Mens Individual Championship, All-England Ladies, Over 50s

Oct 24, 2017 11:22:43 GMT bigtj said:

... I know people can enter on the day but how many will we need for the Over 50s to go ahead as I for one do not want to travel a distance to only find it cancelled on the day.

To aid the decision (though I honestly don't know why I bother sometimes ) this has been the line-up for the last ten years:

2007: 33
2008: 31
2009: 30
2010: 24
2011: 16
2012: 31
2013: 25
2014: 20
2015: 29
2016: 20

[triplex]

No Northants Ladies Entry

[Chris]

TJ the over 50's will take place as it is not a stand alone competition - unlike say the mixed pairs

Chris x

[bigtj]

Thanks

[Pete S]

Please add Pete Phillips to the over 50's

Thanks

[NigelS]

So...with less than a week to go before the competition questions remain unanswered......

Is Sav playing for Suffolk?????

Is there a name for the unnamed Cambs player who is playing??????

Are there any more than the SIX over 50s entries??????

Answers not on a postcard but on this thread please........

[Chris_Sav]

Yes I have very close ties with the lads in Suffolk and hopefully will continue to do so, I expect to be crawling around under tables as usual next March and am booked in at the Bay already!

I am flattered by the invitation from Suffolk and, though it would appear to be perfectly legal as I have not played for Kent this season, I do not think it is in the spirit of the game that I accept the invitation.

As Nigel says it would also appear to me that several of the AEBBA Individuals players would be likely entries to the over 50's, so holding the two competitions with a similar entry list on the same day appears a decision that needs reconsidering next year. Personally I enjoyed the day when it was twinned with the over 60's though I accept the uncertainty over conflict the final stages caused problems. 

[daveuk1]

Due to work going mad it looks highly unlikely that I will be able to represent Suffolk in the over 50's. I was looking forward it as I havent managed to play in a single 3 pin tournament all year and I am still hoping that one day I will be able to win my first ever leg in a 3 pin match.

[bigtj]

Any more over 50s as I think it hardly worth the travelling if only 5 entries.

[shaggy]

What time does it start ?

[bigtj]

Think it is normally 11.30.

[bigtj]

Good luck to Jim Greensted and Jean Brackenridge at the weekend representing Sussex.

[barbelman]

Nov 2, 2017 8:13:37 GMT bigtj said:

Good lick to Jim Greensted and Jean Brackenridge at the weekend representing Sussex.

I know you Sussex players are all very close but that's taking it too far TJ!! 

They're preparing to lick the opposition !

[bigtj]

Nov 2, 2017 10:18:11 GMT barbelman said:

Nov 2, 2017 8:13:37 GMT bigtj said:

Good lick to Jim Greensted and Jean Brackenridge at the weekend representing Sussex.

I know you Sussex players are all very close but that's taking it too far TJ!! 

Whatever floats my boat, besides you all know I am an old duffer.

[bigjimsilverfox]

Any timings for the day?

[Chris]

Nov 2, 2017 11:14:55 GMT bigtj said:

Nov 2, 2017 10:18:11 GMT barbelman said:

I know you Sussex players are all very close but that's taking it too far TJ!! 

Whatever floats my boat, besides you all know I am an old duffer.

This just totally made my day ... wins award of the week - Tony Jenner for giving us a huge smile xxx

[jordans]

I am with Dave Alder tonight. Please add Tony Martin and Brian Dawkins for the Over 50's.

[triplex]

Any idea on Timings yet for the start and finish as need to arrange some stuff for work.

Thanks

[BB Warrior]

Oct 24, 2017 14:44:10 GMT tommo III said:

To aid the decision (though I honestly don't know why I bother sometimes ) this has been the line-up for the last ten years:

2007: 33
2008: 31
2009: 30
2010: 24
2011: 16
2012: 31
2013: 25
2014: 20
2015: 29
2016: 20

It seems a shame that we seem to only have 5 or 6 entries for the Over 50's this year, I was thinking of playing myself however I have a lot going on in life at the moment that has to take priority and, if I am honest, I don't think I would bother to enter something with so few people anyway.

Looking at the figures that Tommo provided, I have to ask the question as to why we have so few entries this year? I can think of a few possible answers....

1) Players preferred it when the Over 50's and Over 60's were played on the same day as many people qualified for both competitions.
2) More local support from Oxon players at Didcot, who are not willing to travel to Arborfield.
3) The date being so close to Jersey weekend.

We have already "lost" the AEBBA Mixed Pairs this year and many other competitions have struggled for numbers, only becoming viable at the last minute in some cases after they are promoted and pushed more.

I hope that the AEBBA Committee will give some thought to what can be done (if anything) to try to persuade more people to take part in the national events, for me it has been very refreshing to see some events being promoted well (Under 30's, Alternative Rules) and seeing improved numbers at those competitions..... something that certainly needs to happen in the future to keep the national tournaments running successfully.

[bigtj]

Ian Lelliott has said he is not attending due to lack of numbers, I personally think it is best to hold the 50s and 60s on the same day as saves travelling, ensures at least two games when you have travelled to attend.

Jersey could certainly be a factor, the lack of promoting these events could be a factor, shame if Oxford will not travel to Aborfield, when others travel good distances on a regular basis.

This is certainly a big drop in numbers, the other problem with registration on the day is the uncertainty on how many taking part and a decision on whether worth travelling.

First of all, I agree wholeheartedly with the comments made in previous two posts.

