Ontrack feb mar17 issuu by 2A Publishing

February / March 2017 • Issue 6

 YOUR DISABILITY SPORTS MAGAZINE

NUTRITION

FREE

What to eat to be elite

SUBSCRIPTION

Eating to achieve optimum performance

EXPLORE

Have you tried caving?

MUSIC

Songs to sweat to

Discover a completely new environment

Favourite workout tunes

SURFING GET INVOLVED

Find out how to be an adaptive surfer

 GUIDE RUNNING



SPORTS TECH PRODUCTS

 BLIND TAI CHI

AD VER TISING FEATURE

Accessible sport for you The National Disability Sports Organisations, English Federation of Disability Sport and Sport England are working together to support disabled people to be more active.

››› National Disability Sports Organisations

British Blind Sport

Cerebral Palsy Sport

British Blind Sport provides visually impaired (VI) people with the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity. They run a national events programme and number of ‘have a go’ days in a range sports for VI children and adults. British Blind Sport prides itself on ‘making a visible difference in sport’.

Cerebral Palsy Sport is the country’s leading sports organisation supporting people who have cerebral palsy to reach their potential. They provide advice and guidance on getting active, along with opportunities for people of all abilities to take part in sport.

www.britishblindsport.org.uk

www.cpsport.org

Special Olympics Great Britain

Dwarf Sports Association UK The Dwarf Sports Association UK aims to make regular sporting opportunities accessible and enjoyable to anyone with restricted growth. They promote and develop recreational and competitive sport and physical activity opportunities across the UK.

www.dsauk.org

WheelPower

Special Olympics Great Britain provide a year-round sports programme, with opportunities for children and adults with a learning disability to participate, train and compete in a wide variety of sports and events.

WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport, provides opportunities, facilities and equipment to enable disabled people to participate in sport and lead healthy active lives. They promote and deliver opportunities in recreational and competitive sport for people with a physical or locomotor impairment.

www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk

www.wheelpower.org.uk

LimbPower

Mencap Sport

UK Deaf Sport

LimbPower supports amputees and people with limb impairments to reach their sporting potential. The Charity aims to put each amputee and limb impaired person in touch with the right sport and leisure activity for their needs and ability.

Mencap Sport believes that people with a learning disability should have the same opportunities to participate, enjoy and excel in sport at all levels. They deliver a number of national sports events and a fun physical activity challenge for local groups and individuals to take part in.

UK Deaf Sport encourages people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate, enjoy and excel at sport. They provide information, advice and expertise to individuals and organisations to enable more deaf and hearing of hard people to reach their full potential in sport and physical activity.

www.limbpower.com

www.mencap.org.uk/sport

www.ukdeafsport.org.uk

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02/02/2017 15:39

 FEBRUARY / MARCH | ISSUE 6

Welcome Just days into 2017, we at OnTrack celebrated the happy news that editor, Ros, had welcomed her beautiful baby girl into the world. As acting editor, it’s my pleasure to bring to you this and future editions of OnTrack while Ros enjoys her maternity leave. The sportsmen and women whose tremendous accomplishments are showcased on OnTrack Magazine’s ‘podium’ in this issue demonstrate that their determination and tenacity knows no bounds. Gracing our cover on the crest of a wave is unstoppable surfer Llywelyn Williams who was among the team that represented Wales for the first time in the ISA Stand Adaptive Surfing World Championships in La Jolla, San Diego, California, at the end of last year. Action man Llywelyn, whose leg was amputated to save his life after being struck by a car while skateboarding at the age of 16, finished fifth in the world in the AS2 Stand-Kneel Division of the championships. Llywelyn, who had been a surfing enthusiast for years before the accident, was determined to get back on the waves in a specially adapted wetsuit and now has ambitions of representing North Wales in the Paralympic Games 2020 Tokyo. Find out how to get involved in the exciting accessible sport on page 46. We meet inspirational visually impaired Paralympian sprinter, Libby Clegg, and her guide, Chris Clarke. In a display of tremendous mutual trust, Chris raced in perfect synchrony with Libby towards the finish line at Rio, each clinching gold for Team GB.

Jamie Marshall is an inspirational individual who refuses to allow his blindness to dampen his fervour for all things new. When he approached tai chi master Ali Blaikie to ask to be coached in a martial art that is almost entirely visually-led, it was a meeting of minds and an enlightening experience for both student and instructor. Read their story on page 15. Just as we like to focus on the awesome achievements of gutsy, serious athletes, OnTrack Magazine is, as ever, taking a look at the fun aspects of keeping active. Who’d have thought that the activity of caving, which is regarded by enthusiasts as the world’s last true wilderness, can give disabled and non-disabled people the opportunity to explore a completely different environment. Discover how on page 38. We scoured the UK’s disability sports clubs to find out from their members which motivational music is most likely to get adrenalin and hearts pumping while training and working out. You’ll find some of the results surprising! With retailers having recently unveiled their new Spring sportswear collections, we showcase a sample of some of the most stylish, colourful and affordable designs on our high streets today. Our sports tech pages are also brimming with the latest equipment to help optimise your performance, from a cooling baseball cap and a nutrient gauge, to a multi-purpose lightweight bike. With so many remarkable tales going untold in the fastpaced world of UK disability sport, we are keen to hear news and views about what you’d like to see in future editions. So, please contact me by emailing niki@2apublishing.co.uk Until April...

N i T OnTrack Magazine Acting Editor

Like us on Facebook Search for ‘OnTrack Magazine’

THE TEAM

CONTACT

DISCLAIMER

Acting Editor: Niki Tennant Staff Writer: Lisa Mitchell Staff Writer: Colette Carr Designer: Stephen Flanagan Marketing: Sophie Scott Sales: Nisha Sran Contributor: Louise Blanchfield

Caledonia House, Evanton Drive, Thornliebank Ind. Est., Glasgow, G46 8JT

OnTrack Magazine is published by 2A Publishing Ltd.

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Tel: 0141 465 2960 Fax: 0141 258 7783

The views expressed in OnTrack Magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Reproduction in part or in whole is strictly prohibited without the explicit written consent of the publisher.

enquiries@2apublishing.co.uk www.ontrackmagazine.co.uk

Cover image courtesy of Sean Evans & ISA

Member of PPA Scotland

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Contents  FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017

15 07 THE INSIDE TRACK Keeping you up-to-date with all the current sports news

12 WHAT TO EAT TO BE ELITE Food Physio Louise Blanchfield on how food impacts your sporting prowess

15 THE ENLIGHTENING WORLD OF TAI CHI Blind Jamie Marshall and his martial arts instructor find a meeting of minds

18 ME AND MY SHADOW A visually impaired Paralympian sprinter and her guide reveal the exceptional trust they share

22 IT’S GAME ON FOR AMPUTEE FOOTBALL

The sport takes an exciting new turn north of the border 4

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25 FITNESS COACH WENDY STANDS TALL Sports enthusiast turns coach at the inclusive fitness centre of excellence that helped her overcome paralysis

27 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES

GB figure skater and alpine skier pin their medal hopes on Graz

29 RUNNING WATER Why runners should pay heed to what and when they drink

30 SONGS TO SWEAT TO Disability sports clubs’ members reveal their favourite workout tunes

32 ACTIVE AND ATTRACTIVE Look cool in the hottest high street sports gear

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02/02/2017 09:45

38 46

38 HAVE YOU TRIED CAVING? Explore a new environment in the last true wilderness of the world

41 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Disability sports charity celebrates the release of its latest animated film

42 BORN WITHOUT LEGS AND DESTINED TO DANCE

Acclaimed disabled dancer David Toole stars in a ground-breaking new production

44 NAIDEX A preview of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest disability and care event

46 CONQUERING THE WAVES Get a taste of inclusive, adaptive surfing

48 CLUB FOCUS The evolution of SportsAble magazine.co.uk

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| 5 02/02/2017 15:09

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02/02/2017 10:02

The Inside Track  Keeping you up-to-date with what’s happening in the world of disability sport

British Blind Sport launches Guide to Visually Impaired Archery and Shooting

Brits on form at the National Para-Swimming Championships

Africa’s sportswomen and girls receive £1.2m boost

P10

Short film, bi to ic - Leicester City player, Paul icko , romotes film

RDA Tracker Helps Riders Achieve their Goals

Comic Relief will use a £1.2m funding injection from the Scottish Government to help support women and girls in some of Africa’s poorest countries. Ministers are providing the funding for the charity’s international Sport for Change programme, which uses sport to help females reach their full potential. Projects that aim to boost confidence and selfesteem will be rolled out in Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda, with the cash also contributing to efforts to reduce violence against women and girls.

Gordon is named honorary freeman Wheelchair tennis superstar Gordon Reid has collected another coveted title. The world No.1 player has been named an honorary freeman of his home area in recognition of his sporting success and achievements. At a special meeting in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute Council approved the award, which adds to the four grand slam titles he has won and the two Paralympic medals Reid lifted in 2016. Reid from Helensburgh, said it was a “great honour” to be given the freedom of the town.

Goalball UK nets funding windfall Goalball UK is celebrating the welcome news that it has been awarded £1.2m from Sport England to continue the remarkable progress being made in grassroots participation. With the potential for an additional Talent Development Grant in 2017, Goalball UK is set to double its total funding from Sport England. In four years, the sport has quadrupled participation, doubling the number of active clubs. Image: Goalball UK

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A revolutionary tracking programme is helping riders at a Somerset riding school to identify their objectives for the future.

We have always recognised that becoming a roficient rider is not necessarily the main aim of this type of riding therapy but gives much more than that to each individual taking part, whether they are a riding participant, volunteer or instructor

The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Tracker programme is being used at Divoky Riding School and has already proved beneficial when looking at targets and goals to assist them in their progression. Riders are assessed in six different key areas, communication, physical changes, relationships, horsemanship, confidence and enjoyment. The results from the Tracker can then help coaches and therapists to tailor lessons and activities accordingly for maximum benefit and are printed out in a rosette style format for riders to keep and share with their family, carers and schools. Divoky Riding Centre began using the system in November, with 22 riders from two Special Educational Needs schools in the local area. The riders have a range of both physical and learning disabilities and are aged between four and 11. For more information about the RDA Tracker, contact Emma Bayliss e.bayliss@rda.org.uk. To find your nearest RDA Group or Accessibility Mark centre visit www.rda.org.uk.

magazine.co.uk

| 7 02/02/2017 09:46

SPORTS NEWS

British Blind Sport launches Guide to Visually Impaired Archery and Shooting National disability sports organisation British Blind Sport has launched a new guide to enable coaches, leaders and club personnel to learn more about sight loss and eye conditions and have a greater understanding of the needs of people with visual impairment who want to take part in the sports of archery or shooting. The charity, which provides sporting opportunities for visually impaired (VI) people throughout the UK, has already launched educational resources into VI football, swimming, athletics, judo and general VI sport and is proud to add the Target Sports guide to the library. Funded and supported by Agincourt 600, the VI Target Sport guide has been designed to educate the coaching and club network to ensure a greater knowledge of VI archery and VI shooting and help enhance opportunities for more VI people to take part in these exhilarating sports. One thousand two hundred copies have been produced and are ready for distribution to those coaches and sports deliverers who want to learn more about visual impairment and how to deliver VI target sports. The guide is accessible either as a hard copy glossy document or via the British Blind Sport website – www.britishblindsport.org.uk/education. If you want to obtain a copy, please contact info@britishblindsport.org.uk or call 01926 42 42 47.

