The Universities Pool Council (UPC) promotes the sport of pool at Higher Education institutions in the United Kingdom and exists for the benefit of players at this level. We are recognised both by the English Pool Association (EPA) and by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) as the governing body for university pool.
Our aim is to provide each and every student in Britain with the opportunity to represent their university at pool across a range of disciplines. We stage team and individual tournaments around the country in both nine-ball and eight-ball pool. The season culminates with the prestigious Student Home Internationals (incorporating the BUCS-UPC Home Nations) in which representative teams from the constituent countries compete against each other to be crowned Student Home Internationals Champions.
However, our involvement in student pool does not stop here. We are always keen to welcome new institutions to our competitions, so any individuals who are interested in setting up a team at their institution should contact us if they require guidance or tips.
We also recognise that not all players will be of the standard to play in our events. Therefore we strongly support pool at inter-mural level to cater for players of all abilities, and we are happy to lend our organisational expertise to help clubs develop such competitions. If you would like advice on the running of inter-mural competitions feel free to contact us.
In the 2005-06 season, pool at university level took a huge step forward when the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA), now BUCS, recognised the Universities Pool Council (UPC) Eight-ball Pool Championship, and, from the 2006-07 season, this recognition was broadened further to include the Home Nations following the UPC’s successful submission to the BUSA/BUCS National Committee. Such recognition provides student competitors with not only access to extra funding possibilities but also gives greater recognition for their achievements. Pool at university level continues to progress and following this decision pool is now firmly part of the BUCS family of sports.
The UPC Executive Board consists of:
Executive Chair: Oliver-John Dark
Vice Chair: Dr. Iorwerth Griffiths
Communications Director: Dave Graham
UPC Treasurer: Dr. Rob Cork
Life Member: Tony Perna
All of the board are university educated and, during their studies, had active participation in local university leagues and tournaments, not only in playing but in some cases the very establishment of the pool clubs, tournaments and leagues themselves. Indeed, this shared personal enthusiasm for the sport of pool was integral to the creation of the UPC. The lack of a sufficiently diverse pool tournament calendar for students above the local level, despite there being events for many less popular sports, prompted Dr Iorwerth Griffiths to create the UPC. The UPC now has a strong committee of individuals who all have a shared personal enthusiasm for the sport of pool.
You can read more about UPC activity in our Annual Reports, below:
UPC Annual Report 2008-09
UPC Annual Report 2009-10
Now meet the Board…..
Oliver-John Dark
UPC Executive Chair
UPC Staff Ten-ball Crash Pool Champion (94 break)
Oliver completed a four-year BSc (Hons) degree in Criminology and Psychology at Keele in 2001, following which he spent a year as Students' Union President there. Throughout his five years at Keele, Oliver competed in and organised several weekly tournaments and leagues at Keele across various disciplines, and assisted in not only establishing the pool society there, but also in providing the finest tables Keele University has ever seen. Since graduation, Oliver competes in the Surrey Players' Pool league (when time allows).
Greatest Pool Achievement: Being the first (and only) student to ever complete the Keele "Grand Slam" of all five university-based tournaments in a calendar week, in pre-UPC days
Dr. Iorwerth Griffiths
UPC Vice Chair
UPC Staff Nine-ball Pool Champion
Iorwerth gained a BA (Hons) in Politics at Leicester before completing his MA in Political Theory and Social Criticism at Queen's University, Belfast. Whilst starting his PhD at Keele, Iorwerth dusted off his pool arm to play in the various local tournaments there, organised by future UPC Director Oliver Dark, with whom he shared many a pool marathon. Having moved back to Ireland, Iorwerth completed his PhD back at Queen's University, Belfast, representing the institution at pool and snooker. Now living in Wales, he hardly plays any pool due to his work, family, and, ironically, the UPC!
Greatest Pool Achievement: Establishing the UPC!
