Category: Bar Billiards

I’m away for a few months and I’ve played my last game of the season for the Serengeti, but I need to make this update. The Serengeti won tonight and have been promoted, we’ve come either first or second in the league. For the team that came bottom of the league last year it’s a marvellous achievement and I look forwards to coming along to a game or two next year as I’ve been told I’m not allowed to leave the team  🙂

Oh, and the food photo that I requested, thanks Emma!

I have no idea how I got 3,600 people visiting my last bar billiards update about playing the Manes and getting through to the Plate Final. I assume that my two loyal readers were so excited by it that they kept visiting it on different computers. Actually, how on earth have that many people read it? Anyway, this bar billiarding week started for me on Tuesday when I turned up at the White Lion on Tuesday evening for my weekly training session with Zak and others. I’ve learned a lot of new shots from him and maybe one day I might actually be able to consistently play (or at least play it once) his signature break off shot.

The omens were good, I was undefeated on Tuesday evening playing four different players which included two in the top tier of the Norwich Bar Billiards league. If I was humble I wouldn’t have gone on and on about that. But I’m not and so I have. I was particularly impressed when Zak commented to me after a successful 200 shot that “that was the bravest shot I’ve ever seen you play”. It’s like a civil servant telling a Minister that he’s being brave, I thought that I’d better not be that reckless in an actual league game. It was my last Tuesday of playing for a while and I’ll miss it a lot, it was one of my favourite regular events. Playing in the league is good, but training nights are not far behind (they just don’t have the food).

Anyway, the game last night was against Cottagecore and we’re doing very well in the league and so a victory should have meant promotion, although not guaranteed it just yet. They’re one of the friendliest teams in the league I think, but I was horrified to be drawn third in the singles. This is a dreadful draw position as it’s when the food comes out. I’m delighted that Chay, who did very well to recover after our football on Monday evening, timed it perfectly. The Cottagecore kindly allowed us to have a break for food just before I played, meaning I was well nourished before the food came out. I couldn’t possibly play knowing that the food had just come out and I couldn’t have any.

Butter chicken and rice, very delicious! Thanks to Chay for preparing it and Oscar for paying for it.

My gameplay in the singles match was acceptable, but my specialist Zak trained shots didn’t come off and so I resorted to grinding some points in as my usual strategy. I will admit an element of luck here as it went to the end game and I managed to miss the final shot. Fortunately for me, their player knocked over the 200 pin and so I stormed to a victory that wasn’t entirely deserved if I’m being honest. But, a win is a win and I drank to that.

I was playing with the iron nerved Guy in doubles and if we won then that would be enough for us to win the entire game. Guy and I both lost points by knocking pins over, which is rare for us (very rare for him), and the quality of the other team was high so we were once again forced into an end game. Fortunately for us, the 200 pin was knocked over again on the final shot and so we got a victory. But they all count!

Here’s Roy in the above photo celebrating after the team’s victory. Incidentally, the brilliantly talented Guy nearly threw away a 1,600 lead and I’ve never seen him look so stressed. But only briefly, his man of steel look appeared back again nearly immediately. Emma did some shouting as well to add to the excitement, it can all get quite exciting this bar billiards thing.

Roy has excitedly (I may be exaggerating with that word) signed me up for next season, or at least the bit of it that I might be about. I’m going to attend whatever games I can, not least as there’s food available. And, I’m very grateful for having played this season as I’ve been travelling in previous years so haven’t been able to commit to joining a team. It meant a huge amount for Emma to invite me into the team and for Roy to find a space for me, that was so very kind as I was so very much looking forward to playing. I’ve surprised myself with my win rate (which I’ve rarely mentioned), but that’s the joy of having the cool and calm captaincy of Roy.

“You’ve brought us to the brink of greatness this season @Julian. Now we have to finish the job alone.”

Andrew posted this on our group WhatsApp this morning and I mentioned that it would appear on the blog. Last year the Serengeti came last in the league, won one match and got kicked out of the cup, whereas this year we’re heading for promotion and maybe even victory in the Plate final which is being held in December. If the team now lose their last two league matches and Plate final without me, then I’m going to decide that I was a critical factor in the transformation. If they win without me, I’ll accept it might not have been me  🙂

Or as Wes posted this morning:

“”He joined. He played. He won some frames. He left.” Not all heroes wear capes, etc.”

I like the direct line. And David, who has been trying hard all year to be less irritating, added:

“Don’t forget “he ate some food.””