ON THE CREST OF A WAVE

A team from Wales made waves with their debut appearance at the ISA Stance Adaptive Surfing World Championships in La Jolla San Diego, California in December. Seventy-seven athletes from 21 countries took part across six Paralympic classification divisions: AS1 Stand-Kneel; AS2 Stand-Kneel; AS3 upright; AS4 Prone; AS 5 Assist and AS VI Visually Impaired. For the first time, a team from Wales attended comprising team manager Benjamin Clifford, team coach Toby Williams and Llywelyn Williams (pictured on front cover) who competed in the AS2 Stand-Kneel division. Llwelyn finished fifth in the World and Wales with only one athlete finished 16th of 22 countries. The Welsh team was disappointed not to make the final especially as Llwelyn had previously outscored the eventual winner Mark Stewart, but a fifth place finish was great and Llwleyn’s surfing was amazing throughout the contest. All the team were so proud to represent Wales at this amazing event. Llwelyn can’t wait for next year where he hopes to compete again and win his division. Anyone interested in becoming an adaptive surfer or joining the Welsh team should contact Benjamin Clifford via email Surfability.uk@gmail.com

Image: Kees-Jan van Overbeeke

Brits on form at the National Para-Swimming Championships Two World, three European and five British records were smashed at the end of last year in the first national paraswimming competition since the Rio Games. With 16 swimming Rio Paralympics medallists taking part, it was a full house for the National Para-Swimming Championships in Manchester. Over 250 para-swimmers competed at the Manchester Aquatics Centre. Amongst the talented line-up was double Paralympic silver and bronze medallist (200m freestyle, 200 individual medley and 100m backstroke), Jessica-Jane Applegate. The UEA Norwich swimmer (20) broke two World and two European records in the S14 100m butterfly and S14 400m freestyle. She clocked 1:06.86 in the butterfly, breaking her own World mark set in last year’s event -

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also a British record. Soon after, she smashed the 400m freestyle World record in 4:31:05, knocking over seven seconds off the old time. Her S14 rival, Bethany Firth, was in great form too after the Rio Paralympics where she took three golds and a silver. Firth’s 50m split time (35:18secs) in the 100m breaststroke was enough for a new British record. Fellow teammate Thomas Hamer broke a vacant European record in the S14 100m freestyle with 55:11secs. Meanwhile, Stephen Clegg’s 100m backstroke split time for 50m secured him a new British record in the S12 class (31:03secs). Suzanne Warren (UEA Norwich), who as an S4 swimmer is in the lower classifications for those with physical impairments, broke the 50m backstroke British record (1:00:03). Sophie Woodward (Nova Centurion) knocked over 14 seconds off the S3 50m Butterfly British record, touching in 1:19.88. This event is organised by the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) in partnership with British Swimming. Image: Kees-Jan van Overbeeke

02/02/2017 14:31

SPORTS NEWS

Call goes out for nominations To mark International Women’s Day, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is seeking nominations of people or groups who inspire women in Para sport. With the winner to be announced on International Women’s Day on 8 March, nominations close on 13 February. Shortlisting will be handled by the IPC’s Women in Sport Committee, chaired by Tine Rindum We have recognised Teilmann, who said: “We have recognised some of the some of the most most inspirational people inspirational people who have been advocates who have been for change for people with impairments in sport and advocates for public life, and hope the change for people award draws attention to with impairments in their work and inspires others sport to take their lead.” A nomination form is available from membership@paralympic.org.

Wheelpower Sports Camp British wheelchair sport WheelPower will host a Primary Sports Camp at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on Saturday, February 25. The Primary Sports Camp is open to children with physical or mild sensory impairments aged between five and 11. Entry forms are also welcome from children who would not traditionally fit within ‘disability sport classification’ such as those with dyspraxia, epilepsy or some form of internal organ dysfunction or absence. The aim of this broader definition is to make some form of provision for those children who are unable to ‘fit in’ to mainstream PE/sport provision but who also do not qualify for disability provision. All are welcome to attend the camp and coaches will attempt to include parents, teachers and escorts in the activities where possible. Registration will commence at 9:15am and the camp will end at 3:30pm. Activities will include basketball, boccia, bowls, kurling, table games, tennis, zone hockey and a fun session. The entry fee is £9.00 per participant and £5.00 per parent. Siblings of camp age are welcome to join in with the activities throughout the day. If you require any further information, contact WheelPower – British Wheelchair Sport on 01296 395995 or e-mail stewart.jeeves@wheelpower.org.uk.

Colleges leading the way in disability sport and physical activity – but hard work isn’t over By Kirstie Hickson, AoC Sport Policy Officer South I recently attended the Association of Colleges’ SEND (special education needs and disability) conference to share best practice about disability sport in colleges. At AoC Sport, we believe that every student should have access to sport and physical activity because of the numerous benefits to their education, employment and health. Although research shows that disabled people are half as likely to be active as non-disabled people, further education colleges are doing pretty well at changing this trend. In AoC Sport’s 2016 college sport survey, we found that 42% of students participating in sport and physical activity in colleges have a disability and on average colleges run eight sports/activities specifically for disabled students per year. So, what is it that colleges are doing to successfully increase participation among disabled people? Unfortunately there isn’t one specific simple trick, but I can share a few examples with you. One of Newham Sixth Form (NewVic) College’s keys to success has been their disability activator, who runs a community session in the borough at both the college and other local facilities. This community club offers an exit route to ensure that students make sport a lifelong habit. Participants continue beyond college because they already know the coach and surroundings and it becomes a part of their weekly routine. Meanwhile, Truro and Penwith College have delivered 10-week ‘Fit for College, Fit for Life’ projects for students with severe or mild learning difficulties. The projects teach students about living a healthy, active lifestyle and each participant receives a certificate at the end of the project. Finally, Tyne Metropolitan College have had great success with making their enrichment programme inclusive to students across the college, both with and without disabilities. The success has come from starting with a closed club targeted at disabled students. They gave the students and any support staff that work closely with them ownership of the club to ensure it was both suitable to their needs and enjoyable. Following the success of the exclusive club, many students’ confidence has increased and led to them participating in the enrichment activities open to the whole college. Now these examples are only a snippet of the work colleges are doing with disability students, but it is really important that we continue to work to increase the participation figures further and build on the current success. Physical activity is such an important life habit for everyone in order to maintain good physical and mental health. It is vital that colleges continue to engage students with disabilities in sport and physical activity as it improves attendance, educational achievement, independence, self-esteem and communication – skills for life as well as their time in education. Colleges are already doing great work in this area, and now have the ability to lead the way for disability sport and physical activity going forwards.

magazine.co.uk

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| 9 02/02/2017 09:46

SPORTS NEWS

COUNTDOWN TO DISABLED ACCESS DAY Award-winning Disabled Access Day returns for what will be its biggest event yet from March 10 to 12. Participating businesses and attractions in the UK will open their doors to showcase their accessibility and welcome disabled people, their families and friends who will be visiting new places on the day with the potential to become part of a loyal new customer base. Disabled Access Day also welcomes its first Ambassador for 2017, Paralympian gold medal winning equestrian Sophie Christiansen OBE (pictured). Due to the popularity of last year’s event, it has been extended from one to three days. Venues and brands can register their involvement at www.disabledaccessday.com/getinvolved or for more information, please visit www.disabledaccessday.com or email euansguide@mww.com

SHORT FILM, BIG TOPIC

Para clay world cup event is on target World Shooting Para Sport will hold its first Para clay target World Cup this year as the sport continues to expand its programme into shotgun. Following several years of research and development, the discipline, based on the Olympic Trap, has taken the next step to being fully recognised by World Shooting Para Sport. The Para clay target World Cup will kick off a twoyear testing period of the rules and sport specific classification system for athletes with a physical impairment. This is being taken forward by World Shooting Para Sport via a new Para Clay Target Development Group, building on the work of the Italian Shooting Federation (FITAV) which led the early stages of the project. For further info, visit www.worldshootingparasport.org.

Get on your marks for summer of global athletics The big countdown is underway for a bumper summer of world athletics. London will host the World Para Athletics Championships (14-23 July), followed by the IAFF World Championships London 2017 (4-13 August) – the world’s biggest sporting event of the year. It will be the first time both Para and IAAF championships are hosted in the same city in the same year. More than 3000 athletes from over 200 nations will converge on the capital to compete in 20 days of action. The hottest tickets are now on sale at tickets.london2017athletics.com. Currently, 10,000 volunteers are going through the recruitment process, with the first of the ‘runners’ being announced by March. www.london2017athletics.com

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Former Leicester City striker Paul Dickov has taken part in BT Sport’s new short film around the Premier League and BT disability programme.

The film, which first aired on BT Sport Score in midJanuary, looks at the disability provision that Leicester City FC’s Community Trust will be running

The film, which first aired on BT Sport Score in mid-January, looks at the disability provision that Leicester City FC’s Community Trust will be running thanks to this new three-year programme. Leicester City’s film focusses on Patrick Cox, who has cerebral palsy and is a disability coach at the LCFC Community Trust. The film sees Patrick discuss the impact that working with the Trust has had on his own development and career progression, and sees him leading a table tennis activity session at the Ellesmere College sports hall, where the Trust runs accessible sessions to encourage both children and older students with disabilities to get involved in sport. You can find the video on www.sport.bt.com and by searching for ‘Dickov joins Leicester City’s Community Trust’.

magazine.co.uk

02/02/2017 14:34

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02/02/2017 10:02

NUTRITION

 Columnist ouise lanchfield

W H AT T O E AT TO BE ELITE “Nutrition cannot substitute for raw talent, training, mental preparation or equipment, but bad nutrition can destroy performance.” Stone Foundation, June 2005

he above quote says it all! There’s a reason why Laura Trott thanked her nutritionist after winning Olympic gold in the velodrome at Rio 2016. Without good nutrition our bodies cannot perform optimally so we miss a key ingredient to being the best we can be. Our bodies are complex and not everyone is the same, so there is no one diet that fits all. However, outlined below are key points that you should consider when eating to achieve optimum performance. The most important concept to sustaining energy and improving stamina and performance is learning to balance your blood sugar. If we eat and drink high sugar food and drinks, or eat high carbohydrate meals, we spike our blood sugar levels which results in a huge release of insulin to bring it back down within safe limits. Our bodies usually overestimate how much insulin we need, resulting in a dip below our optimum blood sugar levels which leads to fatigue, poor concentration, loss of stamina, anxiety and poor

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performance. At this point we usually reach for that high sugar food to start the whole process again.

bread or pasta; and avoid caffeine as it stimulates the adrenal system causing energy dips when the surge is over.

