27th BEC (Bowling European Corporatif) Championships

Nottingham - May 8th, 9th and 10th 1997

The BEC Championships are contested each year by teams representing European companies. Each countries BEC committees organise a national competition to select the entrants to the European final, which begin each year on Ascension day. The European final is run on a scratch basis and is open to ladies doubles teams and four person teams.

The teams representing Britain are selected via the British Companies Bowling Championships. These were held on Sunday 23rd February 97. The top 12 Four person team and top 6 Ladies Doubles teams were offered a place in the European Finals.

This year 13 countries were represented in the European Final: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The event began on the Wednesday evening with a civic reception for the 43 Ladies Doubles teams and the captains of the 130 Fours teams. This was held in the Council House, the impressive domed building at the head of Old Market Square, in the centre of Nottingham. The reception featured complimentary (free!) drinks and then a short speech by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, and Anita Tronnier, President of BEC welcomed everyone to Nottingham. A guided tour of the Council House was then taken by those who wanted.

The format of the championships is for all teams to play 3 sets of 3 games qualifying, followed by a Semi-final of 22 Fours and 12 Ladies teams, and, a Final of 12 Fours and 6 Ladies teams. All scores are scratch and are carried over to successive rounds.

The Opening Ceremony was performed on Thursday morning, after the 8:30 Fours and 10:50 Doubles squads had played. After an impressive display of country flags and representatives the Lord Mayor of Nottingham welcomed everyone to Nottingham, BEC President Anita Tronnier then declared the 27th BEC Championships open.

Qualifying rounds: These are played over the Thursday and Friday with an early start, 8:30am for four of the six squads, and late finishes 11:30pm for the same four squads, a long day with plenty of time for sightseeing during the day!

Some impressive bowling by Barclays Bank London North (Mark Carlton, Brian Williams, Frank Brown and Mike Bergquist) on 7086 put them in first place averaging 196.8. With Matra Velizy (7011) second and Hauteville Sports (6970) third.

The cut for the top 22 was 6704, average 186.2. We were well represented in the semi with British Airways, Barclays Bank UK, Barclays Bank London South, RAF Logistics Command 1 and Royal Mail London as well as Barclays Bank London North.

In the Ladies Doubles Barclays were doing it again, with Barclays PCMS (Ann Finch and Maggie Wisdom) in first place on 3531, averaging 196.2. With Pohjola Group Helsinki second with 3433 and IBM 1 Lyngby third on 3401. The cut for the the ladies semi was at 3201, average 177.8.Also making it to the semi were Barclays Bank London (Jill Owen and Adele Dyer) and General Accident Nottingham (Muriel and Jean Pearce).

The Semis and Finals take place on the Saturday begining with the Fours at 9:30, not too early!

Semis: The continental teams started to outgun us here, with 2543 from Wiener Verkehrsbetriebe and 2400+ from Hauteville Sport, Ericsson Microwave and Ailec OY.We went downhill with Barclays London North dropping from 1st to 9th, British Airways from 7th to 15th, however we had some good news, Barclays UK went from 12th to 10th and RAF Logistics from 17th to 12th, just making the cut into the the final.

In first place now was Hautville Sports on 9388, average 195.6, second were Ericisson (9320) and third Wiener (9305).

In the Doubles, the top 3 places stayed the same, Barclays PCMS on 4559, Pohjola (4526) and IBM Lyngby (4515). With the cut at 4385, Barclays London also made it into the Final in 5th place.

Finals: In case you have never attended a BEC Championship before you should be made aware that they are noisy! The usual array of noise making devices can be found; hand clapping, whistles and shouting, as well as a few others; bugles, air horns and cow bells! However this year the Barclays contingent went prepared, with dozens of football rattles! Very handy to express your appreciation of a 300 game, as was bowled by Reija Lunden of Pohjola Group Helsinki in the Ladies Doubles Final. How on earth she could concentrate with all that noise is beyond me, but she did and bowled magnificently.

In fact with a 1215 from Pohjola (5741) and 1212 from IBM Lyngby (5727) they both ousted Barclays PCMS from first to third (5707).

In the Fours a 2418 from RATP Paris (11655) moved them from 7th place above Hauteville Sports (11649). However a 2441 from Jarnkompaniet (11669) moved them from 8th place above them both to 1st. With Barclays London North 7th on 11473, Barclays UK 9th on 11387 and RAF Logistics 12th on 11294.

Averages: In the Fours, 14 players were over 200, with Gert Sundl of Jarnkompaniet top on 212.9 over 15 games. The sole Brit over 200 was Maurice Teece of British Airways on 200.3.

In the Doubles, top average was the 300 lady, Reija Lunden on 197.6, with Ann Finch and Maggie Wisdom finishing a very cerditable 4th and 5th respectively on 191.4 and 189.0.

High Set: In the Fours this was won by Frank Brown, of Barclays London North, with a 701. In the Ladies Doubles, ???? ????? won with a ???.

The event as always closes with a presentation at the bowl, presided over by the home country BEC Representative, Jeff Davis to the winning teams and bowlers. This year the prizes consisted of Edinburgh Crystal with Jock Caie presenting a special prize of a Gold Pin to Reija for her 300 game. However the real prize is the ‘kudos’ of being the top company team in Europe. Proven via a tournament with an initial entry of over 1000 teams.

However the tournament would not be complete without the obligatory bowlers banquet. This was held at the Royal International Moat House Hotel with tickets for 500. This was a splendid affair with good food and wine, and, the most amazing DJ act I have ever seen. Worth every penny!

The BEC Championships are an event not to be missed. The friendliness of all the competitors, who as usual put us to shame by generally speaking english and couple of other languages for good measure, is amazing. The event must also be one of the largest scratch events in Europe with over 640 players taking part.

I am sure I speak for all competitors when I say thank you to, everyone who was involved in organising the event, and, to the staff and management at AMF Nottingham.

The 28th BEC Championships are to be held in Helsinki at the Tali Bowl begining on Ascension Day. Qualifying will as usual be via the British Corporative Bowling Championships.

Terry Webb, (Barclays Bank UK)