Jersey Festival of Pool 2005 - 2004-07-22 12:59:47
It is with much excitement I announce the details of the 2005 Jersey festival of pool, and I am equally excited and enthused that so many facets of the event, from pre launch up to the final balls potted, will be achieved with the assistance approval and technical help from the boys at uk8ball.com..

For those of you who have never been to the Jersey festival before, (I refuse to believe there is anyone who hasn’t heard of it !) it is Europe's longest running open pool event standing the test of time for twenty years, and held every February. With the much welcomed and appreciated help from your favourite web site, we hope to give everyone over the next few months all the details, facts figures, and history, you may require, and I am sure there will be many subsequent debating points that will arise in the process, as I have never been known or accused of sitting on the fence. The event itself promises to be, with the uk8ball.coms coverage and expertise the most technologically advanced event ever to be held and it promises to be absolutely brill. The Jersey Festival of Pool Over the last twenty years hundreds of pool enthusiasts have taken what for many of them is an annual pilgrimage to the largest of the Channel Islands to compete in Europe's longest running open pool event, the Jersey Festival of Pool. To a lot of them its almost a compulsion. It’s like they have no option, they have to go, mysterious forces insist on it !......they insist on it !! Indeed sixty or seventy of these "weird disciples" probably haven't missed a festival for over a decade or so, it’s truly incredible. What’s also incredible is during this same period there was never a year when the festival didn’t put up the "Hotel Full" signs. True, last year the festival had to endure an enforced sabbatical, and for the first time since ‘83 it didn’t appear in its obligatory position the February calendar. For the record, the reason behind this was simple, the Hotel De Normandie, home to the festival for the previous six years, had been sold to property developers, and plans for luxurious apartments that even Roman Abramovich would be proud to call home have now been put in place. Any other reasons that may have been mischievously given, knowing what the pool gossip can be like, have no foundation or truth, inspite of what some may claim. It seems such a long time ago that the festival was first run, so long in fact I wouldn’t put a wager of any consequence as to the name of the first hotel used. I know it was either behind, or was an annexe of the Metropole hotel in St Helier that for several years thereafter was the normal home for the event. I do, however remember the first winner, Scotland's Dave Linton, at the time the UK’s number one ranked player, and I think the ladies was won by Leicester's twelve year prodigy Nicola Ball. In the years that followed, the Festival was hosted primarily at either the Metropole, her sister hotel the Mayfair or for a couple of unmemorable occasions at the Fort Regent sports complex. In truth if the owners of these hotels had treated the pool players like customers and not like plague carrying football hooligans I dare say the festival would have remained under their auspices to this day. I remember only too vividly the meeting, which ultimately ended our successful relationship. The MD of the hotel group had issued an order banning the pool players from using the main bar, for their customary and traditional end of festival Karaoke and piss up. This despite the fact that they had been using the very same room all week without any complaints !!! Those that know me well, can imagine my reaction to this incredulous snub. The reasons given, basically that "these pool people" as he described us, his clients, would abuse the recently laid carpets with both discarded cigarette butts and spilt drinks held absolutely no water with me, and our successful relationship ended the second I slammed his office door with my colourfully chosen comments no doubt still bouncing of his walls. Thankfully within months, when all was feared lost I was contacted by the Channel Hotels group who wanted to continue with the event Jennifer Steventon who had previously done all the marketing and PR work for the hotel group we had just acrimoniously left, had surprise surprise, also left, and was now filling a similar role for the Channel Group, so thankfully the event was back on. For six years it was brilliant, Channel Hotels couldn’t have been more different in both their attitude and their ongoing enthusiasm and were again rewarded for their "pool players are real customers" policy, with full attendances every year. That was until last year when the force of economics took over and from a business point of view they were left with little option but to sell the De Normandie to speculators, At this time I have to say I thought twenty years of success and happy memories had finally come to an end. Not so. Though initial contact was made a couple of years ago, nothing could be put in place to save the festival for this year but the great news is we are on again for next year. 2005 will see THE JERSEY FESTIVAL OF POOL celebrating its twenty first birthday, and I along with many others, who already know it’s back on again, cant wait. The Trojan Leisure company and its rather forward thinking Managing Director Marcus Troy approached me, following an introduction from Preston’s 'steptoe' look-alike Mick Croasdale, with a view to resurrect the festival. He had visited previous events and witnessed first hand the camaraderie and spirit generated, and whilst from his companies point of view, and understandably so, the main priority is financial viability, once proven, he was keen to put the festival back onto the calendar. Not as a one off, which wouldn’t have been of particular interest to me but for many years to come. Changing slant slightly for a second, as some of you will know an event did go on in Jersey last year, and in February as well, but it wasn’t mine. It wasn’t THE Jersey festival of pool, and I apologise to anyone that went under the premise that it was. To a certain extent though, one could be excused for thinking so, as it replicated almost verbatim, my rules, playing conditions, timings. booking procedures, events and in many instances prize money, (though overall it was reduced) and though the event wasn’t greatly attended, certainly to the numbers that THE original festival of pool attract, I am told by its organiser, who I’ve known for years and whose company I look forward to being in shortly, that it will be repeated again in 2005. I have to say that this more than slightly surprises me, some would say it’s financial madness. Two events in Jersey at around the same time of year trying to attract the same sort of people........................ it is strange, to say the least. I have to say though hand on heart I am not particularly bothered. Without sounding arrogant or complacent I don't feel that it will make any difference in the slightest to THE Jersey Festival of pool or indeed the numbers that will I’m sure be queuing up to go next year. The festival will be held between Sunday February 20th through to Thursday 24th and will carry £16,000 in prize money, and as will always be the case with any event I run, the prize fund for all major events is fully guaranteed. Though I am flattered that the organisers of last years "mini" festival copied my successful and proven formula, because of it I have decided to change mine almost completely. I’ve listened to many comments, as I have always done. Listening to your customers, even though most are your friends is the only way to improve things. I certainly recommend other people and certainly organisations could try it, and as a consequence I believe the 2005 festival promises to be the best ever. PLAYING FORMAT Historic and for the 2005 JERSEY FESTIVAL OF POOL Jersey apart I don't really have much to do with pool these days, and though some would say that is a good thing, I do fully appreciate the many comments and messages I constantly received telling me I should get involved again and how much good I could do were I to do so. Though one never says never, at this moment in time though it is not my intention to put myself in the middle of the politics that I am told, a decade on, is still destroying the game. At Jersey I have always tried to keep politics and allegiances out of the event. True when I pushed for and then implemented the inclusion of a professional event at Jersey the lads of the PPPO were the beneficiaries. However apart from the fact that I was a previous member, at the time the EPA were doing everything in their power to try and destabilise the event. For example even though Jersey had been in the diary for ten years or so, suddenly one found the county dates being moved or latterly the dates of the IPA tour were switched to ensure they ran at the same times. Players and certain officials were warned off, threatened with bans should they have the temerity to go. Coincidence? Possibly.. I take the view though that because so many active EPA players, both county and professionals, were attending what was one of the most successful events pool has ever seen they simply took umbrage. How dare someone run an event well and successfully that is not one of theirs? I even remember in the early days, the then chairman Adrian Purser going over there to see what chances there was of the EPA getting involved. At Jersey there has never been any discrimination against anyone wherever their political allegiance lay, and even when I gave the professionals £5,000 for their event, the one proviso was that it was open to professionals of whatever camp. The fact that IPA members were I am told banned from playing in them by their own hierarchy is something completely out of my hands. Restriction of trade does spring somewhat to mind though. When one examines the list of winners from the festival over the years it is easy to see that at times, though not so prevalent in recent years, winners have not only been the games biggest and best players, they came, until the EPA stepped in from all political camps. From the early days of Maltese's Joe, Andy the Greek Loppas, Roger Blank and Big Dave Dolman, through the changing times of Tommy Donlon. Ross Mciness, Dave Jelly Baby Holt Alan Mitchell, Pat Holtz, Rob Mckenna, Greg Farren, Keith Brewer, Phil Harrison, Rob Hill, The Appleton family, Carl Morris, Ronan Mcarthy, Steve Sanders, the list is endless. On a personal note there is nothing I would like to see more than to have Mick Hill and his IPA colleagues playing at Jersey, and if they wish to do so, nothing other than their personal choice should prevent them from doing so..... NOTHING In nearly all previous Jersey festivals the playing format pretty much has been, the open, ladies, juniors and amateur singles, mens and mixed doubles, a 14/1 event and latterly a team event and a professional event. Bearing in mind time restrictions, most events are played over five frames, certainly until the latter stages and traditionally we played all events as best we could in the evenings. On occasions people were still playing at three o’clock in the morning, even later, but what people who have never been don’t realise we very rarely, open apart, played during the daytime. If you witnessed how much alcohol people consumed and what hours they were drinking to ( this is certainly not a tour event ! ) you should hopefully understand why playing during the days was not the most sensible thing to do. Recently though, the last three maybe four years even this has changed. Such is the camaraderie at Jersey people want to socialise, they insist on it. People go to Jersey to have the crack, to enjoy themselves to have fun, they cant do that if they are playing late into the night when half were sloshed. So what we have done is start much earlier and consequentially finish much earlier, then if you want to drink to 5.00am you can, the only problem with this is that the numbers of people we are forced to scratch for non attendance the next day, due mainly to drink induced problems, and the odd sexual indiscretion or card school has shot up. Amazingly though people don't seem to give a shit. Jersey it would appear is also unique in that it is the only tournament I know of where losing is not dwelt upon. That's not to say players don't want to win, they obviously