The English Amateur Billiards Association
5st May, 2009
Ranking List Corrections
The Ranking List published on May 1st unfortunately did not correctly count ABC Ranking Points for some players (players who reached the QF or SF in the final event at Newmarket). This has now been fixed. Apologies to all concerned.
1st May, 2009
Steve Crosland tops EABA Rankings
With Rob Hall not competing in the final event of the year at Newmarket, and Billy Bousfield going out in the last 16, Steve Crosland has ended the season at the top of the EABA Ranking list, a feat he last achieved in 2003.
27th April, 2009
Junior National Finals Postponed
The English Under-16 and Under-19 finals at Lincoln next weekend (May 3rd) have been postponed, and a new date will be released in the near future.
16th April, 2009
EABA endorses the englishBilliards.org Syllabus
EABA's Steve Crosland is about to examine the first candidate for the new englishBilliards.org Basic Billiards Certificate. If successful the candidate will receive a free entry into one ABC Ranking event and one EBOS event (excluding the European open).
The englishBilliards.org website has full details of the Basic Billiards Syllabus and how to apply for the Examination.
30th March, 2009
Rob Hall tops the 2008-09 Ranking list
With a good performance in the English Amateur and only the final ABC event remaining, Rob Hall has edged past Billy Bousfield to head the 2008-09 Ranking List.
30th March, 2009
Jim McCann wins the Grand Masters
16th March, 2009
Goodwill retains his title
Martin Goodwill won his 6th English Amateur Championship title yesterday by beating John Murphy 1025-836 in the final at Darley Dale. Full details to follow.
10th March, 2009
Final ABC Event rescheduled
The final event of the ABC 2008-09 season will now take place at Newmarket on April 26th, 2009. Registration will end at 10:30am and play will comence at 11:00am.
10th March, 2009
Dave Joyce
The management committe and members of the EABA offer their sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Dave Joyce, the EASB referee and coach, on their sudden and very sad bereavement.
24th February, 2009
EABA Joins the CCPR
The EABA is pleased to announce its membership of the Central Council for Physical Recreation.
What is the CCPR?
CCPR is the national alliance of governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation.
Almost every organised sport and recreation in the UK has its own governing or representative body - organisations like the FA, British Water Ski and the Ramblers’ Association. These bodies exist to organise, to regulate and to encourage more people into their sport or activity.
Established in 1935 as the Central Council of Recreative Physical Training, CCPR as it is now known exists to protect, promote and provide for its members. The membership encompasses activities from the major spectator sports, like rugby, cricket and tennis, through to fencing and canoeing, right across to folkdance and keep fit. In fact, there is barely a recognised sport or activity in the country which is not affiliated to CCPR. In total, the CCPR boasts around 270 member organisations drawn from right across the sector.
The membership represents 150,000 clubs across the UK and some 8 million regular participants. And even though these participants are drawn from activities as different as country dancing and karate, there are many issues and challenges which governing bodies have in common. It is CCPR’s role to represent those organisations and to provide the definitive, independent voice for sport and recreation. In essence, the CCPR is there to make life easier for its members.
Patron; Her Majesty The Queen. President; HRH The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT.
A reciprocal internet link between the EABA and CCPR has been provided on eaba.co.uk and www.ccpr.org.uk for the mutual benefit of all concerned.
24th February, 2009
England Seniors Team for the Jock McGregor Trophy
At ‘The Classic Club’, Glengormley, Northern Ireland, 21st/22nd March 2009
- Tony Clegg (Huddersfield)
- Steve Crosland (Burley in Wharfedale)
- Eddie Fielding (Lancaster)
- Denis Marr (Liverpool)
- Jim McCann (Darley Dale)
- Chris Mitchell (Liskeard)
- David Rees (Derby)
- Peter Shelley (Stoke on Trent)
- Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke)
- Derick Townend (Harrogate, Manager)
Web-based Billiards coaching now open to all!
The englishBilliards.org project which has occupied Martin Goodwill and Roger Morgan for the past 6 months has now opened its doors to anyone wishing to take up the game from scratch, as well as those players who are looking to improve their existing skills on the Billiard table.
The website takes a structured approach to learning and has comprehensive table diagrams and videos for each shot described. There are also practice guidelines, including realistic targets for each step of the learning process, as well as a playing test at the end of each section.
