International v Jersey

[SirKT]

Anyone wishing to come and support the England team v Jersey, here are the details.

The match is at the Skylane hotel, Horley RH6 8QG on Saturday 9th February. Start time at about 7.45pm.

If you want to book in for the night, the cost is £55 for a double & £45 for a single, both B & B.
Hotel phone number - 01293 786971

[edit] postcode added

[SirKT]

Sadly, Sue Mariner has withdrawn from the International next week.
Sue spoke to me yesterday and said she didn`t feel that she was playing well enough to be playing and that Denise would fill her place comfortably.

So congrats to Denise Wills (Redhill) for making the squad. Denise has played one international before, in Jersey, when it was played at the Woodville hotel, so this is her first `Home` cap.

[NigelS]

I think that very brave of Sue to be big enough to admit she is not playing well enough to play for England next weekend. I hope she will be back to take her place next year.

Well done to Denise for her selection

[bigtj]

Sure Sue will be there for future internationals and hope I can one day play as well as she does and then feel it is not good enough.

[fazza]

I sincerely hope that, for the sake of those attending and playing, the hotel provides much better service than the last time they hosted the International match. And especially hope the breakfast waiter has gone back to his day job at Fawlty Towers. Suggest you take your own crockery

[SirKT]

Hi Pete, good to see you back.
I think those sentiments have played on the Jersey teams minds as well with so many of their regulars not attending.
Eric has spoken to the hotel, it has changed hands and most of the staff have gone. There has been renovation as well & is still in progress. We can only hope things have changed

[fazza]

I would imagine they were sacked the next day.

Renovation still going on? That sounds enticing. Have fun, I will be in Sheffield at the Indoor Athletics championships. I will wave from the crowd of morons waving Union Jacks. And my hotel is finished.

[milko]

Good luck to all the players taking part in this Saturdays Mens and Ladies Internationals against Jersey.

Hopefully the tables will be cleaner and set up better than they were two years ago.

Perhaps that's another reason why some of the top Jersey players are not coming over.!!

See you all on Saturday.

Keith.

[Chris_Sav]

Yup,

Good luck and a good tournament to all from both sides.

I was planning to be there, but something has cropped up.

Sav.

[Sir Chancelot]

And the results of the event are ??????????????

[NigelS]

England Men 23 - 7 Jersey Men

England Ladies 14 -1 Jersey Ladies

A great evening and some cracking bar billiards played off the spot.

Hopefully KT will be able to give the full scores plus captains report.

[bigtj]

Goodwin for England and once KT supplies info sure scoring will be of a very high level. Hope the venue was all you hoped and problems that were mentioned from last time had been ironed out.

[SirKT]

Sorry for the delay in publishing the result, we were out most of yesterday and had Billiards last night.

I was very disappointed to see so many of the top Jerseymen not over this time, in fact, the ones that didn`t come could have made an `A` side amongst themselves.
These included - Nigel Ryall, Bob King, Graham Bisson, Mick Eouzan, Dennis Helleur, James Jeanne, Alan le Blond, Mick Matthews, Nigel Bisson, Nick Barnett & Sean le Beauvant.
I would like to thank the ones that did come and keep this annual event going.

MEN`S SCORES

S,Sheard 12770 & 13420 D.Jones 740 & 1060
Steven followed up last years` crucial win with a superb performance. Table 1 was undoubtably the best one there and Steven made the most of it. 3 - 0

N.Senior 7700 & 11560 K.Vibert 1010 & 680
Table 2 also looked quite good and Nigel showed his true class for an easy win. 3 - 0

C.Reeves 2040 & 4490 S.Ahier 6690 & 6980
Table 4 had it`s quirks and caught Chris out early on in his break game. He came off at 1900 and Jersey`s best player,Steve Ahier, took advantage. A very slow and methodical 6k+ saw Steve take the first. The Jerseyman didn`t go in with a big score in the second but he soon got back on and put the frame out of reach. Chris finished off with a rapid 3k bk. 0 - 3

R.Sturgess 1120 & 7470 W.Turner 680 & 850
The next 3 matches saw the Home players all lose breaks at some time. Ray got the balls back immediately in his match and opened up a nice lead (about 6k) only to lose them. He just scraped home in the first, but always looked in command in the second. 3 - 0

