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BIRMINGHAM plays host to 18 of the UK’s top women snooker stars on Saturday (March 6).
The £1,000 Connie Gough National Championship breaks off at the Stadium Snooker Club, Hall Green, at 10am.
Favourite to clinch a 22nd World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association (WLBSA) ranking title is the undisputed world number one Reanne Evans.
The 24-year-old five-time world champion from Dudley, West Midlands, has chalked up 53 straight wins. Evans has claimed all four of this season’s ranking tournaments and the invitation-only Wytech Masters.
Sponsor for the Connie Gough is Paul Wood - a true ladies’ man.
The 49-year-old has suffered from cerebral palsy all his life and has lived in sheltered accommodation in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, since his dad, Denis, died in April 2008.
“Doing this for the ladies has given me a purpose in life,” he said.
“Growing up, I can remember Vera Selby and Thelma Carpenter and people like that. I’ve always been interested in the ladies.
“I was so annoyed when the WPBSA cut the ladies off. They deserve a higher profile. They’re absolutely superb cueists.
“I was on the board of the local snooker club in Ashby but they wouldn’t allow ladies in so that’s why I resigned.”
And Paul revealed that his dad, before he died, demanded: “Do something for the ladies.”
Paul is also sponsoring the WLBSA’s world snooker championship and world billiards championship to the tune of £1,000 each.
“The money that I’m giving to the ladies is coming out of my life savings,” he said. “My dad would’ve loved it.
“I just want to do something for the ladies because I think they’re absolutely wonderful. It’s disgraceful that they don’t get enough money. I just wish I could do more.”
WLBSA chairman Mandy Fisher said: “It’s nice that he gets a lot of enjoyment out of doing something like that for the ladies. We’re really, really appreciative.”
The Connie Gough National Championship is the fifth of six WLBSA ranking events this season.
Aiming to end Evans’ remarkable run is Maria Catalano, also from Dudley, West Midlands. The 28-year-old world number two is cousin to three-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Two other high-profile names in the draw are world number three Emma Bonney, 33, from Portsmouth, a four-time world billiards champion, and world number four Katie Henrick, 29, from Bickley, Kent.
Five juniors will feature in the main competition before competing for the junior title.
They are: England internationals Hannah Jones, 13, and Joanne Davies, 17, both from Derby; Naomi Clare, 15, from Ripley, Derbyshire; Jodie Symes, 15, from Swindon, and ten-year-old Jasmine Bolsover, from Woking.
Connie Gough National Championship, sponsored by Paul Wood
10am Saturday, March 6, 2010
Stadium Snooker Club
Hall Green Stadium
York Road
Hall Green
Birmingham
B28 8LQ
Tel: 08708 407380
PRIZE MONEY
Winner: £400; runner-up: £200; semi-finalists: £100; quarter-finalists: £50.
Tim Dunkley
The £1,000 Connie Gough National Championship breaks off at the Stadium Snooker Club, Hall Green, at 10am.
Favourite to clinch a 22nd World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association (WLBSA) ranking title is the undisputed world number one Reanne Evans.
The 24-year-old five-time world champion from Dudley, West Midlands, has chalked up 53 straight wins. Evans has claimed all four of this season’s ranking tournaments and the invitation-only Wytech Masters.
Sponsor for the Connie Gough is Paul Wood - a true ladies’ man.
The 49-year-old has suffered from cerebral palsy all his life and has lived in sheltered accommodation in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, since his dad, Denis, died in April 2008.
“Doing this for the ladies has given me a purpose in life,” he said.
“Growing up, I can remember Vera Selby and Thelma Carpenter and people like that. I’ve always been interested in the ladies.
“I was so annoyed when the WPBSA cut the ladies off. They deserve a higher profile. They’re absolutely superb cueists.
“I was on the board of the local snooker club in Ashby but they wouldn’t allow ladies in so that’s why I resigned.”
And Paul revealed that his dad, before he died, demanded: “Do something for the ladies.”
Paul is also sponsoring the WLBSA’s world snooker championship and world billiards championship to the tune of £1,000 each.
“The money that I’m giving to the ladies is coming out of my life savings,” he said. “My dad would’ve loved it.
“I just want to do something for the ladies because I think they’re absolutely wonderful. It’s disgraceful that they don’t get enough money. I just wish I could do more.”
WLBSA chairman Mandy Fisher said: “It’s nice that he gets a lot of enjoyment out of doing something like that for the ladies. We’re really, really appreciative.”
The Connie Gough National Championship is the fifth of six WLBSA ranking events this season.
Aiming to end Evans’ remarkable run is Maria Catalano, also from Dudley, West Midlands. The 28-year-old world number two is cousin to three-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Two other high-profile names in the draw are world number three Emma Bonney, 33, from Portsmouth, a four-time world billiards champion, and world number four Katie Henrick, 29, from Bickley, Kent.
Five juniors will feature in the main competition before competing for the junior title.
They are: England internationals Hannah Jones, 13, and Joanne Davies, 17, both from Derby; Naomi Clare, 15, from Ripley, Derbyshire; Jodie Symes, 15, from Swindon, and ten-year-old Jasmine Bolsover, from Woking.
Connie Gough National Championship, sponsored by Paul Wood
10am Saturday, March 6, 2010
Stadium Snooker Club
Hall Green Stadium
York Road
Hall Green
Birmingham
B28 8LQ
Tel: 08708 407380
PRIZE MONEY
Winner: £400; runner-up: £200; semi-finalists: £100; quarter-finalists: £50.
Tim Dunkley
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