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SOLIHELL |
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read_this
Just can't stay away
Joined: 16-May-2006
Posts: 109
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Posted: 2006-08-19 18:14
As you might rightly detect from it's early saturday evening origin this is a rather bitter, just got knocked out type of post.
However, the table conditions at Solihell were the worst I have ever witnessed in a UK pool club for a big tournament, and that really is saying something. The tables I played on appeared to have a surface area that consisted more of holes, bare patches, and stains than actually of cloth. The random reaction of the rails was akin to playing russian roulette, and this was my first experience of a well hit (not miscued) draw shot resulting in cue ball off table due to hitting something on it's way to the object ball and then encountering one of the wooden rails.
Quite simply an absolute disgrace of a pool club. What is the point of leather sofas with tables like that? Oh wait I minute I get it - the sofas probably roll truer.
Rant over - but really getting sick of this. Please, please, please no more tournaments in Solihell or clubs like it until things are improved. The EPT will have a field day if they manage to attract more names for their Solihull date! The Europeans won't know what hit them.
Regards,
RT.
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Tricky
Quite a regular
Joined: 15-Mar-2006
Posts: 43
From: Sussex
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Posted: 2006-08-19 18:41
I heard from one of my freinds who is playing there today that its shocking conditions.
The problem as i see it is this, there arent many venues big enougth for these sort of field tournaments forcing the tours to have to use the well known pool club chain, and of what i see from the clubs in question they are more interested in pints of beer bought than than the standard of the tables the majority of the staff are either students or Pub Landlords who wouldnt know a Snooker Cue from a Pool Cue.
Its a shame but True!!
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read_this
Just can't stay away
Joined: 16-May-2006
Posts: 109
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Posted: 2006-08-19 19:02
On 2006-08-19 18:41 , Tricky Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! I heard from one of my freinds who is playing there today that its shocking conditions.
The problem as i see it is this, there arent many venues big enougth for these sort of field tournaments forcing the tours to have to use the well known pool club chain, and of what i see from the clubs in question they are more interested in pints of beer bought than than the standard of the tables the majority of the staff are either students or Pub Landlords who wouldnt know a Snooker Cue from a Pool Cue.
Its a shame but True!! Yes, acknowledged. The shame here is that anyone who has ever played a tournament in Solihull over the past couple of years or so knows what the place is like. This was the same for the BPPPA event there last year. The tables and cloths were shocking then and I swear they haven't been reclothed since. So the question is, this being the case why are we there again this year with no improvements made whatsoever? All we want is the results of our matches to be determined by the relative level of play between the players and not by the fact that you can't see the pocket you are aiming at because there is a window directly behind it, and when the ball goes in the general direction of the pocket (who knows where it actually is???) it has to contend with black slime on the cloth on it's way there. Had Dickens ever written about a pool club I would wager his description would not be far off the conditions of the tables at Solihull, and at least it would have been funny! Second rant over with, although I can feel a letter of complaint coming on. Cheers, RT
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DaFlop
Just popping in
Joined: 15-Aug-2006
Posts: 5
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Posted: 2006-08-19 19:08
Hi!
I'm planning to join the Solihull EPT tournament, but you guys really make me wonder if it's worth the trip from Norway...??!! lol
By the way; There are 3 of us, and we look into the possibility to pay one londoner to drive us from Stansted Airport to Solihull and back! c",)
Any players that might be interested, please send a private message, or simply answer here.
We played in Harrow, and really look forward to the next tournament, hopefully on tables with new cloths!!!!
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read_this
Just can't stay away
Joined: 16-May-2006
Posts: 109
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Posted: 2006-08-19 19:30
On 2006-08-19 19:08 , DaFlop Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! Hi!
I'm planning to join the Solihull EPT tournament, but you guys really make me wonder if it's worth the trip from Norway...??!! lol
By the way; There are 3 of us, and we look into the possibility to pay one londoner to drive us from Stansted Airport to Solihull and back! c",)
Any players that might be interested, please send a private message, or simply answer here.
