The Official Newsletter from the Republic Of Ireland Billiards & Association

Address : Snooker HQ Issue 3 2018/2019 Unit 8 Barrowvalley Retail Park, Carlow. © Designed by PJ Nolan RIBSA ™ Email : [email protected] -Text : 085 242 8701 – www.ribsa.ie Rodney Goggins reaches Irish Senior Final in Goffs

Photo Monique Limbos

The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association would like to congratulate Rodney on his IN THIS ISSUE fantastic success in Goffs. Rodney reaches Goffs Final Rodney achieved something that will go down in the history books of Irish Snooker when he beat two Hill reaches World U-16 Final former World Champions in 3-1 and 2018 Club Championship Roundup Joe Johnson 3-0 to reach the World Seniors final. 2019EBSA C-Ships Israel In the final be was beaten 4 frames to 1 by and the match was shown live on EirSport TV. IBSF World’s Myanmar & Qatar RIBSA would like to thank Jason Francis & Staff from Goffs Cue Zone World Seniors on holding this event in Ireland and putting snooker back on National TV and Media. Junior Developmental DAY Irish Seniors Masters in Goffs Goggins beats two world champion on way to final

Photos Monique Limbos Well done to Irishman Rodney Goggins from Liam Mellows SC in Wexford on his fantastic run at the Seniors Irish Masters in the most famous venue of them and the home of Irish Snooker, Goffs in Co. Kildare. First match of the event Rodney played Irish legend and former World Champion Ken Doherty and the Wexford man was up for the challenge and won 3-1 in front of a large audience for one of the greatest wins his life. Next he beat another world champion Joe Johnson from England 3-0. In the final Rodney set up the dream final against Jimmy White but Rodney was beaten 1-4 when Jimmy won the Trophy. 2019 Club Registration

The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association (RIBSA) would like to remind Clubs of the details of the 2019 Club Registration fees. The fees are the following. 1 – 4 Snooker Table €20.00 5 or more tables €40.00

Complementary entry fee cards RIBSA will be offering complementary entry fee cards that can be used for any RIBSA Junior, Senior, Masters, Intermediate, Ladies or Billiards event to the club to encourage the clubs to sign up for 2019 Registration. 1 – 4 Snooker Table – One Complementary entry fee card 5 or more tables – Two complementary entry fee cards RIBSA Club Registration runs from January to January each year.

RIBSA wish to advise all members that from 1st February we are commencing a new online registration and entry system. Entry to all tournaments / club membership will be only possible via the online entry system. Payment of entry fees will also only be possible via the online system. 2019 European Championships Men's, U-21 and U-18 Championships

RIBSA would like to congratulate the following players on qualifying for the 2019 EBSA Championships in U Magic Palace Hotel in Eilat in Israel from the 17th February to March 2nd. •Men’s Championship 1. Aaron Hill – Cork, 2. Ryan Cronin – Cork, 3. Greg Casey – Cork, 4. John Sutton – Louth and 5. Jason Devaney – Mayo •U-21 Championship 1.Aaron Hill – Cork, 2. Noel Landers – Cork, 3. Ross Bulman – Cork and 4.Mark Gleeson – Tipperary •Under 18 Championship 1.Aaron Hill – Cork, 2. Ross Bulman – Cork, 3. Ryan McGuirk – Meath and 4. Noel Gleeson – Tipperary Irish Masters Cue Zone in Goffs

The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association held a very successful Cue Zone with our RIBSA National Coach PJ Nolan at the Seniors Irish Master in Goffs in Co. Kildare. Many juniors who have never played before were joined by experienced juniors and senior players in learning the some skills of the game from PJ.

Players having fun and learning new skills on a mini table and promoting RIBSA was the main objective in holding our cue zone. World IBSF U-16 Russia Aaron Hill reaches World Final

Ireland’s 16 year old Aaron Hill brave run to become the 2018 IBSF World Under 16 Snooker Champion in St. Petersburg, Russia ended with the Corkman losing the final 4 frames to 3 to Ben Mertens from Belgium. In the decider Aaron got in first and made 32 but after many safety shots, Aaron got Ben in a very difficult safety position. The young Belgium tried to pot his way out of trouble but missed and it seemed Aaron would get his chance to win the world title but a red dropped in. The 13 year did not want another chance and made a winning clearance of 53 under pressure to win the world title and deny Aaron the title. JOINT TOURNAMENT HIGH BREAK Aaron Hill also won a share of High Break with his superb 131 break. Well done Aaron and all the players as you were great ambassadors for RIBSA and your families. IBSF World Championships Men’s, Masters C-Ships in Myanmar

RIBSA would like to congratulate our players who represented the Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association in the 2018 IBSF World Billiards & Snooker Championships in Myanmar in November. •Billiards Championships: Aidan Murray – Wicklow •Men’s Snooker Championships: Greg Casey – Crucible SC, Ross Bulman – Youghal CYMS and Noel Landers –Youghal CYMS

•Masters Snooker Championships: John Farrell – Fairview SC, Mark Tuite – St Johns SC and Anthony Bonnar – Northwest SC

IBSF World Cup 6red Qatar Judge & Casey Qualify

Ireland’s and Greg Casey have both qualified for this new event on the calendar when they both will play in the 6 Red World Cup in Qatar in January. Both qualified when they reached the semi final of the 2018 European 6 red. RIBSA congratulate them both on this selection and wish them good luck in Qatar. Irish Junior Developmental Day held with PJ in Ivy Rooms SC

The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association (RIBSA) held another successful National Junior snooker developmental day on Sunday the 30th of December in the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club in Carlow. Players from Youghal, Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Laois, Offaly and Carlow attended the day with our Irish RIBSA National Coach PJ Nolan Over the past two seasons RIBSA have held these Junior Developmental days to encourage more juniors to play Snooker and today we had three players under 10 years of age which bodes well for the development. The players learned about the Bridge Hand, Cue Action, Cue Ball Control and Basic Potting Skills and the day began with the players playing some routines with PJ giving some tips and advice to the players. Rules of the Game International Referee Ger Murray also gave a small seminar of the Rules of the Game which included a free Ball or no free Ball decision. RIBSA would like to thank the Ivy Rooms SC for hosting the successful day of Junior Promotion day. Club Championships Roundup

Congratulations to the Kilkenny Snooker Shed on retaining the Leinster Club Snooker Championships in the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club in Carlow over the weekend. The Kilkenny team James Bateman, Stephen Bateman, Oisin Bateman, Luke Bateman, John O Sullivan, Benny O Brien and Davy Morris. In the final the Kilkenny men beat Potters SC in a high quality final.

Century SC Ballina beat Tuam 3-0 to win the Connacht Club Snooker Championship final. In the final Jason Devaney beat Ollie Martin 2-0. Darren Flaherty beat James Higgins 2-0 Sean Conway beat hughie o donnell 2-0 Aaron Moyles beat James Corbett 2-0 and Seanie Walsh 1-1 Eddie Henderson. The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association have announced details of a sponsor opportunities for members and business to get more involved in the game each season. Gold, Silver and Bronze level of sponsors is available at the cost of €1000, €500 and €100 per season. Three tier level allows everyone to get involved and RIBSA would encourage all members to contact anyone they know. The Republic of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association would like to remind all our members that RIBSA hold regular Coaching Courses to qualify members in becoming official RIBSA Coaches. The Coaches also needed to attend a sport partnership 3hr basic awareness course plus be Garda vetted before being presented with their Accreditation. COMING SOON click on www.ribsa.ie for more information