AgilityMagazine Issue 8 December 2019
World Para Athletics Championships 2019 Dubai delight as Lyle, Hahn and Cockroft lead GB gold rush
ALSO INSIDE: AMY TRUESDALE | WINTER WONDERWHEELS | REECE DUNN | ACTIVITY ALLIANCE
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Editor's
Welcome Celebrating our parasports stars…
WELCOME to Agility’s final issue of a sensational 2019! As attentions turn towards Tokyo and next year’s Paralympic Games, there is only one place to start in this edition – the World Para Athletics Championships. Earlier this month, Dubai hosted the stars of para athletics from across the globe. And, boy, did the Brits play their part! Twenty-nine medals, 13 golds, and third place on the medals table. The sprint queens – Hahn, Lyle and Cockroft – will take many of the headlines thanks to their double gold successes. But that shouldn’t detract from many other stunning displays from the GB athletes, who sent out a real statement of intent ahead of next year’s action in Japan. While some of the younger members of the team showed their talent, it was Richard Whitehead (43 years young) who summed up the experience perfectly, for me. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s bronze, silver or gold, the honour to put on that GB vest is something I take pride in,” he remarked.
Understandably (I hope), this issue is dominated by our fantastic review of the championships, as we showcase the reaction from every GB medallist. Head to page nine for more! However, the World Champs weren’t the final major event of 2019. The next instalment of the Superhero Series takes place on December 1 when Dorney Lake hosts the Winter Wonderwheels event. Founder, and former Paralympian, Sophia Warner has done a sensational job in creating and growing this wonderfully inclusive event. And once again the nation’s real-life superheroes and their families will don their capes, and join some well-known faces for a fabulous fun-packed day. Taekwondo world champion Amy Truesdale and swimming sensation Reece Dunn are among the other interviewees in this edition as Agility once again shines a spotlight on the best in parasports. Enjoy the features, have a very merry Christmas – and see you in 2020 for a massive year of Paralympic sport! Lee Jones Agility Magazine, Managing Editor
Watch this great video with Richard Whitehead
Many thanks to…
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AgilityMagazine Issue 8 December 2019
World Para Athletics Championships 2019 Dubai delight as Lyle, Hahn and Cockroft lead GB gold rush
ALSO INSIDE: AMY TRUESDALE | WINTER WONDERWHEELS | REECE DUNN | ACTIVITY ALLIANCE
Cover image: Maria Lyle Credit: International Paralympic Committee © AWJ Publishing. All rights reserved. ISSN-2516-4872 +44 7583 026271 info@awjpublishing.co.uk www.awjpublishing.co.uk Twitter: @Agility_mag Facebook: @AgilityMagazine Managing Editor: Lee Jones Digital Editor: Damien Wilde Sales Manager: Emily Saville Contributors: Hannah Cockroft, Barry Horne Images: ParalympicsGB, Activity Alliance, Superhero Series, British Swimming, International Paralympic Committee, GB Taekwondo Design by:
info@newroadcreative.co.uk @newroadcreative Agility Magazine is published by AWJ Publishing. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the Managing Editor or AWJ Publishing. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the Publisher
Contents Issue 8 Dec 2019
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AMY TRUESDALE Can the world number one complete ‘the set’ with victory in Tokyo? WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019 Reaction from all the GB medallists as sprinters lead way
26 28
HANNAH COCKROFT Why Hannah’s Dubai display was a huge, and welcome, surprise
WINTER WONDERWHEELS The festive festival of fun is back – and just as inclusive as ever Agilitymagazine | 2
34 38
REECE DUNN On having fun, and claiming four medals, at the World Champs ACTIVITY ALLIANCE Activity Alliance’s manifesto asks for an inclusive, active nation
Amy True
Š GB Taekwondo
Can the world number one co
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esdale
omplete ‘the set’ in Tokyo?