We played in Harrow, and really look forward to the next tournament, hopefully on tables with new cloths!!!! It's certainly not my intention to put you off travelling for the EPT event. Maybe the EPT crew might be able to exert some influence and get the tables recovered? If so another coup for them I would think.
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Sparkey
Home away from home
Joined: 13-Mar-2006
Posts: 190
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Posted: 2006-08-19 20:59
Hi guys Mark Mills here, Daryl and Mark I am sure will look into this and do everything they can to get something done about the tables I don't think Daryl is playing in Solihull or at least he said last week he won't be, but if he is I am sure he will give you some answers to this on Sunday night or Monday morning, these conditions at Solihull and other clubs that have been used in the past are the reason that the EPT are looking into taking these events away from clubs like this and this will be done I am sure at the first available opportunity, as I am the only person on the tournament desk most of the time I will push Daryl & Mark to hopefully do something as I will be getting the flack on the day for the table conditions, again the EPT look to act upon your comments.
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Johanna
Quite a regular
Joined: 17-Jul-2006
Posts: 67
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Posted: 2006-08-20 00:15
Hi, After the Harrow event we have been traveling around the UK and ended up as high as Inverness..  We just spent 3 days at Edinburgh and found a place called The New Yorker. They had 5 or 6 Brunswick tables in EXCELLENT condition and loads Sam tables that were much better than the ones in Harrow. Although the Brunswick tables were only for members and as there was no members waiting for a table, we had the chance to use them. It was nice to come up with a pool hall like The New Yorker after what I have been reading about some others...Highly recommended. www.thenewyorker.co.uk [ This message was edited by: Johanna on 2006-08-20 00:18 ]
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malaguista
Home away from home
Joined: 14-Mar-2006
Posts: 1176
From: Spain
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Posted: 2006-08-20 07:53
Hi Johanna,
Glad that you and Rafa are having a good time in the UK.
You are escaping all the work here which is nearly done and your office is looking good, See you on Monday evening hopefully.
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Shaggylad
Quite a regular
Joined: 17-Mar-2006
Posts: 53
From: Somewhere near Coventry
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Posted: 2006-08-20 11:20
On 2006-08-19 20:59 , Sparkey Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! I don't think Daryl is playing in Solihull I can confirm that Daryl was there yesterday, and the tables are as described....... Shaggy
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bruno
Home away from home
Joined: 14-Mar-2006
Posts: 673
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
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Posted: 2006-08-20 12:45
On 2006-08-20 00:15 , Johanna Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! Hi,
After the Harrow event we have been traveling around the UK and ended up as high as Inverness.. We just spent 3 days at Edinburgh and found a place called The New Yorker. They had 5 or 6 Brunswick tables in EXCELLENT condition and loads Sam tables that were much better than the ones in Harrow.
Although the Brunswick tables were only for members and as there was no members waiting for a table, we had the chance to use them.
It was nice to come up with a pool hall like The New Yorker after what I have been reading about some others...Highly recommended.
www.thenewyorker.co.uk Johanna, did you check out the new Rileys club in Inverness? We had a SAPPA tournament there earlier this year and I was mightlily impressed. Mind you it was a new club and I'm sure it will all be downhill from there... As for the New Yorker, I was hearing some bizarre stories about it. They have some very strict rules about jump shots and dont allow them. They dont even allow you to use your own chalk unless it is purple! I have been told that the tables are top notch though.... ----------------- Every man dies, not every man truly lives...
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jodieii
Not too shy to talk
Joined: 20-Aug-2006
Posts: 25
From: Everywhere
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Posted: 2006-08-20 16:14
Well Solihull Riley's annoyed me a little yesterday as after driving with a one year old child in my car to see some friends play was told when entering the club i wasnt allowed to bring my daughter in as she was under 8...  Now i go to alot of pool events and always take my daughter with me and have never been told i am not allowed to take her in a Rileys club...! A few of us had a word with the gentleman behind the bar and explained that i had been driving in my car with her to watch my friends play specially and he then said ok you can stay for 15 minutes...! What a joke...! Dont think i will be going back there again in a hurry...!
