County Div 3 - Surrey B withdrawl

[NigelS]

Unfortunately Surrey B have withdrawn from Sunday's division 3 county champs, leaving us with just 2 teams - Kent B and Berks B.

If anyone could let me know whether Kent B still intend to play or not, they will still obviously have a good number of games but it will just be against the one team.

Thanks

Nigel

[Chris_Sav]

I have asked the league secretaries to liaise urgently with their players in case they do not wish to travel for the remnants of a competition.

Answers to be forwarded direct to you and Dave Alder and posted here.

Sav

[davemay]

The main questions I have, as I am waiting for conformation from various players, which should happen tonight, is :-

1 How many games will be involved between Kent and Berkshire
2 Will the winners of this reduced competition be promoted to D2


Dave May

[NigelS]

Oct 3, 2008 15:22:38 GMT davemay said:

The main questions I have, as I am waiting for conformation from various players, which should happen tonight, is :-

1 How many games will be involved between Kent and Berkshire
2 Will the winners of this reduced competition be promoted to D2


Dave May

Hi Dave,

I think there will be 4 games between Kent and Berks. I will try and do it so each player plays four different players on four different tables. It is probably not practical to do an all play all schedule as you will have lack of scorers and tables to do it easily. I am not sure people want to be constantly either scoring and playing all day long. But at least 4 games definitely. But I won't make my brain hurt just yet by doing a schedule before the Kent boys can confirm their attendance.

The winners of this competition will be promoted on the proviso that there is no change of format for next year. By that I mean that whoever wins on Sunday will replace Bucks in Div 2. However I see possible format changes on the horizon, because I don't see how we can allow this possibility of one or two teams playing in division 3 in the future. This will all be resolved at the AGM of course, and I urge anyone with bright ideas to bring them forward then. My thoughts are for two bigger divisions on seperate weekends.

All I will say on this now is, assuming two divisions on separate weekends next year: stage the Second Division first and the First division on the second weekend.

That way you get the commitment straight away without the likelihood of last minute drop-outs - like you might get if it was the other way round.

[davemay]

Nigel

Thanks for that information, and I am waiting to hear for definite that all the team will go. At the moment it looks ok, but I am still waiying for T / Wells to confirm that all the selected players from there are going. I will put it on here as soon as I know, and also I will PM you and Dave Alder.

Dave May

[davemay]

Nigel /Dave

Just to confirm that Kent B WILL be at Reading tomorrow ( Sunday 5th ) to play in D3 County Championships.


Regards

Dave May

I think at the AGM we should merge division 2 with the two teams, so more games plus more competition for division 1 place.

I think at the Cambs AGM, Cambridge need a wake up call, as this "no show" to every national event just isn't right. No wonder we can't be taken seriously!

[NigelS]

Oct 4, 2008 23:15:44 GMT @sithlord said:

I think at the AGM we should merge division 2 with the two teams, so more games plus more competition for division 1 place.

I think at the Cambs AGM, Cambridge need a wake up call, as this "no show" to every national event just isn't right. No wonder we can't be taken seriously!

I think we have got to be a bit careful here Johnny as if you do promote these two teams, where would Cambridge go if they came back. On their own in div 3?

My thoughts are a restructure along the lines of a 7 team first division played on one day (just about doable although looking at a 7.30pm finish). Everyone gets 6 games. Then a division 2 for the remaining teams. If you have to split the teams into two droups and have a play off for the winner, then that is ok. If you don't have enough teams then one group is fine.

But I agree a change is definitely in order.

Oct 5, 2008 0:52:49 GMT NigelS said:

I think we have got to be a bit careful here Johnny as if you do promote these two teams, where would Cambridge go if they came back. On their own in div 3?

My thoughts are a restructure along the lines of a 7 team first division played on one day (just about doable although looking at a 7.30pm finish). Everyone gets 6 games. Then a division 2 for the remaining teams. If you have to split the teams into two droups and have a play off for the winner, then that is ok. If you don't have enough teams then one group is fine.

