WDBS Appoints First Head of Classification
World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) has today announced the appointment of Craig Carscadden MBE as its first WDBS Head of Classification.
Carscadden has been Chief Development Officer at World Abilitysport since April 2023 and attended the snooker event at the World Abilitysport Games in Nakhon Ratchasima later that year. He will continue with his role at World Abilitysport, combining this with his new position at WDBS.
A Paralympian, who represented Great Britain at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, in middle-distance events including the men’s 800m, 1500m and 5000m, Carscadden has also been heavily involved with the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association, serving as Chief Executive Officer from October 2018 – November 2023.
Carscadden sat on the IPC athletics committee for over six years between 2006 -2011 as an active member. He was also a key player for the development of the classification systems for Frame Running.
He was awarded the MBE in the 2018 New Year’s Honours list for his services to athletes with disabilities and is credited for having increased opportunities for athletes with cerebral palsy around the world.
As WDBS continues to expand, it has recognised the need for further input and support to ensure that its classification system can be as fair and transparent as possible for all players.
Snooker was first included at the World Abilitysport Games in 2023 and WDBS subsequently signed a memorandum of understanding with the organisation in April 2024. Both parties share the goal of working together to increase sporting opportunities for physically impaired athletes and continue to offer snooker on the World Abilitysport Games sport programmes.
Nigel Mawer QPM, WDBS Chairman said: “I am delighted to welcome Craig to the team as WDBS continues to expand with the aspiration to see our snooker become a Paralympic sport once again.
“In recent years we have seen the WDBS Tour become a truly international tour, with over 200 players from 21 countries currently on the world ranking list. As the Tour has continued to grow and become more popular, inevitably this has presented new challenges, with every player having their own unique disability.
“We have always strived to deliver a fair and transparent classification system for all players and with Craig’s invaluable support and experience, I am confident that further improvements can be made to ensure that we can provide as level a playing field as possible for all of our athletes.”
Craig Carscadden said: “It gives me great pleasure to be taking on this role, and I look forward to working with the WDBS team. I hope my experience in classification and in adaptive sports more generally can help WDBS fulfil their long term aims. WDBS and World Abilitysport first signed their Memorandum of Understanding in April 2024. This appointment highlights the strength of this partnership and World Abilitysport commitment to support the growth and development of disability sport.