Huddersfield League v Upper Hopton

Rather a disappointing night managed to get there ok and picked my glasses up on the way, no weather problems tonight.

We lost the first match by quite a lot and I went on second under a little bit of pressure, I was giving about 20 start. For some reason I really do suffer from very little luck, I tend not to hit the ball hard and try to control the shot so I don't get that many flukes I had only one fluke and that wasn't in a break I just played safe and the red went in the top bag which left me in the D.

My opponent however had 9 flukes and score off each one by simply smashing the ball around. Clearly a snooker player in the past and not a brilliant billiards player. I scored a couple of 19-20 breaks but it was quite poor. I felt comfortable on the table after playing a Oldham on quick tables New Mills fast table was no problem.

I won 200-185 again running in 17 to finish the game rather to close to for comfort but it's another win to add to the tally only lost a couple in this league. I never felt I was going to lose the game and if you took away his luck I would have won by miles.

Glasses Found

Dropped in car Park someone kind handed them into the club. Damn Fine Chap. Thanks.

Practice - Lost Glasses

Went for a practice at lunch time today with my father but realised I did not have my glasses in my bag. I rang mark Carrington but he could not find them in his car so I presume I have left them in Oldham Snooker Acadamy. I dont think they open till 4pm so I will have to call in on my way to Huddersfield.

Needless to say the practice din't got very well with my Glasses anything long was really difficult. Had a 39 and a handful of 20 breaks. Lost 2-1 200 up giving my day 100 start. He managed to get a couple of nice 20+ breaks.

Hope I can find them or this weekend will be a disaster as I just can't manage without them these days also they cost £ 170 the wife wont be happy.

Oldham Snooker Academy

My friend was playing a Knockout 1/4 final at Oldham last night. Neither of us had been to the club before but we managed to find it in an old Mill in Oldham at the back of the bypass.

The club was really strange it was like stepping back 20 years to when snooker was at its height of popularity. The place was full. It was mainly Asian players but what a fantastic atmosphere everyone was just playing snooker, no kids or drunks about just snooker players doing what they do. Mark played his game and lost 2-0 he played average but he was thrown off my the table which was the nicest and fastest I have seen for a long time.

I refereed for them the tables were all Riley Aristocrats with shaved Strachan cloths and silver legs all brand new and stunning. We had already decided to stay and play after the game regardless of the result. We managed to get a table I had told Mark I was only playing Billiards this week due to the EBOS event, he is a good lad he understood and I have a sneaking idea he is actually beginning to like the game more than he would ever admit.

He set his stall out straight away with a couple of 30 breaks, he was playing with the spotted balls and of course being a touch player with a light grip the fast cloth suited him. He took me to the cleaners all night, I didn't mind it was lovely to see him play the game well, his touch around the black spot is great if just spent a little more time watching a few videos to understand Top of the Table fully he would be as good as anyone.

He managed two 40 breaks, 3 x 30 breaks and a few 15-20 breaks, I really struggled on the table I was scared of hitting the ball, as slight knock sent the ball 15 feet. The speed off the cushions was staggering I was a little disappointed and only managed a couple of 25 breaks. I just goes to show I really should start playing on some decent tables as you dont have to hit the ball hard just a slight tap does the trick, also getting side on was so easy the balls really took side as you didn't have to force anything at all.

I really enjoyed the evening I think next year we will play from Oldham it's only 8 miles or 15 minutes the clubs a little scruffy and there is no Bar but that doesn't bother me or Mark as we rarely drink at all. There are also some good players in the club including Michael Wild who we have both played he is about 10th in the Pontins rankings at the moment.

Anyway I know you read this blog so I will say it "Well played Mark that was the best Billiards I have ever seen you play. Keep it up."

Draw for Scotland EBOS

Chris Taylor
Ron Agnew
Geoff Brassington
Peter Stanyer
Liam Clark

I am sure there is something up with Gary Normans computer program to do these draws, everytime I end up playing Chris, Ron and Geoff. It's a nightmare at least if I drew someone else it would make a nice change.

Then there is the question of that damn Liam Clark everytime I play him he throws in a little run of form and scores about 400. Not going to get much table time with these guys to make a 50 break. we shall see hopefully I will get a few chances.

Practice for EBOS Scotland

Finished work for a week now to spend as much time as possible getting some practice in. Only 5 days to go the field looks really good some really good players turning out for this one getting a little nervous as I always seem to get really tough draws.

I have always managed to avoid Martin Goodwill in the groups but it would be nice to draw him for a bit of fun. Certainly going to get thrashed but I really am going to go all out to try and get my first 50 in an EBOS event not bothered about getting gettting thrashed but I do want to play well.

