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A SCOTTISH POOL PLAYERS' HOLIDAY
A report by Jim O'Hare

 

Your reporter, Jim O'Hare along with a new friend

 

Eight SAPPA players travelled to Liechtenstein recently for a pool holiday. On the schedule was The Central Open in Liechtenstein from Friday to Sunday, followed by an unofficial Switzerland-Scotland International on the Monday. The 8 were:-

Geoff Dunn;
Stuart Ellis;
Martin Hughes;
Peter King;
Ean Jones;
Jim O'Hare;
Graham Tough; and
Michael Valentine

 

As promised, kilts were worn, drink was drunk and pool was played with one eye on the table, the other on the ladies' tournament. And in between… well, it's just easier if I tell you person by person:

 

Geoff Dunn

Can consider himself unlucky to draw the eventual runner-up, Bernd Jahnke, in a qualifier, but got through on the Losers’ Side. Then lost agonisingly in the last 32 to Austrian number one Martin Kempter, despite leading 8-6.

 

Also...

Shared a shower with Ellis in a male bonding lathering session. Managed to balance 22 swiss coins on his sweaty forehead (new nickname: The Ledge!). Refused to play in the friendly against the Swiss.

Top

Geoff Dunn in action in Liechtenstein

 

Stuart Ellis

Beat the Austrian no.3 comfortably in round one then ran into Yeti before falling short on the Losers’ Side 2 wins from qualifying.

 

Also...

Shared a shower with Dunn in a male bonding lathering session. He too refused to play against the Swiss, although later wished he had played.

 

Martin Hughes

Slept in for early Saturday match, although was given a place anyway. Didn't produce his best. Against the Swiss, however, "Blue Suede" beat the Swiss players ranked 4 and 5, and came away with a 50:50 record.

 

Also...

Negotiated admirably on someone else's behalf regarding a hospital/police incident…

 

Peter King

Was still in a queue at Glasgow Passport Office while we were in a Liechtenstein bar! Paid an expensive one way flight to the venue via Munich (!), and dodged his way onto a train to amazingly make it on time to his match, much to the dismay of another SAPPA player. Lost first match whilst being a few beers the wrong side of sober. Attempted 4 consecutive break off shots, all of which landed in the audience (he had a sympathetic opponent!). Then regained composure and sobriety to win a match on the Losers’ Side, before bowing out narrowly.

 

Also...

Had his own personal "minder" at his matches. Created a "must pot the 9 off 3 cushions" rule against the Swiss. Broke a window. Burgled a mini bar… Come to think of it, is he actually home yet?!

 

Ean Jones watches on in horror as Peter tries
another 3-rail shot on the 9-ball

 

Ean Jones

Lost his cue and case on a Swiss train. Slept in for his match anyway (for which he didn't have a cue). Tried to re-enter himself to the tournament as Peter King, who then spoilt the plan by arriving! Beat the Swiss players ranked 5 and 6 in the International.

 

Also...

Negotiated admirably on someone else's behalf regarding a hospital/police incident…

Top

Jim O'Hare

Lost out to German Sascha Tege on the 3-foul rule in the decider. Then could only watch as Tege reached the last 16. Beat the Swiss players ranked 4, 5 and 6 in the International, but lost to a woman.

 

Also...

Drank/slept a lot. Missed the flight from Luton to Aberdeen having decided that another Burger King was of more pressing importance, then reluctantly took his seat at the bar for the night.

 

Jim O'Hare and Peter King along with the

young lady who caused so much trouble at the

table for the Scottish lads, Ingrid Nydegger

 

Graham Tough

You could say he likes a cliff-hanger... of the 2 ties he lost, both were 7-6, but also won 2 (7-6 and 7-5) Then in the International, played Swiss number 4 Pascal Nydegger and promptly broke and cleared twice to lead 2-0; then had a dry break, and had to sit out 3 run-outs from Nydegger.

 

Also...

Accepted a drunken challenge from Martin Hughes to join him in an Alpine climb - at 5 in the morning. When Martin heads back down, Tookster keeps going until tiredness overcomes him. Trying to think of a quick way down, our hero steals a bike and proceeds to hurtle down the hillside at 50mph. What followed can maybe be described as a brutal BMX/lamp post scenario, resulting in Tookster on a distant pavement... with multiple facial injuries and the police after him! (Pause for breath). Then had Jones and Hughes to thank for talking him out of his hospital bed, and out of bother with the constabulary - possibly. To top it all, after a rendition of "Flower of Scotland" after the Switzerland game, he turned round and announced (out of the operative side of his face) "superb holiday, by the way!"

 

Michael Valentine

Reached the knockout stage after a cliff-hanging win over Austrian Albin Ouschan, whom Ellis had sent to the Losers’ Side. Then despatched Hiener Diekhaus (Swi) impressively, before local hero Werner Tomassini knocked him out in the last 16.

 

Also...

Led a Falkirk revolt to not play against Switzerland...

 

So, in summary (one “X” for each occasion)

 

 

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© 2010 Peter McLanachan and Scottish American Pool Players Association