The Lord Mayor of Hull and the World Seniors Tour are teaming to help ageing persons who suffer from isolation and loneliness. Isolation is an important issue and now more relevant than ever as the covid-19 crisis and the lockdowns have certainly exacerbated the issues.
50 For Fifty Scheme encourages businesses to help socially isolated residents attend Seniors Snooker tournament
The UK Seniors Snooker Championship returns to the Bonus Arena, Hull in August and together with the Lord Mayor and World Seniors Snooker they are launching a new initiative called 50 FOR FIFTY.
The initiative is designed to assist the ageing population of the City currently living in isolation, residential care or suffering from any Mental Health issues.
The event will feature icons of the sport including Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Ken Doherty and the scheme gives the opportunity to use these Snooker greats to enhance the life of those people over 50 who for one of many reasons may now find themselves lonely and missing the interaction of others.
Businesses in the city can be part of the scheme by purchasing 50 discounted tickets for the event which will go directly to local organisations to distribute to residents affected who can attend the tournament and watch their heroes live in action.
The Bonus Arena – the host venue for the tournament in August – is the first company to sign up to the scheme and will donate 50 tickets for the first session on 12 August.
Promoter Jason Francis said: “Our research shows that loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death by 29%, and half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all.
“By partnering with the Lord Mayor and Hull City Council we want to reach out to businesses in the city and work with them to bring in 50 people for a day out at the snooker where they can meet our stars but more importantly each other. These businesses will join our heroes wall and receive promotion of their company and their involvement in the scheme during the tournament which will be broadcast live on television.”
Lord Mayor, Councillor Lynn Petrini said: “It’s great to see live sports like this brought to the city and hosted at Hull’s Bonus Arena. The event has proved to be very popular in Hull, and this new scheme offers a fantastic opportunity for people who are currently vulnerable or living in isolation to see live competition. I would encourage any local business to get involved if they can and play their part.”
Dan Harris said: “The UK Seniors Snooker is one of my favourite events in the diary and it really is a wonderful experience to see real sporting icons here in Hull.
“The 50 For Fifty scheme will give residents of Hull the opportunity to see these legends in the flesh and we look forward to engaging with local businesses who wish to join us in supporting this fantastic initiative.”
The event plays from the 12-15 August with two sessions a day. Any companies who wish to take part in the 50 FOR FIFTY scheme can contact the Bonus Arena team by email at hull@eu.asmglobal.com
Hopefully, this will be a success and many local businesses will respond and participate massively. It’s a great initiative, it’s particularly relevant under the current circumstances, and it projects a very positive image of the city of Hull, it’s people and it’s entrepreneurs.
It may be just a ticket, just a day out, but it may well change someone’s life, maybe even save it … just because it got them out of the house, offered them a good day out, because they got to meet others, had a cup of tea and a conversation, shared an interest, felt accepted and valued.
Sometimes the smallest and simplest things have a huge impact.
We are over the moon to confirm the UK Seniors Snooker Championship will be the first event at the Bonus Arena, #Hull in 17 months when it takes place between 12 &
Dates
Event 1 Tuesday 20th July to Thursday 22nd July 2021
Event 2 Friday 23rd July to Sunday 25th July 2021
Venue The Crucible Sports and Social Club, Reading, RG1 8EQ Crucible Sports & Social Club Reading
Entry Fee £100 payable by online entry system for each event.
Will include your 2021/22 Tour registration.
Number of Frames All matches to Quarter Finals Best of 5
Knockout, Roll on Roll off format.
Quarter Finals onwards Best of 7 Knockout.
Prize money
The two qualifiers each event will progress to the UK Seniors Championship which will be played from the 12th – 15th August 2021 at the Bonus Arena Hull.
They will be on a minimum £1000 prize money for that event.
Losing Semi-finalists in each event £400
Losing Quarter Finalists in each event £150
Players 128 places open for entry in this order
1, Current WST Tour players over 40 ranked 65-128 who have not already qualified for the final stages.
2, Current WSS tour players who entered qualifying School 1 or 2 in January or March 2022
3, WSS Ranked Tour Players
4, New tour players.
All must be over 40 on or before 20th July 2021
Draw To be conducted no later than 16th July 2021
Seeding Based on 128 entries.
The top 32 players who enter from the official WSS Ranking list will be seeded into position. Should the event not achieve 128 entries the higher ranked seeds will be placed automatically into the last 64 round and receive a bye in the last 128 round of matches.
Players
Players will need to agree to the terms and condition on entry.
Dress Code
Full match attire with a bow tie or lounge tie. Collared shirt, tailored trousers with shoes.
Broadcasting Match table may be streamed live on the World Seniors Facebook page
COVID The plan is to run the event without the requirement for COVID Testing. Should by the time of the event Government determine testing should be required this will be provided at no cost to the player. Players will be required to adhere to any venue policies in place at the time.
The decision to delay the event was made so that the event can be run “covid restrictions and testing free”. Hopefully this will possible.
There will be a Super Seniors event going on as well but the entries for this one are already closed.
The 2021 Q-School finished last Sunday and it’s time to take stock of what happened over the 18 days of competion at the EIS. There were certainly plenty of positives for the Seniors players.
Four of the Seniors players who competed in WSS events over the last months managed to regain their professional status: Mick Judge, the reigning WSS UK Champion, Barry Pinches, Peter Lines and Alfie Burden. Alfie had lost his professional status at the end of the 2019/20 season and, at the time, his mindset was that he was finished with snooker and was to put his cue away for good. However, after a few months, he decided to to give the Seniors Q-School a go and he enjoyed playing and competing again. Fast forward and after success in the Professional Q-Scholl event, he’s back on the main tour.
Tony Knowles, aged 65, also entered the Q-School. He didn’t qualify for the main tour, but he certainly showed that he still can play! He finished ranked 46th out of 184 in the Order of Merit, having won five matches in the process. David Lilley, the reigning WSS World Champion, also did well at the Q-School: he did not qualify either but finished 8th in the Order of Merit. This means that he has a good chance to be invited to play in many of the Main Tour events this season.
Another Senior – Super Senior actually – made it into the WST News. Indeed Gary Filtness was credited by Stuart Bingham for a return to form and confidence that lead to a great semi-final run at the Crucible last April. Here is what Stuart had to say:
“Over the last year I’ve been working with my new coach Gary Filtness and I’m now seeing the benefits. Getting back in that environment and only being beaten by the odd frame makes me definitely think I can win the World Championship again. I have that belief now. Looking forward to next season I know what I have to do. I’m trying to get myself a little bit fitter. I’m playing lots of golf and watching what I eat at the moment. I’m looking for a season where I win a tournament or two.
The WPBSA World Seniors Tour 