Trans identifying male Harriet Haynes loses court case to play in women's pool

[ArabellaScott]

A great win for Lynn Pinches!

Congratulations to her, and the EBPF.

'CASE DISMISSED! The case against EBPF by Harriet Haynes. '

Haynes to pay costs.

Earlier articles:

Males banned from women's pool:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c1k4gd2vge9o

Haynes sues:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2025/04/08/transgender-pool-player-harriet-hayes-suing-governing-body/

Pool Federation:

https://ebpf.uk/

Judgement:

https://jrlevins.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/K01CT207-judgment-1-8-25-handed-down.pdf

'CONCLUSION
267 Having come to the end of what is essentially a long footnote to this judgment, I reiterate that in my view the effect of the decision in FWS is that the claim fails at the first hurdle because there has been no gender reassignment discrimination. The claim must therefore be dismissed. '

God, they’re everywhere aren’t they…
This is a good win for females.

Followed this one closely. So pleased that this appeal has been refused. This is a small volunteer run sports organisation and it must be so scary to have had prospect of an appeal hanging over the organizers, who are retired and have had to go through a lot already. Fingers crossed the high court will also throw this out. It really was a comprehensive defeat so that is what should happen.

Yes. I don’t think this one is done yet.

I reckon it is one of rays they are going for to attempt to destabilise the SC judgement.

Agree.

Reading the judgment, the J said in it explicitly that he would refuse permission to appeal if it were sought. I think that’s all that’s happened- that he’s stood by that warning. They always knew they would have to apply to the High Court, or Courr of Appeal.

So not bad news, certainly, but not really news at all.

He's been granted leave to appeal

https://archive.ph/Fb8Ij

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2026/03/17/banned-transgender-pool-player-granted-right-to-appeal/

Nooooooo 😤

They had a crowd funder to pay their legal costs last time. Will they need another?

Unexpected - but does that mean legal precedents get established if he loses again? It ought to be dead in the water. If you can justify women's pool existing at all you can justify keeping Harriet Haynes out of it.

Seems a desperate last throw of the dice to me. Nothing to lose if it's someone else's money.

How do appeals work - can anyone challenge a decision through an appeal, or have grounds for his appeal been identified?

The arrogance of these man is breathtaking - nothing says 'male' more than the tantrums from a certain kind of man who's been told no.

Damn. But yes, let’s hope he loses again and it sets a precedent and yes I will donate to a crowdfunder.

I just feel sorry for those poor people in the pool federation.

Normal people, trying to keep things fair for the women players - and probably blindsided by egocentric men who are willing to destroy anything to get their kicks and validation.

Well he went right after the much poorer blackball game, when he'd been doing fine in Ultimate Pool's women's division, and as I recall, put the leaders of that organsation, a husband and wife, IIRC, at some financial distress, to say the least. Fortunately, justice was done. I can't imagine UP will be supporting this venture by HH, though.

Well done Lynn Pinches. But how many court cases will it take before cross-dressing men are thrown out of women's sports?