Nice to see the forum working well on the EBOS site no one seems to be horrible so far. Well done guys. I will keep everyone updated with practice and matches in detail this week and I will try to get all results from Scotland up on the blogs asap, hope to beat Garys updates butyou never know sometimes he does them live.

Monday - Practice PM, snooker match at night
Tuesday - 3 hours Lunchtime Practice - Match PM Huddersfield
Wed - 2 Hours AM - Hopefuly 2 hours at Macclesfield with Wayne
Thu - 4 Hours Morning - 2 matches at night Disley Macclesfield League and Stalybridge League
Fri - early start up to falkirk and hopefully get 2-3 hours with Roy Bacon.

After all that I will be two knackered to play all weekend.

Link to Forum is http://e-bos.proboards.com/

Huddersfield League - New Mill A V New Mill B

Managed to get over to New Mill, the Woodhead Pass was blocked due to Snow Fall. So I had to divert across the M62 still pretty slippy and wild but made it.

Derek Hey the Captain was on first and won by nearly 100 points. I went on second against Rob Walker I struggled all the way I don't know why I had already played really well at Silktown the table was very fast but nothing happened for either of us.

He scored a 27 break which included 3 flukes, I managed a 22 which included 1 fluke. Nothing else happened neither of us had a break over 10. I won by 15 points and was giving him 15 start but I was really disappointed not to get a decent break.

Steven Whiteley played last and won getting a 51 break and a 30. Final score 2-1 to us the B team. I even managed to get home without getting stuck on the motorway although I did see a couple of nasty crashes lots of black ice about

Silk Town Macclesfield

Wayne Holbrook rang and invited me over to Macclesfield for a knock, I was quite glad for the practice as I am not sure if i will be able to get over the Pennines to New Mill for tonight's Derby match against our A team due to snow still falling and getting blown about due to high winds.

We had a nice 2 hour session I started off well with a little 18 and a 25. Then after 15 minutes a nice 57 break which was very controlled and contained all my favourite standard shots. The table was running well and I didn't have to force the shots at all. Very pleased to get another 50+ break in the space of a week. That's 4 in 8 days.

I just need to start hitting the 50 mark in my matches. If I stick to the shots I know I can play well the breaks really do happen. I used to feel a 50 break was a really difficult thing now it just seems like 20-25 easy shots. I am sure the 100 in practice is going to be made before the year is out.

I finished off with a nice 30 break winning by about 70 in the end. Wayne struggled a little his potting was off today but he has not really played since before Christmas. He only managed a 25 break which was unusual for him.

I really am enjoying my game at the moment for some reason a lot of shots I found difficult for months seem easy now. It looks like all the hard work is really paying off. I played a couple of run through losers in the 57 break along the cushion I would never have dreamed of taking them on even 2 months ago. Now I am deem them to be a fairly safe shot which i expect to get on a regular basis.

Lunch Practice

Over to my local club after getting the RAC out to start my car which had a flat battery after being stood for 2 weeks. Had a little billiard practice after last nights 66 break. Started off just the same two 30 breaks and a 52 in a hour.

Really pleased with that strange game billiards you can get on the table and do nothing at all and the next minute knock in a nice break. There were a three of Indian lads in from the nearby restaurant playing snooker so I asked if the spare lad wanted a game. He wasn't very good and I thrashed him 2 nil. They swapped over and I played their so called best player. He was much better than the other lad had a good cue action and had played on a team from Oldham.

He had a really nice 42 break to win the first frame, I cleared the colours to win the second frame and then went mad in the last frame and had a 52 break from nowhere.

Looks like the new tip is working well and the layoff over Christmas seems to have been good for me hope the year keeps going on as it started.

Palace Practice

With all matches cancelled including the ABC on Sunday and our match at Stalybridge v Mossley due to more snow I decided to go for a knock with Mark Carrington at our local club as we felt most of the road nearby were clear enough to get home after a knock.

Mark was clearly playing much better tonight although I did make the first frame go to the last two colours. He beat me 5-2 getting a 57 and a 62. He really had his touch back on a slow table.

We played Billiards for the last hour or so and again he played really well without resorting to potting. He long inoffs were really good tonight another few months practice and he will be to good for me. He got about 60 in front and managed to get top of the table on a couple of occasions. I went through one of those phases where I could only score a few points at a time. My highest break was 17 Mark had a 29, I was quite disappointed as I felt really good.

The just at the end I knocked in a really nice 66 missing a sitter over the bottom pocket, Really cheered me up as I felt I have been playing well enough to get decent breaks lately. Had a couple of 60 and 70's in practice before Christmas.