So, it’s vital to prevent this blood sugar roller coaster by following these few simple rules:

When eating to win, we also need to ensure we consume the nutrients that our bodies need to make good energy reserves, so:

Have protein at every meal – that includes breakfast so think eggs, nuts or protein powder in a smoothie. For other meals include meat, dairy, fish, nuts and seeds. Protein delays the emptying of the stomach and minimises the blood sugar surge; Avoid sugar in all forms (cakes, biscuits, fizzy juice, fruit juice, alcohol) as this spikes your blood sugar causing energy crashes and decreasing your ability to cope with both physical and mental stress; If eating complex carbohydrates, choose wholemeal bread or pasta and always eat them with protein to reduce their impact on your blood sugar; Preferably, choose starchy vegetables as a carbohydrate source – sweet potato, butternut squash or turnip, for example. Your body can digest these far easier than

Eat between 8-10 fruit and vegetables per day to get vitamins and minerals. Consume 2-3 fruits and 6-7 vegetables. Think colours of the rainbow when you choose what to eat to ensure you get a good range of nutrients. This may seem like a lot but, when you consider a bowl of soup, salad or pint of juice (freshly squeezed) equals three portions, then it’s not actually that much! Eat healthy fats – we need fat to digest the fat soluble vitamins and they make up the membrane of every cell in our bodies, so eat avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, oily fish, nuts and seeds to ensure you get enough. They also provide another slow release source of energy; Eat brown rice, oats, almonds, sunflowers seeds, eggs, lentils and mushrooms to

magazine.co.uk

02/02/2017 09:47

NUTRITION

Louise Blanchﬁeld

get your B vitamins that are essential to produce energy; Magnesium is found in dark green leafy vegetables, nuts (particularly almonds) and seeds. It is needed for a host of functions in the body as well as to produce energy. These include absorbing calcium, relaxing muscles, dilating blood vessels, sleep and to calm the mind. I regularly see a huge number of people who are deficient in this essential mineral so get a portion of green leafy vegetables daily to boost your levels! Eat ginger, pecans, brazil nuts, and oats as a source of zinc to aid your adrenal system to cope with stress; Eat citrus fruit, kiwi, strawberries, and blueberries for vitamin C, which is a valuable antioxidant needed for multiple reactions in the body; and Eat onions, eggs and garlic as a source of sulphur needed to produce energy. Now, all this good advice becomes null and void if you can’t absorb your nutrients very well so we have to have good gut health. The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ should really be ‘you are what you absorb!’ If you’ve got bloating, flatulence, indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea then your gut is not happy and you need to address this before you can expect to reach your peak performance. You can try the suggestions below but a nutritional therapy session will find out why it is happening and address the root cause: Increase fibre intake - 6-8 portions of colourful fruit and vegetables a day or oats and linseed; Eat sauerkraut and kefir as a natural source of probiotics; and Ensure adequate hydration – on a normal

day 6-8 glasses of water, more on training and competition days, particularly if competing in hot conditions. This is good for the gut and needed for all cells in the body to function well. You also need to avoid those things which deplete vitamins and minerals from the body, so just say no to junk food, processed food, alcohol and overtraining. Someone once said to me, “No-one over-trains but most of us under-recover!” Training produces free radicals which cause damage in our bodies. We have to eat extra antioxidants to compensate for this, stretch, rest and we have to get eight hours of sleep per night. That is when our bodies repair, so don’t underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep.

The Food Physio Louise Blanchfield is a chartered physiotherapist and neuroscientist who, after dramatically reversing her husband’s health by changing his diet, became trained as a nutritional therapist. She now splits her time between physiotherapy, nutritional therapy and giving talks on a range of topics from sports nutrition to detox and weight loss. The Food Physio T: 0800 024 8460 E: louise@thefoodphysio.com W: www.thefoodphysio.com Facebook: The Food Physio Twitter: @thefoodphysio

Not all sports are the same. Some will benefit from carbohydrate loading but those are only the ones that last for more than two hours, for example marathon runners, long distance cyclists or triathletes. Under two hours you don’t get any benefit from carb loading and, in fact, you could argue that it is detrimental. Sprint sports need to build and maintain more muscle bulk so their protein requirement will be greater. Your basic plan should vary depending on your individual needs and your sport’s demands on your body. So, overall you need to eat a varied diet full of nutrient dense foods, nothing processed just colourful fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, wholegrains and water. I wish you all the best in your chosen sport but if you’d like to optimise your nutrition to be the best you can be, book an online consultation for a secure video appointment or call a nutritionist/physio near you for a face to face consultation. 

magazine.co.uk

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02/02/2017 10:02

TAI CHI All images: Andrew Downie (A D Zyne: www.adzyne.com)

THE

ENLIGHTENING

WORLD

TA I C H I When blind Jamie Marshall and martial arts instructor Alasdair Blaikie found each other, it was a meeting of minds that would take them both on a life enhancing journey of learning and discovery, and enormous mutual respect.

amie was in his early teens when his sight began to fail and now, aged 34, he is almost totally blind.

Having recently started Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes in an effort to get fit, the graceful art of Tai Chi always intrigued Jamie. But, it seemed to him that it involved class members watching and mimicking the master’s movements, which clearly he’d be unable to do. Another obstacle in Jamie’s way was that many of the classes were too far from home. When he noticed that Tai Chi was being taught at his local community centre, he emailed the ‘master,’ known as Sifu, Ali Blaikie. Explained Jamie, of Edinburgh: “I made it clear up front that I was blind, but willing and hopeful to join his class. To be honest, I expected: ‘Sorry about this, but you really need eyes.’ “To my surprise, he replied saying he had never taught a blind person before but

that he was eager for the challenge, as it was something he’d pondered before. He was almost more keen to do it than me. He said if I was willing, he’d give me private lessons for at least as long as I needed to learn enough to join the rest of the class. “This was beyond what I expected, as frequently when in a class with sighted people I have had to just fumble along as best I can and hope I catch enough of it to find it worthwhile.” He and Ali met and had an open discussion about each other’s comfort zones. “We both saw it as a great opportunity. Not only could I learn from him, but he could learn from me, and spread that knowledge to other people. When two people start something new together, you have to learn as you go along,” continued a driven Jamie, who has spent the past three years learning guitar. 

What is Ta i C h i ? Tai chi is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. Though originally conceived as a martial art, it is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons: competitive wrestling in the format of pushing hands (tui shou), demonstration competitions, and achieving greater longevity. As a result, a multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims with differing emphasis. Some training forms of t’ai chi ch’uan are especially known for being practiced with relatively slow movements.

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TAI CHI

Conscious that Tai Chi is heavily visuallybased, he approached the first balance and sensory training session with caution. Setting down with Ali good foundations for a teaching dynamic, Jamie felt that being open and honest with each other made the process feel smoother. “It would have been harder if Ali had pretended to know everything, with an ‘I am the master and you must do this’ approach. He’s not like that at all. If he doesn’t know something, he asks me how best he can show me how to do it, and that makes it so much more comfortable. His teaching technique is as adaptable and changeable as the art he trains in,” explained Jamie, whose blog, ‘Marshall Arts Scotland’ charts the body strength, health and stamina progress he makes with every training session.

“Ali uses touch and close contact to subtly position me and advises about where I have tension or my balance is off. The benefits come from the fact that certain stances really work the legs. After only five weeks’ training, I feel my legs getting stronger. As the motions become steadier, it can be quite relaxing. It is one of these paradoxes: when the mind is so full of what your arms and legs are doing, you don’t think about everyday problems because you are focusing so closely on what your body is doing.” Of the three main facets to Tai Chi: martial, medical and spiritual, it was the medical that piqued Jamie’s interest. Offering advice to any other blind person who wants to experience Tai Chi, Jamie said: “It is perfectly normal to be anxious

TA I C H I B

reakthrough Combat Arts instructor Sifu Blaikie didn’t hesitate when the challenge of teaching a student with a visual impairment presented itself. With extensive experience of teaching ‘internal’ Chinese martial arts – including Tai Chi and all its spiritual undertones – as well as ‘external’ combat art, Ali was conscious this would mean adopting a radically new approach to his teaching techniques. And he wasn’t quite sure what that approach would entail. “It is not within the realms of fantasy that a guy who is visually impaired can achieve the same as sighted people. I knew it would not be workable within a class group at first and I knew Jamie wouldn’t thrive in a class environment. But the ultimate goal would be to get him to a fundamental level and into a class,” said Ali, who describes Jamie’s progress within only five weeks as amazing. “The very nature of Tai Chi is that it is very

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and a bit scared at first, but you’d be surprised how many instructors are teaching blind people. Every step you take, push your own personal boundaries a little more and you’ll feel better for having done so.” 

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MASTER

tactile. It is about studying how someone else moves and I figured that to remove the visual part of it would increase the tactile element and I didn’t doubt for a moment that Jamie would be able to grasp this concept. He is spookily coordinated and has an acute memory which stems from his life scenario.” While other students can take a long time to perfect posture, Jamie had mastered it within only two weeks. Ali explains that coaching Jamie has given his teaching methods a new dimension. He says he needs to be very articulate and economical with his speech and movements to allow Jamie to get the most from his teachings. If he says too much, he explains, he risks leading his student down the wrong route. “It is my thing, my challenge. These arts are here for a reason, and there is no need to exclude people from them. Everything needs to be adaptable. If it can’t, it fails and disappears. If you are single minded rather

than flexible, it won’t work for you or your students.” Although this is Ali’s first experience of teaching a student with a visual impairment, he has worked with an arthritis charity and has helped people who have experienced a stroke to recover muscle strength and coordination. “There is no doubt that Jamie has been through some tough times in the past, but does not seem to have let it get him own. There is no stopping him. He is very friendly and warm and we get on very well on a personal level, which is important,” observed Ali, who says he’ll do whatever he can to help someone in challenging circumstances to get on with life. “Jamie is a lesson for all of us. I have to check myself sometimes. When he gets it so right, I think: I cannot believe this guy. It is very humbling to be around him, and I’m honoured to be a part of his journey.” Facebook.com/breakthroughcombatarts Marshallartsscotland.wordpress.com

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02/02/2017 09:48

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02/02/2017 10:02

GUIDE RUNNING

ME & MY SHADOW There arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t many relationships on the track more intensive than that of a visually-impaired runner and their guide. From ensuring they are running in complete synchronicity to building a strong bond of trust, the work and dedication required goes beyond a standard training programme. Here, OnTrack speaks to Loughborough University athletes and double Paralympic Champions Libby Clegg and Chris Clarke about Rio, training and both sides of the partnership.

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GUIDE RUNNING Image: OnEdition

THE GUIDE

fter missing out on qualifying for the Rio Olympics, sprinter Clarke decided it wouldn’t stop him heading to Brazil. The 27-year-old knew decisions had to be made and before he knew it he had teamed up with Paralympic silver medallist Clegg and was on his way to helping her claim double Paralympic gold. But with a huge transition to make before even considering medals, Clarke had his work cut out for him, changing more than just his ingrained instinct to fly over the finish line first. “Just running next to Libby was difficult at first - it was a while before it looked pretty,” he admitted. “At the blocks, we had to switch. I usually start with my left leg forward, but to run with Libby I had to go the opposite way and that was quite difficult. “The talking was really unnatural. “In the first couple of races I always forgot to talk to Libby, but by the time we got to Rio, I was quite confident,” he explained. As Clarke said, it didn’t start so smoothly. After their first race together didn’t go to plan, Clarke admitted he did begin to have his doubts, and the decision was soon made to up their two weekly sessions together to four, before spending every session together as Brazil loomed. “Everything just clicked, Libby was a lot more patient than I was, and looking back it was quite quick, but hopefully I can do it for the next couple of years.” Possibly more vital than perfect synchronicity and constant communication in guide running is the intrinsic relationship and trust. Particularly with Clegg’s reclassification to T11 which forced her to run blindfolded for the first time in her career, Clarke’s influence on the track intensified with Clegg investing a huge amount of trust in her guide, something that made Clarke nervous.

