Miles Plumley does not want to get ahead of himself, but the captain of the A team – who will also be joined by a B side this year – has highlighted how much Guernsey pool has developed since finishing runner-up to the Isle of Wight A in last year’s edition of the annual tournament in Jersey.
They had only just relaunched the Guernsey Pool Association back then and so, buoyed by a full year of competition, Plumley is ‘quietly confident’ of another strong showing in the sister isle.
‘That puts us in a good position this year,’ he said.
‘I’m not one to tell the guys where we should be on paper, so I’ve just told the guys we’ve got a great squad and just to focus on every match as it comes, every frame as it comes.
‘The result will sort itself out in the end.’
The resurgence of domestic pool has also shown in the selection of multiple teams, the first time in eight years this has happened.
Plumley goes in knowing the B team, led by their own Miles – Miles Davies – will be keen to get one over on them.
The two teams are guaranteed at least one meeting during the tournament.
‘We’re going in with high hopes, considering how the pool scene has developed over the last year in Guernsey,’ B team captain Davies said.
‘The A team showed us last year that it’s definitely possible to compete at CI Internationals and we’re just aiming to do the best we can.’
The tournament runs from Thursday at St Helier’s Planet Pool and Snooker, with 12 sides from Jersey, Guernsey, Portugal, the Isle of Wight, Exmouth and Yeovil contesting the three-day team event.
The individual competition, in which Guernsey FC player Charlton Gauvain proved the standout Sarnian last year in making the quarter-finals, unfolds on Sunday 1 November.
Several of Guernsey’s top players have just returned disappointed, but also with invaluable experience gained, from a venture onto the Ultimate Pool League National Finals stage.
Guernsey Jackasses travelled to Leicester and found the handicap format working against them as they lost out to Pool Runnings 34-14 in the round of 32, meaning they were unable to progress and potentially get screen time on TNT.
James Le Cras had captained a side that also included Brad Ogier, Charlton Gauvain, Adam Shorto, Sam Roberts, Miles Plumley and Tommy Simon, and he summed up the mixed feelings faced during the trip.
‘Although we didn’t achieve the result we’d hoped for, it was a fantastic trip and a valuable experience for the whole team,’ he said.
‘Our players didn’t reach the heights we all know we can play like.
‘The handicapped event/format presented a real challenge for us, with most of our players having to give the opponents a one- or two-frame head start.
‘Despite the result, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the competition.
‘The experience we gained will stand us in good stead as we look forward to next year’s Ultimate Pool League Season Two – here in Guernsey.’
Many of these players were gathered at the KGV this week to follow Keighley’s Breaking Bad winning the grand final 25-19 against Leicester’s Rail Huggers and take home the £10,000 first-place prize.
CI INTERNATIONAL TEAMS
A: Miles Plumley (C), Brad Ogier, James Le Cras, Danny Marquand, Ali Gilliland, Jarod Carrington, Charlton Gauvain, Adrian Holley.
B: Miles Davies (C), Kate Le Gallez, Brad Morton, Zak Dragun, James Webber, James Kirk, Tony Cracknell, James de la Rue.