🙂

Anyway, that’s the end of that for the year for me and I’m very excited to hear how the team gets on and delighted to have been part of things this year. And Roy will be delighted that I’ve decided to stick with the Serengeti next year, although that’s inevitable since no-one else will have me. Back to matters of relevance, I’ve met lots of new people, eaten a lot of food, played brilliantly and aspire to be as a good as Zak by the end of next year. If anyone is interesting in joining a team then they should definitely consider it, there’s a Facebook group for the league and I’m sure if someone posted they were interested that some team might pick them up. And thanks to everyone in the Serengeti for putting up with me and for Roy making clear that I was good enough!

My first update in a little while on the bar billiards front, but we haven’t played many games recently. This was our league match a couple of weeks ago, where I was present but not playing. We managed to beat the Manes 6-3.

Today we played the Vikings, a first division team based in South Walsham, in the semi-final of the Plate. They transpired to be a marvellous opposition, not taking it too seriously and I think it was a rather entertaining evening. Here’s the food, I went for the moreish chickpea curry on the left and was delighted to see not many others did, so I accidentally had six portions and there was still plenty left for others. Thanks to Oscar for funding this and Chay for preparing it. There are few better pubs in Norfolk than the White Lion under Oscar’s management.

How rather lovely. But, it’s not all about the food! Well, it is mostly, but it’s also about having fun and tonight had an upbeat atmosphere.

And we managed to overcome the Vikings, winning 6-3. It’s a team effort, but since this is my blog, I will mention that I won both my games. There were some close games which added somewhat to proceedings, but as we were 3-1 down when I went to play my singles game it didn’t look good to start off with. Huge thanks to Zac for his impeccable training every Tuesday night at the White Lion (even though plays for another team), some of the shots that he has taught me proved to be useful. I won’t call out individuals as it’s a team effort (other than me, but I’ve explained the reasoning for that), but Guy’s 400 in his doubles game was something special on the final shot. Also, I was impressed to see Julian watching a little bit of one of the games, I think he’s getting into this  🙂

We now play the formidable and friendly International Brigade in the final at a neutral venue. Due to another project I’m engaged with, it might mean that I can’t make the final, but I’m doing all I can to be there as I’d love to see this journey through. Thanks once again to Emma for inviting me into the league (what a talent spotter she is!) and for our marvellous captain Roy for accepting me, it’s all been rather exciting  🙂  Here’s hoping for success for us in the final!

First of all, it’s been too hot today, but now I’ve mentioned that I won’t repeat it for a while at least. I arrived early at bar billiards such was my enthusiasm for the whole project, indeed so early I was the first player to arrive.

Thanks to Chay and Eli for ensuring the food came out just before I started the break on my singles game, meaning I was well fed before playing. Not that it mattered, I was hammered in my singles game 1,480 to 590. However, the Serengeti managed to be ahead 4-2 after the singles despite my little defeat, but the games were close and the opponents were great company. And we had plenty of food, so what more could we want?

Our captain Roy in action.

Anyway, Wes and I were drawn last to play doubles, so all our team had to do was to win one game (there are three doubles games) and all the pressure was off us. What happened? Our team lost their two doubles games, meaning that it was 4-4 and Wes and I had to play the final game. I won’t reveal our strictly confidential tactics here, but we were playing some fine players and we came up with a strategy which we thought might work. To cut a long story short, the bar dropped (signalling the end part of the game), the other player’s team member missed the final red which meant one thing.

That one thing is that I had to play the final shot (in bar billiards, there’s a second part to the game if the score is within 200 with a white ball remaining, or 400 with a red ball remaining). The final shot into the middle pocket and if I missed our team would lose 5-4. If I got the ball in, we would win 5-4. This is not an easy shot, it’s one that I really hate playing and the stress of trying to make this shot was not inconsiderable. I know I’m trying to build slight drama, but it’s a sub-optimal shot to have to play as the final one of the night when it decides who gets the points.

Going back a bit, I signed up to bar billiards because I was told there was beer, food and exciting company. I didn’t sign up to be any good at bar billiards, I just knew I’d merrily turn up to everything the captain organised to make up the numbers and I could be relied upon to gossip quite a lot about stuff. That was my skill-set (primarily the gossiping), not being competent about potting balls on a table with a stick. I didn’t expect to be in these stressful situations with 20 people watching, I was sold on the food and gossip if I’m being honest. There was definitely no mention of having to play shots like this under extreme duress.

