why go to the Channel Islands for the World championships?

[taffy]

I looked the other week at how there are less tables, less leagues etc in the Channel islands and just thought; why go there then? or at least, why not rotate the Championships around? Surely, WITHOUT them there, the game would be in an even more perilous position?

Surely it should be a hot bed of the game to have the honour?

Taffy

[Chris_Sav]

Fairly simple really Taffy,  The World Championships belong to Jersey and are nothing to do with AEBBA.

Jersey claimed and registered what was the British Isles Open to be the World Championships some twenty years ago. As far as I can be aware they still own the name.

Apart from which the two Channel Isles comps are amongst the highlights of the bar billiards year.

That's without looking at the logistics of finding and running a venue, bigger than the Bournemouth hotal, for the complete weekend if Jersey allowed the comp to be rotated, which I doubt.
 

[taffy]

So are the WCs holding up a flagging game on the islands or is it the players keeping the WCs that keep the game being played?

you'd think it would be in every single bar and Hotel?

The game itself has a small bowl so you get a small goldfish type-look about it. still, it makes them feel good i suppose.

Dave found out that 4-pin is big in Jamaica and that Teflon P. Wildebeest is trying to do the same there; Steve and Cass are still trying to talk him down off the top of the Multi-storey!!!!

Taffy

[NigelS]

Jul 26, 2019 7:32:54 GMT taffy said:

I looked the other week at how there are less tables, less leagues etc in the Channel islands and just thought; why go there then? or at least, why not rotate the Championships around? Surely, WITHOUT them there, the game would be in an even more perilous position?

Surely it should be a hot bed of the game to have the honour?

Taffy

There is no doubt that Jersey's own league is struggling for teams and venues like many others in the mainland. However the World Championships (British Isles Championships before that) to me is by far the biggest tournament on the calendar, so if any event should be a World Championship this is the one. What makes it the biggest isnt just one thing, it's several which put together cant be matched in tournaments over here. It has a longer history going back to the early 80's. It is played on their tables which have bigger pockets, and is played off the spot which adds to the challenge. It gets the bigger entry and because its a weekend event most people are around for the final and presentation which adds to the atmosphere at the end of the event.

I could go on but really can only urge any bar billiards players who have never been to give it a go at least once. Not sure what the future holds, but if the World Championships was moved from Jersey it would be a sad day for bar billiards.

[taffy]

Interesting? it is nice to recieve your trophy in front of an appreciative audience instead of the caretaker who says; "yada, yada, yada!!!! right, now get out i've got to lock up!"

Two schools of thought here;
1) persuade them that for it to come to the mainland for a year under licence would give the game such a boost that it could relaunch the game etc etc. that then, on it's return, the boost from the Uk would still feed into better numbers over there....a stronger game overall.

2) get some kind of obscure TV channel to say they'd cover a first UK world final with options back on Jersey if the UK one is good. While also getting an agreement that if the Uk round gained good results entries and publicity that the WCs come back every 3/4 years making the trips both ways across 'special'.

3) Presumably, if entries tripled and financial agreements could be sorted, the people with the licence (let me call them Jersey BBA) get to take the entry fees etc over HERE, filling their coffers as usual and thus making the hotel(s) the only loser. if you know it is for only one year the hotel(s) shouldn't be too miffed?

seems like a dead end how it is?

we used to have 5 Nations rugby but they knew it was better for the game to allow Italy in. Mind you, when you see the World Snooker Final leave the Uk you'll know that that was for a financial inducement. But the game will be the better for China holding it.

Taffy

I agree wholeheartedly with Nigel's assessment.

Taffy, I agree that there are many things that could be done to save our dying game, but moving the World Championships isn't one of them.

[taffy]

I need to practice my 50/50 for a good bit longer yet!

Taffy

Jul 26, 2019 10:35:29 GMT taffy said:

I need to practice my 50/50 for a good bit longer yet!

Taffy

You can't miss the 50/50 in Jersey. The problem for most players comes if you leave a ball up the middle: not being able to use the whole D narrows the angle available for the next shot. This favours the player who is able to apply loads of side, with the best option often being a carefully-judged shot off the side cushion.

[oaklj007]

You will be taking away to much history if this got moved!

[bigtj]

Many look forward each year to reuniting in Jersey and indeed make a week of it, not only about the bar billiards and I for one hope this great tournament continues for a long time.

As Nigel says be a sad day if this is moved from Jersey, but we are all realistic and know the game needs a boost.

