The English Association for Snooker and Billiards (EASB) will this season (1993/94) stage the Strachan Amateur Billiards Championship and the English Under-17 Amateur Billiards Championship. The closing date for entries is February 11th, 1994, and full details of how to join the EASB and how to enter the billiards tournaments can be obtained from: Freya Broad, EASB, 27 Oakfield Road, Clifton Bristol, BS8 2AT.
The English Amateur Billiards Championship is one of the longest running competitions in the world with the EASB owning the English Amateur Billiards trophy which will be presented to the winner after this year's final.
Nigel Oldfield, a member of the EASB's executive committee said:
"The English Amateur Billiards Association (EABA) have, regrettably for the moment, decided not to become the billiards committee of the EASB. Obviously we were disappointed at the EABA's decision as we envisage an exciting future for amateur snooker and billiards. However a meeting was planned to take place between to EABA and ourselves to discuss the matter further (This meeting was planned for January 1994).
We are hopeful that the EABA will still become our billiards committee in order that we should all be working under one billiards umbrella. We are fully aware of the enthusiasm and commitment of the EABA. In the long run, it is not good for billiards to have two separate Associations but it is the EASB who will be running the official English Amateur and English Under-17 Billiards Championships. I am confident that we will become the official body for snooker and billiards in England and that we will be recognised by the Sports Council, the International Billiards and Snooker federation, and the Home International Billiards and Snooker Federation"
Much of this is as reported on P.4. The Editor of this magazine has always been associated with the EABA although now having no official connection with that body. The above is reported in full in the interests of impartiality. It must be pointed out that, if it had not been for the efforts of the EABA one of, "the longest running competitions in the world," could well have followed the B&SCC into oblivion. We have not forgotten that the WPBSA helped to fund last year's event but the spade work was done by the EABA. However that is all in the past and all lovers of the game, whilst acknowledging what has taken place, must look to the future.
If there are to be further meetings then there is yet hope. There will eventually have to be an accord. Please let it be sooner rather than later.