OOSTERHOUT - Jack Wijnen, the 62-year-old billiards player from Dongen in Holland, played in Belgium against Jean Paul de Bruijn last week and watche a run of 26 on an ordinary evening in the team competition. It was a masterful run, two points away from the world record run of 28. This Sunday afternoon, barely a few days later in the Netherlands, Jack Wijnen himself played for the team Babbelz a match in the team competition. And what an incredible coincidence. Jack Wijnen first made a run of 10 in the fifth inning and a few innings later a run of 16: total also 26!
These are not runs that Jack Wijnen, a traffic official in the municipality of Oosterhout, makes every day. Although the Brabant-based man plays for Dutch frontrunner Babbelz, he does not compare himself to billiard players like Frédéric Caudron, Berkay Karakurt and Dion Nelin with whom he plays in the same team on Sundays. ‘’I really do have more motivation than usual and I also feel that I pull myself up to those players.‘’ And Jack Wijnen, in position three or four, regularly wins his games, which makes Babbelz so proud to be in the lead. ‘’The balls often roll in the right direction,‘’ he realises. ’’Fred (Caudron) lost two games, against Eddy Merckx and today, Sunday, to Jean van Erp. And coincidentally, the other three players won their matches again, so we won 6-2.‘’
Which leaves Babbelz maintaining its five-point lead over the chasers. This Sunday, Caudron had not so much chance playing Jean van Erp of SIS, who showed up in a formidable match. The Brabant player won 40-33 in 17. Berkay Karakurt however beat Raymund Swertz 40-39 in 42, Davy van Havere beat Martien van der Spoel 40-26 in 25 and Jack Wijnen, the day’s stunt man, bested Harrie van de Ven 40-18 in 16: 2.500 on average for Babbelz’ fourth man.
Team Babbelz thus retained the lead with 27 points ahead of three chasers with 22 points: Team Eekhoorn, Cues&Darts and STZ Zundert. Two of those teams, Cues&Darts and Zundert, won 8-0, Team Eekhoorn lost a point against RCN Nieuwegein with a 4-4 in the home match.
Jack Wijnen was the most outstanding player this weekend. The Brabant municipal worker, who is a few years from retirement, has a billiard table at home, is not a training beast, but is keen to play a little more in this year's Babbelz top team as a preparation. ’’I had once made a run of 17 against Richard Bitalis, which is my highest so far. But those 10 and 16 in one game are a highlight, I was very happy with my match. All the more so because that score also made us win the whole match.‘’
Jean van Erp was among the best players on this day with 40 in 17 innings. The other best player of this match day was Glenn Hofman, who bossed Kay de Zwart with 40-18 in 16 innings. Dick Jaspers needed one more inning to beat Jeffrey Jorissen with 40-33 in 18, Joey de Kok also won in 18 innings vs Jordy de Kruijf with 40-15.
Team Eekhoorn lost one precious point against RCN Nieuwegein in a match with two ties. Nick Polychronopoulos and Dave Christiani shared the points in 24 innings, Kurt Ceulemans and Henk Blauwblomme in 31 innings. For Eekhoorn, Peter Ceulemans won his match against Barry van Beers in 23, while for Nieuwegein, Gerwin Valentijn won against Frans an Kuyk 40-30 in 37.
Paperclip gained important points in the lower regions by winning against Bousema Lochem 2-6. Dick Jaspers won vs Jeffrey Jorissen 40-34 in 18. Johan Loncelle was the best man for Bousema with 40-18 in 18.
Cues&Darts had an excellent team-average of 1,553 thanks to Glenn Hofman and Joey de Kok. Further maximum wins against J&F Auto's came thanks to Therese Klompenhouwer (40 in 37) and Jef Philipoom (40 in 32). Zundert won 8-0 to De Biljartacademie, which remains bottom of the rankings with 1 match point. Roland Forthomme could not shine against his next team: the Belgian lost to Sergei Jimenez 40-27 in 25. Sam van Etten won for Zundert in a nice match against Roy Zielemans 40 in 20.
Dallinga had the win up for grabs in the home duel against Aartsbouw, but licked its wounds afterwards. Berry Dallinga squandered a comfortable lead against Tom Persyn and lost 40-38 in 44. And Eddy Merckx, in a mediocre game, levelled with Jean Paul de Bruijn in the final sprint, allowing Aartsbouw to claim the win 3-5. Turgay Orak won vs Steven van Acker, Peter De Backer vs Ronny Brants.