David.G
Distinguished Member
Posts: 550
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Post by David.G on Aug 21, 2011 16:37:38 GMT
I have begun inquiries into the possibility of running the mixed pairs away from the post office club, My initial thoughts are to run it in SURREY so that is where my inquiries have started.
I would like your thoughts and ideas as to the viability of this, would we
A) Get more entries or would this have an adverse effect (not that it can get any more adverse)
B) Be cost effective by moving around the country
C) Upset the post office club possibly loosing that venue/storage
D) Lose pairings from Counties furthest away from Surrey
E) Have the support from Surrey to set up and take down tables
We only have a couple of weeks on this so get your comments in so a decision can be made sooner rather than later. After all I did call this one off and need to put things right
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Post by bigjimsilverfox on Aug 21, 2011 16:54:28 GMT
Move to Surrey! Maybe a good one I think.
It makes sense to move to what would be a more popular location with Surrey`s ladies likely to enter and make it a worthwhile event.
On the flip side some pairs from more northerly reaches may not want to travel but that is the pros and cons of any change but defo possibility :-/
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 19:09:49 GMT
Dave, when you say 'we only have a couple of weeks on this' Surrey would not be an option for holding the competition in 2011 ! Competition Dates for 2010-2011 Saturday 29th January 2011 Mixed Pairs at St. Nicholas School, Merstham 11.30am Sunday 30th January 2011 Redhill Team Invitation at St. Nicholas School, Merstham 11.30am Saturday 16th April 2011 Blind Pairs at Salfords Club, Salfords 11.30am Sunday 17th April 2011 BI Ladies singles at Salfords Club, Salfords 11.30am Saturday 7th May 2011 Redhill Interleague at St Nicholas School, Merstham 11.30am Sunday 8th May 2011 Surrey Open at St Nicholas School, Merstham from 9.45am Saturday 2nd July 2011 Maurice Oliver Triples at The Limes 11.30am Sunday 3rd July 2011 County Singles Ladies & Men at Limes from 11.00am The above was the calendar for our own domestic events, and it will be seen that we have four separate weekends of table hire - end Jan; mid-April; early May and early July. All have now passed. The proposition on the table was for a 2012 competition. Our committee have discussed this in the past and agreed in principle that we could offer the 'Blind Pairs' slot to AEBBA for a National competition if this ever came up. (The circumstance in which this was discussed came about when Sussex's Singles and Doubles weekend was cancelled through snow in January 2010 and we offered them similar, although they were eventually able to make their own arrangements.) |
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Post by BB Warrior on Aug 22, 2011 6:32:23 GMT
Just a thought..... if Surrey unable to host the competition this year, would it be possible to play the Mixed Pairs on the same day as Alternate Rules?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2011 8:23:07 GMT
Just a thought..... if Surrey unable to host the competition this year, would it be possible to play the Mixed Pairs on the same day as Alternate Rules? That's an interesting one and maybe Nigel should give his thoughts on it. The Alt Rules has grown from 40 competitors in 2008 to 50 in 2009 and 2010, so it's quite a big competition. Last year they were short of scorers ::) for the closing stages of the competition, and a recommendation made that the Plate Competition be only over one leg instead of two. So if this were adopted, would it allow sufficient time to slot the Mixed Pairs in? It would certainly act as a distraction for those taking part in both - two totally differing concepts of play. Would the players be up to the challenge? :-/ ;D |
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Post by milhouse on Aug 22, 2011 21:26:52 GMT
Just a couple of objective points on this..... (I mean no offence to anyone, so please don't take it as so!)
As everyone can see, these female orientated competitions are higher in number when the tournament are held in Surrey, so what is the reasoning behind those players who play if a tournament is there, but are not prepared to travel to Reading to play? By the looks of things, there are about double the numbers when held in Surrey?
I know we all want as many entries as possible, but i find it unfair to penalise those that are prepared to travel by moving it? Yes i am thinking more of the Oxfordshire Ladies who play in the competitions, but most of them already play in the Ladies singles in Reading and Surrey, but the same cannot be said of some of the ladies who play in just the Surrey comp, but do not travel to Reading.
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BFG
Distinguished Member
Posts: 591
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Post by BFG on Aug 22, 2011 21:54:54 GMT
I am a bit confused by this thread
Surely it's logical to play where the tables are....the seat of AEBBA and no need for "Dave deliveries"
Or are we suggesting a county (mountain to Mohammed) being awarded the event could drum up more entrants?
Maybe the world championships would be huge in Portsmouth!
Loved playing in the tournament when it was played with the under 25's but that was a selfish point of view as our son was playing in that tournament the main reason we were there.
Maybe (and I mean this with the deepest respect to Dave) that is why the two roles should not be combined....too much to do means spreading yourself too thin and achieving less in each area.