L.Beer 980 & 690 G.Le Monnier 210 & 3660
Table 3 was without doubt the toughest one there. Leon kicked off with about 4k and never looked in any trouble until he missed a ball up the table. After that it was very scrappy and he just managed to win the point. Graeme opened with a couple in the second and then it was catch me if you can, but Leon never retrieved the balls. Just goes to show how crucial lost breaks can be. 1 - 2

P.Collins 4530 & 4450 P.Le Gresley 560 & 1280
Another game on table 4. Phil retrieved the balls immediately and built up about a 5k lead only to lose them. He got them back and got another 4k for the first. Another steady break in the second saw Phil totally outclass his opponent . 3 - 0

M.Brewster 4050 & 11900 A.Ferrand 620 & 1270
Mark showed his selection to be right when he totally outplayed Alan on table 2. Steady scores in the first and a good break in the second gave him all 3 points 3 - 0

K.Tunstall 2010 & 4760 D.Gallichan 1500 & 1540
The dreaded table 3 again. After Dave`s initial break, the balls only came back once, but i underestimated the right hand roll and it was scrappy to the end. I managed to score about 300 when the bar dropped to get the point. My opening break in the second was lost and for half the game chased balls round the table. Eventually, i retrieved the break and made a steady 4k and touched on. Hard work ! 3 - 0

P.Sainsbury 15590 & 1540 F.Jeanne 0 & 2230
Table 1 again and Paul was brilliant, running it out for the score. The second however was up the table, i`m not sure if any was lost but Fred secured a point for the visitors. 2 - 1

G.Lloyd 1590 & 5520 H.Barbet 1880 & 1380
The lovely table 3 once again :-/ . A scrappy first leg in which Gareth always seemed to be chasing. The second however saw Lloydy make a nice break to win the extra point. A good debut on a nasty top, well done Gareth 2 - 1

So a very comfortable win for the men 23 - 7. Maybe most of these Jerseyman should be in next years`match on home soil as they bothered to make the effort to come over here :P :)

LADIES SCORES

P.Withey 2210 & 5760 Z.Jeanne 1200 & 590

B.Stoner 2580 & 3990 J.Barbet 370 & 1920

J.Brackenridge 2610 & 2030 J.Hopwood 710 & 860

S.Atkins 2000 & 2160 H.Hamon 2060 & 1260

D.Wills 1380 & 1080 J.Clark 1240 & 930

I can`t give much of a report on the Ladies, maybe Pauline can add some input later.
What i did see though was Pauline putting up the highest aggregate score on the horrible table 3 ( including the men`s matches). Great performance captain ;)
Bella put two good scores together in her match and Sue Atkins made a sensible decision in hers, when a 200 for the last ball in her first game could have given her all three points, she thought against it and kept the score. She comfortably won the second for an aggregate win.

A 14 - 1 win in the end to extend their winning run to eleven matches over Jersey.

[milko]

I would like to say well done to both England teams on 2 excellent team results against Jersey.

I was also shocked and sad to see so many of the top Jersey men players missing & the top lady player in Jenny Wallace (Noel).

Good effort from the players that did come, especially Steve Ahier who beat a talented youngster in Chris Reeves.

May I add a few extra things to Kevin's report.

Steven had breaks of 12,700 & 8,900, Mark had a break in the 2nd game of 10,000 & Nigel made 2 x 7,000 breaks.

Leon actually lost a break of 9,000 on table 3 & not 4k as Kevin said.
This was a fantastic effort on a difficult looking table, even though he did lose them. :(

Well done Gareth on winning on your debut, many more to come I expect. :)

Well played Paul on playing the table out, but I was shocked to hear that you lost the 2nd game. :o

Well played the others :) & to the Ladies. :) :-*

I will put a report on here when Pauline has done one.


The Faulty Towers (sorry, the Skylane Hotel)
Well what can I say.? How many stars has it got.?

Saturday morning
We arrived and went to book in and they told us that we would only get room only, luckily Eric was nearby and told the receptionist that the price included breakfast, she agreed in the end.