In order to demonstrate how the various shots and sequences fit together iinto a break, Martin has provided a series of instructional videos to complement the videos of top players making breaks in actual match-play.
There is also an 'Ask the Experts' forum, manned by Martin, Roxton Chapman and Frank Sandell.
If you haven't signed up already, you can register here for your free account right away.
Steve Crosland takes the 2008 Whitworth Masters title
Secretary's Report
29th August 2008
Innovation
We have reached a stage in our development which has seen a wave of very keen and very competent young players hungry for competition at the highest level. As a sporting association we have the responsibility to provide the avenues which can enable these aspiring youngsters to fulfil their ambitions and keep their competitive spirit alive. We must build into our structure a system which allows the weakest to have their share of success as well as the strongest, and the young as well as the not-so-young. The recent Open tournament which ran alongside the World Professional Championship at Leeds was once again very popular and proves that innovation and imagination in the formatting of national events can provide a vehicle for graduation and personal fulfilment for those taking part.
Eric Gratton
A few days ago I received a very welcome telephone call from Mr Eric Gratton. As most players will remember, Eric, a native of Derbyshire, was a very active referee on the national billiards scene. His support for the English Billiards Championship over recent years has been well noted and very much appreciated. Sadly, Eric was involved in a motor accident two years ago which left him severely disabled and stopped his much loved involvement in billiards. After lengthy hospitalization and much complicated surgery Eric reports that he is now feeling much better, although still not very active. Eric’s forced retirement and homebound existence is not to his liking but, for the moment, inevitable in the circumstances. As a busy association with all sorts of sophisticated responsibilities it’s easy to lose sight of those members who, as a result of some unexpected calamity or adversity fall by the wayside. We must, as a caring organisation, always remember and keep in touch with those loyal friends who have been instrumental, by their support and loyalty, in establishing this great Association.
Economic Climate
We are aware that the current economic climate can have uncomfortable consequences for our members when planning their sporting and leisure activities. The smoking ban has seriously affected the income of Snooker ∓ Billiards Clubs and sadly there is news of many clubs having to close. Happily the clubs which support our events, although affected and fully aware of the shortfall in business, do not appear to have insurmountable problems. I am happy to report that the Association has had promises of generous support from the clubs involved in the 2008/2009 programme. Our membership can be assured that the management committee is fully aware of the situation, sensitive to their needs, and competent in managing the Association’s finances. Hopefully things will get better ?
englishBilliards.org
A recent innovation on the coaching scene is the development of an ‘English Billiards’ coaching web-site. An initiative from Martin Goodwill, current English champion, and Roger Morgan the EABA web-site designer, has almost reached the launch pad. Having had a preview of the site I can confidently predict a successful and much valued reception. A massive undertaking such as this with its quality content and user friendly controls has, understandably, required a great deal of technical know-how and billiards knowledge. This is a great step forward for English Billiards and should have a world-wide attraction. The web-site should be in place before the end of the year; its launch will be reported on the EABA web-site.
UK Seniors
The forthcoming season sees the first UK Seniors (over 50s) Championship. The idea, thought up by Norman Whaley, our friend from N. Ireland, has been received very well. The championship will be held at the ‘Beaconsfield Conservative Club’ who will provide a perpetual trophy for the championship. Apologies are due to our senior members for not providing an end of season ranking list; this was due to technical reasons and should be reinstated shortly.
Thanks
As a footnote to my report it would be remiss of me not to convey the thanks of the Association to all those sponsors, present and past, who have supported the EABA over many years. Our most recent benefactor is Mr. Alf Nolan that well known and much loved billiards aficionado from Newcastle upon Tyne. Alf, by his generosity has assured the health of his beloved ‘English’ for the foreseeable future. Not in the best of health over recent months Alf is always in our hearts and minds. We join together in wishing him better health and thanking him for his loyalty and his dedication to the game of ‘English Amateur Billiards’ for many years. We thank Tony Keeling, John Richmond and John Bousfield for their help with the Juniors. Thanks to Dave Richardson and Eric Gratton for their help with the ‘English’; to Tim Godolphin for his help with the internationals, the juniors and with coaching; all those Snooker Centres and Clubs for their continued support, and how could we possibly forget our dear departed friend Jock McGregor. We have had so many supporters during our short history, we thank you all, my apologise if I have missed any sponsor, it is not intentional.
Friends, it only remains to wish you all good health and happiness with your families, and a successful season.
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