Harriet Haynes vs Paul Thomson & Anna Goodwin (English Blackball Pool Federation - Chairman & Secretary)
Pool Federation Challenged Over Female-Only Rule Change
A male pool player who claims a female identity, Harriet Haynes, is bringing a discrimination case on the grounds of the protected characteristic of gender reassigment against the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF) after he was barred from competing in women’s tournaments.
The EBPF is run by volunteers and organises county-level competitions in England. In August 2023 the EBPF announced the competitions formerly known as the Ladies’ and Men’s Tours would be replaced with a Female Tour and an Open Tour, and that only women would be eligible to compete in the Female Tour.
More info at English Blackball Pool Federation crowdfunder
Excerpt from Equality Act - S.195
Case Info
The hearing is scheduled for 7th-11th April at Canterbury County Court.
Live tweeting sessions
Explanatory note on live tweeting: this particular case has been difficult to report with clarity as there appear to be a myriad of variations of cue sports (sports played on a six pocket table). There are a number of organisations, leagues and tournaments with different tiers and descriptions. We have reported to the best of ability but without deep expertise in the organisation of cue sports in England, it has been challenging. Apologies if our reporting is less clear than usual.
7th April 2025 - morning session
7th April 2025 - afternoon session - Link to full session on X (tech difficulties in archiving)
8th April 2025 morning session - Part one and part two
8th April afternoon - Part one only
9th April 2025 - morning session
9th April 2025 afternoon session - Part one and part two
10th April 2025 morning session - Part one and part two
10th April 2025 afternoon session - Part one and part two
11 April 2025 morning session - part one and part two, afternoon session
Abbreviations
J - His Honour Judge Parker
HH - Harriet Haynes, claimant
RW - Robin White, claimant’s barrister
CC - Colman Coyle, claimant's solicitor
EBPF - English Blackball Pool Federation
PT/D1 - Paul Thomson, EBPF chairman, defendant
AG/D2 - Anna Goodwin, EBPF secretary, defendant
SC - Sarah Crowther KC, defendants’ barristers, and
SS - Sapandeep Singh Maini-Thompson
JRL - JR Levins LLP, defendants’ solicitor
Witnesses
JG - James Goodwin, witness for defendant
BH - Dr. Blair Hamilton, sports medicine research at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), witness
PF - Joseph Formaggio, Professor of Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), expert witness
DA - Dr Dave Alciatore, Colorado State University, witness
Other
W - Woman
TS - Transexual
TG - Transgender
TW - Transwoman
PC - Protected Characteristic
GR - Gender Reassignment
GI - Gender Identity
GRA - Gender Recognition Act
EA - Equality Act 2010
IPA - International Pool Association
EPA - English Pool Association
UPG - Ultimate Pool Group
PSSP - Physical Strength, stamina or Physique
Press coverage
This section includes links to a selection of press coverage, that may include blogs, videos and interviews about the case. These links are included without comment and are not endorsed by Tribunal Tweets. This is a sample of coverage only - it is not comprehensive. Please DM our main Twitter account to submit coverage from an established news outlet. Any paywalled article must be archived.
10th April 2025
Telegraph - Transgender goalkeeper called as witness in pool’s landmark case
9th April 2025
Telegraph - Pool body sued by transgender player forced to crowdfund money for defence
Pink News - Transgender pool player fights ban from women’s events in court
8th April 2025
Independent - Trans ban in ladies’ pool events passed after ‘loads of complaints’ from players, sports chief says
Telegraph - Transgender pool player suing governing body in bid to overturn ban
7th April 2025
Independent - Transgender pool player fights ban from women’s events in court
5th December 2024
Pink News - Trans pool champion launches legal bid to overturn ban on competing in women’s events
4th December 2024
[VIDEO] Daily Motion - Pool champion Harriet Haynes’s fight for inclusion in sport
Independent - ‘This is pool not boxing’: Why champion Harriet Haynes is confident she’ll succeed in trans ban challenge