do, there is a lot of prize money up for grabs, they just don't seem to be so bothered when they do lose. Some top players have moaned that a lot of the prize money is given to shall we say ‘ lesser’ players. They are entitled to their opinion and they might be surprised to know that I actually agree with them, unreservedly so. The wide spread distribution of prize money has been an intrinsically vital ingredient in the festivals enduring success. It was planned for exactly this purpose. What these top players have a few problems grasping is that a tournament, any tournament, which involves, mass and general participation is that one has to cater for the majority, these lesser players, not the minority, the best players. Without them the top players wouldn’t have an event to go to. So I make no apology for the spread of prize money, more so I am proud of it. Giving money to the last 64 of the open for example I think is brilliant for the lesser players, and it still never changes the fact that in twenty years of Jersey only the top players, ninety percent of the time , professionals, are the only ones that ever win the top prizes. I think we have found a nice balance. The playing rules, which depending on the allegiance one has, are always going to be open to a certain amount of criticism, I have to accept that, you cannot please everyone on this issue, politics have ensured this might never be possible, so what does one do ? If you were the organiser what would you do ? What I did do was ask the players. To me rightly or wrongly this is called democracy. What they decided when I first asked was to play under the old EPA rules, with the added inclusion at my suggestion ,of whoever breaks nominates. If one doesn’t pot a ball from the break, you nominate, if you pot one or more balls, regardless of colour one still nominates . And for those of you who are unaware of the fact let me remind you we have had this latter rules for years, well in advance in fact, of the EPA or as they are called now, the world rules, and it was recorded so in Pot Black magazine many years ago when I was the only one telling things as they really were.........and oh, how I still long for those halcyon days, even now. So much to say, so many truths to tell and so many myths to dispel! Apologies for that, I was getting all sentimental and reminiscent, very dangerous. Where was I ? Oh yes rules. To recap, we play old EPA rules, the breaker nominates and more recently, I bowed again to public opinion and included the skill shot, again its called democracy something that many of you are not overly used to encountering So I'm told. That's the rules we currently play, and unless opinions from those going next year change, that's the rules we will play in 2005. Not to everyone's taste I admit but in continuing with the status quo we do so with the approval of the majority. 2005 PLAYING FORMAT Before giving you the tournament details for next year of which I am very excited, for I feel its both fresh and certainly different, I would like to dwell just for a moment on something that is very important to me personally, and certainly very importantly poignant. For sixteen out of the festivals twenty years I was privileged to have a giant at my side A giant by size, by reputation and by friendship and running Jersey next year without this giant by my side will I know be heartbreaking, and I know at times there will be tears shed, not just by me but by many. I refer to my great pal Danny Strange, who died so tragically last year. The fact that the festival is on once more is great. But certainly far more importantly it will give me and the many true friends he made during his sixteen years at Jersey a chance to pay collective respects throughout the week to his memory, and thankfully all the sponsors have agreed that the festival will be top and tailed to the memory of my friend. I will make sure that his adoring wife Chris, with him for every year at Jersey and his son Danny Junior will be there, so they can witness and share in the respect that everyone will have for his memory and take much comfort from the reverence in which his memory will always be remembered. Right then, the tournament format, There will of course still be the Jersey Open, worth £5,000, £1500 to the winner and with prize money going down to the last 64 who will pick up £15 each. This event is as the title implies open to everyone, male female, women ,juniors and Frank ! The professionals event is being changed dramatically For next year it will be become a genuine PRO AM. event, again carrying £5,000 in prize money, with the winner collecting £1800 and losers in the last 16 £100 each. Though I could be wrong I think this is the first event of its kind since the early days of Hayling Island, when if memory serves Jelly Baby Holt beat Charlie Nolan ( god rest his soul ) in the final. When I say a genuine Pro Am that's what I mean. I might be unrealistic here I might be dreaming somewhat, but as far as I am concerned, this event will be open to ALL professionals. Though this rule has always been in at Jersey, for a variety of reasons the IPA boys, though some are always in attendance at Jersey, have never entered. Their right not to do so I fully respect, that's why we live in a so called democratic society, it should always be an individuals right to choose, but if their choice to enter if they so wish is taken out of their hands through either an undemocratic system or worse some despotic mandate, it then becomes utterly unacceptable. Well it would for me. So for once lets see if we can change the ridiculously childish and petty system that currently exists and give everyone who holds a professional licence the chance of playing in the same event at the same time without interference, directly or otherwise by any of their governing bodies. For gods sake isn’t that how it should be ? So for the first time I am directly inviting them to do so. Sod politics, as far as I am concerned you can stick rules regulations and politics completely up your arse, I don't have to answer to anybody, no-one has or ever will tell me what I can or cant do at my event and as far as I am concerned If any professional wants to play he can, and it