“I’m a little prankster so I don’t know why Libby trusts me. “I don’t know, maybe I’m just responsible when I need to be, but it’s sort of worrying for me as a guide. In Rio, I was like ‘I don’t want to get you disqualified, what do I need to do and not do?’, and then the whole disqualification thing came up which isn’t a nice feeling for a guide runner,” he said. The pair came up against more worries once they reached the Games as they found themselves facing disqualification from the 100metre final with doubts over who crossed the line first. “I felt horrible, and Libby was just saying ‘I’ll appeal and we’ll see and carry on as if we are in the final, and if not it’s not the end of the world, don’t feel bad, we’re a team,’ but I felt horrible.” Luckily for the duo though, the decision was overturned and they zoomed to victory, leaving Clarke to break the news to Clegg. “In the 100, I actually told her she’d come second,” he laughed. “It was hard to tell, so I told her she may have come second, and then 10 seconds later it came on the screen and I said ‘Ah, you won Libby!’ She was so relieved and I saw her face well up a bit, because the 100 isn’t Libby’s best event, so I felt awesome for her. “She’s an awesome athlete, and when I saw her in competition she’s just like an ultimate warrior, fighter, you know? She just wants it and she’s not going to let anyone take it from her. “She’s the ultimate athlete and competitor, she raises her game when it needs to be raised. “I’m just here to help Libby run, get from A to B, but I’m happy to be part of the journey and help Libby accomplish the things she wants to do.” Despite not making the Olympics in Rio and pinning his hopes on guide running for another couple of years, he hasn’t given up on his Olympic dream, and says it doesn’t have to be one or the other. “I do it because I love athletics, I love training, so there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing, so if I can’t do it at an elite level, I’ll help someone else do it, and I think guide running is a good way to keep in the sport and give back to the sport.” 

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GUIDE RUNNING

After having such a rough start to the year, it was great to have it all turned around. Image: Paralympics GB

THE Sprinter

printer Libby Clegg knows only too well how important the role of the right guide runner is in achieving success as a visually impaired

runner.

Having picked up silver in London 2012, the 26-year-old decided that she needed to shake things up in order to reach dizzy heights in Rio. And amazingly, despite lifting double gold in Brazil, she only paired up with new guide Chris Clarke a mere nine months before the Games. “I’ve known Chris nearly eight years. He came to Loughborough at a similar time and I always saw him around, said hello, spoke to him a few times,” Clegg began. “Last summer he saw one of the boys from my training group having a go at guide running me, and fancied having a go, but he didn’t say anything until December. “He said he was interested and a couple of people had suggested it, but because I was injured, it wasn’t until February before we ran together so I was really lucky because it is really difficult to find a guide runner with the calmness that Chris has.” Clegg, who previously competed at London 2012 with Mikail Huggins explained what it takes to make a good guide and why Clarke fits the bill. “For me, I obviously look for a guide to be quick enough - they need to be a lot quicker than me to easily get through the rounds. Basically, when Chris runs with me, he’s only giving about 50%, he’s not trying at all so he makes me look terrible,” she laughed. “They need really good pace change, technique, and really good communication.

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“He’s got no ego at all, he’s lovely and really genuine, he’s great fun so obviously having a good relationship is really important. “There were a couple of quite important little things that just take a bit of learning, but we were so lucky. “He’s such a good athlete anyway that he was really good at learning and adapting so he just took it in his stride, but it was a lot of hard work. “Separating from Mikail was a big decision that was really tough, because it’s so difficult having a relationship like that and it’s difficult to build that in such a short space of time but he’s absolutely amazing, Chris. “I’d had so many successes with Mikail, but I just felt like I needed a new start. “Sometimes if you do what you’ve always done, you get what you’ve always got, and you never move forward,” she said. It would be fair to say that the road to Rio was a bit rocky for Clegg. After injuries and funding crises on top of parting with Huggins and not running properly with Clarke until April, Rio by her own admission was “a bit touch and go”, especially after she was told she would be reclassified to T11 – meaning she would be blindfolded. Despite initial worries, with the help of determined coach Joe McDonnell the pair jumped right into running with Clegg blindfolded and incredibly found themselves running through in quicker times than before. “That was quite scary just letting go because previously I was trying to see, but I had no option but to just run. “Obviously coming out of the start blocks

blindfolded is absolutely terrifying, because you have no awareness. I don’t really have any anyway, but it cut out that whole element of where the floor is, what’s around you and things, but it was fine.” The trust factor in guide running is probably the most impressive and unique part of the sport. Taking to the track with a guide directing you around requires trust itself, but the added element of a blindfold only seems to intensify the need for trust, something Clegg says she automatically invests in Clarke. But that trust is made easier by a strong relationship. “Chris is great because he’s a perfectionist, so if we felt a little bit off, we would just say - we both felt very comfortable.” The rocky road proved a learning curve not only for Clarke, but also Clegg who turned coach to help ease the transition for her guide, something she said was made easy with the help and support from those she has surrounded herself with. With that positivity and open mindedness, the duo moved from strength to strength before ultimately reaching Rio and bagging that double gold, and sharing that winning moment was just as special as you’d expect, according to Clegg. “It is really special to share those moments! “After having such a rough start to the year, it was great to have it all turned around. “If you asked me this time last year if I was going to be double Paralympic champion, I would’ve laughed at you, I didn’t even know if I would make it, but I was lucky to have the mutual support Chris and I shared.” 

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02/02/2017 15:15

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02/02/2017 10:03

AMPUTEE FOOTBALL

GAME ON FOR AMPUTEE FOOTBALL For years, Scottish amputees looking to play the beautiful game had two options – either travel to England for a game, or don’t play amputee football.

o, it was a welcomed move when only one year ago the sport made its Scottish debut with a taster session in the border town Annan, before amputee charity Finding Your Feet (FYF) and Scottish Premiership club Partick Thistle brought regular sessions at both senior and junior level to Scots. Fast forward one year and Finding Your Feet’s Ashley Reid has left the charity to set up her own, bringing in the Amputee Football Association Scotland (AFAS) alongside Partick Thistle’s Paul Kelly. Speaking at Scotland’s first competitive tournament that welcomed England’s Manchester City, Everton and The University of Limerick, Ashley and Paul shared their excitement at the new exciting turn the sport is taking north of the border. “I’ve been working for FYF for the last three and a half years, and we launched amputee football in Scotland,” Ashley began. “The response was wonderful, but I found

it warranted a charity of its own, so I’ve set up Amputee Football Association Scotland to spread it across Scotland, raise awareness and generate funding to get more teams and ultimately establish a league. “First on the agenda will be working with other clubs and the SPFL Trust, to roll it out and create awareness, and with hospitals and prosthetic units and once we’ve raised awareness, we’ll try establishing another team - maybe going east first - and then hold a Scottish Cup in the Oriam in Edinburgh on the second of April,” Ashley explained. Ashley also discussed the importance of bringing teams and amputees together through the sport. “Today is very exciting for everyone involved, a lot of players before they joined had never met another amputee, and suddenly you have 50 amputees coming together. “The amputation isn’t even considered, everyone just wants to play football and

that’s lovely, so I’m really excited about what can lie ahead.” Also heavily involved in the project is Partick Thistle Community Trust Manager Paul Kelly, who after working closely with FYF on the pilot, will work alongside Ashley at AFAS and he told OnTrack of his and Thistle’s excitement at the news. “At the club, we’re very excited, Ashley’s got a lot of energy and when she throws herself into something then it tends to happen,” he laughed. “Partick Thistle ourselves have now got a three-year strategy in place, so we hope the partnerships with AFAS and FYF will only get stronger.” At the heart of Scottish amputee football from early conversations to the first session, Paul is keen to see it move from strength to strength. “From a very small start in March we now have people coming from all over and we need to capitalise on that. Our ambition for the next year would maybe be having a minimum of six ‘city’ teams.”

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AMPUTEE FOOTBALL

CASE STUDY

Tommy McKay The amputation isn’t even considered, everyone just wants to play football

He also described the relationships between Thistle and clubs south of the border and across the water as fantastic moving forward, saying every day is a learning day. “We’ve got Manchester City and Everton at Springburn Park which is absolutely fantastic, but it’s a constant learning situation and it excites the players too. “It is competitive, but there’s a real strength in unity here, everyone looks to help each other regardless of their team, the University of Limerick have invited Kevin our coach to one of their coaching weekends to see how they do things, so he can learn from them who are a very professional outfit so it’d be a great experience for him.”

Partick Thistle Amputees’ very own Tommy McKay became an overnight sensation after a clip of him scoring a half time chip at his boyhood club Dundee United went viral. The video from Tannadice was viewed and shared over two million times and brought a spotlight onto not only Tommy, but the game in Scotland itself, and Tommy spoke of his newfound fame shortly before winning the SPFL November Goal of the Month, awarded to him by United manager Ray McKinnon. He said: “It’s been overwhelming, there’ve been messages from all over the world, Scottish celebrities have been tweeting the video, and people have been asking for autographs at garages and stuff like that - it’s been very surreal! “I wasn’t expecting it at all, I was more concerned with not falling on my bum when I took the shot! It was a competition for hospitality tickets so I was just happy to have won them, and then the next day I had calls from journalists and all these messages and videos online started popping up everywhere, so it was very overwhelming! “It’s about attracting as many new people as possible. We’re the only Scottish team and we’re still at the stage of borrowing a couple of players for tournaments and we worried about fulfilling our fixtures in England and Ireland so any publicity whether it’s my video or anything else, getting it out there is the most important thing,” Tommy said.

The video also saw McEwan Fraser Legal who sponsored the half-time competition in Dundee back the team financially to travel to their next tournament in Ireland and boosted the new AFAS. “We’ve got a new player here today, Stephen, and another joining at the next set of fixtures and we’ve secured funding for Ireland on the back of the publicity so it’s been phenomenal. “To get that support from your home country’s FA is brilliant. The EFA have been brilliant in setting up the league, but we do need support closer to home. We’re hundreds of miles away from them, and having backing proves the sport is going in the right direction, and it gives you confidence that what you’re doing is good, it’s really exciting!” he added. Tommy, from Monifieth near Dundee, travels 90 miles to train with Partick Thistle in Glasgow, and while it presents huge financial and personal challenges, he admits the opportunity is too big to not take. “I’ve two small children, so to come to Glasgow every couple of weeks for training is a lot. It’s not just the financial cost, but time away from the kids, and on top of that we have a month where we are touring all over Britain, but competitive sport for someone who is disabled is something that doesn’t happen often - and it is a dream. “It’s as close to professional football as it can be, so it’s something that we are very privileged to do, we just now want more people to enjoy the experience.”

The Scottish Amputee Football Cup tournament will take place on April 2 in the Oriam Centre, Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh. For more information about Amputee Football Association Scotland, visit them on Facebook at @amputeefootballscotland.

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MAGAZINE

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conditions may also have a significant effect on fuel consumption. Vehicle shown is Jeep Renegade 1.6 E-TorQ EVO Sport available with £395 Advance Payment with Alpine White paint included. Advance Payments are correct at time of going to press and subject to orders being placed by 31st March 2017. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Terms & Conditions apply. Offer may be varied and withdrawn at any time. Jeep® is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC.