But, what happened?

Did I pot that final shot?

Yes, of course I did 🙂   I was very grateful to the Tuesday night players from various teams who I’ve been practising with recently. Maybe I’m finally taking this seriously. Well, not too seriously.

It means the Serengeti won 5-4 against the Disasterfarians in what was one of the most fun games so far of the season. And thanks for the hugs and emotional responses from both teams, it was much appreciated and even Julian S sitting in the other room of the White Lion was startled by the cries in the room following the shot. To celebrate, I went to the King’s Head with Emma and Julian despite having squash in the morning. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

I’m pleased to say that Roy, our hardened captain, has yet to be offended at my bar billiards witterings and so I will merrily continue with this little series of posts. With great tact of course. The lack of recent updates is because we haven’t played a game in a month, but we’re back now with a vigorous programme of training planned. Although this training is mostly going to the pub and drinking, but that’s a different matter, it’s all about the intent.

I arrived at the White Lion after doing some research work around Norwich with Julian and when I turned up Paul mentioned that he’d just worked out who the “other Julian” was. Namely, me. I get that a lot and it transpired that I was playing Paul in the singles. That meant one of Julian’s friends was going to be disappointed with the outcome.

The main event of the evening is of course the food which arrived just before the third game started. I like the food arriving early on, saves me going to bother Eli with subtle hints about the arrangements. Chay, who has I think recovered from injuries following our five a side football, prepared a rather lovely chicken thing alongside a chickpea thing. Delicious. I feel that I haven’t described the food very carefully, but it’ll do to explain it and I had four portions as it was so tasty. Don’t ask about the portions (and, I’d better add everyone else had finished!), but I’m pleased Roy doesn’t take this too seriously as otherwise I suspect I’d be quite annoying  🙂

And, without further ado, there are the latest scores. We won 7-2, but the singles match flatters me as I was feeling oddly jittery. I think it might have been the pubs early, as I don’t take this bar billiards particularly seriously to be too concerned about it. Fair play to Paul, I think he got a little unlucky and I just kept plodding on. I just turn up to every practice and match ready to eat and drink, gossip and maybe even play some bar billiards. We were 5-1 ahead after the singles, which took the pressure off us somewhat before starting with the doubles games. I did think if I lost I might have to start getting some form of lucky clothing, like Nathan and his rather awesome bar billiards shoes  🙂

The International Brigade are a marvellous team, so it was a delight to play them. They’re in the running for promotion and have only lost one game all season, so it’s fair to say that our team was delighted, and a little surprised, with the victory. But, it’s all meant to be fun, and I think everyone had a rather enjoyable evening. How very lovely and we’re playing again next week, although I don’t know who against, but I’ll be there!

I’ve just realised that this ‘riveting’ series of bar billiards posts has now overtaken my market posts as my popular collection of posts on this blog. I’m slightly worried who is reading it and that it’s not a legal company collecting evident for libel or something. Anyway, two matches in one go in this post as my blog was a bit out of action and I’ve got behind with these updates that I thought no-one was reading. Our next league match was at the Cottage, somewhere that I’ve only played in practice with tornado Emma from my team, the Serengeti.

We started the evening like this, somehow topping the table. Given our low practice rate this came as a surprise to I think it’s fair to say nearly all of us. I’m pleased that Emma and I have got a new regime going for our team of Indian meals and bar billiards, a beautiful combination if ever I heard it. What a genius it was that suggested it. I’d better thank all of my team members (Andrew, Eileen, Westley, David, Emma, Roy and Guy) for putting up my food demands, it’s much appreciated.

When I first signed up to bar billiards I was promised that there would be lots of beer and food, something which hasn’t disappointed me. I haven’t quite dared to do the pen portraits of the Serengeti team that I had planned for the Manes (my initial team before switching), but that’s likely all for the best as I would have likely pushed the matter too far with a formal complaint being made  🙂   Although the planned and cancelled photographic series of “Manes captain in victorious pose” after winning is something that I might see if Roy would consider taking over for our team…. Let’s see how we go, but that would make a wonderful calendar if we decide to sell Serengeti merchandise next year. And if we get promoted, we’re doing exactly that.

But, I digress, the pizza was from Brick and was delicious. As were the fries. Oscar, the formidable White Lion landlord who plays for the Manes, had told me that they had been given individually wrapped burgers the week before, another wonderful meal. I hope to play at the Cottage more often if I’m being honest. The table arrangement is a little blocked against the wall, but it does mean that there’s potential for some trick shots more from necessity than desire.

