Recently, Cliff Thorburn presented 2 clinics at the Evergreen Club, providing 21 Cuesports members the opportunity to upgrade their snooker skills by 鈥榣earning from the best.鈥�

Cliff Thorburn was born in Victoria and honed his skills in pool rooms across North America; he won the 1980 World Snooker Championship, became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1984, won the World Senior Snooker Championship in 2018, and is a member of both the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the World Snooker Hall of Fame. 

Italian Archbishop Luigi Barbarito once noted that 鈥渟nooker gives you firm hands and helps build up character.鈥� The game demands a high level of mental and emotional management skills, along with the physical ability to execute a wide variety of precise shots on a very large table. It is a fascinating, complex game.

During the Cuesports clinics, Thorburn was assisted by Maryann McConnell, a former Canadian snooker champion, world-ranked number two and current Cuesports member. Each clinic began with a few general tips, before moving on to specific shots and situations that challenge all players. Thorburn assisted each member (with greatly varying skill levels) as they learned to deal with each of the specific shots. Casual banter ensured these learning sessions were stress-free and fun.

Now retired from competitive snooker, Thorburn is available for exhibitions or coaching through his website at

Cuesports is a very active snooker/pool group of seniors (both women and men), based at the Evergreen Club 55+. For further information, contact either cuesports2023@gmail.com or info@evergreenclub.ca (250-338-1000)