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02/02/2017 10:03 25/01/2017 09:56

GYM

Instructability: Coach Wendy Hall, with regulars Wayne Hardwick (left) and Deepak Kumar.

FITNESS COACH WENDY IS STANDING TALL A fitness enthusiast who broke her neck in a workplace fall is now an instructor at the very inclusive centre of excellence for health and fitness that helped her get back on her feet.

endy Hall, of Dudley, West Midlands, was paralysed from the neck down when she tumbled down stairs while working for West Midlands Ambulance Service. When she was finally able to get out and about in her wheelchair, Wendy visited several local gyms, but experienced the typical barriers to personal exercise for disabled people. Deciding this shouldn’t be the case for other people who have a disability, she approached spinal charity Aspire where she was introduced to their ‘Instructability’ initiative - a funded opportunity for disabled people to gain a YMCAfit qualification in Gym and Fitness at Level 2. Wendy recognised the initiative’s potential to get people with disabilities seen and supported as skilled professionals in gyms. Her training and placement was at Sandwell Leisure Trust’s (SLT) Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury, where she went on to become its first disabled instructor. She now runs Wendy’s Wednesdays at which members, including wheelchair users and people with mixed abilities enjoy inclusive circuits together and have built up a strong social ethos. Her one-to-one sessions with disabled and non-disabled members have also increased due to customer recommendation.

Her list of activities has expanded to include a regular ViPR weighted workout class and Aquafit classes in the pool. Inspirational Wendy was recently one of only a few Instructability graduates selected to pick up an Outstanding Achievement Award for Healthy Partnerships at the UK Active Flame Awards. She is now out of her wheelchair and uses a stick only occasionally for balance and support. Wendy commented: “Portway is the ideal place to host ‘Instructability.’ It consistently delivers on its commitment to quality of service to disabled customers and inclusion, plus is passionate about addressing inequality in physical activity, reaching inactive populations and raising awareness of the benefits of exercise.” Portway’s fitness coordinator, Kevin Daly, added: “Wendy is such an inspiration and what she has helped build at Portway is highly commendable. She has certainly opened our eyes to what is possible here. “Groups of people exercising together, who have previously experienced barriers to participation, are now breaking those barriers down. The superior equipment and accessibility allows the whole community to use the centre, but it’s also proving to be a unique meeting place for disability members and able bodied members to exercise together, help each other improve and even forge lasting friendships.”

Among Wendy’s success stories is Oldbury’s Martin Floyd who has hydrocephalus – a condition which affects mobility and coordination. A wheelchair user, he had months of targeted leg exercises and succeeded in achieving his goal of walking around the gym on sticks. Martin said: “Some of my family and friends thought they would never live to see me get out of my chair. Wendy is a true inspiration and a real motivator. I’ve come a hell of a long way and it’s all thanks to her.” Wheelchair user Deepak Kumar had a severe spinal injury similar to that of Wendy after slipping in the bathroom. As well as inclusive circuits, he is a now regular in Wendy’s ViPR class and the hydro pool. “Wendy is very skilled and really friendly and has made me feel positive about taking on more and challenging myself,” said Deepak. “I can stand now and my physiotherapist is amazed at the progress I’ve made.” Wayne Hardwick from Rowley Regis lost a leg in a traffic accident, but is trying to lose weight via cardio programmes and strengthen his leg in the hope he can walk again. Wendy explains: “After some confidence and trust-building, he confided that he’d love to get a new prosthetic fitted, which no-one even knew he had. He’s doing brilliantly and it would be amazing to see that happen for him.” www.slt-leisure.co.uk/leisure-centre/ portway-lifestyle-centre

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WINTER GAMES

SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES

WINTER GAMES: Two Athletes

ith the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Graz just around the corner, excitement levels are heating up as 21 Special Olympics Great Britain athletes are preparing to head to the beautiful (but cold) Austrian city. The Games will descend on Graz from 14 to 25 March with figure skating

taking place from the 17 to 23 and alpine skiing from 17 to 23, when 10 GB athletes will take to the rink and 11 to the slopes. Helena, the proud mum of promising GB figure skating hopeful, Jenny Lee, talks to us, while alpine skiing’s Alex Scarborough brings us up to speed with his Austrian ambitions.

SKATER Jenny Lee One skater ready to glide onto the scene in Austria is Yorkshire’s Jenny Lee. Jenny’s parents Helena and Adam were told after a brain scan that it would be unlikely that their daughter would walk or talk. She underwent surgery at the age of 12 for cochlear implants when her hearing deteriorated. Jenny has been involved in Special Olympics GB for four years after being scouted at an inclusive skating tournament. She was soon invited to compete at the 2013 Games in South Korea but it was decided that the opportunity arose too soon. Now 19, Jenny, who’s mum and sister Hannah are also competitive skaters, is ready for the Games after her supportive parents became determined to find ways to help her live life to the full. Helena explained: “When she started, she couldn’t stand on one leg in the

house and balance, and now she’s doing spirals with one leg behind her at 90 degrees, so to see her achieve and glide across the ice is so lovely. “She couldn’t join in with group lessons because she couldn’t hear well. We paid for one-to-one sessions for her where she took about six months to stay upright and go to groups, but she really enjoyed it and the lessons were more than just learning to skate.” The Special Olympics offers more than competitive sport, encouraging friendships and independence amongst other values and Helena praised the “lovely” atmosphere at the Bradford rink where she trains and amongst the Special Olympics community. “She became very friendly with one of the girls who skate around them, and Lauren was very positive with her, always chatted to and helped her up and they became quite good friends. “One of the big things to come out of everything was the social circle she now has. “Also, we live in a rural area where buses aren’t great, but if we can’t take her she needs two buses or the train and she was

too scared, but she wanted to take part in her arena’s Christmas show and she had to get herself there. “It gave us the motivation to do it. We went with her to the stop and she did it on her own, so it’s given her all that independence that she otherwise wouldn’t have had.” To qualify for Graz, Jenny had to be competing at a high level, and while she still claimed gold, Helena said while the confidence boost was good for her daughter, there’s no pressure for her to medal in Austria despite her intense training programme. “She skates at six on a Sunday morning because the ice is quiet then. They’re all aware that she’s deaf but there are also some visually-impaired girls there, so we get the odd crash where Jenny hasn’t seen them and they haven’t heard her but they laugh about it, and she skates on a Friday and either a Tuesday or Thursday as well,” said Helena. “Training for Austria is going great, she’s doing really well. She won her qualification tournament which was brilliant for her selfesteem, so a medal would be great, but for us as parents the Special Olympics is not about the winning, it’s the taking part.” 

magazine.co.uk | 27

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02/02/2017 14:46

WINTER GAMES

SKIER ALEX SCARBOROUGH When Alex Scarborough set off to Prato Nevoso, Italy, on a school ski trip, he could never have imagined how much of an impact it would have on his life.

was great and we got a good look at what the course will be like. It was like a dress rehearsal, only next time it will be much more physical.

After impressing on the Italian slopes, Alex soon found himself involved in the Special Olympics, and for the past decade, he’s been climbing the ladder to now be preparing for his first World Winter Games.

“We train separately across the country, it’s only when we go out of the country that we train together. We’ve all gotten to know each other very well, athletes and coaches.” The 19-year-old trains under the watchful

“I went with my school on my first ski trip, and my teacher used to be a ski coach,” Alex began. “Out of all of my classmates, he saw me to have the most talent, and he had some connections and got me involved in the Special Olympics.”

He said: “Schlaming was very good the weather was perfect, the timing

“I have a ski machine – it’s like a cross trainer, like half an oval, and you stand on the middle at the top and put all your body weight to one side and carry on the same as if you are turning on the spot, it’s quite intense. “Final preparations training-wise are just the same, it’s now just costs and Special Olympics will be fundraising between now and then.”

Competing in four events every year, Alex of Farnham has plenty of national experience under his belt, something he is keen to call into action for Graz after finding out last summer that he’d be competing. But years of experience isn’t enough for Alex heading into the Games, who has just arrived back from Schlaming in Austria, where he and the 10 other British Alpine Skiers took to the slopes as they begin to ready themselves for March.

eye of coach Pete Jesse at Aldershot Ski Centre where he trains once a week on a Thursday and once a month on a Sunday. But the dedicated teen takes it one step further and takes his training home with him, with the maths, English, business and IT student putting in an hour every night at home.

While the motto of the Special Olympics may be ‘let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’, Alex doesn’t beat around the bush when asked about what his goal is in Austria. “I’d say it’s the competition and the experience I’m looking forward to. ALEX HIS

WORLD

AFTER HARD

READY

DEBUT

YEARS WORK

FOR

“I do love the fact that I’ve been asked to represent my country as a British patriot, but I won’t lie, like everyone else, I aim for gold. “Just to be there will be the greatest experience of all though,” he added.

Final preparations training-wise are just the same, it’s now just costs and Special Olympics will be fundraising between now and then.”

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magazine.co.uk

02/02/2017 09:51

WATER

W AT E R FA C T S

RUNNING WATER Runners who want to avoid headaches, fatigue, cramping and decreased coordination should pay attention to what and when they are drinking.

o prevent those and other heat-related side effects, such as heat exhaustion and potentially dangerous heatstroke, athletes must stay hydrated. Make sure you are well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and nonalcoholic and non-caffeinated fluids during the few days prior to a run or race of eight or more miles. An hour before you set off, try to drink about 16fl oz, and take in another 4-8fl oz immediately before you start. While running, drink when you’re thirsty to prevent underhydrating and overhydrating which can lead to low blood salt level due to abnormal fluid retention. On your runs, you should drink 4-6fl oz of fluids every 20 minutes. During workouts of 90 minutes or more, some of your fluid intake should include a sports drink to replace lost sodium and other minerals and help your body absorb fluids faster. If there are no water stops along your running routes, you’ll have to carry your own fluids and a wrist strap for your bottle comes in handy. Because some people sweat more than others, it’s important to bear in mind that everyone’s fluid needs vary. To establish your sweat levels, undress

and step on the scales before a timed run and weigh yourself again after the run. One pound of weight loss is the equivalent of a pint of water loss. Use this calculation to determine your body’s fluid needs during a run. Bear in mind that you may need to alter your consumption of fluids depending on the weather conditions. Don’t forget to rehydrate with 20 to 24 fl oz. of water for every pound of weight lost. If your urine is dark yellow after your run, you need to keep rehydrating. To inject a bit of refreshing zing to your water, try a natural liquid water enhancer, such as Stur. Available in six flavours, including brewed tea and lemon, orange and mango, green apple and blackcurrant and apple, squeeze once into 200ml of chilled water for a refreshing, natural drink.