But I agree a change is definitely in order.

I like the idea you have their Nigel, gives more games plus makes it more competitive for the better teams.
I would like to hope Cambridgeshire enter next year but we have said this for the past 2 years and :-/ disappointment. I truely believe we need disapline in the rules. I think that if a county team fails to show for 3 years on the trot they should be barred as a penalty and only let in at the organisers discretion or vote of confidence by the other teams in that division. But you can't hold out on ideas all the time hoping for the best and actually getting the worst.
Good forward thinking ideas are put on hold because of the problem so their is no progression happining. Organisers should now give an ultimatum to teams who fail to show year after year or no ideas will be put into practice.

[bigtj]

Johnny understand where you are coming from on the banning idea, but in these times of economic instability, along with the decline of the game in general, (due many circumstances), we need to be encouraging players and teams.
This can even be achieved by restructuring as a lot of people feel it is a long way to travel for minimal games. Even somewhere like Brighton recently struggled to fill their top 16 places for the masters. Like you I find it amazing that this should be the case, but being of not so tender years do understand peoples situation regarding finance, time, family commitments and work commitments.
It is going to be a difficult time for some leagues but I for one do believe this game will once again grow and flourish, because the pubs that do survive will need trade, and they can come to realise that the bar billiard player in general is no trouble, the table can fit into a relatively small space and if promoted can generate trade.

[Chris_Sav]

Banning teams is not the way to encourage counties I'm afraid.

The problem lies in the general apathy towards leaving your own patch and the lack of communication from the centre.

This should all have been put to bed weeks ago, not poor old Nigel frantically trying to find out who is attending in the last couple of days and then sort the mess out.

Many players backs are up in my county over travelling so far for three games. We then have to pursuade them to go next year!

The answer, I don't know if it's too late, but the whole structure of our glorious games management needs dragging into the twenty first century.

Sav.

Oct 5, 2008 7:49:09 GMT Chris_Sav said:

The answer, I don't know if it's too late, but the whole structure of our glorious games management needs dragging into the twenty first century.

Sav.

I'm with you on that one Sav, the game is changing and though not every idea is going to be a good one like my one ;) it's worth having a try at a few ideas from people to see if they work.
There is a lot of ideas and not enough actions!

[Colemanator]

I take it then Johnny you have found a team to play for?

[keithmacdonald]

Here I am again going to sound like the moaning old git from Cambridgeshire but it never fails to amaze me what tripe is spoken on some of these threads.

With all that is going on in the world we are looking to ban sides who cannot make a game of bar-billiards. Please get real some people are struggling to exist let alone contemplate a day in Reading. I sometimes wonder if some people out there are listening and that includes within my own county - when the number of players you have to chose from is limited and some of them have more pressing engagements then you are going to struggle to make a team. It will come as a surprise to some but bar-billiards is not everyone's top priority and has to come a far second to earning a living or family commitments.

Starting to ban sides for not turning up will only see more counties turn away from the game as did Wiltshire, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Avon, Leicestershire and Hertfordshire.etc...

However it does seem that some people have a great deal to say on this site, well it is time to put up or shut up........... my county has a position on its committee for county secretary and there is one person who seems to have a great deal to say on what we should or should not be doing so how about it??

Again I find myself having to defend my county against one person's views that a number of you seem to agree with, well let us see there is an opportunity and I for one would like to see us prove we can still crack it with the best of them so are you game for the challenge Johnny??

Keith

Oct 5, 2008 17:28:41 GMT keithmacdonald said:

Again I find myself having to defend my county against one person's views that a number of you seem to agree with, well let us see there is an opportunity and I for one would like to see us prove we can still crack it with the best of them so are you game for the challenge Johnny??

Keith

Keith I appreciate the difficulties with players not showing, however please don't take it out on me if I have an idea (which I myself now think is a bit silly). People need to have ideas and people need to make them into actions.