Just basic business rules
The problem of people losing interest and ending up with a few and the organisers is normal I think
This event does have a unique selling point!..The chance to be the top mixed doubles team in the country but if people haven't entered maybe they just don't want to be....or!...they don't believe they can beat the few couples that have entered ;D
Either way round we have missed something....somewhere :'(
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Post by BB Warrior on Aug 23, 2011 8:38:20 GMT
I know we all want as many entries as possible, but i find it unfair to penalise those that are prepared to travel by moving it? Yes i am thinking more of the Oxfordshire Ladies who play in the competitions, but most of them already play in the Ladies singles in Reading and Surrey, but the same cannot be said of some of the ladies who play in just the Surrey comp, but do not travel to Reading. I do agree with this point...... the AEBBA Competitions should be played at the Post Office Club, the tables are stored there and it will obviously help to keep down costs and presumably involve less work for Dave than having to move the tables out to another venue. ;) To enable the competition to be played this year, the following options are available.... 1) Combine the Mixed Pairs with another AEBBA event being played at the Post Office Club. I don't think it would be possible to fit it in on either of the days for the Open County Championships due to the number of games being played already and imagine that the same would apply to the Ladies County Championships. That leaves the dates for the Alternate Rules (October 9th) which had 50 entries last year (including 12 Ladies), the Team Championships & Special Ladies (October 23rd) and Grand Prix (November 27th) which also used to have the Over 50's, 60's and Under 25's played on the same day..... so perhaps that would be the best choice? ;) 2) Play the Mixed Pairs on a different weekend at the Post Office Club and hope that there are more entries with the competition being held away from the Summer Holiday time..... and try to get everybody here on the Forum to "advertise" the competition in their local Leagues. ;) 3) Move the competition to another venue in the hope that we will get more "local support" there. :-/ Looking forward, the AEBBA Committee will face similar challenges for various competitions next season..... the Over 50's and 60's has seen a decline in entries in recent years, as has the Special Ladies. The Under 25's has seen a slight increase in numbers, but has insufficient numbers to be held independently. If the Competitions are to stay at Reading, then perhaps the Mixed Pairs needs to be played on the same day as some / all of these competitions to ensure that it won't be cancelled again....... if the Mixed Pairs is being moved to one of the Counties (Surrey?) then it would need to fit in to their calender to make it viable to run...... the dates for the AEBBA Competitions also need to be looked at and I believe that there are likely to be more entries if they are played "in-season" rather than during the summer holidays. ;) |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2011 10:16:32 GMT
As Warrior says, there is much to be discussed and much thought must go into the rearranging of certain competitions next year if the Mixed is to survive.
And as Milhouse hints, it is rather perverse of the Surrey Ladies to support their 'own' locally-based BIOC Ladies in large numbers, whilst not venturing to Reading.
Tim makes the point of maybe not giving it a go because they "may not believe they can beat the few couples that have entered" - could be some truth in that.
Although there are a lot of Surrey Ladies, at least half of them play just for fun, and have to have their arms twisted to enter. There are only a few at the very top level. I do not see much evidence of 'horse-trading' by which I mean the deliberate teaming up of players with the express purpose of winning, as other counties are fond of doing. So 'where's the incentive ?' is a very good point.
A popular misconception is that Reading is at the centre of the bar billiards universe and that Redhill is too far to go for the northern counties. Well, Redhill is just off the A25/A23 and just as easily accessible for them, more convenient for Sussex and Kent, and a much of a muchness for Pompey, so could equally lay claim to being 'central'. The journey to Reading I personally find tiring and demanding.
