New Nationwide Pro-Am Tournament!

[Sarah Mount]

Hello Magicman!

Thank you for your compliments regarding the academy. You are correct, it is still in the process of being built. It will be in Quedgley in Gloucester and we are anticipating it to be fully kitted out and ready for use for May. It is in a standalone 20,000 square foot building and is one of several units being built in the area-hence no address as of yet.

As for the buy-ins. Only those who just miss out on qualifying from the regional finals will be offered the chance to buy in once again in the place of any professional who may have pulled out for whatever reason.

I totally understand you querying why PIOS players join the Pro's in starting at the national finals. This was due to several reasons. Our tournament director, Roland van Laere, also runs the PIOS giving us the chance to get as many of the PIOS boys involved, therefore raising more money for breast cancer charities. Also, many of these guys are the future of snooker and we are keen to give them as many opportunities as possible to compete against Pros and encourage particularly the youth who play on the PIOS. One of our aims for the academy is to offer the opportunity for talented individuals to practice on the highest of facilities and enhance their chances of achieving their potential so to have the highest ranked amateurs involved reaffirms this.

The man responsible for this academy from the idea stage to where it is now is Paul Mount who manages several professional players. He has put a lot of his time and effort into this and we are hopeful that the facilities provided will benefit snooker from grass roots upwards.

We will be adding photos of the construction process over the next few weeks to the academy website so feel free to keep checking back to see the growth of what we hope, and believe, to be a successful new venture.

Thanks again for taking the time to look at our website and let us know your thoughts!

Regards

Sarah

PS Just to add that the academy is a non profit making organisation with any profits being put back into sporting charities in order to keep the development of sport at the fore front of the academy's aims.

[Sarah Mount]

New pics of the academy online now

Hello!

Just to let anyone know who may be interested that we have added new pics of the academy (where the finals will be held), from when the building process started, to our facebook fanpage which can be found here.

There are pics of Academy members Stephen Lee, Robert Milkins and Michael Wasley visiting the site with their Manager, and managing director of the Academy, Paul Mount.

Other pics included on our facebook fanpage include the boys in training, Jimmy White at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards and the OneForSeven Finals in Cardiff.

Regards

Sarah

[Sarah Mount]

Nationwide Pro Am which includes 30+ Pros!

Hello Guys!

So as not to take over the 'Lazy Players' thread I thought a new one outlining the Pink Ribbon may be a good idea.

All Pro's and PIOS players will start at the finals weekend in Gloucester at the South West Snooker Academy.

The academy is a non-profit organisation with any profits going to charitable causes. One of our chosen charities are breast cancer charities. Our management company, On Q Promotions, looks after several professional players, all of whom wear pink backed waistcoats in order to raise awareness of breast cancer amongst snooker fans. We are keen to promote that the 'Boys are doing it for the Girls' as this is a way men can let other men know about the signs they should be looking out for and for them to spread that knowledge to the women in their lives-wives, girlfriends, mothers, daughters etc. We also appreciate that there are a large number of women who play and watch snooker and of course if we can reach them first hand with the message then that is great!

The Pros have been keen to support this event since its conception in late 2009. So far we have the following who have registered and paid their entrance fee Jimmy White, Barry Hawkins, Barry Pinches, Ben Woolaston, Chris Norbury, Dave Harold, Gerard Greene, Judd Trump, Mark Davis, Mark Joyce, Matthew Selt, Michael Holt, Nigel Bond, Ricky Walden, Robert Milkins, Rod Lawler, Stephen Lee, Stuart Bingham, Tom Ford, Tony Drago and Dominic Dale. There are also several top 16 players interested in participating as well as more Pros who have shown an interest so we expect these numbers to increase.

If you are interested in taking part club players can qualify for the finals weekend at their local clubs. If your club is not holding a qualifying event, don't worry, you can still take part as Rileys are in the process of organising special qualifying events at their clubs.

Alternatively, If your local club is not holding a qualifying event but you would like to organise one for your club then that would be great. Anyone who organises a qualifier for their club with 10 or more entries will be given a pair of free spectator tickets for the final day of the event. If you are interested in organising a qualifying event for your club then if you contact me on sarah.mount@onqpromotions.co.uk I will be able to send you everything you will need.

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Regards

Sarah

Also, the club player who goes the furthest in the competition will win for one of our stable of professional players to perform an exhibition match at their local club where they qualified, free of charge!

[ryanc147]

Hi i,ve sent my money and application form to the address on the form, and I play out of the Grove Club in Romford, however when i asked them about they don't know anything about it, what would you advise me to do

[goldengirl]

Thanks for the clarification Sarah.

[MattWilson]

Great cause - when will the Riley's venues be announced and do you have to enter prior to this announcement or can you make a decision afterwards?

MW

[Sarah Mount]

Hi i,ve sent my money and application form to the address on the form, and I play out of the Grove Club in Romford, however when i asked them about they don't know anything about it, what would you advise me to do

Thank you for entry which we have gratefully received. I will get on the case with this and get back to you.

Regards

Sarah

Thanks for the clarification Sarah.

You're welcome goldengirl.

Great cause - when will the Riley's venues be announced and do you have to enter prior to this announcement or can you make a decision afterwards?

MW

Thanks Matt! Rileys clubs should be offering the chance to take part in the next week or so. They are just sorting out the logistics at the moment before they announce it. You can make a decision after the announcement as we are being slightly flexible with the deadline (within reason) to allow Rileys customers the opportunity to get involved.

Regards

Sarah

[vialliviall]

hi sarah,

I would like to enter a qualifier to get into this pro-am however not sure where one is?
do i pay the entry fee now or wait for a qualifier and pay it to them? sorry om a little confused

[Sarah Mount]

hi sarah,

I would like to enter a qualifier to get into this pro-am however not sure where one is?
do i pay the entry fee now or wait for a qualifier and pay it to them? sorry om a little confused

Hello vialliviall!

Where are you based? I can let you know if there is a club holding a qualifier near you. Ideally you would pay your entrance fee to the club holding the qualifier but either way we will be able to get you involved.

Regards

Sarah

[vialliviall]

thanks for the reply Sarah. I'm based in Essex but i'm willing to travel?

[Sarah Mount]

thanks for the reply Sarah. I'm based in Essex but i'm willing to travel?

You're welcome! We are finalising the details of a qualifier with a club in Essex so once it is all confirmed I will let you know.

Regards

Sarah

[Sarah Mount]

We currently have clubs in Derby, Stockport, Staines and Stoke on Trent organising a qualifying event so if you live near one of these places and would like t get involved, please get in touch and I will put you in contact with the relevant person at the club you would like to play at.

Regards

Sarah

[Sarah Mount]

Just a short note regarding the date for the Pink Ribbon finals weekend. We are aware, since the release of the 2010-11 World Snooker Calendar, that the first Player Tour Championship event is due to take place on the same weekend as the Pink Ribbon tournament at South West Snooker Academy. We are speaking with World Snooker at the moment in order to get more information so we can make a decision regarding if we will need to reschedule our finals weekend. As soon as we know more we will let you know!

Regards

Sarah Mount

[leeroygor]

I will set a date in Chester by wednesday this week Sarah also.

[Sarah Mount]

I will set a date in Chester by wednesday this week Sarah also.

Fantastic news! Thanks Lee!

Regards

Sarah