75 % of your brain is made up of water

25,000 The amount of litres that the average human consumes

97 %

The amount of water on earth that is non-consumable

High in vitamin C with zero sugar calories and fat, this and similar enhancers are often gluten, dairy and caffeine free, making them suitable for diabetics, obesity and weight management, pregnancy and breastfeeding. The family-run firm behind Stur contribute one per cent of their profits to selected non-profit organisations who are working to ensure safe water for all. www.sturdrinks.eu

magazine.co.uk | 29

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02/02/2017 09:51

WORKOUT MUSIC

or many, exercising is more of a chore than a pleasure. Particularly during the winter months, finding the drive to get out and get working can be difficult, but a musical motivator may be the thing to inject a bit of energy into your workout. And music streaming service Spotify are here to help. The Swedish site hosts almost 25 million fitness playlists, but data recently collected found the ‘Dance Workout’ track list to be the most popular. But it’s not just dance music that’s getting people moving as Spotify have found hip hop to be another popular choice with Drake, Eminem, Kanye West and Rihanna topping training playlists worldwide. The company’s trend expert Shanon Cook explained why listening to the right tune while working up a sweat is so important. “Music can be a great motivator for working out, so long as it’s the right music. “Year after year, our listeners have made

Lorna Williamson

Eminem’s ‘Till I Collapse’ the most popular track to get sweaty to, so it’s pretty clear that a message of endurance resonates with them.” The site reported Norway, Iceland and Sweden the countries whose gym bunnies most frequently listened to dedicated workout playlists, but also recorded the most listened to songs worldwide and in the UK. Eminem’s ‘Till I Collapse’ topped the global list followed by Kanye West’s ‘Stronger’, ‘Jumpman’ by Drake and Rihanna hit ‘Work’. In the UK, Drake was on top, with ‘One Dance’ ahead of ‘Power’ by Kanye West and Jay-Z’s ‘Paris’, Desiigner’s ‘Panda’ and ‘ Light It Up’ from Major Lazer. OnTrack have enlisted the help of some UK disability sports clubs to see what they’re listening to, to power through and help you kick-start your own training session.

Red Star Athletics Club, Glasgow

Keep on Runnin

Spencer Davis Group My favourite song to run to is anything with a good, fast beat like ‘Keep on Runnin’ by Spencer Davis Group.”

Barry Mullin Red Star Athletics Club, Glasgow

I Believe I Can Fly R Kelly

My favourite song to exercise to is RJ Kelly’s ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ as it feels like I am flying when I’m running and I like the beat of the song.”

magazine.co.uk

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02/02/2017 15:20

WORKOUT MUSIC

Julie Lawrenson

Anna Jackson Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club, Cheshire

Jan Williams

House of Fun Madness

My new favourite band is The Lay Awakes - a couple, Patrick Anderson and his wife - he is an ex international wheelchair basketball player for Canada and is an awesome player my absolute hero. I like listening to all their songs when I train.”

Kris Saunders -Stowe Wheely Good Fitness, Hereford

Shut Up

Black Eyed Peas A great beat, has a steam train feel to the rhythm making it a great one to push to and has a great energy to it.”

Wheely Good Fitness, Hereford

Reach for the Stars S Club 7

I love to work out to music with a good strong beat and rhythmically easy to follow. Something I can hang my hat on and it doesn’t matter how old it is, as long as it has all the right ingredients and allows me to throw all my inhibitions away. The lyrics must have motivation too, and when I hear this song it isn’t long before my smile breaks out across the room. This why my choice is ‘Reach for the Stars’ by S Club. I will hum this number long after the workout is over!”

Sandwell Leisure Trust, West Midlands

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Daft Punk

“The title says it all, plus the tune transcends me to a place where training hard and pushing my limits is just the starting place and the fun begins.”

Hold My Hand Jess Glynne

I have a number of favourite songs but my favourites at the moment is: Jess Glynne, ‘Hold my Hand’. This song gave me the motivation to train for my first half marathon, Hereford in 2015. When I listen to the words they are very apt for me as I find it hard to believe in me!”

Elliot Evans Wheely Good Fitness, Hereford

Doop

Sidney Berlin

Chris King Wheely Good Fitness, Hereford

Scott Parrish

Wheely Good Fitness, Hereford

Fight Song

My favourite training song is the Sidney Berlin Ragtime Radio Edition of the ‘Doop’ song, because it is catchy, and has a brilliant beat to train to. As for me being in a wheelchair, it helps me bring my pushing up to full potential when training!”

Rachel Platten

Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten is the first song on my playlist. It lifts me and gives a feel-good factor. I can associate myself to every word in this song lows leading to highs and the fight that is still in me. It’s a song that gives me that boost and gets me motivated for my workout whether in body or mind. This is my ‘Fight Song.”

Katie Berisford Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball Club, Cheshire

Money for Nothing Dire Straits

Great beat when I go for a push, keeps me going.”

magazine.co.uk

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| 31 02/02/2017 15:19

Active & Attractive 1

2 2

KIT AND KABOODLE Littlewoods Sporty Backpack, £38 1www.littlewoods.com @M&Co Training Zone Water Bottle, £4 2www.mandco.com Jump Rope, £2.50 www.primark.com 3Primark Yoga Mat, £6 www.primark.com 4Primark 32

32-33_Sportswear.indd 32

TOP OF THE CROPS Debenhams Red Herring Active Leisure Bra Top, £18, 1www.debenhams.com Littlewoods Reebok Hero Warrior Med Sport Bra, £28 2www.littlewoods.com Primark Plunge Sports Bra, £6 3www.primark.com White Stuff Sit Up Bra, £22.50, 4www.whitestuff.com

JUST THE JACKET M&S Active Lightweight Jacket, £29.50 1www.marksandspencer.com Primark Light Pink Jacket, £12 2www.primark.com Zip Up Jacket, £15 www.primark.com 3Primark Superdry Hooded Windtrekker, £79.99 4www.superdry.com

LIGHT AND TIGHT Debenhams Active Gym Leggings, £26 1www.debenhams.com George Athletic Works Leggings, £10 2www.direct.asda.com Littlewoods Stellaprint Tigh, £52 3www.littlewoods.com Superdry Trackster Leggings, £24.99 4www.superdry.com

magazine.co.uk

02/02/2017 09:53

 This Season’s Best Treads and Threads

3 3

4 4

SOLE MATES M&S Collection Block Trainers, £35 1www.marksandspencer.com Runners, £34 www.next.co.uk 2Next Superdry Trophy Series High, £39.99 3www.superdry.com Superdry Grey Scuba Runners, £54.99 4www.superdry.com

TEMPTING TEES Debenhams Red Herring Active Vest, £16 1www.debenhams.com River Island Active Vest, £18 2www.riverisland.com River Island Active Black/ Yellow Seamless 3T Shirt, £20

www.riverisland.com Superdry Gym Based Logo Runner, Tee Grey Grit, £29.99 www.superdry.com

SHORT AND SWEAT GOING Debenhams Red Herring SWIMMINGLY Women’s Shorts, £28 1www.debenhams.com @M&Co Kylie Blue Atzec Two-Piece, £12 1www.mandco.com Superdry Gym Sport Short Grey 2Grit,Runner £29.99 Superdry Swim Shorts, www.superdry.com £39.99 2www.superdry.com Superdry Track and Field Short, £34.99 3www.superdry.com River Island Cut-Away OnePiece, £30 3www.riverisland.com Superdry Gym Training Sport Short Fluro 4Orange, TK Max Rose Print Swim £29.99 Shorts, £14.99 4 www.superdry.com www.tkmax.com magazine.co.uk | 33

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02/02/2017 09:53

Shouldn’t everyone have the opportunity to ski? As theUK’s Skier’s and Boarder’s Charity, we believe that skiers and snowboarders, no matter what their disability, should be able to ski and ride alongside the able bodied as equals at all snowsports facilities and resorts.

To get involved and find out more call us on 0845 521 9338 or go to www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk For people looking to book a lesson. Use discount code DSUK5 to get £5 off a lesson. Promotion ends 15th June 2017 and one per customer.

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ads_ontrack_febmar17.indd 34

26/01/2017 10:02

02/02/2017 10:03

 SMART TECH

The Future of Fitness  YOUBIKE This multi-purpose lightweight bike is designed for use while in bed, but can also be floor mounted and used with or without a wheelchair. Targeting the arms and legs, the hand cranks connect to the foot cranks through a direct drive belt, enabling a user’s arms to exercise their legs is a cycling motion. The computer system included also reads out speed, time, distance and calorie burn. Suitable for those with spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s or stroke patients.

Prices from £1250 Spokz.co.uk | 01543899317

 REALXGEAR COOLING CAP The RealXGear Cooling Cap will keep you feeling fresh when playing sports. The cap is designed to keep you five degrees cooler than the outdoor temperature - you’ll stay cool all day long! The Cooling Cap is durable and machine washable and the innovative lightweight material dries quickly and is super soft. Available in five attractive colours so you can match your cap to your style.

Price: £14.99 www.springchicken.co.uk

App of the hour  NUTRACHECK Whether you’re trying to eat less sugar, curb the carbs or lose weight, see the bigger picture this year with Nutracheck. It’s your must-have food tracking app, counting carbs, sugar, protein, fat, saturated fat and salt as well as calories so you can customise your food diary with the nutrients that interest you. With over 200,000 products in the UK food database, you’ll soon see how your diet measures up.

Price £3.99 per month visit www.nutracheck.co.uk magazine.co.uk | 35

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02/02/2017 14:08

SMART TECH  DYNA-BANDS Dyna-Bands® are recommended by physiotherapists for the rehabilitation, repair and strengthening of injured muscles. Gently and safely, at your own pace and in the privacy of your own home you can rebuild strength, stamina, flexibility and tone. With four different colour-coded resistances to choose from, there’s a resistance exercise band to suit every fitness level. It’s great for beginners and perfect for using during pilates, yoga or aerobics-based exercise to improve your flexibility and agility.

Priced £10.50-£18.50 www.springchicken.co.uk

 PEBBELL TRACKER MARK An attractive pocket-sized GPS tracker with SOS button and 2-way communication. Not only does it pinpoint the exact location of the wearer, but it facilitates a two-way conversation with family and friends through the inbuilt speaker.

Price: £168.99 www.springchicken.co.uk

 MORE MILE TIGER FOAM ROLLER Prevent injury and promote good circulation and flexibility with a foam roller. The Tiger foam roller is designed specifically with ridges to target tight muscles, fascia and trigger points by continually hitting muscle groups during use before and after exercise to ensure safe and comprehensive preparation and recovery. Loosening tight and stiff muscles, this foam roller is suitable for those with poor circulation and flexibility, and is 32cm x 14cm.

Price from £4 www.moremile.co.uk 0844 8488803

 MORE MILE ARMBAND PHONE CARRIER Train comfortably and without the worry of dropping your phone or music player with this media armband.Suitable for those with grip problems or no use of their hands, with a durable light neoprene material, the armband fits comfortably around your upper arm, the phone sits securely in the protective pocket and can be seen through the clear protective window which allows control of the touchscreen and has gaps for headphones to be connected. It also features reflective panels and logos for visibility at night and is suitable for a number of phone makes and models.

Price from £9.95 www.moremile.co.uk 0844 8488803

35-36_SmartTech.indd 36

magazine.co.uk

02/02/2017 09:54

Advertising Feature

ACCESS ALL AREAS

As the sportscotland Inverclyde National Sports Training Centre prepares to re-open its doors following a £12m refurbishment, Mel Young, Chair of sportscotland, reﬂects on how the facility will champion inclusivity and inspire athletes of the future.

t sportscotland we know that the exploits of Scottish athletes on the world stage can play an inspirational role in encouraging other people to take up sport. ParalympicsGB enjoyed an incredibly successful time in Rio, winning 147 medals and finishing second in the medal table. The medal count was the highest since National Lottery funding was introduced for elite athletes in 1997.