Next morning we tried to get breakfast, but the waitress said we were room only on her list, so we sent her to sort it out, she came back and still said the same thing NO BREAKFAST.
So Ray & me went to the reception to sort it out ourselves, but there was a different person on, that we saw the day before. We explained that we were on the Bar Billiards special rate price, but yet again she was having none of it, so we phoned Kevin, who then phoned Eric, who then phoned the Hotel, as he had already gone home. She then changed her mind and we had a lovely breakfast (eventually). >:( ;D

Friday night
The Jersey contingent also had their problems, as they were evacuated from the hotel at midnight, because some fool smoked in their room and threw out a cigarette into a skip below and set fire to it, so set all the fire alarms off.
They eventually got back in at 5am.!!
I am also not blaming any Jersey person, as I don't know who it was.
The fire brigade were amazed the hotel was even open in the first place.
(This is the story that I was told anyway)

We arrived next day to find a smelly smoky room. >:(

I also might add that some players stayed or were moved to different hotels. ??? (hope you all had a nice hotel) ::)

After we left, we made a visit to Eastbourne, where the pairs championships used to be held at the Landsdowne Hotel, we really enjoyed the visit.
We had a lovely carvery meal in the Pier Hotel (opposite the pier) for only £4.99 or 2 courses for £5.99 or 3 for £6.99, excellent value.

We came in via Beechy Head, what fantastic views.
We were really impressed with what they have done to Eastbourne, as the last time we were there was 12 years ago and it was a bit dull & quiet.

We will visit again, perhaps the pairs should go back there every other year.!!


Keith. :)


PS, I HOPE SOMEBODY SENDS JERSEY A LETTER OF APOLOGY, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T THE HOTELS FAULT FOR THE FIRE.

[beefy]

Looks like rays comments about the Hotel were an understatement reading Keith's report.

[NigelS]

I would also like to add to those comments regarding the Jersey team. It was a real shame that they were under strength, the players that did come performed admirably. The scoreline showed they probably performed above themselves as the last two home wins, with stroinger sides, were similar scorelines (24-9 in 2006 and 22-11 in 2004 for 11 a side, 23-7 in 2008 for 10 a side).

I would also like to congratulate their two winners, Steve Ahier who won 3-0 and by my reckoning moves ahead of Graham Bisson on points earned for his team in internationals to make him the most succesfull Jersey player in the England v Jersey match. And also to Graeme Le Monnier who (he may not want reminding) has won his first match in 8 attempts. A statistic that shocked me! Well played Graeme!

I think we as a team performed very well as we did in Jersey last year, and did well to keep our focus, considering that Jersey were missing their top players. Well done Steven (Sheardy) on the top aggregate score, a great performance, and well done also to Gareth (Lloydy) for winning his first international match against the legendary spider.

Well done to the ladies and captain Pauline, an incredible run of success for the England Ladies.

And well done to Dave Alder for the work on the programme and his work on the night, everything ran very smooth on the night

I do hope that Jersey will continue to send their top boys over, I know Graeme was disappointed he could only get 10 players for this match. I am sorry they had problems with the hotel, and hope that does not get back to the Jersey boys and it will put them more off coming in future. If Eastbourne is so nice Keith , maybe we could play the international there (or what about Brighton – not far from Gatwick)!

[milko]

nigels said:

I would also like to congratulate their two winners, Steve Ahier who won 3-0 and by my reckoning moves ahead of Graham Bisson on points earned for his team in internationals to make him the most succesfull Jersey player in the England v Jersey match. And also to Graeme Le Monnier who (he may not want reminding) has won his first match in 8 attempts. A statistic that shocked me! Well played Graeme!

Sorry Graeme, I forgot to congratulate you on your win.

We also had a nice chat till 3am, but then you had got used to staying up all night. :) ;)

[JB]

I did enquire at a couple of hotels in Brighton but the best deal was £80 per room and at least £200 for hire of the room for the billiards.
The trouble in Brighton is that hotels are not normally that quiet during the winter months so they know they can still fill their rooms so its hard to get any deals.

We didnt have too much trouble at the hotel except they couldnt find my booking. They had us down as Brac Ken Ridge so were looking under R instead of B. Not sure ive ever heard of a christian name brac!!

