The English Junior ranking series is now in its third season of operation. In that time it has developed into a well supported, well administered and self financing body. The first season of events 1996- 97 saw 63 entrants an average of 16 per event. 1997-98 saw 97 entrants; 19 per event. 1998-99 saw 84 entrants with 28 per event.
This season we have attracted entries from Merseyside for the first time and I am in contact with Worthing and Gloucester (where junior coaching is occurring). I am thus hoping for entrants from those areas in both the Junior rankings and the Boys and Junior Championships for 1999-2000.
Apart from the obvious area (Teesside), Junior development is at its strongest in Norfolk (60 to 70 Juniors), Lincoln (10 Juniors). Gloucester and Worthing are coaching, however, what numbers are involved I don't know. Thus, the overall national junior scene is looking very healthy. However these coaching initiatives need to be increased and extended throughout England especially to those areas whose Leagues are struggling i.e. down to 6, 7, 8, 9, teams.
The extent to which Billiards is played competitively is greater than many expect, and my research shows that there are 150 leagues in the UK (that I definitely know of). Of course these Leagues vary in numbers, some, like Stafford and Portsmouth have over 200 players. Other sizeable leagues exist at Henley, Oxford. Spalding, Lincoln, Cambridge, Hartlepool and Worthing, who all have over 100 players. Most however, fall into the over 50 players category. Thus my research shows that there are 10,000 competitive players in the UK. To discover the full extent of Billiards Leagues and the game in general the Eastern Counties Billiards Association proposes that the E.A.B.A. offers all Leagues affiliation to itself. This could be free of charge or just cost a minimal fee. However, the advantages to the E.A.B.A. would be immense with the probable increase in the English Championship entries the most obvious.