Showing posts with label World Series of Pong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Series of Pong. Show all posts

Sunday, December 02, 2012

The World Series of Pong Slam Jam 2012 at Bounce London this Saturday

The World Series of Pong Slam Jam 2012 will be taking place at Bounce - the new Ping Pong and Cocktail Club - in Holborn, London on Saurday 8th December 2012.
 
Presented and hosted by the team at The Social Athletics Club, the 2012 edition of the event is a follow-up to the hugely successfully 2010 tournament - an event that I competed in alongside Brad 'the Fist' Shepherd and saw us ranked as the '50th best Pong team in the world'!
 
The World Series of Pong Slam Jam is running from midday until 7pm and will feature a doubles tournament, team event and a round-the-table competition for charity. You can find out all the details at the World Series of Pong Slam Jam Facebook Event Page.
 
Unfortunately Brad has since retired and I can't make the 2012 event, but if you're interested you can sign-up for tickets to compete (or spectate) at the World Series of Pong Eventbrite page.
 
Good luck to everyone competing in the event!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Darts in London - The Jolly Anglers Pub in Wood Green

Prior to the Crazy Golfers Christmas Meet-up at Rileys in Victoria, Brad Shepherd and I met up at Wood Green before heading off to visit and play the Crazy Golf course at Alexandra Palace.

We followed a Brown Tourist Sign to point us in the right direction and one of the first things we spotted was another very interesting sign, this time outside a Pub!

Photo: The Pub Darts Sign

Photo: Brad 'Stops' by the Pub Darts Sign

We decided to come back and give the Jolly Anglers pub a go on our way back after playing at Ally Pally. Just a short distance further along Station Road we spotted a Darts Shop too! And it was on a 'Bradley Road'!!! Sadly it had closed down, so we couldn't get stocked up on any Darts supplies ahead of the evening's tournament.

Photo: Brad standing outside the old Darts shop on Bradley Road

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Darts Championships were being held at Alexandra Palace during our visit, so we had a look around, but it all seemed very quiet.

Photo: Me outside the VIP Entrance

After playing the Minigolf course at Alexandra Palace we had plenty of time to head back to the Jolly Anglers to warm-up with a few games of Darts.

Photo: Brad chucks some 'arrers

In between drinks and goes on the Quiz machine, Brad and I played five '301' games of Darts, with victories all going my way. However, in the evening's main-event Brad would get his revenge by beating me in our two meetings (group stage & semi-final) and eventually went on to win the 'Rivernear Worlds Professional Crazy Golfers Darts Championship'.

Photo: Me and the Dart Board at The Jolly Anglers pub

The Jolly Anglers pub was friendly enough and the board, while not super high-quality, was in good condition and we were able to play there for well over an hour. Their sign advertising the Darts did well!

Photo: The Jolly Anglers pub sign


Photo: The Brown Tourist Sign pointing towards Alexandra Palace

Links:
- Justin Irwin - Bachelor of Darts - Capital Darts List
- Follow The Brown Signs
- Alexandra Palace
- The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
- The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Sprouts & Pong - Previous Blog Posts About Me & Brad's Antics in December's past:
- Guinness World Record Attempt - Most Brussels Sprouts Eaten in a Minute!
- The London-Lu(x)ton Connection play in the 'World Series of Pong' Ping Pong Tournament in Tooting!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic 2011

The traditional curtain-raiser ahead of the Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) is a side-tournament in A.N. Other Sport or Game. Last year we played a Darts tournament, and in 2009 we played Boules.

However, this year the side-event took place after the main-event at the 2011 Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic.

Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic

In the final match Seve Kukielka defeated (destroyed) me, 21-3 in a not close at all Final. In doing so Seve became a two-time Side-Tournament Champion, having won the 2009 Boules Tournament in Swansea (Abertawe), where he also beat me in the final.

Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic

Jas beat Cindy in the third/fourth place play-off match.

Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic

The tournament saw each of the six players drawn into two groups, with each player playing each other once, with the winner from Group A taking on Group B's runner-up and vice versa.

The group matches were played to 11 points, with the semi-finals and final played to 21.

Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic

In Group A:
Richard lost to Cindy 11-8
Cindy beat Emily 11-6
Emily lost to Richard 11-5

Group A Winner - Cindy
Group A Runner-up - Richard

In Group B:
Seve lost to Jas 11-4
Jas beat Leo 13-11
Leo lost to Seve 11-6

Group B Winner - Jas
Group B Runner-up - Seve

Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic

Semi-Finals
Cindy lost to Seve 21-14
Jas lost to Richard 21-18

3rd/4th Play-Off
Jas beat Cindy 11-6

Final
Seve beat Richard 21-3

Photo: A shell-shocked Richard attempts to score a point against the merciless Seve
A shell-shocked Richard attempts to score a point against the merciless Seve

Photo: Seve receives the Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic Tournament Trophy from Emily
Seve receives the Cwmbran Table Tennis Classic Tournament Trophy from Emily

The 2012 Side-Tournament Sport or Game is undecided, suggestions welcome?

Cwmbran Darts Classic 2010

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Two videos of our matches at the World Series of Pong Slam Jam Grand Final

Videos of our opening two matches at the World Series of Pong Slam Jam Grand Final





Blog post about the World Series of Pong Slam Jam Grand Final.

Monday, December 06, 2010

The London-Lu(x)ton Connection play in the 'World Series of Pong' Ping Pong Tournament in Tooting!


On Saturday 4th December 2010 me and Paddington's Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd headed to the Tooting Tram & Social Bar in Tooting, London to take part in the "World Series of Pong" Slam Jam Grand Final Ping Pong tournament!

The prized WSOPong Trophy!


The competition saw teams of two play first-to-nine-points matches, with the final match played in a best-of-three games format. Our team - The Luxton & District (aka The London-Lu(x)ton Connection) - lined up to face-off against 49 other teams who had won through the qualifiers, and some other 'Wildcards'. We were drawn in Group C, playing on Table 1, alongside the teams of Bjorn Again, Team Chris & Mike and The Maccabees.

With costumes and fancy dress a big part of the World Series of Pong we had gone for an 'On The Buses'-themed Team Name and Kit. However, the snowy weather meant that our team outfit remained in Southsea, and we had no time to source a new kit. Brad did however manage to find some Native American Indian Head-dresses in a Tooting Charity Shop 30 minutes before play began, which, while making us look like a couple of extras in a Village People video, did at least distract some of the spectators away from our play and allowed us to roll-out some "How" 'jokes', along the lines of '"How"...the bloody hell are we going to win this match', and '"How"...are we supposed to play in such unwieldy headwear' etc. etc. Another came from Brad, who had 'Reservations' about the hats - bah dum chaa.



First up in the group was a match pitting us against the team of Bjorn Again, a Ping pong contest that will go down in history, as the team of Bjorn Again demolished us 9-0! The first step on the path that would lead them to ultimate victory as WSOPong Champions!

A final pre-match team talk ahead of the 9-0 drubbing by 'Sweden's' Bjorn Again


After the defeat Brad and I picked ourselves up, adjusted our Native American Indian Head-dresses and got ready for match two, this time against two members of the Indie Band The Maccabees. In this match we won the rally to serve first, and went on to be on the receiving end of a 9-3 defeat. Heartened by the winning of three points we had some confidence heading into our third (and final) group match.

Up against the team of Chris & Mike we decided to switch ends, and with the glare of the lights from the high ceiling at the Tooting Tram & Social bar now behind us, we managed to take the lead, only for Chris & Mike to draw level, and eventually take the victory 9-7.

Bjorn Again look on as we play our final group game


The event also hosted exhibition displays from some of the best of England's Table Tennis talent who put on some spectacular matches, and also took on challenges from the WSOPong players.

Many thanks to Andrew and all the team at the WSOPong organisation, who ran a terrific event, and allowed Brad and I to compete in the WSOPong Grand Slam Final as one of the 'wildcard' teams.


Brad, Emily (our Coach) and I had a brilliant time (despite stinking up the tournament with our Whiff Whaff skills). And, at the end of the day at least we can say we were slaughtered 9-0 by the ultimate champions!


Brad has now officially retired from the sport - although he did enjoy the social/drinking aspect of WSOPong (and did finish the day with a smile, as he got a free dinner at a Pub we visited on our Saturday-night Tooting Pub Crawl after the tournament - where we also found 'Pints o' Sausage Rolls' for sale!?).

As for me, I will be back for qualifying in 2011! I've just got to find a new partner, a new kit and a lot more time to practice my game.

The aim of WSOPong events is to have fun in a social setting and the WSOPong competitions are targeted at casual, social players, or people who perhaps played many years ago, or not at all (the WSOPong don't target current, or former Club players, or Professionals).

About the World Series of Pong.