[H&J]

milko said:

Friday night
The Jersey contingent also had their problems, as they were evacuated from the hotel at midnight, because some fool smoked in their room and threw out a cigarette into a skip below and set fire to it, so set all the fire alarms off.

Hey it made the news.
www.redhillandreigatelife.co.uk/news/

[Colemanator]

What a laugh ;D

[fazza]

The most intelligent thing that could be done for 2010 is to nominate a committee to find a venue and make all necessary arrangements, rather than leave it to one person. It was said after the 2006 match that this venue could/would never be used again. This was then totally denied at the last AGM when it was announced that it would be used for this match.

Ludicrous. It is a regrettable mistake to use it once, but to use it twice is negligence.

After so many wonderful trips to Jersey, so well organised every two years, it IS about time that they were allowed to stage it EVERY year to avoid the match dying off altogether.

On a separate subject:

Is it anything to do with the floor of the hotel that the tables seem to play very difficult, or is it down to the poor setting up?

[Chris_Sav]

fazza said:

The most intelligent thing that could be done for 2010 is to nominate a committee to find a venue and make all necessary arrangements, rather than leave it to one person. It was said after the 2006 match that this venue could/would never be used again. This was then totally denied at the last AGM when it was announced that it would be used for this match.

Ludicrous. It is a regrettable mistake to use it once, but to use it twice is negligence.

After so many wonderful trips to Jersey, so well organised every two years, it IS about time that they were allowed to stage it EVERY year to avoid the match dying off altogether.

On a separate subject:

Is it anything to do with the floor of the hotel that the tables seem to play very difficult, or is it down to the poor setting up?

The last committee set up by AEBBA was in 2000 to rewrite the rules, one PF was on it. That committee never reported back apart from me (then and since) and the rules have yet to be ratified, seven years later. Committees don't work unless there is a properly run governing association to oversee them.

An association President is normally an honorary 'Father figure'. AEBBA have a most unusual setup with an active autonomous President, who arranges and negotiates these competitions. The accounts are not independently examined (audited) by members and signed off for the AGM. Other AEBBA decisions are made by well meaning individuals throughout the year, without any committee to discuss ideas. AEBBA has never been conventionally run as long as I kave known it. Members don't have to be in the same room to hold meetings in this day an age, we have a forum, ah but I forget AEBBA have always disapproved of this forum and its intentions.

Regarding the venue, I wholeheartedly agree Peter, unless we can host them in a more convivial venue, in barbilliardland, such as Brighton, the competition has a far rosier future if the annual challenge is played out in Jersey where organisation and welcome is guaranteed.

Table set-up?? I don't know I wasn't there this time, but last time at this venue, there were a couple of dogs. The GP was fine, so Dennis (I presume) did his best.


Sav.

[NigelS]

I would have said ok it could be played every year in Jersey, but now we have a Guernsey trip as well, and with Bournemouth during the same period, it is too costly for players to be expected to travel away for two internationals every other year. If Guernsey can come over I can't see why Jersey can't also.

I am sure a better venue could be found, even if it does have to be aroung Gatwick, there are many hotels around the area.

We don't want the match to die off, and I hope Jersey don't want it to die off too, but they need to get there best team over here to make the match as competitive as possible, and that is down to individuals making the effort to come. We would also like to have a set of pairs matches (run with great success inthe Guernsey international) but Jersey are not willing to do this - even in the away game.

With the tables - 2 were very good (on one side of the room) and two were harder but from what I could tell by no means unplayable (Leon got 9k on table 3 but unfortunatley lost them, Gareth got 5k break on it, on table 4 Steve Ahier made a 6k break, Phil Collins made a 5k break) They were a hell of a lot better than 2004 and 2006.

[SirKT]

I do agree to an extent with Peter & Chris about the hotel, but as Jean said the other day, Brighton hotels don`t have to make any reduction to accomodate Bar Billiards. The same has to be said for the airport hotels, they will always fill them because of stopovers, cancellations, weather etc etc..
The last two hotels, Skylane & Excelsior, were both poor for different reasons. The one before, Novatel in Southampton was good I thought, we could go back there, after all, the airport isn`t that far away.
Alternatively, I will start making enquiries in Worthing for 2010 and see what I can come up with. The main line station has a direct route to Gatwick & Brighton and the coastliner bus route goes straight into Brighton as well.

