BLANKENBERGE - For those who want to combine a week of holiday with top billiards? The Belgian championships in the Blankenberge casino are the perfect opportunity. Michel Ducornet from Paris (82) is doing it for many years, like Bianca and Heidie, mothers of Luca and Jaimie to watch Jef Philipoom and Ronny Daniels at the billiard tables.
Anja Groeneveld from Vrouwenpolder (Netherlands) visited the tournament to watch billiards, but is now working behind the bar with Mieke Depoorter, the daughter of the president. Reginald (the chairman) says: ,,We asked two people for assistance, but they fell ill.'' And Anja, a well known appearance in the Dutch referee world with thirty matches a year, can't refuse. She wanted to stay a whole week, but is leaving tomorrow to assess referees at the Dutch championship one cushion.
Parisian Michel will stay throughout the whole week, unprecedented fan of the classic games as he is. He has left behind his busy life as a luxury baker and now enjoys the experts of the balk-lines: formerly Jean Marty, of course Raymond Ceulemans and now Frédéric Caudron, Patrick Niessen and other star players.
Heidi van Hove: ,,And if we do not watch billiards, we'll go shopping or walk along the beach. Last year we rented an apartment for the first time, for us it is the perfect holiday.''
Reginald Depoorter, many years ago, hit the bull's eye when he moved with the Multi championships to Blankenberge. He even made a rigorous decision last year: ,,The billiard hall was too small to offer all the spectators a place to sit on the final days.'' Therefore, the venue moved two floors up in the casino. And there is much more room for the audience and VIP boxes and more space between the billiards. The expectation is now that it will fill up again this weekend.''
The only point of regret? Mieke Depoorter: ,,We are working in the bar now in the area two floors below, so we have to do a lot of walking. But otherwise? It's great for the audience and for the players, that's the most important.''
The tournament is almost three days on its way and everything is going as it should. Small problems are always there, in sporting and in the organisation. The sports director, Patrick Mintjens, suffers a cold today and spends some time in his bed now and then.
What's happening else on an ordinary day like this, except for serious billiards?
Patrica, the lovely wife of referee Benny Delvaux, has proved to be an eminent cooking star for the referees and the men of the Kozoom team. Rarely seen: every night a delicious hot meal, served on the workplace. We all need to pay tribute to her.
MyWebsport (playing billiards without limits) is in the restaurant room and explains to those who are interested how the system works. A school, de Zeemeeuw from Blankenberge, has gathered around the billiards table and get some lessons from Martin Spoormans and Dave Christiani. ,,We actually had an hour gymnastics at school, but they invited us to come here and watch billiards,'' says the female teacher.
Reginald Depoorter is walking around with a smile. ,,I was looking for the best champagne there is to spoil my my guests and finally I've found the best.''
Martin Spoormans, who stays in Blankenberge with his wife, comes to tell that his house has been gutted by burglars. ,,They are lucky that they don't come into my hands...''
Jef Philipoom runs around the billiard on (black) shoes, because he has an infection of the toe. He explains, after two matches: ,,It's painful, but I can play with it.''
And overlooking it all: everything is going well on this third playing day. Frédéric Caudron and Patrick Niessen come upt with another great run, the Belgian flag hangs properly ironed on the wall, the audience applauds courteously for the stars.
For those who have never been here, it's never too late... The Belgian Multi's last until Sunday. And otherwise: watch the matches live on kozoom.com.