T
AEKWONDO will be one of two new Paralympic sports when the Tokyo Games ‘kick’ off next year. And that gives GB Taekwondo star Amy Truesdale the perfect opportunity to add a Paralympic gold medal to her impressive collection. Having won world titles in 2014 and 2017, she is determined to complete the set with victory on the biggest stage of all. Amy missed out on a third world crown earlier this year when she was defeated in the quarter-finals of the +58kg/K44 division. However, she did confirm her Tokyo spot by claiming bronze at the recent European Para-Taekwondo Championships in Italy – and will end the year as world number one in an increasingly competitive class. Amy, from Chester, also secured a confidence-boosting success at September’s Tokyo test event. Victories in her three fights at the Olympic taekwondo and para taekwondo venue should stand the 30-year-old in good stead for her return to Japan in 2020. But before all that Amy took on another tricky challenge – Agility’s ‘Quick Five’ questions… How has your year been? Amy: 2019 has gone well. I have medalled in four or five competitions and I have had some good performances. Did you enjoy the Tokyo test event? Amy: I was really pleased to go to the test event. Everything was so organised and structured - the people were super friendly, and I felt relaxed for everything. It has allowed me to become familiar in the environment I will be fighting in. I feel a lot more confident after winning that event as I have a more realistic idea of what to expect in 2020. I was pleased my performances were really good. I keep thinking ‘I really hope the same thing happens next year’. Is it difficult being the favourite for Paralympic gold? Amy: Being number one can bring some pressure as people expect you to do well. But I am using it as a positive. Being in this position shows I work hard and I am capable of great success. Great to see taekwondo featuring in the 2020 Paralympics? Amy: I’m delighted para taekwondo is involved in the games. I’m so pleased its debut will be showcased in Tokyo. I’m hoping it with enthuse other people who have a disability into participating in sport. What would Paralympic gold mean to you? Amy: It would mean the world to me. I have dedicated my life to taekwondo training, coaching and trying to inspire others. I have achieved every title possible so this is the biggest and last one left and I would love to win and especially be the first female to do this.w
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WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS Lyle, Hahn and Cockroft net double Dubai delight
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WENTY-NINE medals - thirteen golds, ten silver and six bronze. What a sensational World Championships it was for the GB team! Across nine days of competition in Dubai, Britain’s top athletes showed once again that they can take on and beat the world’s best. Paul Blake started the gold rush with his superb victory in the T36 800m with GB’s race runners bringing down the curtain on a fantastic championships with one-two finishes for both the men and women. In between, Sophie Hahn, Maria Lyle and Hannah Cockroft landed golden doubles to ensure the British team finished third on the medals table. Here’s the reaction from all of the GB medallists… Agilitymagazine | 10
© International Paralympic Committee
MARIA LYLE Gold - Women’s T35 100m I’m feeling happy, it’s been a long time coming! It’s my third world champs so it’s very special to finally get that title. I got a good reaction but I stumbled close to the start so at the end or most of the race I was trying to recover from that. But to do that time considering the conditions, it fills me with confidence. It’s very special. It’s something I’ve never had before so to do it here when we’ve had the team achieving so much is special and it’s really important to me. Gold - Women’s T35 200m I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. I think it shows how far I have come from last year when I was depressed and suffering with lots of anxiety. I now enjoy life and enjoy training and racing. So, from that perspective, it’s a really good achievement for me. The main focus of the 2019 was to get to the world championships, not about medals, so to do that and get two gold medals is the icing on the cake. I’m so pleased to win my second gold and put together a good performance. HANNAH COCKROFT Gold – Women’s T34 100m I think world title number 11 is probably the best yet. It was definitely the hardest to win. They mean more and more. Kare (Adenegan) is the biggest rival I’ve ever had - she’s a fantastic athlete. It’s great that I’ve come out on top here but you know that can switch around at any time. You’ve got to take the gold when you can and keep working hard. Gold – Women’s T34 800m I actually found the race a lot more comfortable than I thought I might. Sometimes you come to a championships feeling like you are focusing on one of your events more than others. This time I didn’t feel like I was focused on either so I wasn’t sure how they were going to go. The 800m is such a game. It is so tactical and it is all about playing off the other girls’ strengths. More from Hannah in her column on page 26.
Maria Lyle, above, claimed a T35 sprint double for the British team. Left, Hannah Cockroft and Kare Adenegan landed one-twos in both the T34 100m and 800m.
SOPHIE HAHN Gold – Women’s T38 100m It was incredible. I did not expect to run that time. I wanted to get a good start and maintain that form and drive towards the line. I wanted to win the gold but I didn’t know if the world record was possible. I’m so happy that all the work I have put in has paid off. It is just amazing, I cannot believe I have run that time. This medal is very special to me. Gold – Women’s T38 200m That was absolutely incredible. I have no idea where that world record came from. I didn’t think I could run it for 200m so it’s really surprising. It’s been a perfect couple of days. I got out hard I’ve been working a lot on coming off the bend fast. I’m glad the hard work has paid off. To match what I did in London is incredible. It’s a special moment and I’m absolutely delighted. I want to thank my coach Leon Baptiste and my strength and conditioning coach, Sam Heathcote, who have helped me to get in this position.
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“That was absolutely incredible. I have no idea where that world record came from. I didn’t think I could run it for 200m so it’s really surprising.”