Dave Graham
UPC Communications Director
UPC Staff Speed Pool Race Champion
Dave gained a BSc (Hons) in Management at Queens University, Belfast. He is a keen player at both snooker and pool, winning various titles in 2004, including the UPC Eight-ball Pool Team Championships, the BUSA Snooker Junior Team Championships, and the BUSA Snooker Junior Individual Championships. Currently plays County for Berkshire (when time allows), and has a snooker high break of 94.
Greatest Pool Achievement: Winning three major cuesport championships in the same year (2004) at university level.
Dr. Rob Cork
UPC Treasurer
UPC Staff Eight-ball Pool Champion
Rob studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge, first graduating in 2004 and then staying on for a PhD, conveniently allowing him to prolong his university pool career. During a total of nine years at university, Rob spent two seasons as President of the university pool club (CUPC), as well as holding other committee positions from time to time. He also represented Cambridgeshire at county level for several years. Rob currently plays on the Herts Pool Tour, and any other singles tournaments (when time allows).
Greatest Pool Achievement: Being a member of the English Universities team at the UPC Home Nations for five straight years, winning the event four times (once as captain).
Tony Perna
Life Member
Tony achieved a BA (Hons) in English Language and Linguistics from Essex University and, whilst there, stood as Pool Club President during the period 2002-2004, collecting the Essex University Team of the Year sports award in 2004. This was partly due to leading the Essex University Pool Club to the runners-up prize at the UPC Eight-ball Pool Championships in 2004. Tony currently plays in local competitions (when time allows).
Greatest Pool Achievement: Member of the Essex team who were runners-up at the UPC Eight-ball Pool Team Championships in 2004.
Jon Shapland
UPC Senior Referee
Having never previously picked a cue up, Jon discovered his passion for cue-sports whilst an undergraduate at the University of Nottingham, from where he graduated in 2002 with a BSC (Hons) in Mathematics. Jon helped re-form the University's then-defunct Snooker Club at the end of his first year, but his second year saw him fall in love with the game of 8-ball pool and Jon's involvement in pool now stretches way beyond UPC. Jon serves as EPA Region 3 Director and is a fully-qualified referee, having previously refereed at the All-England Inter-County Finals at Great Yarmouth and the World Championships at Blackpool.
Greatest Pool Achievement: Qualifying to go on the IPA Tour with a match to spare.
Steve Daking
UPC Head of Coaching
Steve is the Head of Coaching for both the UPC and EPA. He is on a mission to improve the standard of grass roots pool in the UK. During his pool career, he has competed for over a decade in professional events and performed exhibitions in nearly 2,000 venues giving him an unrivalled knowledge of pool at all levels. Steve provides all the tuition via his website, 8BallCoach.com, which is dedicated to maximising a player's potential, and providing the definitive guide to playing, improving and winning at your favourite sport. The courses take you through every aspect of the game, from how to hold the cue correctly, to clearing the table consistently.
Steve also trains players to become coaches, where players can gain a qualification and become an EPA Official Coach, learning how to analyse a student's needs, pass on the skills they need in the most effective way, and how to market their services so as to earn a living from the game.
Greatest Pool Achievement: Reigning World 8-Ball Trickshot Champion, having been a pool professional since 1993.
Contact Us
For tournament correspondence (entry details, deadlines, rules and reglations, etc):
Oliver Dark
Email Us Here
Tel. 07952 161 264
For advice on how to organise or improve your own local tournament or league:
Oliver Dark
Email Us Here
Tel: 07952 161 264
To send us your feedback or suggestions for the UPC website:
To send us detailed feedback or suggestions on any aspect of the UPC, please submit one of the following forms:
Captain's Feedback Form (PDF)
Player's Feedback Form (PDF)
Website Feedback Form (PDF)
To send us your photographs from our events:
To discuss potential business partnerships with the UPC:
Oliver Dark
Email Us Here
Tel: 07952 161 264
For general correspondence:
For any other matter:
