Euroslot-SEP09-PG27:Layout 1 01/09/2009 12:52 Page 27
www.euroslot-online.com POOL NEWS
BAPTO's members helpline
is moving ahead
T
he new members’ helpline started
by BAPTO to give its members
assistance with business problems is
moving slowly forward. Liam Barrett
said: “It started at the suggestion of one
A better climate for pool
member, an experienced operator, who
found himself being approached more and
more by fellow members for advice on
some of the present day problems which
A
wet August with pools of water lying all over the roads and they had never before encountered. So it was
pavements might give way  to an eagerly anticipated improved climate decided to form the helpline to enable the
for pool at manufacturing, operating and playing levels during September. association to provide help and advice on a
Gradually, those responsible for the management of the sport at each number of topics  as and when it was approached. It
level seem to be getting their individual actions together without any of was hoped, he said, that this would improve
the old and somewhat distasteful arguments about who runs pool. The communications between members and information
European Blackball Association had every reason to be pleased with the could be disseminated for the benefit of all.
success of its annual event in Bridlington during April  and with  Ross Asked whether the association would be appointing its
McInnes, surely the most recognised name among pool players, as its own professional advisers Barrett replied: “So far nobody
vice-chairman,  it is looking to another success when it hosts the EBA has suggested this. Most members presumably have
European finals at the Isle of Man’s Villa Marina Hotel from September solicitors and accountants from whom they get professional
27 to October 2. McInnes desperately wants this to be a success and advice and services for their own business. Certainly there would
was making every effort  to get Eurosport TV coverage for the event. be expense involved if we were to appoint such people on a
Liam Barrett, BAPTO’s efficient Press liaison officer, announced in retained basis but if we had enough members we could look at the
early August that bookings for the association’s  annual tournament  at matter closely. At the moment the helpline is  at an early stage”.
the Blackpool Pontins in November indicate that  the record attendance Barrett could see little improvement in the situation regarding the pub trade and
achieved last year is likely to be beaten in November. Players would, he pool. Pub closures were still numerous and it was a worrying situation for
said, have plenty of opportunity to play a lot of competitive pool even everybody but fortunately some operators were supporting the game at site level
if they were beaten in  a main event  during the early stages of the and some of the pubs were cooperating as were some of the players with in-house
tournament. Furthermore those who wished to would have the competitions. These were helping to reinforce loyalty – which was vital – and if
opportunity to enjoy the amenities of an attractive town and anything, pool was more popular than ever in the pubs which adopted this mutual
surrounding area.  help approach.
Pool should follow the French line
Sam's seconds
S
tan McKenna,commercial director of the Oldham-based pool  table manufacturers, Simply Pool Ltd., believes
that some of the current problems facing pool in the UK might be eased if table operators and players combined S
AM Leisure has introduced a
practical solution to what might be
forces to arrange more of the smaller type of pool  competitions that have done so  much for the sport in France. seen as a dearth of new pool tables
Nobody could know better than Stan McKenna of the problems faced when the original United Kingdom Pool caused by the licensed trade’s pub and
Federation was formed with him as chairman. The federation extended to Europe at a later date with members from club closures. Admittedly people talk
individual  countries’ players’ associations meeting regularly with breweries,  operators, manufacturers, the Press and about warehouses crammed with tables
tournament organisers. First to leave was the English Pool Association which wanted to maintain its own rules and taken off-site from shutdown  pubs, etc.,
feared the “tail might wag the dog”. Gradually other organisations  left and, far from bringing mutual understanding of but sometimes the operator finding a
pool’s needs, a situation arose  in which some, especially  players, saw the industry as the masters and themselves as new site finds also that its owner wants a
the workers. new table at what might be roughly
Happily, most of those attitudes have vanished with the years as the financial rewards in pool became less and less termed a used price. SAM can  consider
at all levels. As McKenna recalled, television  rarely showed live pool apart from the World Pool Association Finals held any  reasonable requests, said Barrett,
each year in Blackpool.  In France AFEBAS had taken the lead in forming a pool promotions company from its with its new Infinity mechanical table
members, which was funded by the membership subscriptions of players who joined it in order to be able to play in built to meet the needs of a market  from
its various contests. which rents and table income are
Hence interest in pool  is maintained by small competitions held between local sites and larger ones held on a currently being squeezed.
national basis. Player members are kept up-to-date with news of contests, a player ranking system is maintained, The table maintains some of the
league tables are made available and funds can be found where necessary for prize monies. Well why did we not think features of the company’s other models
of that BAPTO members might enquire   Perhaps the answer could be that in France the pool table has a better such as the the pro-active cushions. It is
recognised reputation because there are no street gaming machines to share machine rents with. described by Barrett as “a no-frills table,
As an old professional England batsman once told me: “When the runs dry up go in and slog your way out of strongly made with a mechanical coin
trouble.” it’s worth thinking about. entry system”.                     
SEPTEMBER 2009
27
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