Look at the league numbers in decline, the Opens that are struggling for entries, so we need to keep the best going and again I agree come on those who have never been give it go.

[dillon]

There are many reasons to keep the world championship in Jersey. All have been aired recently. For me, however, the most important one has been left unsaid. If they were held on the mainland with rotating venues hosted by the various centres it would be quite probable that those taking part would come and go as per conventional opens, according to their progrrss, or lack of it, on any of tha 3 days. We wpuld end up with virtually nobody bothering to come to the finals as only the avid and the immediate associates of those taking part would drive the distance.
By going to Jersey we make the effort to have something just that bit special. We take time to do our thing, but we do so in a way that means we can spend longer with people we only see from time to time before shooting back to the M25 or whatever. We can relax with friends and we can drink without having to gamble about the driving. Those who tend to always drive get a breath of freedom and everyone gets a glimpse of the way that this game should be...a great pub game, instead of a sterile and sober battle of giants. Nuffsaid. Thats all from me on this one.

[Chris]

Dear Taffy

Jersey holds a stunning event that needs to be attended to know why …. as do Guernsey theirs too is stunning.

I think you should attend and then decide what you post re your ideas.

Jersey and Guernsey get the most competitors re events - Jersey is Open so can take more than Guernsey and does - but Guernsey is oversubscribed as places are limited !!! Both Opens take more than any UK ones.

All Bar Billiards is in decline here. This event takes the most entries now and then I believe Guernsey next.

My answer would be comment when you have participated in an event, as then you can speak from first hand knowledge with all the facts.

Chris

[taffy]

thanks for all the well formed answers. Pleased to see you have faith in it staying there.

Taffy




[edit by Sav] jibe removed

[Chris]

Taffy

May I ask why you even suggested a move ?

May I ask also why you are even interested in this event and a move, as you have never been ? and have no understanding of it ? Not a criticism just a fact

I ask sincerely and would ask for a sincere response. I am not having a go just wondering your interest ?

Thanks Chris

[taffy]

I made my points clearly above.

Just to sugar the pill slightly for Taffy, as he’s a good egg really and is putting much effort into reviving the game in the Cambridge area – and his original question is a valid one which after this may even prompt others to recount their experiences . . . . .

As has been pointed out, there is a strong tradition involved: 'Jersey' has been going since 1981 when it started off as the British Isles Open Championships and attracted an entry of 500+ players.

Numerous prizes were on offer thanks to a generous sponsorship by Jersey travel agents Travtel, and in those heady early days the winner could come away with a two-week holiday in some far-flung place like Rio de Janeiro.
Entry was bound to dwindle over the years and has now fallen to below 200 but it has lost little of its appeal for many, with a group format having been introduced, along with a 'Plate' so that each player has at least a few opportunities to sparkle...

I have entered 14 times if you count the two occasions I didn't make it over (one cancelled through bad weather, the other a row with the ferry company). All this adds to the sense of embarking upon an adventure, as there are so many choices along the way: my preferred means of transport being by boat, taking the car, and I have only flown once. This incidentally when it was organised for me as part of Sparky's party, and I managed my best effort, a Last 16 place thanks largely to taking Margo's (2-piece) cue which I discovered suited me better than my own and which I have used ever since.

Going by boat is always a bit of a gamble, the Sea Cat (high-speed catamaran) takes you over from Poole in 4.75 hours including half-hour docking at Guernsey (it’s less than an hour by plane) but the November weather can cause a delay with the return sailing and a couple of times the only choice has been to take the traditional chug-chug ferry back to Portsmouth, running overnight and tossing about on the waves for 12 hours.

Another choice is where to stay on the island, and in my time I have stayed in eight different hotels. Once we did a midweek Wednesday to Wednesday and managed to visit every one of the bays, clocking up 200 miles on an island which only measures 9 miles by 5 miles. There is plenty to see, like the Jersey Zoo and the German underground hospital, and a must is to fill up with cheap petrol for the journey home, and this year should see the return of “duty frees”.

So, setting any personal aspirations apart, the weekend offers a unique atmosphere and a sense of adventure. Some go for the chance of an extended piss-up, some have found romance, and one year I took a chess set over and played all-comers: I turned in at 4am after a final game with Neil Martel of Chichester where neither of us could hardly stand, and Margo rolled in half-an-hour later in an even worse state after drinking with the Eastbourne lads !

An added bonus of course is if one of your mates does well, and although I have missed the last few, it is still exciting following progress from the armchair when the time comes round.

I should of course add a mention for Guernsey, now in its twelfth year, and will prepare a follow-up post.