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Post by Chris_Sav on Dec 8, 2021 10:34:09 GMT
At a committee meeting at the Fleur yesterday evening there was plenty of time for discussion as the pub had no bitter on draft!  . Fortunately I had got the push bike out then put it away as the weather was so poor and decided to drive and not drink.
Unfortunately not all interested teams were represented, partly due to covid isolations.
The league still has six potential teams. The Market Inn made it clear that, to have a table back in, both their teams would need to be playing on Tuesday nights. The Market would not surrender the space for a table for one match a fortnight. It was not certain whether the Market 'A' will be playing as they had no representative, phone calls were made and they will hopefully be playing. The Market 'B' team made it clear they would only be playing if the Market had a table.
Likely teams are Five Bells (one former Cow team lost), Fleur (one team lost??), Market 'A', Market 'B', Alma (one team lost for certain). The Anchor will be approached to see if the continued interest in the table there might produce a team. The Fitz table has been removed.
The decision was made to plan for a restart on Tuesday Jan 11th with a new all play all winter league format. Seeding of teams into two divisions will be discussed when the situation is clearer.
The Red Cow table will go in the Five Bells on Tuesday Jan 4th at 2000hrs
The finals night tables will go in the Sandwich pubs on Wednesday Jan 5th, Market at 1930hrs, Fleur at 2030hrs.
If the Market Inn is lost then the league will fold and the tables disposed of as a job lot for what we can get. There will be no point in wasting the time and effort of individual sales to maximise revenue as there will be no league to benefit.
If the league does restart then removing three tables from Chris's place should make room to start work on the others, though progress wil be slow.
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Post by Chris_Sav on Dec 29, 2021 22:50:51 GMT
Given the current tidal wave of covid cases, we are reconsidering tables going back in pubs next week. If so this will mean a delay in fixtures restarting on Jan 11th.
We also need an EGM in order to consider changing the break order in favour of a division 2 team when a division 2 team plays a division 1 team.
Sav
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Post by Chris_Sav on Jan 3, 2022 18:59:42 GMT
Reinstallation of tables over the next couple of nights has now been postponed for three weeks.
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Post by Chris_Sav on Jan 21, 2022 10:12:22 GMT
EGM was held last evening and, unfortunately, the siuation remains unclear as to whether the league will be viable.
Another meeting has been called for Feb 10th at which time a decision will be made as to restart or of winding up the league.
Five Bells (ex Red Cow 'A'), Fleur 'A', DSAOC, Market Inn 'B' & Alma 'A' are set to continue
Market Inn 'A' (Anne K. retiring) are doubtful and without two teams the Market will decline a table, Market 'B' will not then play elsewhere.
Fleur 'B' appear unlikely. Alma 'B' have folded. Anchor do not have a team. Two Sawyers have folded. Red Cow 'B' have folded, Red Cow table has been permanently removed. Fitz table has been permanently removed.
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Post by tommo III on Jan 21, 2022 16:52:29 GMT
I realise it's not time yet, Chris, but as a matter of interest which of the two Five Bells pubs is shortly to be graced with a b-b table: Ringwould, Deal - or Eastry, Sandwich?  |
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Post by Chris_Sav on Feb 1, 2022 19:19:15 GMT
Sorry Clive, only just spotted this.
Five Bells Eastry is the target pub with the table going in the old fire station next door which is now the function room for the pub.
Ironically the move to go foody at our old haunt, The Red Cow, has failed and it has changed hands again. The new incumbent wants to return it to being a 'pub' pub and has approached our team to return should the league restart. A lot has been done at the Bells to accommodate us however.
Situation overall is still dire, if we cannot get a combination that gives us six teams, at minimum of three per team membership, for certain on the tenth then the sword of Damocles will fall.
Going to try a quiet pint for the first time since Xmas this evening, hope the Bells has some decent bitter.
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Post by Chris_Sav on Feb 3, 2022 9:18:05 GMT
Five Bells, Eastry, table with the 3D printed rings is going in next Tuesday
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Post by Chris_Sav on Feb 11, 2022 9:49:08 GMT
The make or break meeting of the Dover Deal and District Bar Billiards League was held yesterday evening at the Market Inn.
The meeting opened at 2000hrs, the only motion on the agenda was the continuation/closing of the league for which a minimum of six teams had been decided at the previous meeting.
There were only five teams, the league could not restart. After heated discussion during which the Market Inn representative was totally against my compromise suggestion of freezing assets, just playing friendlies until September. This would give a chance for other teams to be recruited once tables were back in pubs. The Market Inn representative also demanded the league owned table be sold to the Market Inn landlady for the team to continue. I was totally against the table being sold off, especially at a knock down price of a few hundred pounds. I was in favour of selling/giving the tables to existing pubs at knock down prices if the league folded and assets became irrelevant. I then became the target of a tirade from the Market Inn representative, at which point I left the meeting.
The league then agreed to sell a table to the Market Inn and the Market Inn representative withdrew. I re-joined the meeting.
The motion was put to the floor to disband, there being only five teams. The motion failed and the league committee suspended the league until a September AGM. The league was reminded by me that I had previously given a year’s notice that my maintenance of the tables would have to come to an end next September due to long term worsening health issues for myself and Gill. I recommended Ivor Champion for maintenance as the league had the finances to support the eleven tables owned. The meeting closed at 2115hrs.