Maybe there is insufficient prestige to winning an over 50's competition, let's face it that is Open to 50% of the bar billiards world.

Time to re-dedicate it next year to an "over-70's" ?

But most importantly, AEBBA need to take aboard the recommendation in the previous posts that both senior comps should be held on the same day for logistical purposes - thus attracting a better entry.

["Silent"]

I think you will find that one of the reasons for splitting the two days up is the difficulty in sorting out schedules on the day with a number of players doing well in both competitions....

Nov 3, 2017 20:20:29 GMT "Silent" said:

I think you will find that one of the reasons for splitting the two days up is the difficulty in sorting out schedules on the day with a number of players doing well in both competitions....

Catch 22 situation then:

Hold separate days and only get half a dozen entries and an easy schedule to work out

vs

Hold same day and get 20 entries but struggle to keep to schedule with the closing stages.

I don't know what the answer is......Sounds like one for the AGM - which is a mere month away.

[Chris]

Or maybe you have all forgotten that it is Bonfire night.

Those of us with children or grand children will not be attending as family and events here come first for many of us.

Chris xxx

[BigPhilMac]

If there are so few entries for the over 50s there has to be a way to accommodate this via a format change.

For example have a round robin as we would in the under 30s with top two playing off in a final, at least then a good day could be made of it and make the travel more worthwhile.

[NigelS]

Some info for tomorrow.

Mens - I believe we do have a Cambs players so 9 players, groups of 4 and 5. Winners go into finals.
Ladies - 5 ladies (we have a Berks entry)...Round Robin, winner is champion, no final
Over 50s. - 7 entries, I have allowed for 8 in the format, 2 groups (double legs), winners play a final

Start time 11.30am, finish 5.30pmish.

I agree it is disappointing to only have a few over 50s entries, well down on previous years, I agree with Matt it is very much catch 22, splitting form the over 60s I think has proved the main problem, but holding it with the over 60s makes it difficult to organise - but Ironically enough only if you are talking the 30 entries we got before not the 7 entries we have now. Also with falling numbers in general you dont really know if that has an impact (but this is a dramatic drop so you would think there is more to it). One problem is that if players decide not to go because there is low numbers, that will also contribute to the problem - if a dozen players are not going cos they think the entry is low, if they all went you are back to 20 entries if you see what i mean. As Dave says there are positives, the under 30s is looking good already this year thanks to pushing from Kyle in particular. I am sure this will be discussed at the AGM but any suggestions are welcome.....

[bigtj]

Good luck to Jim and Jean representing Sussex tomorrow.

[bigtj]

I agree it is disappointing to only have a few over 50s entries, well down on previous years, I agree with Matt it is very much catch 22, splitting form the over 60s I think has proved the main problem, but holding it with the over 60s makes it difficult to organise - but Ironically enough only if you are talking the 30 entries we got before not the 7 entries we have now. Also with falling numbers in general you dont really know if that has an impact (but this is a dramatic drop so you would think there is more to it). One problem is that if players decide not to go because there is low numbers, that will also contribute to the problem - if a dozen players are not going cos they think the entry is low, if they all went you are back to 20 entries if you see what i mean. As Dave says there are positives, the under 30s is looking good already this year thanks to pushing from Kyle in particular. I am sure this will be discussed at the AGM but any suggestions are welcome.....


Certainly the under 30s has seen a good response to all of Kyle`s work.


I agree it is always awkward if people are looking at the numbers entered and deciding not worth attending and this can lead to a numbers drop as we will not have a true reflection of may have attended. I am definitely there tomorrow, as I want to support the two Sussex representatives, and also play the Over 50s. I am one who has always wanted the Over 50s and 60s to be played on the same day as it makes logistical sense to one who could well travel up on their own.

The sad news that Dave is standing down is another reason that things need to be looked at in depth, I am not sure there is an easy answer as Dave has said previous comments and ideas have been looked at and changes made, but rather than those changes improving things we see a worsening situation. Opens with low numbers of entries which if one works out the table hire, maybe venue hire and prize monies are in danger of not even breaking even and therefore becoming financially viable.

With dropping numbers there are less to contribute towards raffles and again this gives a drop in revenue, those doing the catering for events are appreciated but again with less people there it is becoming less viable for them to spend their time doing the catering, let alone cover their costs.

Moving events around the country helps some but we increasingly see that people will not travel too far afield. It does have to be remembered that only a certain number of people are going to win events, especially opens, and the rest of us who like me like to come along and try to beat at along and do our best to cause an upset, but I am honest enough to know I have my limitations and am likely to go out early, and I try and stay to score games during the day, but there must come a point where people think is it worth attending if you are going to go out early and have spent a fair amount of money travelling and entering the event, trying to support the raffle and the caterers, think enough is enough.

Let us hope the Over 60s is better supported and let those of us attending the Over 50s tomorrow have a good day and with the formats Nigel has devised at least we will get a few frames of bar billiards for our efforts.

I do not have the answers and do help do a fair amount on the local level to give something back to the game, but we are down to the logistical problem of being able to help with national events.

Also a lot of people who help keep events and leagues going are of the older generation and aging each year, I do remember when the van first became an idea there were a number of people who said they would volunteer to help, but that really did not transpire, leaving Dave to it. Whoever takes over is going to need support, and it would be nice to see some younger blood taking on some of the running of our game.

[Chris]

Following Dave Alders post tonight I pray that as many over 50's get there tomos. I would have but it is my retirement weekend I had a party tonight and have one tomos too,, x