Watch this space ;)

[SirKT]

I must apologise to Leon while i`m at it. Those of you that come to the Internationals know how much I go around to each game if I can, to support the players & encourage them when things aren`t going quite right. When I left Leon`s game, he was going quite nicely on about 4k. I went to Phils` game when he lost his break and to Rays` also. Then I heard Leon had lost his, assuming it was about 5k. I was amazed when I read it was 9k. That table was so difficult & just proves what a brilliant performance Leon put up to get that many, only to lose them. He certainly didn`t deserve to lose the tie :(

[fazza]

sirkt said:

Then I heard Leon had lost his, assuming it was about 5k. I was amazed when I read it was 9k. That table was so difficult & just proves what a brilliant performance Leon put up to get that many, only to lose them. He certainly didn`t deserve to lose the tie :(

I seem to remember somebody else losing about 8,000 on a truly difficult table (where no else had got close to that before) two years ago, then hearing a lot of tutting from a teammate. The final result sheet does not show lost breaks so I hope Leon does not get dropped because of this.

[fazza]

sav said:

The last committee set up by AEBBA was in 2000 to rewrite the rules, one PF was on it. That committee never reported back apart from me (then and since) and the rules have yet to be ratified, seven years later. Committees don't work unless there is a properly run governing association to oversee them.

An association President is normally an honorary 'Father figure'. AEBBA have a most unusual setup with an active autonomous President, who arranges and negotiates these competitions.

Sav.

Although your response is bordering on being "off topic" to some extent, MY point was that it should NOT be left to the frailties of ONE person to arrange the details of this important match. You mentioning the shortcomings of the "last committee set up by the AEBBA" should be brought into perspective.
(but do not blame me for going off topic)

I believe that I did indeed respond as per the following quotations taken from history on this forum.

Quote from Chris Saville under The Rules of our Game thread, 12th Feb 2007

(with corrected spelling of “sucess”)

It is now Feb 12th and I have been trying to get the old AEBBA minutes for exactly two months without success. I have tried via the AEBBA Sec and via Fazza who has them. Dave Alder has not managed to get them from Dave Barnes and Fazza is too 'busy'.


Quote from Chris Saville on the same thread ten days later

now have the minutes thanks to Fazza.

I will extract the changes and publish them.

Sav


So even though I was struggling to get my last BBQ issued at the start of last year, hence the "too busy" jibe above, I did send the minutes to you as soon as I possibly could. I therefore do not agree that you were the only one giving any feedback on this. I still find it difficult to understand why I was the only one to have kept copies of the minutes. Now, I just think most players are fed up hearing about it.

(edited by nigelS to change text colour from purple toyellow for the quotes)

[SirKT]

I seem to remember somebody else losing about 8,000 on a truly difficult table (where no else had got close to that before) two years ago, then hearing a lot of tutting from a teammate. The final result sheet does not show lost breaks so I hope Leon does not get dropped because of this.[/quote][/color]
He might or might not Pete, who`s to say what the selectors will do this year. In the past, some players that have lost their last England match 3-0 didn`t get a second chance, even on Home soil, but Leon had a pretty consistent season last year to warrant his inclusion once again.
I for one won`t forget this lost break seeing as i played that table along with Gareth, neither of us got near Leons break ???

[NigelS]

Speaking as a selector, I would not drop someone from the team due to one mistake like a lost break in an international. Leon has plenty of time this year to prove himself to be up for selection next year. He did so last year after a poor international, and was the only 3-0 loser to retain his spot, showing great strength of character, exactly the attribute you would want from an England player.

The circumstances of his lost break are very different to the 8,000 break lost that you are referring to. Leon’s was the opening break in the 1st leg of a 2 leg match when although 1 point was probably safe there was till opportunity to put the 2nd point (and match safe).

The 8,000 break you lost was in the 2nd leg of a match where a touch up would ensure 2 points, so there was no point in carrying on. The loss of that break threw 2 points away for the team, which could prove vital in the final score. But, again speaking as a selector, this did not completely rule you out for selection for the following year or indeed future years.

