The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships

The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships took place at 'The Buttons' on Saturday 18th September 2010, with six contenders hoping to be crowned the Global Champion of the 'almost sport' of Crazy Air Squash and take with them the prized silver salver!


The Contenders were:
Scott Lancley (GBR)
Steve Gow (GBR)
Richard Gottfried (GBR)
Emily Gottfried (GBR)
Oliver Florence (GBR)
Gerhard Zimmermann (GER)

Match 1
Oliver Florence beat Emily Gottfried 9-7

Match 2
Gerhard Zimmermann beat Richard Gottfried 9-0

Match 3
Scott Lancley beat Steve Gow 8-5

Final*
Scott Lancley beat Gerhard Zimmermann 5-4

Final*
Scott Lancley beat Oliver Florence (just before kicking-out time) - score unknown!?

* The players with the largest winning margins from the preliminary round matches qualified for the finals

Final Rankings:
1st Scott Lancley
2nd Gerhard Zimmermann
2nd Oliver Florence
4th Steve Gow
5th Emily Gottfried
6th Richard Gottfried


Photos from the event:

Crazy Air Squash Hall of Fame:
2010 - Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Champion - Scott Lancley
2009 - UK Air Hockey & Variants Champion - Scott Lancley
2008 - Crazy Air Squash Champion - Steve Gow

Crazy Air Squash Hall of Shame:
2010 - Richard Gottfried - a 9-nil drubbing (with 9 'own goals') in the Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships

Results from the previous Crazy Air Squash contest in Hastings:
The Joy of the Amusement Arcade - Crazy Air Squash in Hastings

The Global Crazy Air Squash Tour will be back in Hastings again for another classic contest - full results, photos and a report will follow!

If you know of any other Crazy Air Squash tables outside of Hastings do let us know?

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Report from the 2014 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championship in Hastings

Portugal's Nuno Cunha wins the Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championship 2014.

Nuno Cunha and his prize of a big round pound received from Buttons Committee member Emily Gottfried

After the World £2 Tat Challenge the second of the amusement arcade championships contested at the Old Town Amusements in Hastings during the World Crazy Golf Championships weekend is the much sought after World Crazy Air Hockey Championship.

Amusements in Hastings, full of fun

This year a total of 32-players registered to compete and 31 actually turned-up.

With Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones making a welcome return to Hastings many of the crowd was eagerly anticipating seeing this wildman of the pucks in action. Unfortunately he was to be defeated at the hands of the Portuguese Man O' War Nuno Cunha who was in rampant form and won 7-4 in the semi-finals.



The other semi-final saw and all-Dodd match-up take place, with Matt picking up the win 5-3. Helen had defeated top talent including 'Squire' Richard Gottfried and Steve Lovell (by Rock Paper Scissors!?) in the preliminary stages.

Squire crashing out to Helen Dodd in the prelims. As per usual

Peter Roughley vs. Chris Hillman in quite a battle in the main arena

Local lad Ted McIver faces-off against Rhyl Professional Peter Jones on table 3

After a tie in the round stages Helen Dodd and Steve Lovell tied, with the crowd demanding a decision a brutal game of Rock Paper Scissors followed with Helen picking up the win

Dodd vs Dodd. Unfortunately Rob Dodd was unable to compete this year

The Puckmaster vs the young pretender

Cunha and Dodd with the eyes of the world (of Air Hockey in Hastings) on them

While Nuno would go on to be robbed by a cruel bounce-out on the very last hole of the World Crazy Golf Championships on the Sunday he had no such luck in his match in the final against Matt Dodd. He was on the ball (puck?) in the match, and while it was a closely contested match Nuno would take the grand prize and title of Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Champion for 2014.

His quid prize was quickly spent as he gave Matt a rematch almost straight away. Nuno won that match too. Talk about rubbing salt into the wounds...

Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships Hall of Fame:

2014 Nuno Cunha (POR)
2013 Chris Harding (ENG)

2012 Pasi Aho (FIN)

2011 Peter Jones (WAL)

2010 Kevin Moseley (ENG)

World Adventure Air Hockey Hall of Fame:

2013 Pasi Aho (FIN/GER)

The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships Hall of Fame:

2010* Scott Lancley (ENG)

* Note: the Air Squash tables were removed soon after, meaning the tournament became a 'normal' Air Hockey event.

