Euroslot_Jan09_p28:Layout 1 31/12/2008 11:27 Page 28
POOL NEWS www.euroslot-online.com
Blackpool BAPTO finals give hope to the grass roots of pool
T
he 32nd BAPTO Finals  in November  were, according to Rob Pearce of Pool Pockets and Liam Barrett, BAPTO's PRO, the busiest yet and gave hopes
for the future of “grass roots” pool despite it having become a victim of the economic climate, which has helped to close so many public houses.
For the third successive year the finals were held at Pontins Blackpool having gone there in 2006 when the previous venue for a number of years,
Bridlington's Spa Royal Hall, was closed for refurbishment. In 2006 the event attracted 58 teams and just under 400 players and guests.  Last year 90
teams contested the five person team event and about 600 players and guests enjoyed a weekend during November 13 to 16 of good pool from the main
team event, the men's and ladies' individual championships and a special BAPTO plate event to continue participation for teams knocked out of the team
championship.
Rod Pearce told Euroslot: "Three years ago BAPTO officials took a gamble.  A new venue was needed and the finals themselves appeared to need a new
injection of interest.
So the committee decided on Pontins Blackpool as the new location. The resort had always been popular with both players and visitors before alterations
to the Tower necessitated  the move to Bridlington. Decisions were also taken to play to the new Blackball rules and to replace the former seven person
team event with the five person event. These decisions proved to be the right ones, the gamble paid off with increased player and spectator interest". He
added that BAPTO had continued to listen to feedback from the players. He thought the 2008 tournament was the best organised to date with plenty of
pool for everybody; but he promised that plans were already afoot to make the 2009 finals even better.
Entry into any of the BAPTO Finals tournament is restricted to the sport's “grass roots” players, those who support pool in their local pubs and clubs.
Professionals are not allowed to enter. The £10,500 prize money is an attraction to such amateur players but the honour of playing in such a prestigious
national pool tournament is also of importance to them and particularly for those who are declared champions. Proof of that was shown in the tournament
last November when the winners tended to be spread over a larger area than has sometimes been the case. For instance, the Cambrian Cues from the
Cambrian pub in Llanelli, South Wales, won the five-person team championship beating the Watchy pub team  from Liverpool. Gavin Leary, of Superleague
Ireland who are longstanding supporters of the BAPTO events, beat Shane Balding to become the latest of a long list of BAPTO individual
champions and Sarah Trudge beat Sandra Diamond in the ladies' final to repeat her previous ladies' championship win in 2006.
BAPTO Finals have always tried to make available to their contestants good, well made tables, a good cloth and good
pool balls. The 2008 event proved to be no exception. SAM Leisure provided the 32 tables on which all games were
played, Hainsworth's Match cloth covered the tables and Aramith Premier balls were used.
Liam Barrett, who in addition to his honorary duties as BAPTO's PRO is liaison officer at SAM Leisure, said
it was hard to quantify the economic advantages to companies who supplied equipment to tournaments.
He said:"So far as SAM Leisure is concerned we are proud to assist wth BAPTO's
tournaments". On behalf of BAPTO he thanked the sponsors, the
Pontins staff, and the players and spectators who had shown
such good sportsmanship throughout the weekend. He
said: "Players applaud being allowed to play on the best
equipment and BAPTO feels that is what is needed if
high standards of play and good sportsmanship
are to exist".
Gamestec Punch Roadshows success
More pool
A
exhibitors at
fter two successful pool tournaments at Punch Taverns Roadshows, one in October  at Bolton
Wanderers Reebok Stadium and the other at soccer's "stadium of dreams", Wembley Stadium,
in November the company's commercial director, Adrian Ah-Chin-Kow said the shows gave his
Intergame Show
company the  opportunity to meet its customers face to face. He said the roadshows were good fun
on the day  and demonstrated to Punch Taverns' tenants that Gamestec's products were a great
addition to their pubs and would prove very popular with their own customers.
Sue Perkins, the World Ladies 8-Ball Pool Champion was the referee at each function. She I
ntergame has advised Euroslot that Hazel
Grove Music will be  showing at the Intergame
pointed out that pool was popular with pub customers and by running pool teams landlords would IGX Exhibition in London's Ibis Hotel  later this
make their pubs play a bigger part in the community and help to draw in the regulars. month as will Heywood Pool and Snooker. Excel
A total of 10 Punch Taverns Roadshows will be held across the UK at which, as at Wembley,  Texas Leisure has also booked but SAM Leisure,
Hold'em Poker tournaments will be held on the Gamestec 5 machine  in addition to pool. because of the company's global interests, will
continue to support the ATEI.
28
JANUARY 2009
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