We had another great weekend of billiards at the Four Nations International event at the superb HSEB-Heeres-Snooker and English Billiards Club in Vienna.
Our thanks go to Patrick Stegmeier and his colleagues at the club for their preparations for the event and for the excellent playing conditions and for looking after us so well during the weekend.
Our thanks are also due to the referees, both the Austrian referees and the those who travelled to the event, all of whom gave unstintingly of their time with referee and scorekeeping duties throughout the weekend. A special word of thanks is also due to Clive Scott who worked his usual magic as TD, organising everything to ensure a smooth running event including providing referees for almost every match, recruiting as and when necessary to make up the occasional shortfall, ensuring an efficient and smoothly run event.
Results, of course, tell only half the story. What they cannot convey is the buzzing atmosphere of the occasion and the excellent standard of play. The tournament also produced its quota of high breaks, with seven centuries and over forty half centuries. Congratulations to the high scorers on a splendid performance and to all the participants who contributed to a most successful event. It was a great pleasure to see so many skilled exponents of the beautiful game of Billiards in simultaneous action.
The format of the event, including a convivial event dinner on the Saturday evening, has always provided an excellent opportunity to renew friendships and to enjoy the atmosphere of the occasion and the weekend this year in Vienna was no exception. Congratulations to Rob Hall and the England team who retain the trophy for yet another year.
Well done Clive on a wonderfully managed tournament.
Report by Brendan Devlin
