NEW MEN AT THE HELM

                                                 of

                              NORTHERN IRELAND

           BILLIARDS & SNOOKER ASSOCIATION

      At the Annual General Meeting held in the Balmoral Hotel, Belfast on Tuesday 17th June 2008,

Mr Brian Richmond from Forester's Club,  Belfast and Mr John Currie from Mitchell's Club,

Cookstown were elected into the offices of Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.

     Both men will bring considerable administration experience into the organisational aspects

of the association. Brian from his years in office with the Northern Ireland Referees Association 

John from his vast knowledge gained through his University Professorship.

Mr Sam Pavis was re-elected  President, as were the other officers: Mr Pat Morgan Vice President,

Mr Gary Morton Hon Secretary, Mr Joe McGonnell Hon Treasurer, Mr Jim Stewart Senior Director,

Mr Con Egan Junior Director, Mr Martin Brammeld was appointed to the position of Minutes

Secretary.

     The meeting was well supported by the affiliated clubs and referees delegates, good

constructive debate ensued. Concern was expressed at the closure of various snooker clubs

and the future selection of venues for our Intermediate and Ranking  tournaments during the

incoming season.

     The Home International Series came under close scrutiny, many delegates expressed

apprehension in view of our past experiences at the event in 2006 and 2007. Various 

appointments as team captains were put in place and since a new format is being implemented

this year ( i.e. Seniors and over Forties will be played from Saturday till Monday and the

Junior Under 19 and 16 will take place from Tuesday till Thursday)

     It was agreed to send a full complement of teams ( as selected by the team captains) to this

years event at Prestatyn, North Wales In September.

     Many complimentary accolades were expressed to Mr Kieran Erwin our outgoing Chairman

for all his splendid leadership over the past four years. His continual guidance and control of our

association has now set us on a healthy and secure path for a promising future.

Best wishes for a long and happy retirement were conveyed by all the delegates and officers.

    Thanks was also recorded to Mr Declan Birt our outgoing Vice Chairman for all his

support and sponsorship to our association over many years.

     Our new chairman brought a most successful AGM to a close, wishing everyone a very

enjoyable summer recess.

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What makes a Good Referee ?

           SOME of the INGREDIENT  -   in ALPHABETICAL ORDER

1            A - to - Z   knowledge of the current Rules.

2            Ability to administer that knowledge at the table

3            Alertness

4            Audibility

5            Commitment

6            Confidence in making decisions

7            Courteous manner

8            Fitness

9            Honesty

10          Impartiality

11          Positional sense

12          Punctuality

13          Sense of fair play

14          Tidy personal appearance

15          Use good common sense

      Could  you be a Northern Ireland Referee ?

                        Now no Age Limit

Anyone interested in becoming a Referee, "to have an over the table view at a snooker game".

Please contact :       Brian Richmond,  Hon Secretary, Tel - 07707703995

There is now age limit. Juniors as young as 11 or 12 years old can become a

Referee.

         OUR REFEREES ASSOCIATION                           

The Northern Ireland Referees Association held their Annual General Meeting

on Monday 2nd June in the Derriaghy Cricket Culb, Belfast. On opening the

meeting the Chairman Mr Jim Stewart stated how pleased he was to see an

almost full turn out of members. The highlight of the evening was the

introduction and welcome of 4 new members, who had attended the

three required seminars and successfully passed their class "3" examinations.

    The Officers and Officials for the 2008-2009 season were proposed ,

seconded and elected as follows:

President - Billy Andrews,   Chairman - Jim Stewart,   Vice Chairman -  Joe McGonnell,

Treasurer - Pat Morgan,   Secretary - Brian Richmond,   Ass Secretary - Des Stinson.     

COMMITTEE,   Sam Brown,   Tony Corry,   Laim Crooks,   Stanley McKeown,   Billy Telford.

      The Chairman thanked all the members for showing their confidence in electing him again

into office. He personally congratulated the 4 new referees on obtaining their class "3"

qualification and hoped they would enjoy the camaraderie within our association.

He outlined his vision of the roll for our referees association this incoming season, intimating,

it is hoped we will be able to officiate in the early stages of the National Association's

tournaments.

      Constructive discussion followed on: Travel to tournament - local and international.  

Recruitment.    Referee seminars and Refereeing at Home Internationals. Many members

put forward suggestions for consideration by the committee and it is hoped that some of

these will help to take our association forward in the new season

      Our Chairman in bringing the meeting to a close, expressed his thanks and our associations

appreciation to all the clubs for their hospitality to our members at tournaments throughout

the year, he also paid tribute to all those clubs who had generously sent us donations towards

our annual Referees snooker Competition and Dinner.

Wishing all the Referees an enjoyable summer break, he declared the meeting closed.

  Check our Intermediate Points Table total prize money £ 1,150.00

                  To all players in the Top Ten Positions

    Positions:    1 = £200.00,    2 = £180.00,    3 = £160.00,

                  4 = £140.00,    5 = £120.00,    6 = £  75.00,

                  6 = £  75.00,    6 = £  75.00,    9 = £  50.00,

                10 = £  25.00,  10 = £  25.00,  10 = £  25.00.

                   YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

             All Club Proprietors or Managers, Team Captains        

                                        and League Secretaries.

                          This is an invitation and an opportunity to have the

                          achievements of any member/s or team/s being

                          publicised to all the districts of Northern Ireland and

                          further afield, as our website intend (with your help)

                          to gather and report all items of interest on Billiards

                          and Snooker.

                          If its about your club or players, please let me know,

                          many players are requesting this as they are keen

                          to know what is happening in all other areas.

                          All you need do is, drop me a short note:

                                          info@nisnooker.org

                     Please include a contact phone number, as I cannot

                            Publish without confirming your interesting news.

                                           DATES for your DIARY  

                                                     I.B.S.F - Events

         World Under 21 Snooker--REIMS--France-- July 2008.  (NOW CANCELLED)

 I.B.S.F. World Billiards--Bangalore, Karnataka-India--1st till 10th September, 2008                                     

        World Snooker Championship (Ladies, Mens and Masters--Wels, Austria

                                             27th October till 8th November 2008. 

          FRIENDSHIP JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP.

                4 x U 21 +  4 x U 19  +  4 x U 16  +  4 x U 14

        Northern Ireland     V    Rep of Ireland

                                      23rd August 2008

  Venue - The Ivy Rooms - Carlow - Rep of Ireland

              Home International Series 2008

                         5th till 12th September 2008

                     Pontins, Prestatyn, North Wales.

        ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS

             27th and 28th September 2008

                Venue -- Pot Black Snooker Club 

                  Cookstown - Northern Ireland

                         IS YOUR PHOTOGRAPH

         ON OUR NEW MEMBERS PHOTO PAGE  ?

Have you looked at the last dozen photographs in the Yesteryear album, just put on recently ? Check our up-to-date END of the SEASON SENIOR RANKing List. ;Declan Hughes finishes, TOP of our Official Ranking List,Julian Logue takes 2nd place and Dermot McGlinchey is 3rd.& SEE OUR NEW MEMBERS PHOTO PAGE; The NORTHERN IRELAND UNDER 21 CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT is published on our Junior Page.  Check OUR TOURNAMENT PAGE for the FINAL,SEMI-FINAL and full report on the Coach Club Intermediate; The Northern Ireland Under 14 Snooker Championship report and the Under 16 NI Championship are now  published on our JUNIOR; PAGE. Check your position on the up dated Intermediate points table which is published on the Ranking LINK PAGE on Friday 9th May '08:  SEE also ALL OUR UP -TO- DATE RANKINGS;(1) Official Northern Ireland Mens, (2) Intermediate Table, (3)Junior Under 21; (4) Junior Under19 (5) Junior Under 18; Junior Under 16 and   (7) Junior Under 14.

                                       © NIB&SA 2008