OUR CONDOLENCES

The Committee of the NIPA would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Mike Leavens on the passing of his wife Jenny today 3oth July after an illness. Jenny represented England for many years on the green baize and also officiated and refereed. Husband Mike was a long time European Blackball Association and Blackball International Committee member. 

Jenny's friendly personality will be very sadly missed at future events.

Our thoughts are with Mike and the wider family circle at this sad time.

 

2021 EBA European Championships

Dates for the 2021 European Championships to be held in Bridlington, England have been confirmed as follows -

MONDAY 26th APRIL to WEDNESDAY 5th MAY

These are the playing days. As soon as we have the breakdown for Unders, Specials, Mens, Ladies, Overs and Wheelchair we will publish them here.

Obviously this event going ahead is dependent on conditions at the time relating to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

2020 EBA NATIONS CUP OF POOL FOR 'B' TEAMS

The 2020 EBA Nations Cup of Pool for 'B' Teams only is scheduled to take place on the following dates, hosted by the Irish Blackball Association -

Saturday 31st October to Thursday 5th November (6 playing days total)

The venue is the fantastic Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney which previously hosted the 2015 EBA Nations Cup and the 2016 Blackball International World Championship

Players must stay within the Gleneagle complex and book only via the official booking process which will be announced later.

2020 BI World Championships cancelled

CORONA VIRUS COVID 19

****ANNOUNCEMENT****

Please note that all NIPA events have been postponed until further notice. Anyone who has paid money for the events on Sunday 29th March please contact me and I will send you a refund.

Stay safe everyone and take care.

Gillian Rolston

On behalf of the Executive Committee

2020 INTERLEAGUE 'A' TEAM CHAMPIONS - NEWRY

2020 INTERLEAGUE PLATE WINNERS - CRUMLIN

2020 INTERLEAGUE 'B' TEAM CHAMPIONS - BALLYMENA B1

2020 INTERLEAGUE 'B' PLATE WINNERS - BALLYMENA B2

BRIDLINGTON CANCELLED

COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON 2020 NATIONS CUP

Up until this point the thinking of the EBA committee has been that it was best for all if the UK government made a decision that events such as the Nations Cup would be banned from happening . The reason for this was that we had received advice that in the case of a government ban there was a possibility that accommodation, boat fares and flights monies could be reclaimed. We also have had to consider the possibility of financial penalties being imposed on the EBA by the SPA if the event was cancelled by ourselves, rather than by government. We thought such a statement would have been forthcoming from the government after the last meeting of their Cobra committee and like many others we were amazed no such decision was announced.

Obviously we assume such banning orders will be put in place soon by the government but due to the uncertainty this policy is creating among our members we now feel it is time the EBA officially cancelled the event and as a result will have to accept any consequences of doing so.

We also have considered the fact that even if the event were to go ahead the numbers attending due to nations/teams and individual players deciding not to attend would be of such a low number that the event itself would no longer hold any credibility.

Finally and foremost, this decision has been taken with the wellbeing of players and officials being of paramount importance to the EBA, to carry on with the event would have been a total neglect of our duty of care to every player.

We trust you will understand this decision has been taken with great regret by the committee, but we would encourage you to support us in that decision.

In regard to the 2020 AGM obviously it is no longer will be feasible to hold it in Bridlington on the proposed date. A new date and venue will be circulated when a suitable venue close to an international airport has been secured. I imagine that the meeting will not take place now for a few months when hopefully things will be a lot better

Yours in sport

Trevor Harte

EBA secretary on behalf of the EBA committee

COUNTDOWN TO THE INTERLEAGUE

This coming weekend sees the 2020 NIPA Interleague Events take place, an event in our calendar that so many local League players up, down and across the country look forward to as they represent their League with pride. The venue is the Queens Hall in Newtownards and another two exciting days of competitive pool are sure to be played out.

Saturday sees the 'B' Team Event with ten eleven person teams competing and Sunday the 'A' Event with eleven Leagues vying for the title. We welcome two new Leagues to the Interleague this season, Newry and South Armagh. We hope you enjoy the Pool and the craic guys.

'B' EVENT
Ballymena B1, Ballymena B2, Coleraine B1, Carrick B1, Carrick B2, Newry B1, Ards B1, Ards B2, North Down & Ards B1, NI Ladies

'A' EVENT
Carrick, Ards, Ballymena, Coleraine, Newry, South Armagh, North Down & Ards, Dromara, Crumlin, Ballynahinch, Belfast

REMINDER
PLEASE LEAVE HOME IN PLENTY OF TIME TO GET PARKED AND INTO THE VENUE.  ON ARRIVAL TEAM CAPTAINS TO COME UP TO THE TOP TABLE AND OBTAIN YOUR TEAM REGISTRATION SHEET