Subsequent to the meeting the chair met with the pub landlady who apparently did not want to buy the table in the first place, but would not want a table without an active league. The new managements at the Red Cow and Two Sawyers had been rumoured to be interested in having a table back, this to be investigated by me. The remaining players in the Market Inn will take a look at the Red Cow if the table is re-installed.
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Post by Sir Chancelot on Feb 11, 2022 12:02:30 GMT
The make or break meeting of the Dover Deal and District Bar Billiards League was held yesterday evening at the Market Inn. Why not start a singles league with two divisions ? That is what Guernsey did when they were short of teams and it is working well with new players taking up the game. |
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Post by Chris_Sav on Feb 11, 2022 12:10:35 GMT
The idea of a pairs league was discussed but got no further.
There is still uncertainty over tables going back in pubs without a formal league.
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taffy
Distinguished Member
Posts: 514
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Post by taffy on Feb 12, 2022 12:38:19 GMT
So the Market Inn could be buying a table for two league teams of which one may go back to the Red Cow? So they wouldn't have a table without two league teams playing every week but may end up with a table and lose a team anyway....
Fun.....
Taffy
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Post by Chris_Sav on May 23, 2022 10:04:51 GMT
It looks as though the league is finished as we only have three potential teams.
We are thus preparing for a dissolution meeting and probable disposal of eleven Jelks bar billiard tables plus several clocks, loads of match cloth. many spares etc.
The intention is to clear the lot as a job lot at whatever we can get and not sell them individually as I do not want the work involved and the proceeds will be going to charity, likely the local RNLI.
Sad days
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Post by barbelman on May 23, 2022 13:42:59 GMT
It looks as though the league is finished as we only have three potential teams.
We are thus preparing for a dissolution meeting and probable disposal of eleven Jelks bar billiard tables plus several clocks, loads of match cloth. many spares etc.
The intention is to clear the lot as a job lot at whatever we can get and not sell them individually as I do not want the work involved and the proceeds will be going to charity, likely the local RNLI.
Sad days
That is  news indeed Chris. Some of the oldest bar billiard areas are becoming devoid of tables and leagues and it's difficult to see it getting better. Even the young and very active leagues are holding their own at best. As you say - sad times. Tony |
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Post by iang on May 23, 2022 16:50:10 GMT
This is news Chris & I know how you have tried to keep it going. I think there are a few Leagues that are very close to being in the same situation D&D very in a better situation than most with owning the tables & not reliant on rented ones. The dwindling number of players along with venues that are willing to have a table in place is getting lower & lower. |
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Post by Sir Chancelot on May 23, 2022 22:09:12 GMT
It looks as though the league is finished as we only have three potential teams.
We are thus preparing for a dissolution meeting and probable disposal of eleven Jelks bar billiard tables plus several clocks, loads of match cloth. many spares etc. The intention is to clear the lot as a job lot at whatever we can get and not sell them individually as I do not want the work involved and the proceeds will be going to charity, likely the local RNLI. Try a singles league - better than nothing. It worked in Guernsey when we were on the precipice of dropping into oblivion. |
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Post by tommo III on May 24, 2022 10:49:19 GMT
Try a singles league - better than nothing. It worked in Guernsey when we were on the precipice of dropping into oblivion. With respect, Norman, the impending demise of Dover and Deal cannot really be compared to Guernsey’s situation. It was in Guernsey’s interests to keep going - as the future of the Guernsey Open with its tourism factor will always be a background consideration. Added to which you have a good blend of young and old players plus several able administrators ready to step in and save the day if required: You found a solution which appears to have worked, at least for the short term. That D & D has survived this long is largely down to the efforts of one man (Sav) who for a number of practical reasons would be unable to provide the equivalent amount of dedicated care in the future. If the league was to be spared its demise then matters would have been resolved last autumn - yet nothing could be agreed at the AGM. A further blow has been dealt recently with the loss of Mike Callanan who was a leading light in one of the erstwhile remaining teams. Knowing Sav, he would not take the decision to fold and liquidate assets lightly, and for those players who remain, nothing to stop them from organising their own friendlies (as Hastings are doing at the moment) as there will still be a few rental tables around the Canterbury area. |
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Post by Chris_Sav on May 24, 2022 12:46:44 GMT
Thanks for the opinions both,
I am sure a lot will be discussed this evening, unfortunately not all of the interested parties can make it now due to the 'dreaded'.
I don't think singles would be a runner locally, it generates so little income and our publicans have told us the tables must pay their way. We are playing friendlies but only my team and one other are taking part with the loss of Mike. The other interested team have not taken part.
It also does not solve the problem of table maintenance and storage with me calling it a day at 75.
I just feel, sadly, that it has run its course since 1966.
We have interest in clearing the kit, accepting it does not cover the true value, but the local RNLI will do well out of it.
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Post by bigtj on May 25, 2022 10:32:27 GMT
news indeed and another blow to the demise of bar billiards. Totally understand the reasons and as has already ben said you Chris have put a lot of work into trying to keep the league running. Too many leagues now depend on the older generation to keep going and the situation is going to worsen in many leagues unfortunately. |
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. Fortunately I had got the push bike out then put it away as the weather was so poor and decided to drive and not drink.
news indeed Chris. Some of the oldest bar billiard areas are becoming devoid of tables and leagues and it's difficult to see it getting better. Even the young and very active leagues are holding their own at best.