As for "Am I game for the challenge" yeah I WAS until the cambs league has sucked it out of me. I am 95% of the reason people moan at AGM's! Why just for wanting to win!
Am I game for the challenge? That's rich coming froming the Cambs League after helping getting a cambs website off the ground after 3 years of debate and trying to get the idea of a Cambs Open but everyone else has more important things to do.
Being so keen for the County team in 2007 I took a weeks holiday to practice and only to find out people would rather do their garden shed then get stuffed.

Yeah I'm up for the challenge, shame that this league is resting on me to represent after what's happened recently but hey I guess I have to learn to be rejected only to then be relied upon for a trip to Reading! >:(

[Chris_Sav]

I am told Kent 'B' beat Berks 'B' 23 - 5 yesterday

Sav.

[davemay]

You have been informed correctly chris, and a report is forthcoming here later today

Dave May

[bigtj]

Keith I do get involved in these debates and always try to be objective and for one do not get on the band wagon, in fact if you read correctly your comments about banning and commitments are exactly where I came from as we do need to encourage players and teams not discourage.

[davemay]

DIVISION 3 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS

With the unfortunate withdrawal of Surrey B at a late stage the D3 County championship, the title was to be contested between Kent B, and Berkshire B. Kent started with a rush on the day, winning the first series of games by 7 - 0, and it was a repeat in the second series as well, with Kent again prevailing by 7 - 0.
Berkshire were obviously more than a little shell shocked at this, and never recovered from the very slow start they had.
The 3rd series of games started with Kent only needing 1 leg to clinch the title, but Berkshire did win the 1st game on the series, but the title was clinched for Kent by the oldest player there on the day, Gerry Goodwin, who is well known for his doggedness and determination within the Medway area where he has played for many years.
After the title had been won, the Kent players then expressed themselves as would be expected, with confidence, and good scores and breaks when given the opportuinty. Both John Addley , Martin Russell, and Martin Leach and good breaks of 6K, and 8K during the day, with the high break eventually going to Martin Leach with 8260.
A good day was had by all, well organised by Dave Alder, and the competition ran almost on time for the whole day.

On the Ladies Competition, only 6 Ladies participated due to the late withdrawal of Kent's Jackie Peckham, and so it was decided that the Ladies would all play each other once, with each game of 2 legs, with 2 points for the win only.
After 5 rounds of matches had been played,with 2 Ladies having completed all the games, it was down to Chris Toner, to score more than 6,000 over her 2 leg match to win the title, from Jean Brackenridge, who had completed her series of games. Jean had scored in excess of 40,000 in the 5 games played, and had set a high standard for the other Ladies to beat, but Chris was not to be denied, taking the first leg of her last match with a score in excess of the 6,000 she needed to overtake Jean.
With the job done, Chris relaxed in her second leg and just enjoyed the moment, knowing that she was champion for 2008.

The ladies high break prize went to Pauline Withey, for her break of just over 4K. Jean again being the Runner up.



The highlight of the day however is not the bar billiards although that was the important thing.



The HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY IS :-

CHRIS NEWSOME DRINKING



ORANGE JUICE

I have sent the imcriminating evidence to Nigel, who I hope will post it up on the forum for all to witness.

This obvious misdemeanour will probably never be repeated, as Chris will endeavour to put all the records straight about this.

Four things to say:

1. WELL DONE to Kent B. Congratulations on lifting the Div3 title in such style.

2. Did you not know that Chris is now NewstheJuice and is well renowned now for his sobriety? ;D ;D ;D :-X

3. Congratulations to Chris Toner for becoming AEBBA Ladies Champion in the face of - from the sound of it - formidable opposition. 8-) Well done to the other ladies who took part.

4. To Keith McD and Big TJ - I'm with you guys on that one - teams should be encouraged and welcomed rather than prevented from playing. There should be room for everyone in our wonderful game.

[Chris_Sav]

Re the Lady's and Jackie Peckham's 'Late Withdrawal'.

