Female pool player launches £30,000 discrimination case claiming she was blocked from competitions because she objected to transwomen taking part

Published: 13:56, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 14:42, 7 July 2026 A pool player who spearheaded demands for transwomen to be banned from female competitions claims she has been excluded from tournaments due to her stance on the issue. Lynne Pinches says began wearing a bodycam on police advice after receiving abuse for her demand for 'fairness' in the sport, which included walking out of a national final against a trans opponent.  She says she was then expelled from a venue where her young son was taking part in a tournament, despite offering to remove the recording device, and was then banned from events after questioning a report about the incident from the organisers. Ms Pinches, 53, claims she was told the ban was imposed when she refused a demand to put in writing that she had dropped her complaint. 'I was banned because I challenged the reason I was removed, so they're saying it's my fault I'm banned,' she said. The Norwich-based player is now bringing a £30,000 civil claim Ultimate Pool Group (UPG), the professional body for eightball pool, through the county court system. She claims the decision to ban her was discriminatory and was motivated by her campaign to stop transwomen from taking part in female categories. UPG said that the 'proceedings are both factually and legally misconceived' and the case would be 'vigorously defended'. Lynne Pinches, pictured in 2023, claims she has been banned from competitions due to her stance on transwomen competitors. Organiser Ultimate Pool Group firmly denies the allegation A source at the organisation added: 'We have literally dozens of people who have very strong views on transgender players - and they all play. 'Two of her [Pinches'] mates involved in her original protest were playing on our tour last year. 'She was not removed [from the Wigan event] because of her views on trans players. 'We have a policy that you can't film without permission from UPG. That's because we have an agreement with a broadcaster, so you can't have people filming our events.  'This narrative that we are ostracising her for standing up for females and discrimination against her for stating her views is just total nonsense.'  Ms Pinches found herself embroiled in the national debate about the biological sex of competitors in sport in 2023 when she conceded the final of the Ladies Champion of Champions national pool tournament without playing a single frame after refusing to face her transgender opponent, Harriet Haynes.  She shook hands with Haynes, packed up her cue and left the arena in Denbighshire, Wales, to applause from the crowd. Ms Pinches said after the match - her fourth final in her pool career - that her decision to walk out was made in the aid of 'fairness' in the sport - but her opponent later endorsed a statement which claimed the high-profile protest had led to 'regretful bigotry'. Pinches walked out of the final of the Ladies Champion of Champions national pool tournament without playing a single frame after refusing to face her transgender opponent, Harriet Haynes, pictured The legal dispute was triggered when the sister of established snooker star Barry Pinches was attending a tournament in Wigan, Lancashire, as a spectator in April last year to watch her son Harry, 11, play. She claims she offered to remove and switch off her bodycam device after officials complained but she was still expelled from the hall and later banned from competing in events after she queried the organiser's report. 'I was told unless I put it in writing that this matter about me being removed in April was closed, I'd be banned,' Ms Pinches said.  The confrontation occurred weeks before transwomen were officially excluded from the women's events in the sport following the UK Supreme Court ruling which concluded the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex. Shortly afterwards, UPG - which organises tournaments sanctioned by the International Eightball Pool Federation (IEPF) - amended its eligibility rules so that participation in its women's events were 'open only to biologically born women'. Stating that it welcomed 'the clarity' brought by the judgment, it added a report it had  commissioned had concluded that eightball pool 'was a gender-affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages'. Female players had argued that they were at a disadvantage to biological males as they can hit the ball harder when they break at the start of a frame and the shape of their shoulders provides an advantage when they line up some shots.  Ms Pinches' legal case is being backed by more than £25,000 donated to an online crowdfunding appeal by supporters. Haynes later endorsed a statement which claimed the high-profile protest had led to 'regretful bigotry' 'The support's been amazing. This has had a massive impact on my mental health. Without the public support, I wouldn't be fighting this,' she said. A date for the hearing is yet to be set but Ms Pinches has already received a £4,000 bill for costs, in addition to more than £5,000 of her own, after unsuccessfully opposing an application from UPG to have more time to prepare its defence. A judge found in UPG's favour. Speaking after walking out of the final in 2023, she said: 'I was crying until 3am. I was devastated. 'I don't care about the money or the title or the trophy. I care about fairness.'  UPG said in a statement that it and the IEPF were 'committed to equality for all and at all times have adopted a neutral and agnostic position in relation to the issues around eligibility to participate in its women’s events'. It added: 'Both organisations have found themselves in the middle of a very sensitive debate and at all times sought to navigate the very difficult situation in which they have been placed with empathy and sensitivity for all those affected. 'It is inaccurate to state that Ms Pinches was one of a group of women pool players who ensured that women’s Ultimate Pool competitions would in future be reserved only for women. 'The rules around eligibility for participation in women’s Ultimate Pool competitions have been directed by the recent Supreme Court decision and the findings of two expert reports. Ms Pinches, pictured with former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, who has been a prominent campaigner against the inclusion of transgender women in female athletic categories The pool player has appeared in four finals during her career 'There is absolutely no causal link between the rules around eligibility for participation in women’s Ultimate Pool events and the issues Ms Pinches now seeks to raise.' The statement went on to state that Ms Pinches was 'removed from its event in Wigan for breaching its rules on filming its events'. It said: 'It should be made clear that her ban has absolutely nothing to do with being "banned from my sport for protecting women-only competition" as being positioned by Ms Pinches. 'Ms Pinches has initiated legal proceedings against UPG. UPG forms the view that the proceedings are both factually and legally misconceived. 'The allegations made by Ms Pinches have been answered comprehensively by our lawyers and we welcome the recent court ruling, in our favour, to award our costs in relation to part of the proceedings. 'Any proceedings Ms Pinches issues against UPG will be vigorously defended to its conclusion.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.