KARE ADENEGAN Silver – Women’s T34 100m I’ve been working really hard since having a break for exams. Training has been going quite well so I knew the 100m would be strong. It’s a season’s best, so I’m happy about that. The silver means a lot. I’ve had a really long year so I wasn’t sure what kind of form I would come into the world championships with, but the fact I’ve done a season’s best shows I’m improving and getting back to the shape I need to be in. Silver – Women’s T34 800m My 800 metres this season have not been good at all so I knew I had to go out and stick to my plan. I got a PB so I am really pleased. I think it went really well. I had a great start and I felt really strong. I tried to keep enough for the last lap. I manged to keep calm and relaxed, and thankfully I managed to hang on. Paralympic medals are huge. To be on the podium for both would be amazing. I obviously want to be challenging more for the gold so I’ll be working hard for that.
© International Paralympic Committee
ALED DAVIES Gold – Men’s F63 Shot Put This was the toughest one yet for me and my coach (Ryan Spencer-Jones). We knew things haven’t been clicking, they haven’t been coming together and this was the hardest competition of my life. Tom (Habscheid) put on one heck of a show. He came out and broke a world record and personal best so he really took it to me. It was definitely very tough and I was lucky to hang on by a thread in the end! It’s not really how I like to control competitions but hey I’m here and I’m number one and that’s all that matters. I’ve got my beautiful daughter and fiancée to thank for everything and they were here to see me do it so I’m just so happy. It’s the only motivation you need. I don’t do this for me now – I’ve achieved everything I’ve wanted to achieve. PAUL BLAKE Gold - Men’s T36 800m To be honest, I think this is the best one. The way the last two years have panned out, this is really special. To execute the race exactly as I wanted to and to win the gold, I’m really pleased with myself. It’s amazing to be the first gold medallist of the championships for Great Britain and hopefully this will spur on the rest of the team to deliver great performances. The plan was to go through the first 200m in 31 seconds and the first 400m in 62s and I did that, so I just held the pace over the next 400m. I’m buzzing. It’s great to get the first race under my belt. I’m normally last on and have to wait for everyone else.
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© International Paralympic Committee
JONATHAN BROOM-EDWARDS Gold – Men’s T64 High Jump There are just so many different emotions flowing through me. It’s been a long time coming and it’s been a hard 18 months, but I made it. It definitely gives me some relief. The injury set me back massively and coming into the last six months, I’ve had a bit of a knee issue as well, so nursing these and being able to get out here is great. It’s a proud moment to achieve what I have achieved, definitely. It’s a stepping stone to the main event which is Tokyo next year. For now, I’m having a well-deserved holiday with girlfriend. Then, I’ll go back, get some conditioning work in for my knee and get myself ready to start winter training come January. Then it’s a case of building towards Tokyo. SABRINA FORTUNE Gold – Women’s F20 Shot Put I’m over the moon. There are no words to describe how amazing that moment was. I burst into tears straight after that final throw. And because I was last, it meant nobody could take it off me. I didn’t think that last throw was enough, I thought it was rubbish. But the fact that it was a really good throw and a personal best is incredible. It’s something I have dreamed of for ages now. After two long weeks of being here, I wanted to throw long. This is the best outcome I could ask for. This is one of the days I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I’ve done it for my family, I’ve done it for my team and I’ve done it for Great Britain; what an achievement is that. Agilitymagazine | 14
“There are just so many different emotions flowing through me. It’s been a long time coming and it’s been a hard 18 months, but I made it. It definitely gives me some relief.”
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KADEENA COX Silver – Women’s T38 400m I’m happy to be back. I didn’t think I ran a technically good race, I didn’t go out as hard as I should have. I think I was watching the race in front of me too much, paying too much attention to what they were doing rather than watching my own race. When you’ve got time to look over at the clock at the 200m mark, you’re not focusing on what you should be focusing on, so I think I just over-thought it all a bit too much and then I had to work too hard on the top bend. I felt strong coming down the home straight, but I just
didn’t have enough in the last ten metres. With everything I’ve struggled with over the past two years, just to be back at these Championships is amazing. KAYLEIGH HAGGO Gold - Women’s RR3 100m I’m so happy. To come away with gold at the world championships, I can’t believe it. I’ve got a personal best and a world record so I can’t ask for anything more than that. My start wasn’t very good so after that I just had to run fast and put my head down. To represent Great Britain is amazing and to represent them and do well is a great
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© International Paralympic Committee
honour and to win that for my friends and family, I don’t know what to say. I’ve done a few fast times this year and knew I could do a world record. It was all about just going and doing it on the day. ELLIE SIMPSON Silver - Women’s RR3 100m I can’t believe it. I was really nervous because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but then the gun went so I ran for it and came away with second place. I can’t believe that I got a PB because I didn’t think I had it in me, but I can’t wait to get on the podium. I’m so excited.
GAVIN DRYSDALE Gold - Men’s RR3 100m Wow, I cannot believe it. I knew I would probably have to break the world record to win it. I want to dedicate this gold medal to my late coach, Janice Eaglesham. She would have been so proud. It is absolutely amazing to have race running in the world championships for the first time. It gives the opportunity for people like me to compete at the highest level. I remember watching London two years ago wishing I could compete, so to be here two years later is a bit surreal.
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© International Paralympic Committee
“It is absolutely amazing to have race running in the world championships for the first time. It gives the opportunity for people like me to compete at the highest level.” Being in Dubai is amazing. I have loved being part of the GB team again. When I went to Berlin (for the Europeans) last year it was so much bigger than I was used to but this has been on another level. RAFI SOLAIMAN Silver - Men’s RR3 100m I won silver at the Europeans last year, and I’m happy to win my first world medal. It’s a great feeling. I’m so happy for Gavin on winning the gold. It seems a bit phenomenal that we got a 1-2. It’s just a bit out of this world, it’s crazy. It’s quite some achievement for two British lads and two girls to be on the podium. We are coming back with a load of shiny medals. I tried to put in a lot of effort. Gavin had a great start, and I tried to get passed him but I couldn’t.
HOLLIE ARNOLD Gold – Women’s F46 Javelin I’m so happy, this season has been so long, so I’m really happy to go out there and get a PB and a gold medal. That’s what I wanted to do and I had a really good series as well. Obviously, I really wanted that world record, but that’s where Tokyo is going to come into it and I can’t wait for that. It’s amazing. I’ve effectively won four times in a row for my event and I’m so happy. It’s not just about me, it’s about my team around me. My coach Dave Turner has put so much work into this. He’s had to deal with the happy Hollie, the sad Hollie and the angry Hollie. Title number four is just as special as title number one. It’s really hard when you come here as the defending champion, but I’m just so happy it’s over now.
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ANDREW SMALL Silver – Men’s T33 100m It’s unbelievable, I still can’t believe it. I thought I could make the jump, but to do it is brilliant. And to have the opportunity once again to represent such a great country, words cannot describe it. I’m so glad for Harri (Jenkins), his first games, his first medal - he must be chuffed to bits. It’s great I’ve made the step up, that’s what I wanted to do. The season was really long so thanks to my coach Rick for getting me through it, my friends and family for the support, and the support staff. The starts are really good. I think then for me it’s making sure I breathe because I’ve realised I’ve not been breathing recently! HARRI JENKINS Bronze – Men’s T33 100m Obviously happy with the bronze. As I said before it was going on form – I was going in third ranked in the race but I just know I’m capable of so much more. I know I can get there. I should be pushing with them guys, they shouldn’t
be beating me like that but I’ll get there next year. It sounds really bad, but I don’t want to win bronze medals. I don’t want to be satisfied with winning bronze medals, I want to be winning gold and I know I am capable of doing it, it is just getting it out. I got out really well, but the middle section wasn’t as good and I need to go back and look at that top end speed – I need to work on that for next season. KYRON DUKE Bronze – Men’s F41 Shot Put I’m happy but I really wanted that gold. There are mixed emotions but I’ll keep my head high. I’ve done my team proud and done my country proud. It was a good competition. I was trying to adjust to the circle. I knew the throw was good on the second throw and it helped me to settle. I’m happy to be among the medals, that’s a good thing. It means I’m still there fighting, I’m still top three in the world and keep hold of the world record. The sky’s the limit for me. It is a positive way to go towards 2020 now but there will be things to work on. Agilitymagazine | 20
© International Paralympic Committee
Hollie Arnold claimed another global title with an impressive display in the Women’s F46 Javelin. Inset left, Brits Andrew Small and Harri Jenkins were on the podium for the Men’s T33 100m.
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Š International Paralympic Committee
OLIVIA BREEN Bronze – Women’s T38 Long Jump I’m really happy. After such a long season, it was great to have such a good competition. I just gave it my all. The wind was very frustrating but I did the best I could in those conditions. There is nothing we could do, so I just went for it. I couldn’t believe how consistent my series was. I don’t often have that. But my training has been going so well, so I’m really pleased with how I performed. I came into this competition ranked third, so it means a lot to win the bronze medal. All the hard work has paid off. RICHARD WHITEHEAD Silver - Men’s T61 200m The race itself is in November and you have to look at the elements like being away from your friends and family for two weeks before racing, the climate out here is great for racing and the training has been tough. I’ve only raced three times this year so it’s a performance I’m proud of. Being at the World Championships at my stage in my career, supporting, guiding and mentoring athletes such as Mhlangu is really important. Hopefully I’m setting down a legacy for the next generation of athletes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s bronze, silver or gold, the honour to put on that GB vest is something I take pride in. I left everything out on the track and whether it’s good enough or not is irrelevant to me. RICHARD CHIASSARO Bronze – Men’s T54 400m I’m just happy to be here after everything I’ve been through. To come out with a medal from it is good. There are some really fast guys in that race, any one of them could have come out in the medal position, so I’m really pleased with third. My plan was to treat it like a 200m, so to hammer the first 200 and then see if I was gaining on either the Chinese athlete or Gharbi. When I started to close the gap on the Chinese guy, I thought I had a chance at silver but when we got on the home straight, he just had too much for me. It just shows I am still medal potential after issues last year. I went from setting European records to pulling out of Europeans with illness. SAMMI KINGHORN Bronze – Women’s T53 100m Final I’m so happy with the bronze. Obviously, it’s tough when you come in as the defending champion but after the year I have had, I am so pleased to make it onto the podium. This year has been really tough, so I was honestly thinking I’d be top five but to win a bronze is great. I’ll be ready to fight for a higher medal in Tokyo. Even coming away with a world bronze, I know I can do even better. It gives me so much confidence for next year because I know I can go a lot faster than that. There’s going to be a tough training block ahead, but I’m now focused to be on that podium. Agilitymagazine | 23
© International Paralympic Committee
VANESSA WALLACE Bronze - Women’s F34 Shot Put I’m over the moon, oh my goodness it feels so good! We work really hard so it is good seeing it come through. I threw second so it was tough because my biggest competitors were going after me. But everyone was so encouraging out there. My heat strategies worked and I did it! I wanted further obviously but to get a PB at a world championships is great, I’ll take that. It’s amazing. That’s the only word I can use. I wanted to do my happy dance on the frame but I hadn’t finished!
It’s been an interesting year and a really good year. It’s been interesting competing at this level in November but it shows with the right preparation, anything can happen and it can go really well. THOMAS YOUNG Silver – Men’s T38 100m I started really well. I came up and saw I was in a good position, so I tried to run my race until the end really hard. Dening (Zhu) is a great champion and he’s a nice guy as well. I gave it all on the track. It’s a European record again and a PB again and you
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can’t do much more than that really other than win gold. I’m slightly disappointed but I know that I have lots to work on as we head towards Tokyo. I came off the track thinking ‘could I have it’, but I had a feeling it was Dening (Zhu) and it was him. I gave it all on the track as I said and I’m definitely happy. JO BUTTERFIELD Silver – Women’s F51 Club Throw The silver medal is fantastic. I came away with fourth in London so to be back on that podium is really good. The competition was a bit of an unknown. I came in
ranked third, not really sure what the Ukrainian and Russian would throw, but I knew they could throw pretty far. My first throw was good enough to get second. I’m pleased with that but I wanted more to be honest. I do believe there is more, but it’s been a long year and my body is a bit tired and needs some rest. To be back on the podium a year before Tokyo is encouraging. I’m still holding onto silver, the event hasn’t moved on out of my grasp, so I have a chance, and that top spot could be anyone’s. • Our thanks go to British Athletics for their assistance in compiling this World Para Athletics Champs Review w
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Hannah Columnist
COCKROFT
Why Hannah’s Dubai display was a huge – and very welcome – surprise!
I
was massively surprised to see the clock stop at 16.77 at the end of my 100m at the World Championships! I’ve not gone close to that time in training and didn’t think I was going to do a sub 17-second this year – I was setting that as my goal for 2020. I felt really calm on race day. I was confident I had trained as hard as I could and just went in with the attitude of going as fast as possible. Then I produced that! It was a massive, and very welcome, surprise. I’ve made so many changes this year to help me become a better athlete. I’m living in Chester now, I train with a new group and I’ve got a new chair. If the Worlds hadn’t gone well I would have been pretty gutted, having made all those changes and not seen any improvement. So it was a feeling of relief more than anything. 2018 was a really bad year and it made me question if I wanted to carry on competing. So I put everything into this year to see if I could still be the best in the world, and Dubai answered a lot of those questions for me! I felt ready to finish the season after the 100m. I’d built it up so much knowing that it was going to be the hardest race of the season. As soon as it finished I was exhausted. Then it was a long four days until the 800m, which felt more like two weeks. Watching everyone finish their competition, pack their chairs and equipment up, and having a bit of a Agilitymagazine | 2
holiday in Dubai, I was just waiting to race again and trying to remain in the right mind-set. My 800m was a good race, but mainly because I just wanted to get to the end of my season! I feel confident that no one really has the time before Tokyo to do what I did and change everything to find those big improvements. However, at the same time it does make me think ‘what if I’ve just shown all my cards at the wrong time?’ I know that everyone will go away and look for ways to close that gap – not just Kare Adenegan and Alexa Halko, the Japanese and Chinese girls weren’t there and will have been watching. So it makes you worry just a little bit! I definitely think I can still improve. I only had six weeks in my new chair before the Worlds, so I was still getting used to that. And I only started making other changes about four months out, so if I can give myself that time again who knows how strong and fit I can be going into the Paralympics?
