DOVER DEAL AND DISTRICT BAR BILLIARDS LEAGUE.

COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER,  SEPTEMBER 2003

Welcome!          

The league welcomes both new and old members to the 2003/2004 season of the Dover Deal And District Bar Billiards League, and wishes you every success.

We welcome two new teams into the league, the Fitzwalter Arms 'B' and the Greyhound. Nigel Scott is forming a second team at the Fitz and Dan Jackson is forming a new team at the Greyhound. We sadly lose the Alma 'A' team.

Bar Billiards Ltd have withdrawn their sponsorship of free tables for finals night, due to the decline nationally of the game. They will still sponsor us if we go back to the old arrangement of just using their tables. Leisure Link have long since reneged on the agreement they made to sponsor the league when we allowed their tables in. I strongly urge all pubs who do not have Bar Billiards Ltd tables to consider changing to them. Any new Bar Billiards Ltd. table recommendations from the league will also attract a one-off commission from the company.

The doubts over the future financing of the league have forced us to increase fees for the first time in many years. Winter league entries will be £15 (was £12.50), Spring and Summer league £12.50 (was £10). Individual knockouts will be £2 per entry and pairs £3 per pair.

The Kent Association are also affected by sponsorship withdrawal. We are trying to put together a package whereby the interleagues are held at the Alma on two consecutive weekends. Finals night would be on the Tuesday in between. Enterprise Inns have indicated that they might be willing to sponsor some of the cost of table hire for the six tables. To this effect provisional bookings have been for the first two weekends in May with finals night on Tuesday May 4th. If this deal falls through, Wack Sampson has kindly offered to pay for the hire of tables for finals night, so finals night is secure for this year at least.

 With regard to our committee meetings, we meet on a monthly basis. We have decided to hold meetings at pubs with separate rooms, initially the Lion and the Alma. This is because of the difficulty we have had meeting in open bars. Meetings are held on an informal basis, and we are happy to listen to any players at any meetings regarding problems.  Each team is entitled to one vote from one nominated representative at each meeting.  Once the season gets under way, there will normally be handouts of league tables and averages at each meeting.

We will again be running a fantasy Bar Billiards league this winter. Its a bit off fun and if you don't understand 'buying' a team then give Craig or I a ring.

The league also runs a comprehensive program of individual and pairs knock-outs and entry forms are enclosed.

I very much hope that you enjoy the season ahead.  I am contactable on my home phone number most evenings at around seven o’clock, if I am not around then messages may be left on my answerphone.  If I can be of any assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.

P & H Bridge are Summer League Champions: P&H Bridge retained their Summer league title in a close battle with the Alma 'B' at the Market Inn. The first two legs were shared, both going to the last ball with the Alma striking first. At two all and level on scores, the P&H took the vital fifth leg with a 1500 aggregate lead. There was no way back for the Deal team giving the Plough a 4 - 2 victory. 

Fitzwalter Arms are Plate Champions

National Off-The-Spot: This is being played at Reading on Sunday October 12th. Its being played to our triangle rules, plus off-the spot!! If you fancy a go forms are available from me or the web site under KBBA.

Dates For Your Diary;  Next committee meeting is on Thursday 16^th October at the Lion. Finals Night Tuesday 4th May at the Alma.

Knock Outs 2003; Entry forms are included with this newsletter and must be with Craig Carlson on or before the next committee meeting.

PROMOTE OUR LEAGUE; If the plan goes ahead we will have the tables for a week in May at the Alma. This is a marvellous opportunity to hold other competitions and especially to promote the game locally with an open evening or other idea. Give it some thought and come up with ideas to promote our league, it will be discussed at the next committee meeting.

Web Site;  http://www.barbilliardsdd.co.uk. Results, reports and league tables appear every week. For the stats freaks amongst you information is displayed down to match cards and individual players entire league records for a season. Any players who do not wish to have their data published here please let Chris or Craig know. We welcome suggestions for improvements to the site (clean ones only). Email us from the site to receive newsletters direct and save the league some postage.