will be myself in conjunction with their chosen representatives who will determine where in the draw they will be seeded. For in a Pro Am professionals are always seeded. The other beauty of a pro am is that ALL players can enter it, which in previous years they obviously couldn’t, and in my mind, ( it certainly was in the days of Maltese Joe , Loppas, Dolman and Blank ) the possibility of playing a professional, with the prospect of beating them should be an incentive, a challenge for all ordinary players to look forward to. When the professionals enter the Pro Am matches will be over a minimum of nine frames and any non international amateur will recieve a one frame start. This is a genuine gesture on my part to the top players in the UK, all of them. Don't get me wrong, I ask myself does the event need the professionals ? Arguably no, so there is no cynical motives behind my gesture. If they were not there the Pro Am would simply revert back to an open. Its just that I have always believed in the pursuit of professionalism and though not needed at Jersey per se, as we were always full up when we didn’t have a professionals event, I firmly believe the appearance of professionals, when they behave as such brings much to any event. For the first time their will be no team. amateur, mixed or men's doubles events. I know shock horror, but again, I have thought a lot about this and whilst I have no objections running, time permitting, these doubles as a subsidiary event during the week, for this year they have gone. On top of that some of the so called amateurs in the game are now as good as the professionals, but their interests are taken care of by being able to enter the pro am which ordinarily they haven't been able to do, while the lesser players as you will see in a second will have other events in which to realistically have a chance of earning some prize money. The men's doubles 99% of the time is won by a professional, whilst in the mixed doubles event the ladies had to share half of their prize money with their male partners, so in 2005 the following will be replacing them. There will be TWO ladies singles events, the Jersey Ladies singles and the Jersey Ladies championship, both carrying £1,000 in prize money. There will be a one frame knockout, which by its very cut throat nature absolutely anyone can win, and again everyone can enter. The only proviso I make rule wise in this, is that if the person who breaks clears up his opponent will get a chance to do similarly, if that is accomplished with equal success, players will toss ( a coin ) for the right to break, or not, in what would then obviously be a deciding frame “!!!!!!!!!! NB Any players who contrive to play a best of three, as sometimes happens, thinking that we will not see will immediately be thrown out of the event.......be warned ! There will also be a get out of jail singles tournament which I will be calling "The no-hopers and cabbages" event, again worth £1,000, but entry to this will be restricted to those players who up to the beginning of the event have picked up no prize money what so ever. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid we will continue with the junior event ( which entrants will have to be aged 16 or under on the day of the event ) as well as the customary 14/1 event which will still be worth £350. What I am also including for the first time will be a special £125 a man singles event, which will be run on the Sunday night. Played over a minimum of eleven frames it will be restricted to the first 16 players to send me a non returnable deposit of £60. The full details of this will be updated nearer the time and is the only entry fee payable on top of the advertised prices to attend the festival. Overall on my rough calculations, I reckon up to 50% of everyone that enters will at some stage and in some capacity receive prize money at some level, and that's how I like to run things and it is an ethos to which I will not detour from. But what of prices ? How much will it cost ? Because of the uncertainty surrounding the price of oil, all airlines are withholding the announcement of winter air fares until the latter part of next month, which obviously means that the entry forms will be much later than is customary. If you would like an entry form sent out to you the minute they are arrive, either write to me at 15 Thumbswood, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4 QE with your details, or alternatively log them on the site as indicated, and forms will be sent to you the moment I receive them. If anyone need s any further information I can be contacted on 01707 396304 There will be incentives for group bookings and particularly those booking early and full details of those will be announced on this site very shortly. I mention early bookings, the Hotel hosting the events, the Ommaroo holds 170 people, those who have been previously appreciate the fact that in order to guarantee attendance in the main hotel you WILL have to book early, this isn’t like other events, we are always full up. Once full, late bookers will be staying in a sister hotel approximately 150 yards away. Unusually the main hotel boasts about twelve single rooms which will be given out on a strictly first come first served basis, and here is another first, there will be no surcharge as far as I am aware, for these rooms. There will though be extra discounts for three or four people who wish to share a room.. Flights will be available from most major airports and a special package will be arranged for those wishing to come by sea, including if one wants to bring their car, for another first is the provision at the hotel to park as many cars as want to come. All these details will appear shortly. Another first, and I make this a pledge is that no-one will have to pay a penny to play on the tables, throughout the week, even when they are practising, although you will be asked to pay a returnable deposit and leave your room key at reception in order to collect the balls, this is to purely safeguard the equipment, playing pool will not cost you a bean. You can play all night if you so wish and you wont have to ask for change once. For pool players this is genuine utopia...........enjoy it !