Venue - Open from 10.00am.
Team registration - Closes at 11.00am. One player from a team can register the names for that whole team. Any team not registered by 11.00am will lose one frame for every five minutes late in registering, this will apply to each match that particular team has in the Group stages. Once the Event has started no further names can be added to the team sheet.
Address - Queens Hall, West Street, Newtownards, BT23 4EN
Parking - Yes, in behind venue
Dress code - Yes, dress trousers, shirt with collar (no football tops), dress shoes. CAN TEAM CAPTAINS PLEASE REMIND ALL PLAYERS
Format - Main Event & Plate Event
Criteria - Players to have played in at least two League fixture this season for the League they are representing. Players cannot play in both 'A' and 'B' Events.
Team size - 11 A side, can register 15

T&Cs subject to change

Top photo - 2019 'A' Team Winners, Carrick & District League
Bottom Photo - 2019 'A' Team Plate Winners, Belfast & District League

NIPA 2020 AMATEUR & INTERMEDIATE EVENTS 2

We are now taking entries for these two Events which will be played on Sunday 29th March. Amateur Event 2 will be played in the Q.Club, Larne and Intermediate Event 2 in Reds, Ballymena.

32 players maximum in each Event, no Elite players

Only payment secures your spot. Please send £30 (£25 + £5 registration) by either of the following ways -

1/ - In person to Gillian Rolston, Pauline Lynch or Wayne Lewis
2/ - Paypal – To gillianrolston@outlook.com (Friends & Family option) Please reference your name and Event number/date
3/ Online bank transfer. Please reference your name and Event number/date
Sort code 090129
Account number 41085059

PAYMENT BY SUNDAY 15th MARCH PLEASE TO GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT

AMATEUR
01 - Jim Gilchrist (PAID)
02 - Neil McFaul
03 - Anthony McCorry
04 - Ryan Marcus
05 - Dean McDonagh
06 - Galvin McDermott
07 - Gerard McDermott
08 - Cathal Mathews (PAID)
09 - Oisin Wallace
10 - Gavin Doran
11 - Stephen Johnston
12 - Raymond Christie
13 - Gary Wallace
14 - Lee McIlreavy
15 - Robbie Malcolm
16 - Andrew Maguire
17 - Tony Tennyson
18 - Gavin Patton
19 - Marty Goudie
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

INTERMEDIATE
01 - Stevie Ferris (PAID)
02 - Jack Devlin
03 - Gareth Rowe
04 - Ciaran Reid
05 - Stephen Quinn (PAID)
06 - Mark Davison
07 - Andrew McGregor
08 - Ryan McCarten (PAID)
09 - Ryan Tosh
10 - Scott Agnew
11 - James King
12 - Jordan McKee (PAID)
13 - Gary Patterson (PAID)
14 - David Mitchell (PAID)
15 - Joe Patton (PAID)
16 - Ryan Scott
17 - Connor McQuillan (PAID)
18 - Gary Kinney (PAID)
19 - Daniel McMillan
20 - Paddy Lynch (PAID)
21- Jason Horner
22 - Dean Reid
23 - Niall McCarthy
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

NIPA ELITE EVENT 1

We had some really high quality Pool yesterday at our inaugural £100 a man Elite Event 1 in Potters Snooker & Pool Club in Coleraine. The Prelim match between Rab McCullough and Declan Brennan had no less than 13 break and dishes/reverse dishes with Rab coming through on a deciding frame whilst Runner Up James Nesbitt came from 0-5 down in his Semi Final to win 10-8 with some superb clearances of his own. But when all was said and done and the final black of the day was potted it was the methodical genius Thomas Morrow who took the £550 top prize back home to Ballymoney.

Our next event moves on to Tossies Pool Academy in Enniskillen on Sunday 31st May. Elite players have until 30th April to confirm their entry by a £25 deposit then if all 16 maximum spaces are not filled it will be open to all individuals or for clubs/pubs to hold qualifiers. To enter please contact NIPA Secretary Gillian Rolston on Messenger. Elite players (list not exhaustive) Declan Brennan, Ronan McCarthy, Thomas Morrow, Rab McCullough, Rab Fee, Gary Clarke, Pat McAnally, James Nesbitt, Brian Crilly, Richie Comiskey, Paddy Clarke, Drew Sloan, Ronan Fay, Gerard Heaney, any Snooker Pro

PRELIMS

Rab McCullough 10-9 Declan Brennan

Ronan McCarthy 10-5 Aaron Farr

QUARTER FINALS

Rab McCullough 10-5 Ronan McCarthy

Tommy Morrow 10-4 Stephen Quinn

James Nesbitt 10-2 Ryan Marcus

Marty Goudie 10-4 Willie Eakin

SEMI FINALS

Tommy Morrow 10-7 Rab McCullough

James Nesbitt 10-8 Marty Goudie

FINAL

Tommy Morrow 10-8 James Nesbitt

HANDICAP RANGE (+0) to (+4) max

(+0) Declan Brennan, Thomas Morrow, Ronan McCarthy

(+1) Rab McCullough

(+2) James Nesbitt

(+3) Marty Goudie , Ryan Marcus, Willie Eakin

(+4) Aaron Farr, Stephen Quinn

In the photo - Finalists Tommy Morrow (left) and James Nesbitt with NIPA Secretary Gillian Rolston

ELITE EVENT 1 THIS SUNDAY

Reminder for players participating in the NIPA Elite Event 1 that it is this coming Sunday 8th March in Potters Pool & Snooker Club, Coleraine. Start time is 12.00 noon, dress code applies.