Following the main-event Steve Lovell (Bully) and Steve Ragless (Stormtrooper) took each other on in a match. Nuno the Winner watched as Paul Preston acted as the ball boy - he was certainly dressed the part in his football socks!

Related blog posts:

- Air Hockey blog posts

Videos:
- Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships 2014 in Hastings - Jones vs Cunha
- Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships 2014 in Hastings - Grand Final

The Joy of the Amusement Arcade - Crazy Air Squash in Hastings

Back in October 2008 Minigolfers Richard Gottfried and Steve Gow battled it out in a game of Crazy Air Squash at The Deluxe Amusement Arcade in Hastings, East Sussex, which in turn was a kind-of-rematch from their original Air Hockey battle at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk.

With the previous matches being a draw and one win to Steve, the battle to become the UK (and arguably the world's) number one Air Hockey & Variants Champion drew the attention of two new challengers (and fellow Minigolfers) - Scott Lancley and Kevin Moseley.

In a new format, the four would battle it out at the Family Amusements on Hastings' Sea Front following the first day's play in the BMGA British Championships.

In the first match reigning and defending Crazy Air Squash Champion Steve Gow beat Richard Gottfried 8-4.

In the other first round match Scott Lancley beat Kevin Moseley 5-3 to take him through to the final.

Both matches saw plenty of off 'field' action with the puck being lost at least five times.

In the final, Steve Gow lost his crown to newcomer Scott Lancley in an exciting, high scoring and very close match, with the final score standing at 8-7.

In the 3rd/4th place play-off match Kevin Moseley beat Richard Gottfried 5-4.

Rankings
1. Scott Lancley
2. Steve Gow
3. Kevin Moseley
4. Richard Gottfried

Photos from the event:

Steve Gow and Richard Gottfried ahead of their Crazy Air Squash match.

Heads of Tails - pre-match coin toss to see who hits the puck first.

Scott Lancley and Kevin Moseley battle it out in their first round encounter.


Richard Gottfried and Kevin Moseley following their 3rd/4th place play-off match.

The final score in the final between defending Crazy Air Squash Champion Steve Gow and new challenger Scott Lancley.
Scott Lancley receives the 'prestigious' trophy.


Following the four-player tournament, play took place at the original Crazy Air Squash table in The Deluxe Amusement Arcade as the originators of the sport battled to find out the winner in the ongoing Gow/Gottfried competition.

In a high scoring and 103 second time-limited match it was Gottfried who took the win 9-5. Gow/Gottfried Air Hockey Competition Results to date: Wroxham Barns (Aug 08) - Draw Hastings (Oct 08) - SG Win Hastings (July 09) - RG Win

Boom-A-Rang Crazy Air Squash at Circus Circus in Las Vegas

While at the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas we spotted a Boom-A-Rang Air Squash table in the Amusement Arcades and as big fans of these games had to give it a go.

Despite my previous poor showings in Crazy Air Squash contests - most notably in the 2010 Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships - I actually managed to pick up the win, defeating Emily 7-2.

Most of the Crazy Air Squash tables we've found on our travels have been of the 'Air Squash' variety, indeed the Boom-A-Rang table is one of only two that I've played, the other being at LaserForce Laser Tag in Peterborough. 

The Peterborough Boom-A-Rang Air Squash Championships

In addition to the main LaserForce Laser Tag, the Laser Games Arena in Peterborough had a fine selection of Arcade Machines - including a fantastic and quite rare Boom-A-Rang 'Crazy Air Squash' Air Hockey Table!


Back in August 2010 we contested The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships on a similar Air Hockey Table in Hastings - that World Title Competition was also covered by the excellent Montegue Blister's Strange Games Blog.

On this visit to the City, we felt it only right to contest the 'Peterborough Boom-A-Rang Air Squash Championships'!

The first match saw 'Squire' Richard Gottfried (whipping boy of The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships, and perennial Air Hockey underdog) facing off against Emily '9 Lives' Gottfried. The score - an unexpected 9-2 victory to the 'Squire'!


