First County Match

The first county match for us on the Oxfordshire ladies B team against West Berkshire was last Sunday. Which, incidentally, was one of the hottest days of the year so far.

I turned up an hour early to practice and get used to the tables. The try-outs for the womens' national darts was being played there that day too, so I felt like there was a competition atmosphere.

The Berkshire ladies arrived on time with their sparkly font printed tops. The county shirts for the new girls, including me, hadn't arrived yet so we wore our varsity tops, which are basically the same; dark blue polo shirt with an emblem on the left front and a nick-name on the back. I can't say wearing my suit trousers was the most comfortable for playing in or the little black slipper shoes, but one has to wear a uniform or one gets told they can't play.

It was SO hot in the club. There was minimal air conditioning but amazingly it was a degree cooler in there than outside. There was one table, which I played on once and ref'd on once where there was a nice cool breeze. It was also the table where I bottled my last ball by not doing a snazzy 'around the table' shot and went for the pot and rattled it in the jaw leaving my opponent on the black.

The format of the competition was a little unfamiliar. We only got to play single frames. I am so used to playing 'best of 3' or 'best of 5', it seemed a little unfair to just be playing one frame.

Even so, we gave West Berkshire a challenge and they rose to it and beat us fair and square.

Next up we had to play Oxfordshire A girls.

The Berkshire ladies went on their way to get some sunshine and enjoy the rest of their Sunday. We, however, had to stay and play another round of single frames.

I wan't expecting to have much of a chance against the A team, I mean, who would? B.A. Baracus or Face weren't in the team, but still, the name enough is intimidating.

But we all seemed to pull out the stops and along with a few shouts screams and ululating sounds from me we pulled through and won, 12-9, I think. I was lucky enough to play 3 frames along with one other and won all three, so my stats for the beginning of the season are looking reasonable so far.

I find that I have to play lots of frames before I really get comfortable at the table and it must be true for a lot of players. The A team weren't playing before they played us. They were watching us get beaten by West Berkshire.

I don't know when the next county match fixture is for. I am not sure I will be able to make it what with my various trips abroad I have planned.

Practice hasn't been as regular since the University team has finished the season.

Last Monday we had the semi-finals of our Monday night league team. I played absolutely abysmally. Conny was the only one who won her match, so that's Monday night pool finished with for now, BUT summer league is just starting and John has got together a Thursday night league team.

This Sunday, today, there is a charity/memorial tournament at the Crown House. Emma Penny-Larter organised this for her nephew who died 5 years ago. It's an annual event, but thinks that this will be the last one. I forget which charity it's raising money for but it should be a good day of pool for everyone and a good atmosphere and a chance to support Emma and her family. It starts at 1pm and will go on to the evening. It's a Bank Holiday this weekend, but I will be back at work tomorrow, so I hope these aren't the famous last words... " I won't be drinking/getting drunk".

Wish me luck.

Crown House Saturday 'just for fun' tournament

6am on a Sunday morning is NOT the time to be going to bed when you've got a lot of worked planned.

I wasted my Sunday recovering after the pool tournament that Emma organised at the Crown House.

38 people played (maximum entry) and everyone paid a £5 entrance fee.

£100 the winner and £50 the runner up (3rd and 4th get their entrance fee back).

I didn't get past the first round.

Nicki, Me and another woman were the only female entrants, a bit sad considering I know a lot more women play. None of us got past the first round either. And fate would have it but her and John were randomly picked to play against each other.

I won the second frame of five but lost the next two. I lost to 20yr old Billy. His friend, Dave, lost to short/hairy Tom. Dave was doing VERY well and lost a very close frame to Tom and was put out of the tournament.

Tom ended up in the final against Matty Challenor who won.

Benny Wenny-woo and John Kinsey both had to play against each other in the semi-final. Ben whooped John's ass, but don't feel too sorry for him, John got the £250 jackpot on the fruit machine!

Revelry ensued through and past the tournament.

I think it was a successful night and Emma did a fantastic job, but next time EMMA HAS TO BE PLAYING!

Looking forward to the next one.

Jojo

Varsity in Cambridge 2010

Another year another varsity Cambridge vs Oxford tournament. And it is Cambridge versus Oxford, they haven't beaten us for 12 years, but this year was the closest closing score for a while.

Each frame counts in this contest. There are 12 players on each team and each player gets to randomly play another in three frames.

Then, everyone plays three frames in a doubles tournament. There are a total of 54 points up for grabs. the final score was 22-32 to Oxford. ( think John mentioned 42 was the record)

Highlights of the day include...

Me saying, "you're supposed to pot the black at the end of the frame", to Rosie who I thought potted the black but it turned out it was a Cambridge girl... whps! I apologised, of course.

Me saying, "I didn't foul, I'm not a cheat", to a local drinker who thought it OK to look on and comment on EVERYTHING and give his wisdom to the girls on both sides.

Samiha and Laura both got 3-0 in their singles play-offs... the only two girls who did. Well done!

Ally saying, "excuse me, hello?" to her opponent who was on the phone for most of their game time, very unprofessional, Ally handled the situation with grace.

None of the Oxford girls in the singles or doubles got a zero against their name, but we should have given Cambridge more zeros. I know I was taken by surprise from a seemingly scrappy player, but then she pulled something out of her bag of tricks and managed to clear up when I thought I'd gotten ahead. I was feeling more than a little shocked and angry at myself and didn't let the next two games go the same way. I think a few other girls were taken by surprise in this way too. It just goes to show that experience is paramount.

I'm feeling garlicy today from the Indian meal we had back in Oxford last night. We, who were left, all managed to get back for 21:45hrs and get sitting in the restaurant by 22:15hrs.

Things that were decided in conclusion from the days' experience (by me at least)...

1. Cambridge girls a a touch two-faced and sneaky when concerning rules; they say they don't understand and then do a foul and say "is it?".

2. John is not required; "John, can you please go, I can't play when you're watching". Poor John.

3. Conny will always forget something

4. Mary can bake - she brought Oreo-bottomed cupcakes that were amazing and Conny didn't have the foresight to eat one as soon as they came out.

5. John likes cupcakes.... up his nose, really.

4. Beer is always required

5. Jojo and Louise are going to write a sitcom

6. Louisa is 'REALLY SCARY' to Cambridge.

7. Samiha kicks ass and played the best - she is the one to watch.

8. Sasha is an excellent doubles partner and can sink a black under pressure.

9. Jo is one half of Jojo... "How Welsh are you and what's your Dad's name?"

10. Rosie, who didn't sink the black before the end of the frame.

11. Laura drives a BMW and used to be a pig. oink.

12. Sam is one half of Jeebles!

13. I'm scraping the bottom here....

14. Girls take FOREVER TO PLAY and we should time the games next year.

15. Oxford RULE!

I have to get on with some work.