Beer. I can’t be doing commentary on the beer, I have an Untappd account for that.

David wasn’t there to comment (un)helpfully about my food intake which was handy, but we missed his observations and commentary during the game. I never listen to his food commentary, but he has a sound knowledge of bar billiards and indeed some other matters such as history. I like his fun facts.

And another two victories for Whirlwind White. This made it a 100% home record for singles at the White Lion and a 50% away record for me. And the team won 7-2, but I have to comment on how much fun the Cottage team were, they were clearly enjoying playing. Or they were good actors if not.

Back to this week and we were playing the Coach & Horses, who I think were second in the league, at home at the White Lion. And look, we’ve got a new sign!

And little name plates, how marvellous are these? I think I’m right in saying that Eileen gets the credit for these. Several of us agreed that this top of the table status was going to our heads and we would inevitably lose against the Coach and Horses. As a spoiler, we did.

Oops. That’s a 7-2 defeat and very sub-optimal. I managed to miss the final ball four times on the end part of the game, so destroying my 100% home record. Annoyingly I had practised it for the first time in ages as well as I thought it might be the first time I went to the end game in the league this year. I got over the loss quite quickly though by getting more food. Even the tornado Emma wasn’t victorious, this just wasn’t our night but there were some close games and some high scores gained and then lost when the pins fell over. Wes managed to win with a score of just 40, which secretly annoyed me as I got 1,000 and lost, but I don’t go on about these things. I wasn’t in the doubles this week, but that might have been for the best given the deluge of losses we faced.

I also got more beer to help cope with the defeat. There are some very good players on the Coach and Horses team, I can see them being promoted.

The excellent food offered by Oscar and Chay, meaning it’s always a delight to play here.

That means half of the season is now over and although the league tables haven’t been updated this week, it’s fair to say that we’ve lost our top spot. Which means just one thing, there will have to be more Indian meals and practice sessions if we want to regain it. And if necessary, we’ll have to have them more regularly and I’m happy to plough through more food if it helps the team. Roy will steady the ship though, we needn’t panic yet about our recent poor run. Well, losing one league game. Lose another one and I’ll panic though as I obviously take this very seriously (well, something like that, but I take eating the food and photographing it seriously and I’m definite about that).

Anyway, it’s still all very exciting and I’m very grateful to Emma and David for keeping me in check with regards to the food 🙂   And for everyone else for having me along, although they might read this and be less impressed at my commentary.

This was exciting (my normal caveat that I don’t get out much….), my first match against a first division side. It’s a cup game and both our sides, the Serengeti and the Golden Stars had won our first two matches, meaning that whoever won this game would proceed to the next round of the cup. As a bonus though, whoever lost would go through to the next round of the plate, so all was not lost. The scores haven’t been updated at the time of writing, but they will be at https://www.norwichbarbilliards.co.uk/Cup.

To my delight, I was drawn first. I was surprised and delighted to win that game, which meant that I could focus on the food and not be impacted by any distractions such as playing. Unfortunately, my seven game winning streak came to an end in the doubles, where David and I couldn’t quite match our opponents, despite our best efforts. So many excellent and close games, it’s been the most enjoyable set of games to watch and many of them were close. The Golden Stars were the eventual victors, winning 5-4. I have to comment positively about Emma, as she’d want me to, who won two games again.

As the most important positive, this was the first match that I’ve properly enjoyed and didn’t feel even slightly stressed about. These things always take a little while, or at least they do for me. It feels like the bar billiards pressure is off now, making it all much calmer and exciting to play. I’m fortunate to have a calm team captain in Roy, steady and relaxed with no recriminations.

And the food, I had to ignore David moaning once again that I was taking photos of it  🙂   And Emma didn’t comment on my rushing to the food this time, but I was allowed as I was the referee for the next game and so needed priority. Actually, I think I’ve set a precedent here, but that’s a different matter that no-one will be too interested in.

The food was excellent, delicious chicken and potatoes (with a vegetarian option). Oscar and his team once against didn’t let us down, not that they ever would.

The post-match drink, a rather refreshing Manx Missile from Fixed Wheel Brewery. All really very lovely and roll on the next game in the plate. We’re wondering how many chicken strips we can fit on the plate if we win it this year, we’re just two matches away from finding out. Our next match is against the Cottage next Wednesday, back to playing a league match, and I’m already looking forwards to it without any stress  🙂