Pong Links:
The World Series of Pong (WSOPong)
The London Ping Pong Company
Greenhouse - Sport & Performing Arts

Other Ping Pong Blog Posts at The Ham & Egger Files:
Not long until the "World Series of Pong - Slam Jam Grand Final" Ping Pong Tournament!
Ping Pong Challenge Match at Wardown Park, Luton
Practicing for the World Series of Pong at Luton's Wardown Park
World Series of Pong (WSOPong) - Slam Jam Grand Final

Last December Brad and I attempted to break the Guinness World Record for 'Most Brussels Sprouts Eaten in One Minute' - we failed in our pursuit of that 'World Title' too (although we did defeat celebrity entrant Esther Rantzen in the sprout scoffing).

Our regular sport to participate in is Minigolf (and Crazy Golf), but we also like to take the odd diversion into other obscure sports and games - with Brad a keen World Conker Championships competitor, while I am a keen Dodgeballer and Finger Jouster. Last month Emily and I also competed in the 4th UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships in Fulham.

Friday, December 03, 2010

Not long until the "World Series of Pong - Slam Jam Grand Final" Ping Pong Tournament!

This weekend sees me and my fellow Minigolfer Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd head to Tooting for the first-ever "World Series of Pong - Slam Jam Grand Final" Ping Pong Tournament!

After two practice sessions from me on the public concrete table in Luton's Wardown Park, and a cursory look at the rules from Brad, we feel (over) confident in our abilities to win the title for the team and our fans!

We've gone for an On The Buses-themed Team Name that will be revealed at the tournament itself (or online - the draw was at 1pm today).

A slight hitch with the snowy weather has meant that our team kit remains in Southsea, meaning that unless our Coach - Emily 'Olive' Gottfried - can source us a new one today, we may well have to play in that old PE standard of 'Pants and Vests'!!!

Full report, photos and videos to follow.

About the World Series of Pong.

Other Ping Pong Blog Posts at The Ham & Egger Files:
Ping Pong Challenge Match at Wardown Park, Luton

Practicing for the World Series of Pong at Luton's Wardown Park

World Series of Pong (WSOPong) - Slam Jam Grand Final

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Ping Pong Challenge Match at Wardown Park, Luton

On Sunday 28th November Emily and I headed to Luton's Wardown Park to play some Table Tennis in preparation for my participation in the upcoming "World Series of Pong" Ping Pong Tournament!


In a best-of-three sets match, played in somewhat snowy conditions, I managed to defeat Emily 21-6, 21-19, followed by a 5-2 victory in a one-off first-to-five-points challenge match.




With two Sunday's worth of singles Ping Pong Practice under my belt I feel confident ahead of the upcoming World Series of Pong Slam Jam Grand Final Doubles Tournament in Tooting!

Match Introduction


Warming-up


Last Sunday I lost to Simon 'Practice' Hall at the Wardown Park Ping Pong table.

About the World Series of Pong

Sunday, November 21, 2010

My Crazy/Odd/Obscure/Strange Sporting Week

Saturday

Sunday


Monday


Tuesday

  • Day off

Wednesday


Thursday


Friday


Saturday


Sunday

Practicing for the World Series of Pong at Luton's Wardown Park

Early on Sunday 21st November I headed to Luton's Wardown Park to play my first Table Tennis match in over 16 years, in preparation for my participation in the upcoming "World Series of Pong" Ping Pong Tournament!





In a best-of-three sets match I lost to my Pitch & Putt and Dodgeball Adversary Simon 'Practice' Hall 18-21, 16-21, followed by a one-off 15-21 defeat. Simon hadn't played in over 20 years!





I had hoped not to stink up the place at the World Series of Pong Slam Jam event, so I'd better improve my game before the Slam Jam Grand Final!

About the World Series of Pong.

World Series of Pong (WSOPong) - Slam Jam Grand Final

Me and my fellow minigolfer (and odd sports and events fan) Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd have received a Wildcard entry to play in the World Series of Pong Slam Jam Grand Final in Tooting in December.

We had been scheduled to compete in the World Series of Pong (WSOPong) Qualifying Event at Tutus, Kings College, London on Thursday 2nd December, however due to scheduling problems the date for the event has had to move, meaning that we received a 'bye' into the Grand Final itself (and of course we can always claim we're the 'Default Ping Pong Round Winners' for the 2nd December).

64 teams of two will be competing in the World Series of Pong Slam Jam Grand Final, and me and Brad are planning on bringing home some silverware!

About the World Series of Pong.

Last December Brad and I took part in a Guinness World Record Attempt to eat the Most Brussels Sprouts Eaten in a Minute!