News from the editor's chair
With David Burgess out of the country on business it befalls on me to produce the editorial page. I hope that David approves of my efforts and it keeps up his standards.
We welcome and seek contributions and input to the magazine and react to criticism where it manifests itself. Whilst we all like praise, if criticism is raised we'll consider it, hopefully such complaint will be followed with assistance to correct our mistakes, but whatever your view please let us know.
Were have all the Billiard competitors gone? My own region of Teesside, considered to be the hotbed of billiards, has forwarded a meagre five entries to this year's English Amateur from a national entry of eighty. Two years ago 33 players sought qualification from Teesside. Surely the increased entry fee, up £2 to £12 cannot have put people off, especially as we've increased the prize fund from £600 to £1,000 with the winner's prize up by £ 100 to £300.
With controlled round-robin qualification assured this year, all competitors will get more playing hours for their entry fee—so that can't be bad. If you have a reason for not entering this year, please let us know. If we're doing something wrong to affect your lack of entry—please talk to us.
I also note with regret that the CIU Billiards Championship has only 26 entrants with nine of those from the North East. This compares with 31 last year and 38 the year previous.
The CIU Snooker has 160 entrants in that event and a massive 127 teams, so snooker is not affected—why then the billiards shortfall?
A long with this edition of the magazine, you will receive a A separate sheet offering the opportunity of lineage advertising space within future issues at a small cost. Please make use of the facility or retain the sheet for future use.
Do you know any billiards enthusiasts who don't yet subscribe to The Billiard Player? Why not lend them a copy so they might see the worth of our efforts and they might then swell the numbers of subscribers. Malcolm Lax assures me that the numbers are climbing and we currently produce the magazine in a cost-effective manner thereby ensuring no financial burden is placed on the EABA, but every little helps.
The EASB, to whom we are affiliated, will be holding their AGM in Bristol on Wednesday 17th December at 12 noon. Entrants to last year's English Amateur Billiards are entitled to vote for the election of the Billiards Committee. Retiring members Ellis Lloyd, Malcolm Lax and Derick Townend have been nominated to retain their places on the Committee. Anyone requiring a voting paper should contact me or receive one at the ABC Tournament in December.
Our professional counterparts, the Billiards Committee of the WPBSA, have undergone changes in their ranks. With Rex Williams and Mark Wildman being respectively Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of the WPBSA they have relinquished some of their responsibilities to the Billiards Committee. Clive Everton and Peter Gilchrist become the respective Chairman and Vice Chairman of this Committee. We wish them well in their endeavours.
In issue No.6 of the magazine, I suggested that to support the Coaching Initiative of the EASB we needed to input some billiards orientated coaches. As proved in Teesside, you don't need formal qualifications to coach and I have implored those with knowledge to bring youngsters into the game. It's happening in the Eastern Counties now and it could happen in your region if you do something about it.
I would be happy to know if anyone has responded to the EASB scheme request to further the billiards structure. It's no good me criticising Terry Griffiths and the EASB scheme if we can't provide the assistance it needs to make it work. Please help if you can!
Well David, and all readers, I hope we've managed to provide a magazine of worth. My thanks to Malcolm Lax and Peter Ainsworth along with all contributors.