Matthew "The Doncaster Destroyer" Lester in action.
Pool - The inclusive sport
As the London 2012 Paralympic Games come to an end, the eyes of the world have been on "disability sport" more than ever before. I have competed in various sports over the last 12 years, athletics, boccia, wheelchair snooker and wheelchair pool. Athletics and boccia will be on display at the Paralympics, but I wonder how many people are aware that wheelchair snooker was in the Paralympics up to the 1988 games in Seoul?
I have been involved in competitive wheelchair American pool since 2007, and over the last 5 years I have discovered that our sport has little or no barriers between "non disabled" and disabled players especially in the UK where a number of BWPPA players have at some point have played in tour events or open events with able bodied pros, myself included, and ask any of the top UK pool players to name as many wheelchair players as they can and I would wager most could name at least 5 players. However if you asked that same question to a top professional snooker player and most would struggle to name one.
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I can't comment on other sports but not many sports will have such a small amount of barriers as American pool, and this is one reason why our sport should be proud of it's attitude, and other sports would be recommended to look at American pool as an example of how sport should be.
Let me point out that wheelchair pool players don't just make up the numbers in mainstream events, I can think of a few players who have been on the receiving end of a winning performance from a wheelchair player.
In the mid 90s American sports TV channel ESPN broadcast the "Rider Cup" a wheelchair pool tournament, a similar event to the Mosconi Cup, which featured some of the BWPPA's players including former number 1 Roy Kimberley. I think it is important to mention the now defunct British Pool Players Association (BPPPA) played a key part in the positive attitude of the UK pool world, of course the BPPPA merged with the EWPPA in 2004 to form the BWPPA and encouraged BWPPA
players to play in BPPPA events by offering reduced entry fees for BWPPA members.
The UK's greatest ever pool player, Darren Appleton, did a fundraising event for the BWPPA which featured him partnering Karl Boyes in a scotch doubles match against the BWPPA players Roy Kimberley and Karl Read with all four players, playing in wheelchairs. The night also featured trick shots from Chris Melling.
The Wheel Chair Challenge Match (LtoR) Kimberley, Boyes, Appleton & Read.
Photograph used with permission, courtesy of Lee Rigby.
I think it's only a matter of time before there is a wheelchair pool player who breaks into the international mainstream pool world, even if it isn't in the immediate future.
One thing I haven't mentioned up to this point is that cue sports are probably the only sport where disabled and non disabled players can compete against each other with no adaptations or change to rules.
To conclude, the pool world, and particularly in the UK, should be very proud of its attitude. That's not to say it is perfect but we're getting there. If anyone reading this would let more information on the BWPPA please visit www.bwppa.com follow us on Twitter @BWPPA and find us on Facebook.