EVENT 1 – Potters, Coleraine. Sunday 8^th March 2020

EVENT 2 – Toosies, Enniskillen. Sunday 31^st May 2020

EVENT 3 – 147 Club, Antrim. Sunday 13^th September 2020

Cost - £100 + £5 registration per event

Deposit - £25 deposit secures place for Event 1

Races – Races to 10

Runners – 16 maximum

Handicapped – Yes, range from (Scratch) to (+4)

Dress code – Yes, NIPA dress code

Membership – Players must be NIPA Associate Members (£15 per year 1^st Sept to 31^st Aug)

Entering – To enquire about entering and deposit payment please contact Gillian Rolston or Nipa Pool on Messenger

Prize fund (if full 16) – Winner £800, Runner Up £400, Semi Finalists £200 each

SENIORS 'B'

The very best of luck to our Seniors 'B' Team who will be travelling over to Bridlington in April to represent Team NI at the 2020 EBA Nations Cup of Pool

Kevin Duffy (PM) - Lisburn
Gary Crawford - Dromore
Dave Jones - Ballynahinch
Paddy McGivern - Crumlin
Kevin Doherty - Banbridge

2020 NI LADIES TOUR EVENT 1

Event 1 of our Ladies 2020 Tour took place in the Coach Club, Hillsborough on Sunday 16th February and after play had ended it was Mika Roonay who topped the table with a fantastic ten out of ten, a great boost for Mika before she heads to Bridlington to represent Team NI at the EBA Nations Cup in April. Ash Dinsmore came in second with an impressive eight from ten followed by Alex Babb and Emma Cunningham both on seven.

Event 2 takes place on Sunday 21st June in the Q.Club, Larne with Event 3 in Toosies, Enniskillen on Sunday 13th September

CHARITY FUNDRAISER FOR NI HOSPICE

NIPA SHOOTOUT !!!!

Hi folks, see below a list of names for our upcoming exciting Shootout in the 147 Club, Antrim on Saturday 29th February. The Event is now full but players spots are only guaranteed by payment. We need these in asap as we have reserves in waiting.

Payment to Rab Fee, Rab McCullough or Gillian Rolston

01. Gerard Heaney (£10 Paid)
02. Neil Mcfaul
03. Pat McNally
04. Craig Laughlin
05. Rab McCullough (£10 Paid)
06. Marty Heaney
07. Ronan Fay (£10 Paid)
08. Declan Brennan
09. Kevin Abram (£20 Paid)
10. Paddy Clarke
11. Johnny Mackay
12. Rab Fee (£30 Paid)
13. Jamie Lavelle
14. Gavin Doran
15. Galvin McDermott
16. Jason Crozier
17. Sean French
18. Michael Wilson
19. Jim Gilchrist
20. Wayne Lewis
21. Roger Smyth
22. Ryan McQuillan
23. Stephen Herron
24. Trevor Whiteside (£10 Paid)
25. Paul Harris (£30 Paid)
26. Gary Clarke
27. Ryan Foster (£30 Paid)
28. Chris McCory
29. Gary Wallace
30. Gordon Boomer
31. 147 Qualifier
32. 147 Qualifier

2020 INTERLEAGUE EVENTS

HI FOLKS, A REMINDER THAT THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES IS SUNDAY 1st MARCH. REMEMBER ALL ENTRIES MUST BE PREPAID, NO EXCEPTIONS. 

ENTRIES AT TIME OF POSTING -

'A' EVENT - SUNDAY 15th MARCH
Crumlin (PAID)
Ards
Coleraine
Carrick

'B' EVENT - SATURDAY 14th MARCH
Ards B1
Ards B2
Coleraine B1
Carrick B1
Carrick B2

Delighted to announce details off our 2020 Interleague events as follows. Any questions please feel free to contact us. To enquire about entering, League Secretaries should contact NIPA Secretary Gillian Rolston.

NIPA 2020 AMATEUR & INTERMEDIATE EVENTS 2

We are now taking entries for these two Events which will be played on Sunday 29th March. Amateur Event 2 will be played in the Q.Club, Larne and Intermediate Event 2 in Reds, Ballymena.

32 players maximum in each Event, no Elite players

Only payment secures your spot. Please send £30 (£25 + £5 registration) by either of the following ways -

1/ - In person to Gillian Rolston, Pauline Lynch or Wayne Lewis

2/ - Paypal – To gillianrolston@outlook.com (Friends & Family option) Please reference your name and Event number/date

3/ Online bank transfer. Please reference your name and Event number/date

Sort code 090129

Account number 41085059