Following on from the Jersey Billiards and Snooker Association’s affiliation to the European BSA, the JBSA council have now rubber-stamped teams to participate in the one-day event, nearly 12 hours of play, at Milton Keynes on 24 March 2007.
Jersey referee Gary Truscott, the man behind the Island’s drive towards playing in the Home Internationals for the first time next September, said: ‘The competition will involve teams from the south-west region together with Bristol and Wales.
‘It’s an honour and a privilege that the JBSA should receive this invite ahead of the Home Internationals later next year.
‘Between 80 and 100 players will be competing in three-man teams, Jersey will field four teams for the main event together with a junior team and a billiards team.
‘We are breaking new ground but that is what the players want, they want different and talented opposition to play against to help them improve their games.
‘This is a big competition and it will be run by top referees who officiate at Class I and II.
All our players will play in full dress, which is a long sleeve white shirt and bow tie.’ JBSA secretary Robert Sutherland said: ‘I’m excited for the players; this is the first time many will play in a major competition against top players and it will give them the experience and recognition they deserve.’ Cueists will pay in the region of £150 apiece for their three-day trip.
Matches are the best of 18 frames with each player playing two frames against all three opponents.
Teams will be drawn into groups for a series of round-robin matches with the top four from each group then playing in a knock-out.
Jersey’s team manager will be England-based refereeing examiner and tutor Dave Joyce.
Truscott says the interest in competing in both Plymouth and the Home Internationals next year, at Prestatyn in Wales, has generated a lot of interest in players which to qualify as referees too.
Truscott said: ‘Phil Smith, Guy Heys and junior Darren Malzard have put their names forward for billiards refereeing while five are interested in the snooker course, including ladies Lisa McClelland and Katie Marsden.
‘Together with Joe Stewart, Carl Clarke and Glenn Le Moignan they will undertake two six-hour theory and two six-hour practical sessions early next year and if successful they would be entitled to officiate at Prestatyn.’ The Home Internationals in Wales next year will be held between 8 and 15 September.
