GREAT BRITISH EFFORTS IN BRAZIL for GB Women’ GoalballBy Anna Sharkey
GB Women’s team in Brazil’The climax of the year came for the Great British women’s goalball team as they embarked on the IBSA world games in Sao Paulo, Brazil. With a total of thirteen women’s teams, they would have to be placed in the top four of a seven team round robin before going through to a ‘play off’ – the winner of which qualifying for the Beijing Paralympics next year. At the end of an eight month preparation the women had so much to play for.
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New Regional Development Officers
One of the most exciting things to happen within British Blind Sport in recent years has been our successful application to the Big Lottery Fund, Young Peoples Fund. Earlier this year we were able to appoint 4 Regional Development Officers (Young People) to implement the ‘Seeing a Healthier Future’ project.
It is their role to consult with young VI people, aged 11-25, in their regions to find out which activities they would like to be involved in, and then to make these opportunities possible through creating new opportunities and linking with current mainstream, pan-disability and VI specific clubs and organisations.
In order for this project to be successful assistance is required from young VI people:
- To provide ideas of which activities are of interest, and what they feel are the barriers to participation so that we can plan appropriate opportunities;
- To identify who would like to get involved in the management and overall running of the activities, so that we can provide appropriate training and support.
The RDOs will also provide support and training to those who work with young visually people to generally raise the awareness of VI sport and show that they are able to participate in a wide range of sports and leisure activities. We also want to hear from people who would like to volunteer help.
Mark Tomlinson is our man in the South West with a region covering Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Avon. He can be contacted c/o Exeter Golf & Country Club, Countess Wear, Exeter, EX2 7AE. Tel: 01392 877444 Mobile:07825 506 350. email: mark@britishblindsport.org.uk
Simon Crawford covers the South East region of Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Buckinghamshire and Kent. He’s based with the Kent Sports Development Unit at Commercial Services Building, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4QG Tel: 07825 506 351. email: simon@britishblindsport.org.uk
In the East region of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, Ryan Armes is our man. He’s based with the County Sports Partnership at Unit 5, Fen Road, Pidley, Cambs, PE28 3DF. Tel: 01487 843344 Mobile: 07825 506 352. email: ryan@britishblindsport.org.uk
Last, but by no means least, Tom Soulsby works from the Gateshead Sports Development Unit covering Tyneside, Durham, Northumberland, Teeside and Cleveland. His contact details are: Development Unit, Community Based Services, Old Town Hall, West Street,
Gateshead, NE8 1HE. Tel: 0191 433 Mobile: 07825 506 353. email: tom@britishblindsport.org.uk
All four have made a great start to their new roles and have achieved an incredible amount in the short time they have been in post. They are undertaking an audit of current provision, trying to identify young VI people in their areas and develop a network of contacts from the sports and VI worlds. They have run their first practical sessions and have attended exhibitions and events representing BBS. They are busy planning activities to take place during the summer and these will lead to regular sessions.
All our sports sections are encouraged to work with them to help introduce their sports to a new audience. They can take some of the pressure off our small but very hardworking band of volunteers by arranging activities so that volunteers, rather than having to arrange everything themselves, need only provide their support and expertise on the day, providing role models and linking existing clubs and participants with newcomers.
If you are interested in being involved in any of these exciting developments then contact your local Regional Development Officer or for other areas contact National Development Manager, Gillian Parker. Tel: 01525 860805 or email: gillian@britishblindsport.org.uk
'Team BBS' triumph at the 2007 Flora London Marathon
It's London Marathon time again and this event is hugely important to BBS - a registered charity that depends upon the public for support - as it brings in much needed funds.
Henry, Sarah and Chris celebrating their first London Marathon!
This year the honour of representing BBS, as 'official team cheer leader' fell, to Simon Crawford. A very clear remit ... he simply had to clap and cheer all 36,396 runners as they came up The Mall and crossed the legendary finish line. That way our 7 runners, including one blind runner and his guide, would be assured the acclaim they so richly deserved. Simon is one of the 4 Big Lottery Young funded, newly appointed Regional Development Officers (Young People), with responsibility for the South East of England. An antipodean, his presence at the great race will have been a first for him, so enthusiastic cheering was guaranteed for our BBS runners This what he thought about the day:
On a beautiful Sunday morning the Flora London Marathon kicked off, with approximately 36,000 competitors and most importantly seven British Blind Sport representatives. Our team of Mark Stredwick, Chris Walters, Scott Colman, Sarah Horton, Henry Bruce, David Clarke and guide runner Steve Jarvis all turned up to give it their best on a day that was, while delightful for spectators, much hotter than most competitors would have liked.
I was fortunate enough to be able to represent BBS as the official cheer squad, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The inspiration you receive from watching people, from all walks of life, coming together to give themselves a challenge of a lifetime is just amazing. To see people run the whole race, only to falter metres before the finish line showed just how hard they’d pushed themselves. Then, to watch them pick themselves up again, and cross that line was so emotive, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry! And I was just standing on the sidelines, the feeling you get from participating must really be an experience of a lifetime!
I must also mention how well the event was run. Congratulations to the organisers, sponsors, volunteers and supporters for giving the competitors every opportunity they could have to enjoy the experience of running the Flora London Marathon. I would recommend to anyone who has considered running a marathon to get involved as I do not know one competitor who is not glad they participated. Sure, they may be a bit stiff today, but ‘pain is temporary, success is forever’!
And, finally congratulations to our team, they have done us proud for another year and I’m sure we will see some of them back again next year. As for me, well I hope to be invited back again next year as BBS’s official cheer squad and look forward to witnessing another fantastic day of effort, determination and inspiration.
Simon Crawford
South East Regional Development Officer (Young People)
The 2006 runners benefited from drizzle for their entire run, Team BBS 2007 had no such luck - it was a truly glorious day (if you were spectating)! Despite the sweltering conditions our runners achieved fantastic times:
The Runners |
Running times |
| Henry Bruce | 04.19.15 |
| Dave Clarke (Blind Runner) | 05.01.42 |
| Scott Colman | 04.54.10 |
| Sarah Horton | 05.04.50 |
| Steve Jarvis (Guide Runner) | 05.01.43 |
| Mark Stredwick | 03.26.58 |
| Chris Walters | 03.45.39 |
Our huge sympathy goes out to David Benson, a member of North Herts Road Runners a fantastic club which does so much to support BBS athletes, sustained a severe injury in the weeks up to the race and had to pull out at the last minute - he is a great sport and has every intention of running for BBS in 2008!
Talking about the Flora London Marathon 2008!
As more and more people try for ballot places more and more people are being disappointed, so why not try BBS? Our guaranteed places go quickly so plan ahead! Phone: 01926 424247 and ask for details about our Golden and Silver Bond Places.
If you need a reason to run this marathon for YOU – take a look at these pics:
(left) Mick Aston and David Blower, their smiles say it all!
Triumphant marathon damsel Esther Wollaston, flanked by her sons, St George and the Dragon!
Helena MacGregor does Ginger Spice does FLM2006 for BBS
If you need a reason to run for BBS - take a look at these SMILES.
Your money gives blind and partially sighted people the same chances as you to do sport; which apart from sheer good fun improves health, broadens horizons, builds new friendships, and especially important for the visually impaired fosters confidence and independence.
How would you feel if the lights went out for you and no one cared?
Go on, pick BBS to run for in FLM 2007.
Please call 01926 424247, ask for Lizzie Smith and get set to go!