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spoony
Quite a regular
Joined: 30-Mar-2006
Posts: 55
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Posted: 2006-08-20 17:42
you cant blame somebody for doing their job, maybe it is a club rule
why did u not ring b4 hand and find out alot of clubs have certain liscences that they need to stick by
but what is the point in 15 minutes i agree with u there
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Danny
Home away from home
Joined: 14-Mar-2006
Posts: 909
From: Manchester UK
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Posted: 2006-08-20 19:15
Rileys Policy is:
No under 16's allowed in the building past either 7PM or 9PM (i can't quite remember) even if accompanied by an adult.
Alot of managers at clubs are relaxed about this because it isn't a law abiding rule. It is just a rule placed there by Rileys PLC.
This was the case when I was a Rileys robot anyway.
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Danny
Home away from home
Joined: 14-Mar-2006
Posts: 909
From: Manchester UK
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Posted: 2006-08-20 19:18
Ahh yes it is no under 16's past 9PM I remember now. Because there was an uproar about a 15yr old snooker player being on the Marbles team at Whitefield Rileys.
But if you went in during the day and they had a problem with it then it must be an individual club rule, and a s**t one at that.
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dazzler
Home away from home
Joined: 14-Mar-2006
Posts: 1289
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Posted: 2006-08-20 19:18
Hi everyone, i did go to solihull and i can confirm the following: I spoke in depth with the manageress at Riley's Solihull, and one of the area managers with regards to the table conditions there. I will be having another phone meeting with the area manager tomorrow morning regarding the matter. The talks that i have had upto now have been very positive. I went round every table personally, along with Andy Worthington, in order to see exactly what was wrong with each and every table. Then we took notes of each table, which will be passed on to the area manager tomorrow. I can assure all of you that we are really trying our best to make the next EPT even better that the last event in Harrow. I beleive the Solihull club is the best laid out club in the UK. The lounge area is huge and spacious, and the table layout is superb, giving people the perfect oppertunity to watch matches on any table they choose. Obviously i will post on here with any news in order to keep all the players informed. ----------------- 
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Buckster_uk
Moderators
Joined: 15-Mar-2006
Posts: 1967
From: Surrey
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Posted: 2006-08-20 19:31
Just got back, updates on the stage:
Semi Finals
Karl Boyes v Tommy Donlon
Phil Harrison v Bob Harris
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Buckster_uk
Moderators
Joined: 15-Mar-2006
Posts: 1967
From: Surrey
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Posted: 2006-08-20 19:36
I can confirm what Daryl said, he and Andy did have a right good seeing over for all the tables.
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thediamond
Home away from home
Joined: 13-Mar-2006
Posts: 1520
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Posted: 2006-08-20 20:34
Daryl gave Andy a good seeing over the tables?
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jodieii
Not too shy to talk
Joined: 20-Aug-2006
Posts: 25
From: Everywhere
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Posted: 2006-08-20 20:57
On 2006-08-20 17:42 , spoony Wrote:!!! QUOTE !!! you cant blame somebody for doing their job, maybe it is a club rule
why did u not ring b4 hand and find out alot of clubs have certain liscences that they need to stick by
but what is the point in 15 minutes i agree with u there Because being a silly women i didnt think, I have travelled around and been to lots of Rileys clubs in the past and if i havent took my own daughter other players have got theirs there or i have seen kids in there...! And i know my local Rileys rules are no under 16's in after 7 unless accompanied by an adult. So i just assumed...! And in regards to the 15 minute thing it was pathetic to be fair i'm just glad my partner decided on Friday not to play else i would have been very annoyed i he was playing then i was unable to stay...!
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Barron147
Quite a regular
Joined: 01-Jun-2006
Posts: 48
From: Doncaster
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Posted: 2006-08-20 21:10
any news on who won the semis and final?
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