The English Amateur Billiards Association
EABA COACHING DAY
14th May, 2005
(Back row, L-R): Paul Dunning (EABA Vice-Chairman), David Rees (Head of Coaching) and Mark Wildman (1984 World Professional Champion and patron of the EABA Coaching Scheme.
The inaugural EABA National Coaching Day held at North East Derbyshire S.C., Clay Cross on Saturday 14th May and was hailed a huge success by all. 18 youngsters & 5 adults from as far apart as Chippenham and Hartlepool received individual tuition on a day, which is now certain to become a permanent feature of the EABA Calendar.
The day began with an opening speech from Mr Derick Townend who was delighted to announce that the 1984 World Professional Billiards Champion, Mark Wildman had kindly agreed to become patron of the EABA Coaching Scheme. Derick also thanked the generosity of Tim Godolphin whose donation to the Association had made the day possible.
EABA Head of Coaching, David Rees then gave details of the format of the day and thanked the North East Derbyshire S.C. who had given us the room and the tables free of charge for the day.
In the morning session, one table was allocated to youngsters who wished to work on technique, one table to the adults who worked mainly on half-ball play, one table to David Richardson from the EABA Referees Section who had prepared 30 minute sessions on Rules and unusual situations which arise during the course of a game and the other three tables were occupied by youngsters of an intermediate standard who worked on various facets of the game with the Coaches.
After a superb buffet, Mark Wildman gave a talk & demonstration of half-ball losers, drop cannons, top of the table play & nursery cannons which was rounded off by three times English Amateur Champion Martin Goodwill making a 100+ break at the first attempt on a run of nursery cannons!
The groups then returned to their respective tables to put into practice what had just been demonstrated. 5.00pm was reached before anyone realised, as the day had flown by, such was the enjoyment shared by one and all.
The EABA Management Committee would like to thank David Rees for all the hard work involved in the staging of this event, along with EABA Coaches Brian Dix, John Hartley, Paul Dunning, Eddie Fielding, Martin Goodwill, Richard Sandell, Colin Lewis, Jim McCann, along with David Richardson from the EABA Referees Section.