East Anglian / World Four Pin

[daveuk1]

Here in Sudbury we are considering the options, with the open only a couple of weeks away, the plan at the present time is to continue with preparations with a view to hold the event as planned. This option may of course be taken away if the government slap a ban on indoor events.
Our committee will be meeting next Friday to discuss things further.

It would be interesting to hear some of your thoughts though, the people I have spoken to seem to think we should go ahead and indeed I did have someone phone me last night asking for suggestions on accomodation near the venue and they have now booked for the Friday and Saturday nights

If it does go ahead I think we would need to ask for everyones help, being sensible, being responsible etc. Around this area we cant even buy a toilet roll, although I wouldn't ask people to bring toilet rolls it would be extremely helpful if you find a source of hand sanitizer that you could bring your own along with you.

Dave

[Chris_Sav]

Good planning Dave.


Personally, being in the at risk group I have my doubts about coming, much as I would hate to miss the weekend.

I suspect that, in the next couple of days, I won't have any choice.

Be a shame if I miss it, I'm well stocked with toilet rolls 

[daveuk1]

After talking to some "away players" it seems most people are keen for the tournament to go ahead.
Can we please ask people to leave their thoughts below

[chrishaynes (R.I.P.)]

There are many possibilities to be able to play the open with different venues etc if masonic lodge closed, perhaps utilise the local pubs for group games, may take longer but think its feasible!

[NigelS]

Hi Dave,

You guys have to make the decision. I respect whatever decision you make.

Personally I am in two minds but I doubt I would travel up given the current circumstances. I know Michelle definitely will not be playing.

Thanks

Nigel

[Chris_Sav]

The masonic hall is a privately run company not just freemasonry and so their trustees would make their own decision. Freemasonry has issued the same advice as the government of self isolation on a voluntary basis, only did it earlier.

Personally, being in the vulnerable group I won't be going, Dave would appreciate you cancelling my lodgings.

I respect that the government is trying to avoid the NHS being swamped by everybody in the vulnerable groups getting ill and many needing NHS critical care at the same time and will heed that advice. For vulnerable people or those that live with vulnerable people to ignore the advice I believe is foolhardy, If the NHS is swamped by serious cases of covid-19 then it will not just be those with covid-19 that are dying unnecessarily. 
 

[bigtj]

Like Nigel I feel it is up to the organisers but I can see a lot of people being concerned at travelling at the moment, so the numbers will suffer and the groups could need to be redrawn.

I would be travelling with others so it would have to be a consensus of all of us coming together.

[bigjimsilverfox]

Sorry but I have cancelled my travel plans for this one. Gutted but think it's for the best
Jim Greensted

Please donate my entry fee to SARS

[jelly]

I won't be travelling to this sadly. A great shame but I think it important for everyone to do their little bit and follow the latest advice in order to protect others and this definitely falls into the category of unnecessary travel and social contact. If it is rearranged I will be keen to play in that, once everything has calmed down.

[rickc]

Many apologies to all but I also won’t be attending

[alanturner]

To be honest if it is cancelled , then i think the fairest way would be to award the world crown to the 1st person out of draw  !!

[daveuk1]

Personally, if I was a responsible person I would say we should cancel. There is a chance we could rearrange the tournament to run along with the 4x4 weekend, but this may clash with the interleague div 2 thingy.
If people still do want to come down and play we have the option of turning it into the EA open with reduced entrants.

If we do cancel the world 4 pin the question will be, what do you want us to do with the entry fees paid? We can try to refund everyone. Just leave it so people who have paid are in credit for our next tournament or we could just donate the money to charity so SARS don't lose out.

All the above are only my thoughts, as I've said the Suffolk BBA will be holding a meeting later this week.

Dave

[alanturner]

What we must not forget is that if it is cancelled / postponed or goes ahead ......The event raises funds for Suffolk Accident Rescue Services ..So dont forget to sell the draw tickets , i sure it can still be draw on the day or there abouts , i am sure that someone will inform you were to send the money plus any donations you would like to make .

