The Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association held their Annual General Meeting recently via Zoom.

The RILSA Chairman Dan Carroll, gave a comprehensive report on the 2019/2020 season.  Dan said “that RILSA went from strength to strength again breaking records and creating new initiatives for the 7th season in a row, an amazing success for our organisation in such a short period”

Tina Keogh gave a great report outlining the success of our association over the past season, much of which you will see from the following.

The following points show the growth and success of RILSA during the season.

  1. 641 members
  2. 342 Women & Girls participated in RILSA events since 2014
  3. 78 Women & Girls participated in RILSA events in the 2019/2020 season
  4. 140 Snooker Tables now in Schools, Youth Reach Centres, The Wheelchair Association and other locations around Ireland
  5. RILSA Now have a full Calendar of Events that includes all promotional initiatives introduced over the past 7 years.
  6. RILSA is the busiest female cue sports organisation in the World, with events every month.
  7. Griffith Pot Black Championship introduced.
  8. 100 Up National Billiards Championship introduced.
  9. Dan Carroll, David Richardson, Phillip Welham, Brittany Chambers and with Chris Coumbe were selected to represent female Billiards with World Billiards Limited.  They are currently developing a calendar of events for females that will enhance World wide participation.
  10. Ireland and RILSA will host the World Women’s Billiards Championship in 2021 for the very first time in the history of female billiards.  We are delighted to be given this opportunity by WBL.
  11. RILSA sent 4 players to the Welsh Open in Cwmbran, Wales in July 2019.  The team was made up of Annette Newman, Valerie Maloney, Christine Carr and Tina Keogh.  We at RILSA were delighted to be invited and the girls did us proud, making history once again as these were the first ever female players from the Republic of Ireland to participate in a World Billiards Event.
  12. Sponsorship towards the 2019/2020 RILSA Tour was secured by RILSA from Sharkx Newbridge
  13. A Horizon Snooker Scholarship was put in place to the value of €6,000, that will see 4 young players who will have free snooker coaching and table time at Sharkx Newbridge for one year.  Out of 19 applications which we were delighted to receive, we eventually selected the following for the Scholarship, Megan Randle (Kilkenny), Roisin Beale (Kildare), Rachael Bradley (Kildare) and Jennifer Earle (Dublin)  we wish all 4 girls every good wish and best of luck as they journey through this fantastic opportunity to advance their skills and enjoyment of cue sports.  A big thank you to Paul & Bernie of Sharkx for providing table time to these young girls who will benefit greatly.
  14. The new RILSA Academy at Sharkx is taking shape and we hope to have this work completed by the end of September 2020.

The RILSA Board Members worked hard all season and our success is all due to their input during the season and the Chairman thanked both the Board and Committee of RILSA for all their help and support.

The RILSA Referees Panel were represented at all events during the season and we thank them for all their help and support.

The Board of RILSA want to thank all of you our members and supporters along with all our Schools, Youth reach Centres and all of our other locations across Ireland, for your kind help and support and participation during the past season and we look forward to seeing you all in the 2020-2021 season ahead.  Thanks also to our clubs that have supported and welcomed our players to our many events during the past season, D’Arcy McGees Dublin, Sharkx Newbridge, CYMS Newbridge, Celbridge Snooker Club, and the Royal Navan.

The RILSA Website has been very successful with thousands of visits and we thank all of you our supporters and well wishers very much for your loyal commitment and support towards female cue sports.

Elections

The following were elected to the Board of RILSA for the next 3 years and the Sub Committee was elected in block.

President: Annette Newman

Chairman: Dan Carroll

Secretary: Dave Earle

Treasurer: Annette Newman

Anti-Doping Officer: Dr Gerard Colleran

Vice Chairman: Dave Earle

Assistant Secretary: Tina Keogh

Assistant Treasurer: Valerie Maloney

Child Protection Officer: Stephanie Morrison

Honorary Life Member: Margaret Browne

SUB COMMITTEE

Secondary Schools Officer: Leona O’Connor

Primary Schools Officer: Sandra Corrigan

Special Needs Schools Officer: Aileen O’Brien

Junior Development Officer: Emirjeta Doda

National Snooker Coach: Dan Carroll

National Billiards Coach: Aidan Murray

Head Referee: Dave Earle

Congratulations to everyone elected to the Board & Sub Committee of RILSA.  We look forward to another 3 successful years ahead as we make progress in fostering, developing and promoting female cue sports in Ireland.

Please continue to visit our website for all the latest news and updates, reports and our Calendar of Events for the season ahead.

www.rilsa.ie