Away from the track, I was honoured recently to become an ambassador for the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund. My good friend Lizzie Jones set up the charity in memory of her husband Danny, who died of a heart condition whilst playing rugby league for Keighley Cougars in 2015. Lizzie is a fellow Halifax girl - we started meeting each other at events shortly after Danny died, and soon became friends. When I was born I had two cardiac arrests and appreciate the importance of CPR and defibrillators. So I began supporting her with that and in September she asked me to become an ambassador. I think what she’s doing is fantastic and it’s great to see all the money she is raising being put to good use and actually helping people. It’s something other sports are picking up on now too, so it’s a brilliant movement that Lizzie has created and a really important thing for people to be aware of. It’s a real honour for her to want me to be involved in this incredible legacy that she’s created in Danny’s name. It’s nice to play a little part in that and help where I can. Find out more about the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund.w Irwin Mitchell is proud to sponsor Hannah Cockroft’s column in Agility Magazine. www.irwinmitchell.com Agilitymagazine | 3
Winter Won
The festive festival of fun is back – and just as inclusive as ev Agilitymagazine | 28
nderwheels
ver
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HE latest instalment of the Superhero Series takes place on December 1 when the next Winter Wonderwheels powered by Marvel heads to Dorney Lake. Once again the event is packed with inclusive family fun, everyday superheroes, terrific team captains, and bundles of Christmas sparkle. So, who better to look ahead to the action than Superhero Series founder Sophia Warner and returning team captain Anne Usher (nee Dickins) – both Paralympians.
The format remains the same – there are three different distances participants can take on; the Lakeside Dash (1km); once around the lake (5km); or twice around the lake (10km). What makes Winter Wonderwheels different is that you can run, push, bike, be pushed, etc - whatever it takes to succeed! On top of this we have a lot of festive fun during the event such as Christmas carols, a Marvel-themed warm-up and of course Father Christmas will be briefing the Superheroes and Sidekicks. In addition, we have some amazing super partner activations to ensure that absolutely everyone has a super day.
SOPHIA I am really excited. I get particularly excited at this stage when I can see how many people are signing up to take part, and can read their stories. It is hugely encouraging to see that we get more participants each time, showing there’s a clear appetite for this type of event where the person with the disability calls the shots. I can’t wait to see what equipment we see on the course this year as we throw out all the usual restrictive rules and regulations of mass participation sports events, welcoming all ‘gadgets and gismos’, from day chairs and bikes to walking frames and trikes! We also can’t wait to see everyone’s fantastic costumes, as we encourage participants to don their best superhero outfit for the day.
We have a huge demand from famous faces from the world of sport and media to come and take part as a team captains. Everyone who has had a breakthrough as a Paralympian for example, enjoys coming along and giving something back. For this event though, we decided to focus even more on the Everyday Superhero participants and their amazing support networks/families (Sidekicks), so this time we have 10 competition-winning Superhero Families taking part alongside our team captains. They are all amazing family units and their stories of team work are incredible. This year’s celebrity team captains are an inspiring lineup of DJ and journalist Jordan Jarrett-Bryan; Paralympic equestrian champion Sophie Christiansen; Invictus Games athlete JJ Chalmers; Paralympic canoeist Anne Dickens; and Paralympic medallist David Henson.
