WPBSA Hosts First Sensory Snooker Sessions
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) hosted one of its first ‘sensory snooker’ sessions this week in support of the charity Sense.
First announced back in March, the sessions aim to reinvent and create simpler versions of popular sports, including snooker, for people with complex disabilities.
One of the pilot ‘sensory snooker’ sessions was held on Monday at Leeds’ Northern Snooker Centre and hosted by qualified WPBSA coaches Andrew Highfield and Mark Peevers.
BBC journalist Tom Ingle and his team were also in attendance at the session to cover the scheme for regional television news service Look North, capturing the various sensory activities and speaking to some of the participants.
Six participants took part in the session in Leeds, partaking in a number of different activities which have been specifically designed with support from Sense to create a version of ‘sensory snooker’ that all can enjoy.
WPBSA’s Head of Coaching and Training Development Manager Chris Lovell, who awarded the participants with medals at the conclusion of the session, said: “We are delighted to host one of the first ‘sensory snooker’ sessions in support of the charity Sense.
“The participants and coaches alike have spoken highly of the event and it has been a privilege to see everybody enjoying themselves and getting involved in snooker as we continue to prove the inclusivity of our sport.
“I would like to thank Andrew Highfield and Mark Peevers for running the session, our hosts at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, the BBC Look North team for providing vital coverage of the scheme and Sense for their vital support – we look forward to working together to continue to develop the scheme and put on further sessions in the future.”
Further details of future sessions and information on how WPBSA coaches and affiliated clubs can get involved will be release in due course. Sense and WPBSA will work together to provide training for anyone who would like to get involved.
