Grand Prix 2014

[bobhall]

I would have played but work calls I am gutted to miss this event as it is one of my dreams to be Able to play in there are things that need to change but being dressed smartly is the least of my worries

[BB Warrior]

Personally speaking, I think it is a good thing that we will see some new faces at the Grand Prix this year, many of them players who have regularly supported the Opens for the last few years and have played very well this year.... they deserve the opportunity to play in this flagship event for AEBBA.

Of the original 16 players that qualified, 5 have withdrawn for various reasons.... Ian Lelliott (because of the "penguin rule"), two players from the Channel Islands (Bob Chapple & Bob King) probably due to the cost of travelling to the event and two others (Barry Radford & Mark James) for other reasons that I don't know.

The fact that 8 of the next 13 replacements have dropped out (several for either "penguin rule" / travelling from Channel Islands reasons) has made the situation look worse than it actually is. My own view is that dressing up should not be required for this competition and I respect the players that actually state that is the reason that they won't play.... I will dress up because I want to play but will then be taking my bow tie off as soon as the pictures are taken as I want to feel comfortable when I play and don't like having tight collars around my neck.

Perhaps I am wrong to do that, however it does seem a bit daft to have a rule for waistcoats and bow ties for the Grand Prix when none of us wear those for any other competition and they aren't even required when you play for the England Team.... as Ian Lelliott has told me many time - "this is a pub game".

PS. I can't agree with Tommo's idea to reduce the numbers and make it "more exclusive".... surely we want to make the game more "inclusive" and encourage more people to play?

[Sir Chancelot]

Nov 19, 2014 9:12:46 GMT tommo III said:

Nah, sorry, you've lost the plot there, Stormin' !

New ideas needed to save the game - Sorry if you disagree - but something is obviously wrong if so many qualified players are not playing in this Grand Prix, so why be so afraid/critical of a sensible suggestion ? I have not lost the plot, but others obviously have

Nov 19, 2014 15:48:36 GMT BB Warrior said:

PS. I can't agree with Tommo's idea to reduce the numbers and make it "more exclusive".... surely we want to make the game more "inclusive" and encourage more people to play?

Taken slightly out of context as not a suggestion for a future trend for the competition.
It was for a scenario when you are going down to the thirties or forties to try and gain a thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth player.

This would be against the spirit of the competition - it was designed to be a showpiece playoff for the best in-form players in Opens and their equivalents. You could still run a good competition around 12 players as an emergency contingent.

Please don't get me wrong - ideal scenario is for all the top 16 to play, if necessary the dress code to be relaxed to enable this.

Second best to this is what we have had in recent years, with worthy substitutes included. Well done to all of these I say for having joined an exclusive club.

[bobhall]

You want ideas how about ranking points for late stages of the plate even if for world championships that would suit me ;)

[milhouse]

What would be helpful is the players who have qualified and have pulled out, the EXACT reason why they have pulled out. Obviously we know the reason for Ian Lelliott, but what about the others?

If it is a case that nobody wants to dress up, then maybe All England will need to look into it? If there are other reasons, then maybe that needs to be looked at too?

[dipper]

I do know that Ian Lelliott would play if he did not have to to wear a waistcoat, and in the past Dave France would have played if not for the same reason.

[BB Warrior]

Nov 19, 2014 17:23:38 GMT bobhall said:

You want ideas how about ranking points for late stages of the plate even if for world championships that would suit me ;)

Ranking Points are already given for all Plate Competitions, including the World Championships.... Grand Prix points are only awarded for the latter stages of the Main Open Competitions.

[BB Warrior]

Nov 19, 2014 18:03:35 GMT dipper said:

I do know that Ian Lelliott would play if he did not have to to wear a waistcoat, and in the past Dave France would have played if not for the same reason.

Bill Kerr (RIP) was unable to take part last year due to the rule about waistcoats.... Sav and Milko have both mentioned the same in their posts advising that they would not take part.

Other players obviously may have different reasons for not playing.

[Colemanator]

Instead of waistcoats then, why not produce a polo shirt for each player, saying 'Grand prix 2014' AEBBA etc etc, Northants have a masters comp run much along the same lines, with the top 8 each having one colour shirt for the Prem, next 8 have another colour for div 1 etc, all the way down to a div 4, and they looked good, and it worked well.

[Sir Chancelot]

If they can not get 16 players to make up the Grand Prix, perhaps there could be a friendly between the top 6 players who refuse to wear a Penguin suit/bow tie and the top 6 players who wish to

Knowing of your fondness for triangular challenges, you would have to add a further team of 6 with part-Scottish ancestry willing to wear the full regalia of kilt, sporran, sgian dubh and ghillies etc.

[The Bullet]

I was looking forward to the Grand Prix but after spending over £1,500 and using 6 days holidays so far this year I could not afford another £500+ and another day off work.
Wearing a waistcoat and bow tie would not be a problem as I think it adds to the event, but if some drop out because of this rule then that's their right and should not be slated for it.

[NigelS]

Ian Moss next can someone send me his number please

[milhouse]

Nov 20, 2014 10:03:06 GMT NigelS said:

Ian Moss next can someone send me his number please

I have just text him....

[mossy]

im afraid i have to work this weekend,but thankyou for the offer

[NigelS]

So after 17 no's we have 16 yesses!

Here are the groups for Sunday

Group 1
Dave Ingram (1)
Nigel Senior (8)
Martin Cole (9)
Tony Martin (16)

Group 2
Kevin Tunstall (2)
Mike Daw (7)
Colin Southouse (10)
Phil Osborne (15)

Group 3
Curt Driver (3)
Gerry Fitzjohn (6)
Kevin Hall (11)
Geoff MAce (14)

Group 4
Mark Brewster (4)
Mark Trafford (5)
Martin Smith (12)
Phil COllins (13)

Now I just need to find 1 lady!

[gandalf the untidy]

Perhaps there are just too many events for the top guys to keep their enthusiasm at a high level

[gandalf the untidy]

got me waistcoat, new one required as the old one has shrunk in the wardrobe over the last 15 years and no longer fits.... have also acquired tennis elbow... bu**er

[BB Warrior]

Congratulations to Phil Collins on his victory at the Grand Prix yesterday, beating Kevin Tunstall in an incredibly high scoring final. KT won the toss, Phil ran the table out with 23k plus leaving Kevin to pot the last ball in the 200 hole. Kevin then ran the table out himself with 21k plus in a fantastic effort to catch Phil.

Earlier in the Group games, Phil had emerged as winner from the very tough group 4 and also hit the high break of the day (23,450) before beating Group 1 winner Nigel Senior in the semi-final while Kevin had single handedly won the "Battle of Hastings" winning Group 2 and the beaten Group 3 winner Curt Driver in the semi-final.

Some very high scoring matches throughout the whole day in the groups with ALL of the players more than justifying their place in this competition.

Many thanks to Dave Alder for running another great day and to the Didcot Club for hosting the event.

[gandalf the untidy]

Hi grand Prix Fans

Yes a great day for Bar Billiards, sadly the hastings boys and their apponent were all off the pace early on, but kt (after some training from yours truly on how not to play bb) came through improving with each game.

I understand the Gandalf background sound effects weren't appreciated by some, unfortunately something I cant control.. a bit like my dippy right arm these days

[milko]

Open Grand Prix, Ladies Grand Prix & Ladies Winner Pauline Withey

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