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As well as leading their teams, they’ll be helping everybody find their power by getting into the superhero theme of the day - Jordan will be dressed as Thor, Sophie will be Captain Marvel, JJ will be Captain America, Anne will be donning a Black Widow costume, and David will be Iron Man. I have always been frustrated by the lack of sporting events that I could comfortably take part in and so I went about changing it. I am just so touched by the support that I have had along the way. We expect next year’s Superhero Tri (August 15, 2020) to be our biggest event yet! It is taking place just ahead of the 2020 Summer Paralympics and sign up is already open at www.superheroseries.co.uk so I would encourage all of Agility’s readers to get involved! Marvel will be our headline sponsor once more, bringing epic storytelling and its inspiring superhero characters to the day, helping participants find their power before, during and after the challenge, and inspiring more children and families to get involved – it will be a fantastic day! ANNE I’m literally like a kid waiting for Christmas! I love the Winter Wonderwheels because for me it marks the start to the festive season. It’s great that participants get into the festive spirit and dress up with tinsel or as ‘christmassy’ superhero characters. Winter Wonderwheels is
a very special event which makes both participants and supporters smile a lot. I love the Superhero Series because it’s so much more than a sporting event. On the surface its aim is simple - to be a fully inclusive sporting challenge. Its ethos of ‘anything goes’ reinforces that sport is for everyone and that sport itself doesn’t prevent participation. Sport becomes inaccessible if rules are too narrow. The wider rules and this ethos of the Superhero Series enables people to be involved who would normally be prevented from taking part. This is the obvious joy of the Superhero series but you only have to be there and chat with some of the other participants or supporters to learn about its deeper impact. It’s a coming together of a whole community of awesome people who are affected by but not limited by disability. They all believe that sport is for everyone. The Superhero Series is where friendships are made, inspiring stories told, ideas shared and a fabulous network of everyday superheroes created. I’m really looking forward to meeting my new teammates. This year the event is focusing on families and I’m super excited to be part of these families’ achievements and celebrations. I’m also excited that I will be reunited with my club canoeing coach, who has kindly agreed to be the pilot on my tandem. Everyone needs a sidekick! w
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Advertorial
Disability not a barrier to success Supporting the Superhero Series with Pfizer UK
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HE Pfizer UK logo has appeared in many places – from medicine packs and vaccine vials to scientific studies and TV screens. But to see the Pfizer UK logo emblazoned on the arm of every volunteer Sidekick at the Superhero Tri powered by Marvel in August, part of the UK’s only disability sports series, was among the proudest of these displays. Come December 1, the Superheroes and their volunteer Sidekicks will reassemble for the Winter Wonderwheels powered by Marvel event and founded by Paralympian Sophia Warner. It’s another chance for people with any kind of disability to find their inner superhero in this full-throttle, mass-participation sports event that throws out restrictive rules and regulations so everyone can take part. Winter Wonderwheels is a perfect follow on from the summer Superhero Tri, keeping participants motivated through the colder months. The Superheroes are invited to cycle, walk, run, push (or anything in between) around
© Superhero Series
Dorney’s spectacular lake and, once again, celebrity team captains will be leading the way. “Sport is a huge part of my life and something that has had a positive impact on both my mental and physical health. As a person with Cerebral Palsy I started horse riding aged six for physiotherapy and went on to become an eight-time Paralympic champion – I’m lucky to have had access to sports from a young age and so I feel very proud be part of in the Superhero Series, enabling others to experience the benefits too,” said Sophie Christiansen, Paralympic Equestrian and captain of Team Pfizer for the Superhero Tri who will be back participating in December. Pfizer employees will be swapping their Sidekick T-shirts for a sweater and volunteering again on the day. As one of the largest pharmaceutical companies operating in the UK, supporting more than 4,000 UK patients, Pfizer UK know’s first-hand the challenges people with a disability can face and as such, are particularly passionate about supporting this incredible initiative given these challenges can affect a number of the patients our treatments support. Agilitymagazine | 33
Owen Marks, Head of Rare Disease and D&I Co-chair, Pfizer UK said “Our company purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives and we believe the Superhero Series is a breakthrough in its own right; something that helps people of all abilities and ages to benefit from sport, helping them to keep fit and well. “For many patients, their illnesses can not only lead to physical difficulties but also mental health challenges – sport can have a positive impact on a person’s life, and we believe everybody should have equal access to it.” It’s not too late to get involved - visit www. superheroseries.co.uk for more information about the Winter Wonderwheels event.w
This article is developed and funded by Pfizer UK. Pfizer UK is a sponsor of the Superhero Series. PP-PFE-GBR-2115 Date of prep: Nov 2019
REECE
On having fun, and claimi
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E DUNN
ing four medals, at the World Para Swimming Championships Agilitymagazine | 35
“The Paralympics will be a big goal next year, but it’s important to work hard to make the team first of all. Representing GB has been a huge dream for me since I was very young. Most people get into sport to represent their country on the biggest stage and that’s the same for me.” Agilitymagazine | 36
