Lifting the gloom after New Year's Eve?
The Belgian indoor open is once again planned close to 12th Night over the weekend of January 3rd-4th 2009 at the *****Hotel Chateau du Lac, Genval (just South of Brussels) http://www.martins-hotels.com/en/hotel/chateau-du-lac/. Those who have played before at the Belgian Indoor tell us they fondly remember the warm hospitality, the courtside drinks, the luxurious hotel facilities, the sociable "gala dinner", and more.
Format is dependent on entries but, normally, we play advanced games on two 3/4 size courts, double-banked, with Dawsons. The carpet has been replaced, making it easier to find the balls against the previously jazzy colouring.
The entry fee of €150 includes all meals during the tournament, the court-side drinks, the gala dinner, the memento each player receives, the prizes (see below). Accommodation is available by booking through us at the hotel Chateau du Lac (Genval : for 100 euro/night/double room). Accompanying persons are also of course welcome to attend the dinner (& festivities) for an additional fee intended simply to cover our costs.
As always, the only way we can get the Salle Argentine at the Hotel at an affordable rate is because they can cancel our reservation and thus the Open until 3 weeks before (ie until Friday 12th December), so don't book unchangeable tickets !
To enter, or for more information, please email to johnswabey@gmail.com <mailto:johnswabey@gmail.com>, also saying when and how you plan to arrive, how many hotel nights you need, whether there are any accompanying persons, dietary constraints, etc. For more information on the Croquet Federation of Belgium follow this link: www.croquetb.org <http://www.croquetb.org/>
Prizes include a take-away for the winner & runner-up, a peeling prize (a yard-line of Belgian triple beers).
Finally, if you are wavering, reports on previous years' events and some photographs can be found at http://www.croquetb.org/indoor.htm
John Swabey
PS. At time of contact (Oct 6th) there were 6 places available. Apologies from Robert on late posting of this item, away in Alsace and being lazy on my return.