Just ask Mark Brewster who made a very successful comeback this year….

[milko]

England v Jersey Ladies Report by Pauline Withey.

Hi Everyone

Well what can I say; the hotel was all we expected really after the reviews we had read beforehand. Keith’s report of how our experience of the hotel went was very accurate, the breakfast once we were told we could have one, was as Keith said very good. I hope it didn’t spoil all the Jersey contingent’s weekend, maybe with the evacuation on Friday night it was a blessing in disguise to the majority that got moved.

Well done to both England teams on their excellent result. I’d also like to say a big thank you to all the Jersey Ladies for coming over and making this International possible for the England Ladies. Sorry not to see Jenny Wallace in the team again this year but hopefully we will see her in the team next year.

LADIES SCORES

PAULINE WITHEY – 3-0 Table 3

Who says I shouldn’t have nerves after all the years I’ve been playing, especially when Zoe started off so well but then unfortunately for her she lost her opening break.
After the first initial break the balls seemed to gather in the middle of the table all through the first game which certainly tested the off the cushion shots, which are mostly alien to us especially playing off the spot. I managed to get the break back once in this game but missed. Our first game ended up with me being 1,010 up.
The second game I did get the break back 3 or 4 times to build up my score from the first game. Well done Zoe you certainly made my nerves jangle in the first game especially.

BELLA STONER – 3-0 Table 2

Table 2 was another table that tested all four of the lady players. Bella was taken by surprise a few times with the way the break was going and the way it rolled but after a few shots Bella did get to grips with the table and she built up a good lead against Jill Barbet who really struggled with the table as well. Bella went into her second game with a 2,210 lead. In the second game Jill broke down straight away on her break, which left Bella to open up her lead from the first game with just over a 2,000 break. Jill had a better second game but still didn’t show what she is normally capable of, (could have been the very disturbed night that everybody had the night before).

JEAN BRACKENRIDGE – 3-0 Table 1

Table 1 was another table that had its quirks, which the men seemed to get the better of, rather than the ladies. This table also needed getting used to and the balls soon gathered in the middle of the table, which Jean managed to get the break back from and had a break of 1,960 in this game against June Hopwood. Jean went into her second game with a lead of 1,900. The second leg I did not mark as I wanted to watch Jean & Sue’s game at the same time, but obviously I was trying to keep an eye on it.
Jean came off her break straight away and yet again the balls ended up in the middle of the table testing the off the spot cushion shots. Jean managed to gather scores along the way; which built her lead up from the first game.

SUE ATKINS – 2-1 Table 4

In Sue’s first game I was actually marking Jean’s game, which meant I only saw the very end of Sue’s game, which ended up very close. Sue ended up a small 60 behind. This came about after Sue managed to get the break back just before the bar went but unluckily came straight off the table at a very crucial time, after most of the balls had gone down Sue was left with one ball. Sue made a quick decision to go behind the black to win the game but missed, Heather then went for the 100 shot and missed, Sue then back on the table and went for the 100 shot this time and it went down (Sue had realized when she missed the 200 shot it was better to keep the score she had rather than risk knocking the black peg over and losing her score). The second game was nip and tuck all the way through until Sue opened up a lead after a break of about 800.

DENISE WILLS – 3-0 Table 2

Denise played Jackie Clark, Jersey Ladies Captain. Yet again this table really tested Denise and Jackie’s off the spot cushion shots down the middle of the table. Denise was against the break in her first game and fought hard to get the break back but as Bella had already found, the break wasn’t as straightforward as it first looked but Denise kept potting and ended up going into her second game by 140. The second game ended up on the same par as the first game, which ended up with the top of the table being played throughout the majority of the game. Denise and Jackie battled it through with Denise coming out on top by 150. A very close fought game, just as Sue and Heather’s was.

I have tried to be as accurate as I can with these games but I apologise if I have missed anything.

Thanks to Dave Alder and the organizers of last weekend, it can’t be an easy job making sure everything runs smoothly and I hope what happened won’t put the Jersey Men’s and Ladies teams off when it is time to come back in 2 years time.

Kind Regards

Pauline Withey (Captain)