On the bright side if the event is just postponed then SARS may benefit further 

On a personal basis if the event is cancelled/postponed then i would have no objection my entry fee going to SARS anyway , i am sure that most people will feel the same way.................

Only you and your committee can make the decision whether to go ahead or postpone or cancel, Dave.

I will support your decision on any of these options, but do not think downgrading a very good idea as it defeats the object (of the Gov't recommendations).

Also, having many key players missing does tend to detract from the whole spectacle. It does not seem that there are many dropouts at present, but many come four to a car and if the driver withdraws then that's probably going to mean four missing not just one.

I'm still very much up for it, but if circumstances dictate otherwise........

Will send my raffle tickets off and not fussed about entry fee refund - as Alan says, SARS should not suffer over this.

Keep well all,
tommo 

   

[milko]

I'm sorry to say that I will not be attending.

Hope this horrible thing will disappear quickly and this tournament, if cancelled, can be rescheduled for later in the year but I very much doubt it.


Milko

[daveuk1]

Mar 17, 2020 14:13:00 GMT milko said:

I'm sorry to say that I will not be attending.

Hope this horrible thing will disappear quickly and this tournament, if cancelled, can be rescheduled for later in the year but I very much doubt it.


Milko

Dohh Milko what are you like, now I've got 16 cans of John smiths to drink

[bigtj]

Re cancellation: Moved here from cancellation announcements



Sensible decision and sure support will be there later in the year.

[daveuk1]

TJ I am already looking at alternative dates, problem I have is when will be able/allowed to play it? I was thinking of June or July but not sure if that is too soon

I think that June or July would be too soon, Dave, as if all goes well those months would be used by Leagues to play catch-up with their season.

Jeremy's earlier suggestion of the "special weekend" coupling the Open with the 4x4 Team sounded better, and our impression was that this would be in September.  You could still include the Friday night pi$$up coupled with a 'Blind Pairs'.

As it stands there will probably be a clash of date with AEBBA's County Div.2, but AEBBA are already having to consider a slight shuffle of the Alt.Rules with Surrey to accommodate the deferred Surrey Open, so hopefully will be negotiable.  

[daveuk1]

I think we would be looking at a blind pairs Friday night, 4 pin open Saturday and Sunday the 4x4. maybe this could be a time for aebba to support counties and shelve their own less prominent completions for the year

Sounds like a plan.
Bear in mind that the Surrey Open weekend is being moved to 05/06 Sept.
And that a priority for a lot of people will be a re-arranged Guernsey Open if it comes to that.

[Chris_Sav]

Mid to late June, if things settle down, was my suggestion because the hall will be available as Freemasonry has gone into lock-down for four months and will be at the end of its normal season anyway. If Suffolk leave it until September then the new masonic season will be starting and there are going to be several lodges at the hall playing catch-up  for meetings and socials.

Last week in June is AEBBA off-the-spot followed the week after by the Kent Classic. Sussex is first week end in June if it goes ahead. September there are already competitions three of the four weekends (not counting Surrey).

I think something is going to have to give in the autumn, even if all comps can all be squeezed in, people will be sick of billiards come Christmas unless some are cancelled for this year.. 

There is the other rather more important consideration of whom is going to do all these deliveries? Dave Alder is retiring from delivering in August.

[JB]

The problem at the moment is no one knows when this will end so forward planning is almost impossible.

When it does eventually end there is going to be a massive rush by everyone to try to get their leagues finished, opens planned etc.

These events are important for different reasons some financial to everyone.

It may be a time for AEBBA, Counties, local leagues to discuss with each other and help each other out with planning competitions.

Let’s hope this is sooner rather than later.

[NigelS]

As Jean says we just dont know when this will end so planning new dates at the moment is surely not realistic

I would like to think that once it is clear we can start to plan these postponed events we can all sit down and cooperate and come up with solutions that are fair to all.

Unfortunately we are just in a state of limbo at the moment.

[Chris]

A heads up....

This will truly not end for some months to come.

You are unlikely to see any restrictions prior to September and maybe later

Chris x