Euroslot-MAY09-PG22:Layout 1 23/04/2009 09:51 Page 22
POOL NEWS www.euroslot-online.com
Pool Masters return to Spa
on www.CueSportTV.  This TV  and EBA  decision is the result of an agreement
between Cue SportTV and the EBA which  made the former the official media
streaming partner to the latter for its masters’ championships.
Ross McInnes, who is widely regarded by many pool players as Britain’s
T
he European Blackball Association  returned to the recently leading professional player and who is currently the vice-chairman of the EBA,
and  expensively refurbished Spa Hall in Bridlington on April 5 - 12 for its said of the Cue Sport TV arrangements that for the first time people would be
World Masters’ Pool Championships, an annual event held in the Yorkshire able to watch the championship finals live. “In the past,” he said, “we have had
coast resort since the year 2000.  The event was initially held in the Spa Royal cameras at the finals  previously but  several weeks have elapsed  before edited
Hall but moved to the  Leisure World complex three years ago when the Spa programmes have been shown. Now viewers can watch  them live.”
refurbishment started. All games will be played upon 40 Simply Pool tables which have been sold
This year’s championships included teams from France, Gibraltar, Northern by the company to the EBA at special low prices. Bob Underhill, sales director
Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Shetland, England, Scotland of Simply Pool Ltd., explained: “We regard this as sponsorship because it still
and Wales. On April 5 the opening event was the Men’s A Team costs us money to do it. But  we feel this method of sponsorship helps the
Championship  followed until April 8 by team championships for Ladies A, organisers. They can sell the tables on if they wish or they can keep them for
Men’s B, Ladies’ B, Juniors, Youths, Under21s and other events which other tournaments if they want to. We are quite happy with the
included that popular feature of EBA championships, the events for those with arrangement.”          
special learning needs.
From April 8-10 the various final events were played which were broadcast Editor’s note: Our copy date for our May issue was too early for us to include
live for the first time by Cue Sport TV, an internet pool and snooker channel, any results in this issue.’’
Excel badge to stay Sam’s pre-Easter rush
S
tan McKenna, who since the merger of  Excel
Leisure and Simply Pool has been made the L
iam Barratt, of Sam Leisure, told Euroslot in early April that the company was “hellish
busy” because everybody wanted their stuff before Easter. But even that degree of
commercial director of Simply Pool Ltd., has sales pressure did not blind Barratt to the fact that there were other considerations to take
confirmed to Euroslot that  Excel tables will  continue into account once the rush was over.
to be made alongside Simply tables and that they He thought the economic uncertainty and the weak pound could mean a good year for
willl be badged  with the Excel logo. stay at home tourism  which in turn could bring business to the seaside, to places like
He said of his new duties: “I will be spending a bowling alleys, family entertainment centres, seaside arcades and other coastal
lot of time with my new colleagues ensuring our UK amusements. Many establishments were refurbishing, he said, with new equipment,
customers are well served but I wil also be spending mainly air hockey and refurbished pool tables. “Any business we can get is good business
time exploring new markets particularly in Europe at the present time,” said Barratt.
and the middle eastern markets. We shall be looking Pool in general continued to be depressed, he thought, with an over supply of new
at all forms of marketing including tournaments.” tables and a glut of secondhand tables. But there had been a glimmer of better news for
McKenna, of course, is no stranger to European Sam Leisure.
countries. During his time as managing director of At this year’s Dublin Show the company had introduced its Infinity English pool table to
the former Hazel Grove Music  Superleague what  proved to be  a successful show. He described the new table was a no frills
Company before it was acquired by the late Riley mechanical table. It had Sam Leisure’s pro-active cushions and the build quality was up to
Leisure he organised annual pool  tournaments the standard associated with the company’s products. “But the straight six mech and a
between Britain, France and Spain, the Three plain cabinet make it our cheapest table yet,” he said, adding that it would be even
Nations Tournaments as he called them. Whether cheaper if ordered (presumably beforehand)   for purchase after the BACTA Finals in
they are repeated again will much depend upon his Blackpool in November.               
findings and research into current trade in Europe
and, of course, in the UK.
He told Euroslot he had recently returned from a
pleasant visit to a business exhibition in China.  He
described it as both interesting and well attended
with a good atmosphere. The billiards section, he
said, covered pool as well as snooker and among the
wide range of exhibitors were cue manufacturers,
table slates manufacturers and bar billiards.
Surprisingly there has been little comment in the
pool industry about the Simply Pool/Excel Leisure
merger. The few people who have spoken about it
are of the opinion that it could only be a good thing
in the present economic climate for both parties.
Both made a range of popular tables at various
prices and both had directors who not only had a
long experience of the pool industry but who were
highly respected members of it.        
22
MAY 2009
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