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T’S only when you list Reece Dunn’s 2019 achievements that you can fully appreciate what a whirlwind year it has been for the 24-year-old. The Plymouth Leander swimmer only joined the British Para Swimming set-up earlier this year before winning three medals at the British Para Swimming International Meet in Glasgow. He subsequently broke the S14 100m and 200m freestyle world records in June at the Berlin World Para Swimming World Series event. Those stunning results confirmed Dunn’s place at the World Para Swimming Championships, where more world records, three gold medals and a silver followed – much to the delight of the home crowd. It’s been a tiring year but an enjoyable one for the man coached by Robin Armayan, as he explained two months on from his London adventure. “The results at the Worlds were amazing for me,” Reece told Agility. “But apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had a lot of fun. “When I was 11-14 years old and swimming at the Nationals, that was in front of pretty big crowds but it wasn’t anywhere near as busy as London. The Worlds were in front of a home crowd too, so the atmosphere was really loud, especially coming out for the finals! “That gave me a massive lift, I’ve never felt anything like it before and walking out to a roar like that felt great and really made me smile. It gets the adrenaline going before you’ve even started, and I think that helped me swim pretty fast.” He continued: “I wasn’t really thinking about medals before the World Championships. I went in there to have fun and to familiarise myself with the international scene, and to see how well I can deal with the pressure – especially going into Tokyo next year. “It was my first international meet for GB, so to come away with four medals was fantastic. “It’s been a couple of months since then, so I’m just aiming
to keep my head switched on for the next season. Obviously, I’m really happy with what I achieved but I just want to look ahead now and ensure I am prepared for Tokyo.” In all, the GB team claimed 19 gold medals at the London Aquatics Centre to finish second overall, with Alice Tai, Tully Kearney, Brock Whiston and Dunn among the many home stars. “It was a great atmosphere in the team, and some of the younger academy guys even joined us at one stage too, which was great,” Reece remarked. “To be on a team with someone like Ellie Simmonds who has been involved since she was 12 was great. She’s so lovely and made me feel so welcome, which helped me a lot. “When you have your down days, as you do sometimes in sport, it’s great to have people nearby who you can rely on.” Despite his four-medal haul in the capital, Reece won’t be taking his place on the GB Tokyo 2020 team for granted. “I’m just trying to concentrate on each day of training ahead of me,” he confirmed. “Obviously, the Paralympics will be a big goal next year, but it’s important to work hard to make the team first of all. “Representing GB has been a huge dream for me since I was very young. Most people get into sport to represent their country on the biggest stage and that’s the same for me. “I don’t set medal targets – I’m the kind of person who chases times rather than medals, but obviously a medal at the Paralympic Games would be fantastic.” He added: “Everything has to be right to make that a reality. You have to look after your mental and emotional state as well as your physical condition. It’s tricky to manage it all but it is do-able. “I’ve never really enjoyed the training before. I do it for the racing and the adrenaline I get from that, but recently I’ve managed to turn my training around and I’m starting to enjoy that side of it more. That is obviously a big bonus. The hard work and pain comes with training, so it’s great if you can get some enjoyment from that!” w
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Columnist
OUR CALL FOR CHANGE Activity Alliance’s manifesto asks for an inclusive, active nation
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ISABLED people are twice as likely to be inactive. At Activity Alliance, we believe that everybody has the right to be active. We also believe that the December 12 General Election is a perfect opportunity for political parties to commit to giving disabled people the same opportunities to live full and active lives. Activity Alliance is determined to ensure that there is an increased policy focus on disabled people’s inclusion in sport and active recreation. Since we formed as a charity more than 20 years ago, we have helped to deliver significant change. But there is much still to do and never has there been a better time to make the step change that disabled people need to see. We would like to see the next government: 1 Boost cross-department government collaboration Everyone has a right to enjoy an active lifestyle. This can only happen if support is offered in all areas of disabled people’s lives. Government must ensure that departments work closely together to support disabled people to live, work and play on equal terms. Specific areas, which affect disabled individuals’ levels of activity, include employment, transport, housing and community, health and social care. 2. Make sport and leisure bodies responsible Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport must insist that the strategies Agilitymagazine | 2
of all sport and leisure bodies are inclusive of disabled people in relation to programmes, performance pathway and workforce. Funding must meet the organisation’s needs to include and support disabled people to take part at all levels. The 2020 Paralympic Games year should be a springboard for change for all disabled people. From gym to stadium, no person should feel left out. 3. Address disabled people’s fears of losing benefits Our evidence tells us that disabled people fear losing such support, and therefore their independence, as a result of being seen to be active. The Activity Trap: Disabled people’s fear of being active, commissioned by the Dwarf Sports Association UK was released by Activity Alliance in October 2018. Almost half (47 per cent) are fearful of losing their benefits if they are seen to be more active. More than half (55 per cent) said they were likely to be more active if benefits weren’t at risk of being taken away.
Click here to watch this fantastic video from the Activity Alliance
4. Ensure collaboration for greater health and wellbeing outcomes All of us must play our part in advocating and enabling better health outcomes for everyone. However, too many disabled people are missing out on the positive social, economic and health outcomes of being active, identified in the Government’s Sporting Future strategy. Healthcare professionals clearly have a particularly important role. They can have significant influence in supporting more disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to be active for life. Evidence shows that one in four patients would be more active if advised by a healthcare professional. 5. Inspire future generations through inclusive PE and school sport All children at school need to be given the same meaningful opportunity to take part in sport. A young person’s experiences at school has a significant impact on how active they are in adult life. Provide an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to be challenged appropriately and make good progress. Ensure teachers feel confident and competent to include disabled children in PE and school sport. Regularly monitor and assess quality of inclusive PE for disabled students of all ages. We will send these asks to all party leaders and raise awareness across our communication channels. Please show your support and join us in calling for change.w Agilitymagazine | 3
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