The Grand Final saw Richard face-off against Rebecca 'The Fen Tigress' Evison. The match started slowly, with both players trading Goals, but it soon became clear that the home-town favourite had the fans on her side, and eventually ran out a 9-5 winner, and become the new Peterborough Boom-A-Rang Air Squash Champion!

Photos from the Grand Final.






Link to a multitude of other Ham & Egger Files Blog Posts about Air Hockey and the like!

Crazy Air Squash in Great Yarmouth

The one and only sporting title I walked away from our weekend away in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth was the winner of the Crazy Air Squash match at the Pleasure Beach in Great Yarmouth - winning 7-5 against Emily.

This was alot better than my last tournament outing at the Peterborough Boom-A-Rang Air Squash Championships where I lost against Rebecca 'The Fen Tigress' Evison in the Grand Final and my dismal performance in the Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships in September 2010 when I crashed out of the tournament on the wrong end of a 9-nil defeat at the hands of the debuting German Crazy Air Squash Wunderkind Gerhard Zimmermann.

In total we found three Crazy Squash Tables in various amusement arcades in Great Yarmouth - perhaps this is where all the tables that used to be in Hastings were shipped to?

2011 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships in Hastings

Results of the Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships 2011

In addition to the Worlds £2 Tat Challenge taking place at The Buttons on Saturday 29th October 2011, the venue also saw the Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships take place amongst a group of twelve Crazy Golfers, with a new champion guaranteed to be crowned following a no-show by 2010 Champ Kevin 'AWOL' Moseley!

In a thrilling final Wales' Peter 'The Puckmaster' Jones defeated England's Phil Exall 7-3 to take the title he's waited a whole year to get his hands on.

Photo: The 2011 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Champion - Peter 'The Puckmaster' Jones

Full Results of the 2011 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships

In round one results:
- Seth Thomas defeated Jam Trubridge 2-1
- Keith Kellard beat Chris Harding 4-3
- Pasi Aho (FIN) lost to Phil Exall 6-7
- Richard Gottfried and Alex Exall drew 4-4 - the match was decided by a best-of-three game of Rock Paper Scissors which Alex won 2-1
- Marc Chapman beat Scott Lancley 6-1
- Peter Jones, Denis Exall and Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson all received 'byes'

In round two results:
- Seth Thomas lost to Peter Jones 4-7 (with one minute to go)
- Keith Kellard bested Denis Exall 7-3
- Phil Exall beat Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson 7-5
- Alex Exall defeated Marc Chapman 6-3

In the first semi-final:
- Keith Kellard lost to Peter Jones 3-4

In the second semi-final:
- Alex Exall lost to Phil Exall 6-7

The final saw last year's defeated finalist Peter Jones facing-off against Phil Exall to decide the ultimate champion at the event, with Peter Jones coming out the winner with a 7-3 victory, with a minute still remaining on the clock!

Photo: Phil Exall versus Peter Jones in the final

You can watch the closing stages of the match here:



Photos from the event:

Photo: Father versus son as Phil Exall battles Alex Exall as the crowd looks on

Photo: Alex Exall versus Richard Gottfried in a rematch from 2010. Alex would once again get the better of Richard

Photo: Phil Exall squares off against International campaigner Pasi Aho of Finland, by way of Germany

Photo: Marc Chapman takes on rival and Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Champion Scott Lancley

Photo: Seth Thomas plays Peter Jones

Photo: Seth Thomas continues to play Peter Jones

Photo: Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson and Phil Exall have a meeting of the paddles at the half-way line

Photo: Denis Exall faces-off against Keith 'Puck Boy' Kellard

Links:
- Crazy Minigolfers Play Air Hockey Tournament in Hastings
- The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships

Chris 'Who' Harding wins the 2013 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championship!

Report, photos and video from the 2013 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championship in Hastings.

A packed house

When Crazy Golfers are not Crazy Golfing they can often be found lurking and loitering in the warmth of an Amusement Arcade.

In a tradition stretching back to 2010 minigolfers have enjoyed playing the game of Air Hockey and the 2013 championship promised lots of action and excitement. It certainly didn't disappoint.