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Post by BB Warrior on Aug 23, 2011 10:51:27 GMT
A popular misconception is that Reading is at the centre of the bar billiards universe and that Redhill is too far to go for the northern counties. Well, Redhill is just off the A25/A23 and just as easily accessible for them, more convenient for Sussex and Kent, and a much of a muchness for Pompey, so could equally lay claim to being 'central'. The journey to Reading I personally find tiring and demanding. Agree that Reading is not the "centre of the universe" (well, at least not since the world was proven to be round anyway! ;D) however it is the AEBBA Headquarters and the tables are stored at the Post Office Club so surely it has to be both more convenient for the organisers and also more cost-effective to hold the AEBBA Competitions there rather than at another venue....... ::) However, if the Mixed Pairs were to be played on the same weekend as the BIOC Ladies Competition is held in Redhill, there would possibly be justification in changing the venue as there would probably be more entries..... :D .....even if they were mostly from players who wouldn't be prepared to travel to Reading. :'( Personally I normally find the journey up to Reading reasonably good..... it's the journey home with the M25 in "car park mode" that tends to be more demanding...... ::) >:( |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2011 11:19:11 GMT
To enable the competition to be played this year, the following options are available.... 1) Combine the Mixed Pairs with another AEBBA event being played at the Post Office Club. I don't think it would be possible to fit it in on either of the days for the Open County Championships due to the number of games being played already and imagine that the same would apply to the Ladies County Championships. That leaves the dates for the Alternate Rules (October 9th) which had 50 entries last year (including 12 Ladies), the Team Championships & Special Ladies (October 23rd) and Grand Prix (November 27th) which also used to have the Over 50's, 60's and Under 25's played on the same day..... so perhaps that would be the best choice? ;) I am sorry to say I cannot allow people to play in both the under 25s and the mixed pairs next weekend. The bottom line is that it could take 7 games to win the mixed pairs (depending on entries) and 4 games to win the under 25's. With only 8 tables available (and 10 series of play takes us to 7.30pm) it is not really feasible to allow players to play in both. I hope this is not too inconvenient for anybody wishing to play next weekend and hope they understand the logisitical problems of playing in both. |
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Post by Chris on Aug 27, 2011 14:55:51 GMT
Part of this discussion should surely be the time of this event, it is right in the middle of the summer holidays.
We are only one pair but could not enter as we were away.
Maybe a general survey of possible mixed pairs would be a fairer way of finding an answer?
Date
Location
General interest
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2011 17:38:53 GMT
Maybe a general survey of possible mixed pairs would be a fairer way of finding an answer? Date Location General interest A good idea for AEBBA Sec to start a poll/questionnaire on here: they're quite easy to put up. 8-) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2011 14:13:13 GMT
Rather unfortunately, the AEBBA were obliged to cancel one of their annual competitions this year - twice - through lack of entries.
Some suggestions have already been made as to how the competition could be made viable again, but so far no firm conclusion has been reached.
This is your chance to have a vote and a say on the open Forum - in advance of the AGM next month when it will be discussed officially and a firm decision reached.
(Click on the topic above to cast your vote)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 12:35:27 GMT
12 votes so far, keep 'em coming.......
You are welcome to add to this thread with your reason behind the vote.
Thanx,
tommo
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Post by bobhall on Nov 17, 2011 12:43:10 GMT
I think with surrey or sussex we would get more entries i have always wanted to play in this tournament but there is never many female players willing to travel to reading which is a real shame
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Post by milko on Nov 19, 2011 14:42:21 GMT
Only 4 ladies out of a total 17 voters, so far!
My vote went to Sussex or Surrey to run and I think it should be for a 1 year trial period to see if it can be a success.
Keith
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Post by Chris on Nov 20, 2011 19:00:43 GMT
The reason I went for Bournemouth is because I won't travel to a County just because it has more players for a competition ( e.g. over 50/60 should we go to Easbourne or Bournemouth?) who will enter if only on their own patch.
I personally enter any competition wherever it is played because I want to and will travel to it.
So will we move other competitions to Counties who could support the most entries??
Nothing against any of the counties or their players at all. Just truly against the principle here.
I would be happy to play in another County but for the right reasons.
I truly believe we need to consider carefully any precedence set.
If for the right reasons I would happily play in either Sussex or Surrey.
Regards
Chris
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2011 9:12:57 GMT
Thanks to everyone who troubled to vote on this. 18 votes is a good yield and I think enough to draw a conclusion from, so I am now closing the Poll.
As far as I am aware, no firm proposal for a change has been submitted by the deadline required for consideration at the AGM, but there is nothing to stop the All-England committee from producing their own recommendation, based on the consensus of opinion - or not, as the case may be. ;D
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Post by milhouse on Nov 21, 2011 13:02:01 GMT
The reason I went for Bournemouth is because I won't travel to a County just because it has more players for a competition ( e.g. over 50/60 should we go to Easbourne or Bournemouth?) who will enter if only on their own patch. I personally enter any competition wherever it is played because I want to and will travel to it. So will we move other competitions to Counties who could support the most entries?? Nothing against any of the counties or their players at all. Just truly against the principle here. I would be happy to play in another County but for the right reasons. I truly believe we need to consider carefully any precedence set. If for the right reasons I would happily play in either Sussex or Surrey. Regards Chris Agree with everything you have said here Chris. Maybe next year the Bucks Open should be moved to Sussex because there are always more entries.... :-/ |
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Post by BB Warrior on Nov 21, 2011 13:06:22 GMT
Agree with everything you have said here Chris. Maybe next year the Bucks Open should be moved to Sussex because there are always more entries.... :-/ Much easier to just move Reading to Sussex.... more entries for AEBBA competitions and it's lovely living by the seaside.... ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2011 13:22:20 GMT
ROTFL ;D
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