Castlemaine Billiards and Snooker Club hopes to chalk up some new members and is inviting everyone to roll up to its two open days this month.
“Over the past few years table sports have been in steady decline and being an indoor sport, restrictions have severely affected our activities and decreased the number of participants,” the club’s president Pearse Casey says.
“We really want to turn this around.”
The club has its facilities at the Wesley Hill sports complex, including three full sized billiards tables plus all equipment. Members don’t even need to own a billiard cue.
“We’re the best kept secret in Castlemaine,” says club member Helen McGeachin, one of CBSC’s three female members and Bendigo Billiards and Snooker Association Ladies Single Handed Snooker Champion 2019 and 2021.
Pearse says the Castlemaine club dates all the way back to 1932, welcomes everyone, and is especially keen to attract a new generation of young players.
“Our members are old, young, male and female alike and we cater for all skill levels and abilities or disabilities,” he says.
“There is no junior competition at present but this something we’re aiming to change.
“We’d really like to see parents come to the club with their children so we can start to grow.”
The club hosts its public open days this Sunday July 18, and the following Sunday July 25 from midday to 3pm.
“Just turn up and we’ll have somebody to give you a cue, put you on a table, and show you what to do,” Pearse says.
“It’s an amazing facility,” Helen says.
Pearse says everyone of any ability, including those who have never picked up a cue before, can expect to be warmly welcomed by the club that’s also open to the public Friday and Sunday evenings.
“Come and have a frame,” the club president says.
“We’ve got an internal competition that goes through the year. It’s a handicapped competition so people of all abilities can compete.”
Earlier this month the club very successfully launched its inaugural Open Championship with four of the region’s club’s competing.
It’s keen to see all five Bendigo region clubs participate next year.
More info about the Castlemaine club, and alternative days and times to visit, can be arranged through the club’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CastlemaineBSC).
