Jersey’s world champion offers
golden chance to sponsors BY SARAH HILL
Editor, 20/20 magazine
There are very few sports where Jersey has a reigning world champion, but hugely-popular snooker, is one of them.
Aaron Canavan is the current 2018 World Senior Snooker Champion, having spent much of his working life playing snooker as a very keen amateur. His passion and skills for the sport have won him numerous titles, but the cost of travelling the world for tournaments is becoming too much and, so far, he has been unable to find a sponsor.
In 2017 Aaron decided to have a go at the big time as he has always been a very talented player. For many years he had put off his dream because of family and work commitments, but eventually decided to enter one of the World Senior Qualifiers held all around the world. He won that event, just outside of London in April 2017 and that automatically gave him a place in the World Seniors Snooker Championships in Hull last year. There he was up against the likes of Stephen Hendry, John Parrot, Dennis Taylor, Cliff Thorburn, Jimmy White and Ken Docherty. Aaron drew the 1985 World Champion Dennis Taylor in the first round and was understandably very nervous. He need not have worried because he beat Dennis Taylor 3-1, and went on to victory with a similar margin over the Irish qualifier and former professional John Farrell. In the semi finals he beat the Chinese champion, Cap Keshing, by 3-2, and in the final took on ex- professional Patrick Wallace, beat him by 4-3 and lifted the World Snooker Seniors title at his very first attempt. The interest in the tournament was such that his game against the Chinese champion was watched
on TV by two million in China alone, and that was at 4.00 a.m. Chinese time.
Aaron has deserved this success by becoming the most successful snooker player in Channel Islands history, winning eight Jersey championships and eight Channel Islands titles. He is undefeated in every Channel Islands championship that he has ever played in, and represented the Island for 21 years and been captain for the last seven. He could go even further if he could find a sponsor. “Everything I have done I have paid for myself” Aaron said. “The only person I've had any help from is my boss, Peter at CVS who gave me the time off work last year to attend the qualifying tournaments.”
“This year is an extremely exciting year for me because as world champion, I have qualified for all the season's televised seniors events which are broadcast live on five Freeview channels in over 50 countries to more than 100 million people. This includes the UK championship in Hull, the Irish masters in Kildare in January 2019, the World 6 Reds in Belfast in March 2019, the Masters at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield in April 2019, and the World Seniors Championship which may be held in China, and the European open, which will take place in a city yet to be confirmed.”
Aaron has calculated that it will cost around £7,500 to compete in all these events, and that financial
commitment at present is far too great for him. He may not be able to go to all these top events despite the exposure it would give him and any sponsors.
The States departments who might be interested in this have helped him‚ to the tune of £160.00 towards his travel expenses, but he wants a sponsor who could benefit from having their name on the TV screens of millions of people around the world.
“A sponsor would greatly help me in continuing my success”Aaron said.
“There is space for a company logo on my waistcoat for live TV matches and on my 'interview' shirt when doing promotional work for live TV coverage. They will be seen in over 50 countries on five different channels.”
Aaron said that he can organise VIP receptions with the players at gala dinners as well as tickets to his matches at the main events which should be a great experience for him and his sponsors.
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