curt on getting so close to retaining the title, and also to my semi final opponent Luke Cole-Watts who gave me a close run and was the pick of the local players. And yes Dave, you have entered the Sussex Open along with Jeremy because you gave me the money after a few beers at the end of the night, so you are in, and I will see you in June. After speaking to a few of the players on the day, some were keen to at least come and try 3 pin or certainly come and have a watch, which can only be good for the game. Colin, did Phil have a higher break than 3,070? cos that was my highest on the day. In fact I lost a higher break in the same leg, which would have given me a score nearing 8k. And yes I agree I enjoyed the groups but also feel that equal breaks would make the one leg matches a lot fairer. All in all a great weekend, a pleasure to meet a lot of freindly new players and I look forward to trying to defend the title next year.
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Post by daveuk1 on Mar 24, 2014 21:50:28 GMT
And yes Dave, you have entered the Sussex Open along with Jeremy because you gave me the money after a few beers at the end of the night, so you are in, and I will see you in June. phew,,,, I spoke to Jeremy on Sunday, but we couldn't remember where or when, I guess we now need to find a table where we can have a go at 3 pin, I don't think the Tavern at that time of night or was it morning was the best location although you still managed to trash the pants off us
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Post by gandalf the untidy on Mar 25, 2014 0:16:22 GMT
Hi nige,
I think your 3k will probably do, my highest was 2k + and I think Phil's was 2.5k
Regs cs
PS thought the tables were also excellent as ever, so great to see them being so well looked after
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Post by Chris_Sav on Mar 25, 2014 8:26:27 GMT
PS thought the tables were also excellent as ever, so great to see them being so well looked after
Suffolk lads accepted my offer to set up the tables as they had not done it before and it was one less thing for them to worry about.
There's some more non urgent work needs doing on a couple of them.
Sav
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2014 9:18:45 GMT
And yes Dave, you have entered the Sussex Open along with Jeremy because you gave me the money after a few beers at the end of the night, so you are in, and I will see you in June. phew,,,, I spoke to Jeremy on Sunday, but we couldn't remember where or when, I guess we now need to find a table where we can have a go at 3 pin, I don't think the Tavern at that time of night or was it morning was the best location although you still managed to trash the pants off us So let's now assess the damage that this weak moment has caused ! You and Jeremy are now entered for the following: SUSSEX OPEN XXI TO BE HELD AT ROFFEY CLUB, SPOONERS ROAD, HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX, RH12 4DY SUNDAY 8TH JUNE 2014 Will you just be coming down on the day, or do you plan to make a whole weekend of it ? There will be competitions held at the venue on the Saturday that a worth a look (AM: Sussex U-30s; PM: Sussex Masters) and we have a venue in Crawley (about 6 miles back this way) which we can reserve for you for the whole evening to practice on if you wish. (Cheap beer, free table, in easy reach of a variety of takeaways (pizza, Chinese, fish'n'chips) or a sit-down Indian).
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Post by barbelman on Mar 25, 2014 9:53:24 GMT
Just to add my thanks to Chris, Dave and the legion of helpers that made the day so enjoyable. I was my usual pathetic self at BB but that was immaterial (next year I'm gonna practice....probably!) and it made me change my mind about Wetherspoons pubs a little! Ruddles @ £1.80 a pint! I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the young players there and the skills they showed and as far as the format and rules are concerned I wouldn't change a thing. Chris/Dave - don't let them nag you into turning it into 'just another Open' - it's unique and should stay that way even if the rules are not what we are used to! Sudbury itself was a compact and attractive little town and I really enjoyed my stay at the Mill, even if the room was a little bijou to say the least. Thank you all again and see you next year apparently. Tony
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