The most important thing is ensuring that equality and inclusion are central to the system” Here at home, we operate a collaborative approach, working closely with our partners - Local Authorities, Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport including Scottish Disability Sport, clubs and coaches - to develop a world-class sporting system. The most important thing is ensuring that equality and inclusion are central to this system. Wherever possible, disability

40_Sportscotland.indd 40

sport is integrated into our programmes and we seek to deliver a wholly accessible strategy. The Scottish Government and sportscotland have been heavily investing in facilities in Scotland for a period of years and have now built up a tremendous sporting estate, catering for grassroots, club, and performance sport. We are especially proud of the extensive refurbishment of the sportscotland Inverclyde National Sports Training Centre which will be the first residential facility of its kind in the UK when it opens in April this year. It has been built for ease of access and to meet the needs of all users, whether participating in sport, spectating or using the centre’s many other facilities.

...a training facility that works for people at every level of ability” The centre was conceived and designed not only with sport in mind but also with a clear focus on the people who take part. Architects and planners looked at every

aspect of comfort, well-being, safety and access, resulting in a training facility that works for people at every level of sporting ability. Inverclyde truly is an inspirational environment which will enhance sports training and drive motivation. It’s a highly accessible and inclusive venue where 120 disabled participants can come together to train, play, and stay in a performance environment. By helping to break down the barriers, Inverclyde is helping promote the national agenda of a more active Scotland and challenging those inequalities that can exist in sport. While we acknowledge that more can be done, we have undoubtedly made significant strides in creating an inclusive sporting system in Scotland. In the next issue of OnTrack, we’ll give you a sneak peek at the new centre and some of the facilities on offer. If you wish to find out more information about Inverclyde or disability sports in Scotland, please go to www.sportscotland.org.uk and/or www.scottishdisabilitysport.com

02/02/2017 14:02

HEADER

Off-road wheelchairs called rough riders allow access for wheelchair users to the remote locations of some caves. 38

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magazine.co.uk

02/02/2017 09:54

CAVING

HAVE YOU TRIED CAVING? Caving is regarded as the last true wilderness of the world and gives a person the opportunity to discover and explore a completely new environment.

he Yorkshire Dales is famed for its impressive underground cave systems which few people get to explore. There are more than 2,500 known caves in the Dales, from large caverns big enough to accommodate St Paul’s Cathedral to more challenging squeezes and some are accessible for all. If you think that caving is dark, damp and dismal, then think again! Beautiful passages can give way to formations thousands of years old which only a select few have ever seen. Caving can be a very sensory experience, often with reduced light levels allowing an enhanced sense of smell, sound and touch. Show caves such as Ingleborough Cave in the Yorkshire Dales are a great and accessible way to get underground in the first instance. Some are suitable for wheelchair users with level access and are well lit, with guided tours to help educate you about their fascinating features. If you decide you’d like to find out more, then there are many local clubs across the country, with the British Caving Association’s Try Caving website the first point of call for intrepid explorers. From here, you can find and contact your local club, discover more about caving and the British Caving Association as well as learn about cave conservation. Specialist providers, such as the Bendrigg Trust in Cumbria, can offer caving for beginners as

a day activity or part of a larger residential course for individuals, groups or families. By challenging perceptions of disability, Bendrigg Trust seeks to dispel misconceptions that adventure is just for the able-bodied. Taking full advantage of their position just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Bendrigg seeks to introduce people to the wonders of caving and even offers advanced caving skills courses for adults with a visual impairment. Caving can be a truly accessible experience. Often things that are seen to be a barrier to participation can be removed, or negated, using expert knowledge and specialist equipment, as is the case at Bendrigg Trust. Off-road wheelchairs called rough riders allow access for wheelchair users to the remote locations of some caves. Simply setting up a buddy system for people with a visual impairment can all of a sudden open up a world of opportunity. Venue choice can be a large factor in making a caving trip not only accessible but truly inclusive, so local knowledge and tutors with extensive experience supporting groups of people with disabilities underground is essential. Whatever your reason for wanting to give caving a go, you are sure to experience a feeling of exploration, adventure and discovery.  www.british-caving.org.uk www.bendrigg.org.uk

magazine.co.uk | 39

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02/02/2017 09:55

re ac

e lak

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1.5

g ed in ck h sto fis ell W se ar co • 8 accessible luxury lakeside lodges in Devon • 5 Caravan Club CL pitches with electric hook up • Heated indoor pool (Seasonal) • Games Room and Free WiFi • Orchard and woodland walk • Dogs welcome

Calvert Trust Exmoor enables people of and to experience exciting, challenging, and enjoyable accessible activity holidays with family and friends.

At our five star, fully accessible residential centre on the edge of Exmoor National Park all activities and facilities are specifically designed and equipped to cater for everyone. Stay with us for a few days, a week, or just for the day; however long you’re here you’ll discover CAN

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ads_ontrack_febmar17.indd 37

03/02/2017 10:32

EFDS

LIGHTS CAMERA

ACTION!

FILM ENCOURAGES DISABLED PEOPLE

GET

ACTIVE

National charity the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is celebrating the release of its latest animated film for engaging disabled people.

uilding on the success of its inclusive communications animation, EFDS has also compiled a collection of free fact sheets that enable organisations to plan, target and deliver activities more effectively.

animation, talks viewers through the top engagement principles, which include insight, marketing and workforce.

regardless of age, background or level of ability, feels able to engage in sport and physical activity.

The seven downloads provide useful information on these topics, as well as how to better target supporters, disabled children, young people and older people.

“We know that disabled people are half as likely to be active as non-disabled people,” she said.

The Federation hopes these resources will lead to more successful engagement ideas for disabled people to be and stay active for life.

EFDS’s chief executive, Barry Horne, explained: “The reality is that most people access activities at a local level. We want to empower those who deliver these opportunities by providing the right support, connections and insight, so that we can all improve opportunities for disabled people.

Sport England’s Active People Survey year-on-year statistics consistently indicate that disabled people are still half as likely to be active as non-disabled people. In a bid to tackle low participation rates, the funding focus of Government and Sport England will be on inactive audiences. Emily, a disabled character within the

“This is something that the sports sector needs to recognise, understand and help to change – especially if we are going to get more inactive disabled people moving more. “We need to put disabled people and what they want and need at the very heart of everything we do.

“These new resources add to our growing offer of support and I would encourage activity providers to contact our engagement team to find out more.”

“We think these engagement resources will really work towards making this vision a reality and to help more disable people to get active, both now and in the future.”

Lisa O’Keefe, Sport England’s director of insight, said their vision is that everyone,

For more info, visit www.efds.co.uk and go to the engagement page.

magazine.co.uk

41_EFDS.indd 41

| 41 02/02/2017 14:52

The enormous talent of David Toole STOPGAP

DANCE

INCLUSIVE DANCE

PATHWAY ONCE

THE MOULD TOURING ENORMOUS

COMPANY’S TO

AGAIN

THROUGH

DYNAMIC BREAKING

ITS

PRODUCTION,

NEW

THE

ROOM.

experienced David Toole and newcomer Sampson are set to intrigue when the production opens on March 2 at Saddler’s Wells Lilian Baylis Studio before embarking on a UK tour.

The work explores the complex but poignant relationship between a father and daughter both living through a grieving process.

A 26-year-old David’s chance tryst with dance couldn’t have been further removed from his nine-year job with the Post Office, where he was charged with the “soul destroying” daily task of typing in postcodes.

he gripping production, which was 18 months in the making, features in a central role acclaimed disabled dancer David Toole, whose extensive work includes a captivating prominent solo at the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony.

His daughter, Sam, is played by Hannah Sampson, a talented young dancer who has Down’s Syndrome.

Back in 1992, one of his former teachers, who had worked with him on school drama productions, handed him a leaflet about a Candoco Dance Company workshop, which a friend persuaded him to attend.

The intricate interactions between

Because of his passion for acting,

David, who was born without legs, plays Dave, whose wife, Jackie, has died, but he still sees her everywhere.

42-43_DavidToole.indd 42

Image: Chris Parkes

David saw it as nothing more than an opportunity to enhance his performance skills. “It escalated from there. I did the workshop, they asked me to join the company and I ended up performing all over the world,” summed up David. Initially a performer who danced in his wheelchair, David left fellow dancers dumbfounded when, unannounced, he left the chair to dance during a workshop. Finding it gave him greater creative scope, it instantly became his preferred style of dance. Onlookers could be forgiven for regarding David as an individual who knows no boundaries, and he insists that he was brought up not to think of limitations.

magazine.co.uk

02/02/2017 15:24

DAVID TOOLE

I DID THE WORKSHOP, THEY ASKED ME TO JOIN THE COMPANY AND I ENDED UP PERFORMING ALL OVER THE WORLD... David Toole, Stopgap Dancer

estimated world-wide audience of half a billion people.

“I had a very supportive family. I was not treated any differently from my sister and the friends around me who just saw me as one of the guys. I went to a school for people with physical disabilities, so everyone was in the same boat. Getting into mainstream school was not necessarily an option, but I do not feel I missed out in any way,” he reflected.

Although he refuses to be drawn on whether dance or theatre is his greater love, he says he owes so much to dance because of the opportunities it presented. What he has achieved, he says, is a “nice balance.”

“We did all the school sports days, performances and concerts. It was practically normal and we just got on with things.” While working with the Candoco Dance Company, he studied for a year at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, receiving a Professional Diploma in Community Dance in 1993. Six years of national and international touring with Candoco ensued until 1999 when he decided to try new experiences.

Both powerful and influential as performer and dancer, David uses his acclaimed physical and dramatic skills in The Enormous Room to bring the character Dave to life.

In 1995, David had his first taste of theatre when he played the part of Puck in Benjamin Britten’s opera of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. “In the first couple of days, I was petrified. When speaking on stage, I had to speak in rhythm, surrounded by all these great opera singers,” remembers David. His other work includes performances with the acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre of Wales, Cape Town’s Remix Dance Company and his 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony solo performance in front of an

HANNAH’S WITH AS

The Enormous Room, explains David, is multi-layered. Rather than the intensive four-week period dance companies would usually have to work on a new production, he has relished the luxury of a long preparatory period which has served to nurture creativity and ideas. It has also given dancers like Hannah, who has a learning disability, a little more time to grasp concepts and techniques.

Cambodian wheelchair dancer Nadenh Poan plays Chock, who has a Puck-like

INVOLVEMENT

STOPGAP

PART

THEATRE

GROUP

THEN

DANCER

STARTED

THE A

YOUTH AND

TRAINEE

presence. Although both he and Hannah have received 10 years of professional training with the Stopgap Dance Company, both had to audition for their parts. They are joined by non-disabled dancers Meritxell Checa, a dancer and collaborator with celebrated French choreographer Philippe Decoufle and Amy Butler, who takes the roles of Jackie as Dave’s wife and Sam’s mother respectively. It is not the first time David has worked with Lucy Bennett, Stopgap’s artistic director and choreographer for The Enormous Room. Said David: “Lucy is a very collaborative artist. She is a very pioneering inclusive choreographer and knows how to make the most of a diverse team. How she has created a training programme for disabled dancers like Hannah is impressive too.” Hannah has been involved with Stopgap firstly as a member of the original youth theatre dance group and from 2010 as a trainee dancer. She toured as a trainee dancer for Stopgap both nationally and internationally in European Street Arts Festivals Tour ‘Tracking 2012’ and UK Cultural Olympiad outdoor tour ‘SPUN Productions 2012.’ In 2013, she became part of Sg2 and last year, she graduated to the main touring team. The production moves on to Merseyside Dance Initiative, Liverpool, on March 6, to Arc, Stockton on March 9 and Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth on March 23. More dates will be announced shortly. www.stopdance.com

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02/02/2017 09:56

NAIDEX

Get active, get involved

Sport at Naidex 2017! 2017 is officially underway and with Naidex fast approaching we take a look at the fantastic sport focus at the show this March.

isability sports have been picking up significant momentum over the last few years, with 2016 being particularly progressive and exciting. The second Invictus Games in May 2016 received international attention and support, and the summer’s Paralympics saw monumental success providing motivation and recognition across the UK and the world. Naidex 2017 will help cultivate the growing popularity of disability sports with a dedicated sport focus, show-casing the very best names and ideas that are shaping the sector. Visitors are able to see, touch and test the latest and most progressive sporting equipment, whilst talking to the experts who have created these amazing and innovative products and services.