With reigning and previous Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Champions competing, including 2012 winner - Finnish Bruiser Pasty Aho - and the man/myth/legend Peter '5 Star' Jones returning to both Minigolf and Air Hockey action in Hastings.

With a densely packed, competitive and eager field of 30 athletes lined-up it was down to the very busy Buttons Committee to do the draw to see who would face-off in the contest to win the £1 sterling prize money, and most importantly the title of "Best Air Hockey Playing Crazy Golfer in Hastings at the End of October".

International Air Hockey action

After what seemed like hours of play, especially as the tournament was preceded by the Worlds Tat Challenge, the final came down to a battle between two English competitors as Martin Greenhead faced off with Chris Harding.

Video of the final.

Full results:

(All players ENG, unless otherwise stated)
First round
1. Jouni Valkjarvi (FIN) defeated Ruth Burke 7-1
2. Dave Donnelly (IRE) lost to Mark Wood 4-1
3. Ted McIver (SCO) beat James Rutherford 7-5
4. Chris Harding  whitewashed John Moore 7-0
5. Keith Kellard bested Marc Chapman 7-4
6. Scott Lancley defeated Daniel Cottam 7-4
7. Adam Kelly received a bye
8. Pasi Aho (FIN) beat Will Donnelly 5-0
9. Alex Exall defeated Chris Wood 6-4
10. Steve Sturdy received a bye
11. Matt Dodd beat Helen Dodd 6-4
12. Steve Lovell won against Brian Smith 6-5
13. Terry Exall bested Jonathan Mather 5-4
14. Paul Johnson Paul Johnson Johnson lost to Peter Jones 7-3
15. Neil Cottam beat Ollie Greenhead 6-4
16. Martin Greenhead won against Christian ‘Anthony Pope’ Fuchs (GER) 7-4

Second round
1. Mark Wood bested Jouni Valkjarvi 7-3
2. Ted McIver lost to Chris Harding 7-4
3. Keith Kellard defeated Scott Lancley 5-4
4. Adam Kelly lost to Pasi Aho 7-1
5. Alex Exall beat Steve Sturdy 7-3
6. Matt Dodd defeated Steve Lovell 6-4
7. Terry Exall won against Peter Jones 6-4
8. Martin Greenhead bested Neil Cottam 7-4

Quarter finals
1. Chris Harding beat Mark Wood
2. Keith Kellard won against Pasi Aho 7-3
3. Alex Exall defeated Matt Dodd 7-6
4. Terry Exall lost to Martin Greenhead 7-5

Semi finals
1. Chris Harding beat Keith Kellard 4-1
2. Martin Greenhead defeated Alex Exall 7-2

Grand final
- Chris Harding defeated Martin Greenhead 7-4

In the most thrilling and most controversial match former Worlds Champion Peter Jones faced Terry Exall.

Peter 'The Puckmaster' Jones vs. Terry 'The Master Pucker' Exall in a fiery match-up

The match finished with a win to Exall, and utter disgust from Jones who threw his paddle across the table and into the path of Terry who recoiled in fear, only to be saved by the net!

In the immediate aftermath of the hot-blooded match Jones was heard to say the table robbed him of the win claiming "You can get better Air Hockey tables from Argos. The air flow on the table in that match was terrible."

Terry, ever gracious in victory, merely said at the the end of the competition "I didn't care about winning the whole thing, as long as I didn't lose to Peter Jones."

The event was a true one and is unlikely to be repeated.

Until next year that is when it'll take place at the same sort of time in the same place. Unless Peter Jones'ses'es behaviour has seen us all banned from the Old Town Buttons.

Until next time. Peace.

Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships Hall of Fame:

2013 Chris Harding (ENG)

2012 Pasi Aho (FIN)

2011 Peter Jones (WAL)

2010 Kevin Moseley (ENG)

World Adventure Air Hockey Hall of Fame:

2013 Pasi Aho (FIN/GER)

The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships Hall of Fame:

2010* Scott Lancley (ENG)

* Note: the Air Squash tables were removed soon after, meaning the tournament became a 'normal' Air Hockey event.

Related blog posts:

- Air Hockey blog posts