26/04/09

The middle Sunday of the BetFred World Snooker Championships saw kids from the Paul Hunter Foundation visit the spiritual home of snooker, the Crucible theatre.

The young people were from the twice weekly Paul Hunter Foundation roadshows, which are held in Accrington and organised by North Lancs Training Group Ltd and YNOT (Young Peoples Neighbourhood Operations Team).

Since last September these sessions engage sometimes up to 60 youngsters each night over a two hour period.

Recently Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that when these sessions are taking place for the first time anti-social behaviour has reduced by 63%.

During Sunday’s visit, which was hosted by six times World Snooker Champion, Steve Davis, the youngsters were treated to a unique back stage tour of the Crucible theatre, organised by World Snooker. They visited areas such as the press rooms, dressing rooms, media suite and actually walked through famous Crucible curtains into the arena and were allowed to sit in the players’ chairs where photographs were taken.

The group then watched tournament favourite, Stephen Maguire, take on Mark King, during which the group now hold the distinction of observing the longest frame of snooker, some 78 minutes. The youngsters then visited Cue Zone, where the BBC broadcast live and there are various interactive activities for visitors to take part in.

One surprise guest for the group was the visit of Paul Hunter’s father, Alan Hunter, who was at the Crucible to present the Paul Hunter Scholarship. Alan met all the youngsters outside Cue Zone and chatted with them prior to the scholarship presentation.

On Saturday 9th May 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, the Paul Hunter Foundation roadshow comes home to Leeds. Anybody wishing to take part should contact Colin Hogan at Northern Snooker Centre on 0113 2433015.

View all the photos here.