I feel it should be pointed out that she went all the way to Reading but walked out prior to the start of the competition due to what was said to her by person(s) currently unknown. Whatever it was reduced her to tears and she left.

That's all I know for certain so far and have asked her to call me and the incoming Kent Secretary Gerry Fitzjohn.

Well done to Chris and the rest of the ladies.

Sav

[bigtj]

Well done to Chris on winning the Ladies with a great aggregate score, bad luck to Jean who could only sit and wait to see the outcome.

This is the second recent occassion Mr Newson has partaken of the orange juice, but all credit to him for giving Chris the chance to have a drink rather than drivibg him.

[NigelS]

Well done to Kent B for firstly going all that way to make a competition of div 3, and on your fine victory.

Well done to Chris Toner for winning the All England Ladies for a 5th time (I won't embarass her by putting the years of those titles on here). That puts her one title behind Jan Taylor. Viv Wright is the only other player with more titles than Chris (10).
Sounds like a close competition - hard luck to Jean for being runner-up, but a great defence of your title nonetheless.

Some photos of the day courtesy of Dave May

www.brightonbarbilliards.co.uk/toppage1.htm

[Pompey (R.I.P.)]

Sincere congratulations to Chris Toner for winning The All England Ladies, a most coveted trophy.

[Chris]

Dave had the best Photo of the year !!!

and I thank those for their good wishes...

but the classic of the day, and Chris knows I am putting this on here, was him telling me that maybe I should cut doen on the DRINK as I was not concentrating enough!!!

Now that is gem of the year !!!!

[Chris]

Sorry ... down ... not doen... I have no typing skills !!!

[NigelS]

Div 3 results and averages

P W L Score Player Ave Pts
A Kent B 3 3 0 142,310 5,083 23
B Berks B 3 0 3 67,000 2,393 5


Div 3
Code Player County P W L Brks Score Ave
1 A6 Martin Leach Kent B 4 4 0 2 26,840 6,710
2 A5 Martin Russell Kent B 4 4 0 2 26,780 6,695
3 A2 Gerry Goodwin Kent B 4 4 0 2 16,430 4,108
4 A7 John Addley Kent B 4 3 1 2 24,760 6,190
5 A1 Vinny Mitchell Kent B 4 3 1 2 17,670 4,418
6 A3 Neale Chamberlain Kent B 4 3 1 2 17,670 4,418
7 A4 Dave May Kent B 4 2 2 2 12,160 3,040
8 B2 Graham Alder Berks B 4 2 2 2 11,900 2,975
9 B5 Dave Murrell Berks B 4 2 2 2 10,630 2,658
10 B1 Kevin Marjoram Berks B 4 1 3 2 7,850 1,963
11 B6 Brian Dawkins Berks B 4 0 4 2 10,780 2,695
12 B3 Andy Burns Berks B 4 0 4 2 10,190 2,548
13 B4 Ron Britton Berks B 4 0 4 2 7,150 1,788
14 B7 Terry Vallis Berks B 3 0 3 1 6,070 1,518
15 B8 Janet Burns Berks B 1 0 1 1 1,390 348

[NigelS]

And the final positions of the ladies

Player County P W L Score Player Ave Pts Legs Won
1 Chris Toner Hants 5 4 1 45,840 4,584 10 7
2 Jean Brackenridge Sussex 5 4 1 40,120 4,012 10 5
3 Pauline Withey Oxon 5 3 2 47,050 4,705 8 8
4 Denise Wills Surrey 5 3 2 38,020 3,802 8 6
5 Myra Hawkins Berks 5 1 4 23,440 2,344 4 3
6 Marilyn Izzard Bucks 5 0 5 15,110 1,511 2 1
7 Jackie Peckahm Kent withdrew

[davemay]

Thanks to Nigel for all the hard work he done behind the scenes, and for also putting up the photo's that I took at Reading on the day. Good work also by the AEBBA secretary Dave Alder for all his work on the day.