SOISSONS - Four times out of five, the Dutch team of Etikon won the European title, in the last three years even three times in a row. In the French town Soissons, two Dutch players (Jean Paul de Bruijn and Henri Tilleman) and on Belgian (Patrick Niessen) were honored as the team champion in the classical disciplines.
Jean Paul de Bruijn remained unbeaten with four wins in one cushion, Patrick Niessen won two games and played twice a draw, Henri Tilleman only lost his match in the final, when his teammates had secured the win.
Patrick Niessen (71/2) had the show on the final day with a match in one inning. Henri Tilleman ran the 300 points 47/2 in one inning in the final. And Jean Paul de Bruijn played all his games in one cushion on high level.
The collective dominated in all matches with an impressive show of force. Jean Paul de Bruijn won his four matches (150 points cushion) in 11, 14, 7 and 11 innings. Patrick Niessen played on the final day two matches 71/2 with 100.00 average. The performance - with the 300 in 1 inning, 47/2 of Tilleman – shows the power display of Etikon, in the battle for European gold.
Bennie Deegens, successful coach and team leader, was absent for the first time after his farewell. He already traveled to the European championships in Brandenburg for the preparations. His boys, as he usually called the players, gave him a wonderful present with the fourth title. For the players personally, it was a new crown in their achievement and an for Patrick Niessen and Jean Paul de Bruijn an excellent preparation for the European championships in Brandenburg.
The German team of Bochum finished as second in Soissons. Thomas Nockemann showed himself the best player of the team, remaining undefeated with three wins and a draw in the final.
Fabian Blondeel recorded the highest run in one cushion (70).
Henri Tilleman played the best match in the 47/2 (1 inning), Patrick Niessen in the 71/2 (1 inning) and Jean Paul de Bruijn in one cushion (7 innings).
CEB sports director Jean Pierre Guiraud handed over the trophy’s to : gold for Etikon, silver for Bochum and bronze for Ronchin and Anag.
The final of the championship was won by Etikon (5-1) after victory’s of Tilleman against Havlik 300-0 in 1, De Bruijn against Blondeel 150-71 in 11 and the draw between Patrick Niesen and Thomas Nockemann in three innings .
Individual performance:
Balk-line 47/2:
1 Henri Tielman (Etikon): 75% win, average 57.12.
2 Pavel Böhm (Anag): 66%, 30.31
3 Ludger Havlik (Bochum): 50%, 42.84
4 Nicolas Gerassimopoulos: (Andernos): 50%, 21.04
5 Brahim Djoubri (Ronchin): 33%, 29.73
6 Pierre Soumagne (Soissons): 0%, 38.20
Balk-line 71/2:
1 Thomas Nockemann (Bochum): 87.50%, 43.47
2 Patrick Niessen (Etikon): 75%, 41.66
3 Marek Faus (Anag): 33%, 29.31
4 Jean-François Florent (Ronchin): 33%, 21.66
5 Patrick Dupont (of Soissons): 25%, 25.61
6) Peter De Backer (Andernos): 0%, 17.00.
One cushion:
1 Jean-Paul de Bruijn (Etikon) 100% 13.95
2, Fabian Blondeel (Bochum): 75%, 9.14
3 Alain Remond (Soissons): 50%, 8.72
4 Janis Ziogas (Anag): 33%, 4:24
5 Bernard Villiers (Ronchin): 0%, 8.83
6 Bernard Baudoin (Andernos): 0%, 3.59.