Well-respected snooker coach scoops local award…

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Tim Dunkley has scooped a local coaching award for snooker in Hampshire, in the UK.

In session: Juniors getting some pearls of wisdom from passionate coach Dunkley…

The 62-year-old coach at Chandlers Ford picked up Performance Coach of the Year on Monday at Eastleigh’s Sport and Physical Activity Alliance (SPAA).

Dunkley, a well-respected coach on the Cuestars amateur circuit, (and a coach who SnookerZone has already featured in the Coaching Zone interview pages) which caters for a wide range of age groups, was one of several people behind the scenes to be honoured in a local awards ceremony held online this week.

Tim Dunkley — Screenshot from Cuestars website

It was the tenth awards ceremony and because of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown; they held the ceremony online through the Eastleigh Sports and Physical Activity Alliance twitter account.

The news of the award humbled him…

When Dunkley received news of the award, he humbly said: “Wow! I’ve never won an award before. Thanks. Can’t wait to get back to Chandlers Ford Snooker Club to see the kids.”

Lou Gittens, Chair of Eastleigh’s Sport and Physical Activity Alliance (SPAA) introduced the online awards, followed by Councillor Keith House, Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council and Eastleigh MP, Paul Holmes. Ex-Saint Francis Benali, the Alliance’s Official Ambassador, was the guest speaker.

Lou Gittens said:

‘Whilst these awards are recognition of last year’s performance and efforts, I would like to say how pleasing it has been to see coaches, clubs, organisations, volunteers working so hard in recent months to keep providing opportunities for health and engagement within the community. The recognised benefits of such activities are well-known to us. We can hope that this may provide a positive legacy moving on from these experiences.’

Tributes poured in from across the snooker world for Dunkley’s award.

Here’s just an example of what a Cuestars junior set up looks like. Watch below now…

Writing on the Cuestars website, those involved in the Cuestars project, for which Dunkley is a major player and coach to many juniors…

They wrote: “I know that Tim will hate the fuss, but the truth is this really is a well-deserved award. Players and parents alike have a massive amount of respect and admiration for Tim. Just by being near the table most player’s techniques will improve as they know they are being watched by the main man! The volume of congratulatory posts on Facebook show just how well thought of and valued Tim Dunkley is as both a snooker coach and friend.”