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eFlicker Comment: A tournament too far?
So again the attendance at an international event in Knighton falls short of those elsewhere on the British mainland.
And is it any wonder, given that the mid-Wales town is about as inaccessible as any venue on the whole of the FISTF circuit?
Whilst England is crying out for another full international event, the Welsh association were again forced into using Knighton to fill their domestically "agreed" allocation.
It was the fourth year in a row that the remote location has, by chance, found a place on the international calendar. At the very start of the 2002/2003 season, a Welsh event was held in the town - two further FISTF tournaments were later to be staged at Flint.
Depending on who you listen to, the competition either picked up international status only after it was played or was just not widely publicised, but whatever the truth, it was a tournament without the UK's top players, and which was won by Algy Taylor.
That same season, after the Wolverhampton Open was cancelled, a replacement English event was hastily arranged in Knighton, whilst a late postponement of the Cardiff Open in 2003 necessitated another mid-Wales competition.
Despite Tom Taylor suggesting once that "realistically the town is just too out of the way for future international opens", Knighton was again called as a late replacement this season, after Table Football activities in Flint ceased towards the end of last year.
Algy Taylor has already stated that there will be another Knighton Open next year, presumably again holding international status.
Tom Taylor may put on a good event - and admittedly there have been many favourable comments about the latest competition - but it's a trade off with attendance.
Relatively few people experienced the Knighton Open - this year turnout just about hit 30, which though a record for the town, is still lower than any other British international - and the lack of quantity, as well as the presence of only a few true quality players, is unlikely to invoke a significant increase for next season.
With very few trains serving the town each day, and only country roads for access, Knighton is long, difficult and awkward for most to reach. Even from Cardiff, with Chris Thomas being the only player from the area to compete in the individuals. Other Cardiff players preferred a competition in Malta. The journey to the Mediterranean is probably quicker!
It had been Tom Taylor who once questioned the suitability of Warminster in Wiltshire as an international venue. More recently, there had been an objection to Milton Keynes being included on the fixture list, on the basis that it was too difficult to get to, despite major rail and coach stations, a main motorway and a nearby airport. Not forgetting that a large number of active players live within a 100-kilometre radius of the city.
Some within the ESTFA are now beginning to come around to the notion that England - with noticeably more players than the rest of the UK and Ireland combined - should be hosting its full quota of three full international events per season.
The counterargument is that a third English competition would automatically lead to Scotland, Wales and both Irelands all scheduling a third event of their own leading to dates clashing, players boycotting English events, English players boycotting other events, all leading to all Scottish and Irish events dying out through lack of numbers. In the real world however, Scotland and Northern and Southern Ireland seem happy with their own present positions.
Scotland actually already does take up its full allocation of FISTF tournaments, hosting a successful double header in Edinburgh in April, as well as the Dumfries Open. Over the Irish Sea, Belfast and Dublin are getting together for a double header this May, whilst an enjoyable competition is held in Kildare in December.
It is doubtful that any of these countries would wish to expand their international presence. England, with several further possible international venues, is in a position to do so.
Under the "one event per calendar month " policy, an extra English competition would be easier to fit in if Wales hosted just one FISTF tournament. And with there being only one real viable venue, that being at Cardiff, it wouldn't be so much England "stealing" an event from the principality, but rather a natural re-allocation of surplus tournaments.
And if that extra English competition is played in the north, the National Championships could be moved from Preston - chosen as an counterbalance for the two southern internationals, despite the fact that, mileage wise, the North West is already the most conveniently placed from which to attend all British international events - to a more logical venue in the centre of the country.
Obviously England needs to work with other counties in the UK and Ireland "alliance" in determining who hosts what and where, but at the same time, there must be fairness for all. And that includes holding international tournaments at venues accessible to all, not scheduling a competition in somewhere like Knighton - which is only actually half inside Wales - simply for the sake of it, when other venues are more befitting.
The next international calendar is awaited with interest.
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From Tom Taylor, Knighton Open organiser:
A lot of what you say is true about holding international tournaments at Knighton.
Unfortunately, there are more players living in Powys than any other part of Wales at present and so from Wales' point of view it makes sense to hold a tournament there even if it is the most remote part of Wales and not easily accessible from England either.
Actually it is only an hour from the nearest motorway, but then so is central London and at least the roads to Knighton are not congested. I would think that it takes no longer to get to Knighton from London than it does to get to Flint from London. We do not start our tournaments as early as most and finish earlier than most if not all.
The train service is sparse but it is adequate and better than that to/from Dumfries (last train from Dumfries on Sunday is 16.35, train from Knighton is 18.13.)
I have every reason to believe we can finish a tournament with over 100 entries by 17.00 on Sunday afternoon. We have done it before with 81 on 16 tables and 134 entries on 20 tables at Lichfield so we will do it with 100 entries on 30 tables at Knighton.
Also I should point out that I have very few problems in attending the majority of tournaments held in Britain mostly by train, but I have supplied stadiums for the Stourbridge, Cardiff Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes Opens by road this season as well.
This year we had a superb venue and will be having it again next season. It is better than most, if not the best venue in Britain at the moment.
It is a pity we have had low turnouts but that is about to change as next season we are preparing to put on the best tournament ever held in Wales and anyone who makes the journey will, like those who came this year, find it well worthwhile.
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