Report 2004

The final nose drop

The week before the tournament started I had telephone calls from all parts of the media, both in this country and from abroad. So the list of journalists covering the event was long and mixed, from Russian Television to Satellite Stations to the Press and freelance writers and photographers.

Good Friday began with three radio interviews that Julia did from home, whilst I was at the Greyhound setting it all up. More interviews followed and by 8.40 am the first of the satellite stations had set themselves up to broadcast live at 9.40.

We had telephone calls from members of the public who had heard about it on the radio and who wanted to enter teams.

The total number of teams entered this year was 27 just one short of our record. In the end the ‘Arkansas Racers’ from Hot Springs USA, pulled out with a collective bad back, but said they would be back next year.

The start of a game about to break the pack

With so many teams playing the championships were the longest on record. Play started at around 11 am and went on to the presentations at 7 pm. It was a far cry from the old days when five teams fought it out and the event was over by 12 noon.

Some of the players said that due to the fine weather the rings were very fast and that it was difficult to keep their tolleys on the ring. And therefore the breaks that were made weren’t as high as some other years, maybe it was the wrong kind of Sunshine?!

A first round game on one of the side rings

Team Championship

Sam playing for the Handcross Rebels
shoots from the edge of the ring

Individual Championship

With so many teams playing there was a need to arrange a play off for the main event, 12 players against each other for the one remaining place. There were some of the best known players from the past in this play off Colin from the Black Dog Boozers and Mel who for many years played for the Bow Street Fudgers. Mel won through to the main event with a score of 10 marbles.

In the final there were 11 players, 10 from this year and Chris Pampel the current champion. Four rounds were played and Chris had knocked out 14 marbles and had a lead that meant he could not be beaten by any other player, he was acclaimed champion for the second year.