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But this is not enough. At Naidex inclusiveness and interactivity triumphs throughout. Therefore, visitors are able to take their experience to the next level by visiting the Sport Demo Arena where they are encouraged to put their sporting skills to the test, get involved and sharpen that competitive edge. “We want visitors to get involved! See, touch, test, take part… this is an unparalleled opportunity to gain the very best possible advice from the people who know about disability sports,” said Paige Lewin, Naidex event director So, who and what can you expect to see? Let’s hear from some of the people that are making this event unmissable! Register for your free ticket at www.naidex.co.uk

WHEELCHAIR DANCE SPORT ASSOCIATION

“The Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (UK) are proud to be promoting inclusive dance at Naidex 2017! We’ve got an exciting seminar from our National Dance Manager, Emma Millward, who will be talking about the benefits and opportunities that inclusive dance has to offer in the UK. Emma will also be running a taster session in the demo arena for people to come and have a go at inclusive dance and wheelchair dance sport,” commented Ian Richards, marketing and media officer. Emma’s focus is on the benefits of dance, and the importance of making that experience not only fun, but safe and accessible for all. Qualifying from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, and teaching students from two to 82-years-old, this is a woman who is enthusiastic about dance for all!

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NAIDEX

NATIONAL DISABILITY SPORTS ORGANISATIONS “There are eight National Disability Sports Organisations (NDSOs) recognised by the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS). They are British Blind Sport, Cerebral Palsy Sport, Dwarf Sports Association UK, LimbPower, Mencap Sport, Special Olympics Great Britain, WheelPower and UK Deaf Sport,” said Courtney Perks from the EFDS. “The NDSOs will be coming together at Naidex 2017 to promote accessible sport and physical activities for disabled people, and talk to visitors about the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle. We’ll be armed with information about the support, advice and opportunities available for people with specific impairments who are looking to be more active.” Make sure you visit stand E82 at Naidex to find out about accessible sport opportunities.

BRITISH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

Wheelchair basketball is the largest provider of regular physical activity for wheelchair users in the UK with over 3,000 registered members and 20,000 individuals participating in the sport each year. Visit the team on Stand F63 and don’t miss their live demos in the Sport Arena. You can also hear from Wheelchair Basketball’s ‘Big Man’ Simon Munn, talking about his accident and then the sport that changed his life - and his impressive seven paralympics!

DISABILITY SNOWSPORT UK

“We are looking forward to Naidex this year so that we can show as many people as possible that anyone with any disability can enjoy the freedom and speed of skiing on the slopes,” said Rachel Davies, Disability Snowsport. Visit stand F73 at Naidex to try out the equipment and gain an understanding of how skiing is great for the health and wellbeing of disabled people - as well as being really good fun!

RYA SAILABILITY

“Have you sailed before and want to get back on the water or have you never sailed but think it might be for you?,” asks Melissa Chapman from RYA Sailability. “Sailing is an exciting, social and outdoor activity that offers a real sense of freedom. Sailability offers a network of over 200 sites around the UK ready to help you get on the water, so there is bound to be somewhere near you to give it a go”. Visit RYA Sailability at stand D60 and in the Live Sport Arena where you can see some of the equipment used, and meet the people who can help you take that first step to get into boating. Naidex Sport presents a safe and welcoming environment for people of all ages and abilities to discover the incredible range of benefits, both physically and mentally, that disability sports have to offer. Talk to the experts, meet like-minded people, and reveal untapped talents. The Sports Demo Arena is the most effective way to try something new - or just hone those sporting skills alongside the best.

ROYAL NATIONAL COLLEGE OF THE BLIND

Students from The Royal National College of the Blind will be showcasing their skills with demonstrations in visually impaired sports and fitness classes. Practical sessions will include blind football and goalball, and there will also be an opportunity to join in with a fitness session delivered by a student. At the Royal National College stand, massage students will also be giving free massage treatments throughout the day (who said sports was all sweat and hard work?!). Speaking at Naidex is Aaron Ford who has been working at the RNC for nearly 10 years and has a strong passion for disability sport. As well as teaching Sports and PSD (Personal & Social Development), he was also named head coach and performance manager of the GB Women’s Goalball Team in 2014, leading them to victory at the 2016 European B games in Portugal where the unbeaten women’s team were awarded gold and are now promoted to the European A League where they will compete against the likes of Paralympic world champions Turkey.

TENNIS FOUNDATION

“No matter if you have a physical impairment, visual impairment, learning disability/ difficulty or are deaf or hard of hearing we will be able to get you playing tennis!” pledged Sam Perks, Tennis Foundation disability development coordinator. Chat to the team at the show and get involved!

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02/02/2017 15:23

SURFING

Sports Focus

SURFING 01/T H E S P O R T Adaptive surfing is an inclusive sport for people who have a wide range of physical disabilities. Surfing can be low impact when the waves are small, but different ocean conditions and surfing in different locations allow surfers to really push their limits, meaning it can be a very extreme sport. Although surfing can be hard to master, it’s easy to have loads of fun. Surfing, which is the art of riding waves, can be enjoyed using various kinds of surfboards and can be in a standing, kneeling, seated or prone position. Most surfers do not compete but simply enjoy the act of riding waves whenever and however they can. The ocean provides endless personal challenges and a constantly changing playing field. The sport came into focus when The International Surfing Association (ISA) recently ran the second Adaptive Surfing World Championships. The categories used for the World Championships are based on the International Paralympic Committee classifications. With so many diverse disabilities and many ways to catch the waves, it is necessary in a competitive environment to classify athletes according to their disability, the equipment they use and the position in which they surf.

02/T H E R U L E S According to the ISA, a surfer must perform radical controlled manoeuvres in the critical sections of a wave with speed, power and flow. Innovative/progressive surfing as well as the combination and variety of repertoire is taken into consideration when rewarding points for a surfer’s performance. Surfers who paddle out and catch openface waves will always be scored higher than surfers who catch ‘white water’ (waves that have already broken). The surfer who catches an open-face wave and travels right or left and performs a manoeuvre at 100% will score more highly.

03/E Q U I P M E N T Surfers require a surfboard and swimwear or a wetsuit according to water temperature. Some athletes also have a pusher and a catcher to assist with getting on and off their board, or for the VI category a water coach who can give the athlete verbal cues. Surfboard designs and adaptations vary depending on the athlete’s disability. Boards for prone surfers often have raised sides to prevent slipping off the board. Some athletes who have leg amputations have channels in their boards or concave boards so they can push against the board with their stump or knee. Athletes in the AS-3 division can use a wave ski. All boards used in competition are inspected by the ISA to ensure they don’t give an unfair advantage. No motors or swim fins are allowed.

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02/02/2017 09:58

SURFING Image: Sean Evans & ISA

SOME ATHLETES ALSO HAVE A PUSHER AND A CATCHER TO ASSIST WITH GETTING ON AND OFF THEIR BOARD...

04/G E T I N V O LV E D If you are interested in experiencing surfing, it is strongly recommended you start with lessons. Then, once you have the basic techniques and safety knowledge, you could join a local club or surf with your friends. Some surf schools and clubs can include adaptive surfers so you could find out what is available locally. Alternatively, for a specialist service, Surfability UK CIC is an adapted surfing school based on the Gower region in South Wales. There, they offer introductions to surfing, lessons, training and competition coaching using various forms of adapted equipment.

Surfability: 07517230427 surfability.uk@gmail.com www.surfabilityukcic.org

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02/02/2017 09:58

SPORTSABLE

Club Focus

SportsAble WHEN WAS SPORTSABLE FOUNDED AND BY WHOM? SportsAble is a thriving grassrootsto-Paralympic club and charity full of endeavour, dedication, passion and team work. Located in Windsor and Maidenhead for 45 years, the charity has produced scores of Paralympians and changed lives after disabled men and women created the club when it began with just swimming, table tennis and fencing. It became a base for disabled people to enjoy sport and socialise. SportsAble has gained many awards including the Top Club Award for the best

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UK disability sports club, Local Sports Council Award for the best developed club in the district, the EFDS Star Club of the Year and Get Berkshire Activeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club of the Year awards. With a strong network of committed volunteers, SportsAble is a successful independent multi disability sports club that welcomes family and friends to also take part.

WHAT SPORTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CLUB? On a regular basis, we have archery, air weapons, boccia, golf, new age kurling, swimming, table tennis, ten pin bowling

and wheelchair basketball. Occasionally, there is sitting volleyball, short tennis, skittles, bean bag games, crossbow, along with seasonal activities such as canoeing and powerboating.

WHAT CAN A PERSON EXPECT WHEN THEY VISIT THE CLUB FOR THE FIRST TIME? When a potential member comes, they can expect a warm, friendly welcome and a tour. A sports development officer will sit down for a chat, and they can sign up immediately or take a pack away. What new members gain from their first

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02/02/2017 09:58

SPORTSABLE

SPORTABLE

IS A GREAT

WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO BE MORE ACTIVE AS WELL AS SOCIALISING

Since joining, I have tried air weapons, archery, boccia, kayaking, new age kurling and swimming

go is renewed self-confidence, selfesteem and self-belief.

ARE ACTIVITIES JUST FOR FUN, OR ARE THEY A SPRINGBOARD TO GREATER THINGS FOR COMPETITIVE, AMBITIOUS ATHLETES? People join to escape boredom, make friends and keep busy. Very soon they are taught skills and can set a series of personal goals. Goals vary tremendously, from learning to swim again to entering competitions and large endurance challenges.

Many members (like patron Sophie Christiansen) have represented GB in 11 consecutive Paralympic Games since the club formed.

AS WELL AS INCREASED LEVELS OF FITNESS AND HEALTH, IN WHICH OTHER WAYS DO MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM BEING INVOLVED WITH SPORTSABLE? People instantly join a community of welcoming like-minded people. A member explained: “Since joining, I have tried air weapons, archery, boccia,

kayaking, new age kurling and swimming. A weekly swim helps my joint mobility and gives me some cardiovascular exercise. I tried archery as a teenager but thought my weak muscles would prevent me doing it now. SportsAble have been fab in helping me start again. “I’ve got to know some lovely people disability can isolate you, destroy your self-confidence and put unexpected obstacles in your way, but SportsAble helps you learn new skills, make friends, be successful, push yourself and play sport alongside your family, but it can only run through the generosity of volunteers and fundraising. Sport unites us, competition drives us, SportsAble supports us.”

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02/02/2017 09:59

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