AgilityMagazine Issue 3 August 2018
OllieHynd Returning to action at the European Championships
ALSO INSIDE: KARE ADENEGAN | GORDON REID | IRMA KHETSURIANI | DAVID SMITH
You don’t need to stand to be outstanding. BP is proud to have supported the Paralympic Movement for 10 years.
Irma Khetsuriani Wheelchair fencer Georgia
Editor's
Welcome Celebrating our Paralympics stars…
WELCOME to the August edition of Agility – the digital magazine focusing on disability sports and our Paralympic stars. This issue is nothing short of a preview bonanza as we look ahead to a busy two months of high-level competitive action. August alone sees the World Para Athletics European Championships, World Para Swimming European Championships, UCI Para Cycling Road World Championships, Paracanoe World Championships and BISFed World Boccia Championships. And the action continues in September with the World Rowing Championships. I’m exhausted just listing the major events! We have interviews and previews galore ahead of these prestigious international competitions. Perhaps most intriguing will be the Para Athletics European Champs in Berlin – as new T34 100m world record holder Kare Adenegan and five-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft go head-to-head again. Our regular columnist Hannah explains how she plans to
bounce back from a rare defeat, while Kare will be aiming to surprise everyone, including herself, once again. “I knew my 100m was strong because I set a PB about a month earlier, so I knew I was capable of something big but didn’t expect that,” the 17-year-old admitted after her stunning Müller Anniversary Games victory. However, my favourite moment of August will undoubtedly involve seeing Ollie Hynd return to international action at the Swimming Europeans. It’s been a tough 2018 for the Paralympic champion after being reclassified earlier this year and taking some time out of the sport. But Ollie is back and raring to go in Dublin – and everyone at Agility wishes him the luck of the Irish! Lee Jones Agility Magazine, Managing Editor Take a look at this great video from BP
Many thanks to…
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AgilityMagazine Issue 3 August 2018
OllieHynd Returning to action at the European Championships
ALSO INSIDE: KARE ADENEGAN | GORDON REID | IRMA KHETSURIANI | DAVID SMITH
Cover image: Ollie Hynd Credit: ParalympicsGB © AWJ Publishing. All rights reserved. ISSN-2516-4872 +44 7747 763977 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 Images: ParalympicsGB, British Athletics/ Getty Images, British Swimming, British Triathlon, British Canoeing, NickHopeTV, Boccia UK, BP, British Rowing, British Judo, Mike Varey / Elitepix 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
© British Athletics, Getty Images
Contents Issue 3 August 2018
08 12 14
KARE ADENEGAN The new world record holder is eyeing European Championship glory NATHAN MAGUIRE Can Great Britain’s rising star storm to medal success in Berlin?
HANNAH COCKROFT Our columnist on relinquishing her record and becoming a TV presenter
16 20 24
IRMA KHETSURIANI Paralympic glory is the aim for Georgia’s world champion fencer
OLLIE HYND The Paralympic champion returns to action at the European Champs WORLD ROWING CHAMPS Great Britain are sending three strong medalchasing crews to Bulgaria Agilitymagazine | 4
28 32 40
GORDON REID It was a doubles ‘triple’ for Reid and Hewett at this year’s Wimbledon
PARACANOE WORLD CHAMPS Emma Wiggs and Charlotte Henshaw will lead the GB charge for medals DAVID SMITH The Paralympic champion believes GB can wow the crowds in Liverpool
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W H E N W E A R E F R E E TO M OV E , A N Y T H I N G I S P O S S I B L E . Š2017 Toyota Motor Corporation. All rights reserved.
In the News...
Take a look at this great video from BP
British athletes hone European preparations THE London Stadium has been the scene of some wonderful moments in para athletics. And that ‘track’ record continued in July when the Müller Anniversary Games returned. Kare Adenegan stole most of the headlines with her stunning world record in the T34 100m – see page 8 for more on that. But that wasn’t the only world best set on a weekend of topclass action. Sprint sensation Sophie Hahn stormed to a new record in the T38 200m final. The 21-year-old athlete brushed aside all opposition to record a stunning time of 25.93s and smash her own previous best. “I knew I was in good shape when I came here. It’s a good track, good crowd and you can run the event of your life,” she said. Elsewhere, Libby Clegg enjoyed a golden return after running a season’s best 200m en route to victory. Racing for GB for the first time since the
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after tearing her calf last year, Clegg dominated the T11 race alongside new guide Tom Somers. “I really missed being on the international stage and where better to come back to than this stadium, so it’s pretty incredible,” the 28-year-old said after her 25.29s effort. Richard Whitehead claimed silver in the T42 200m in a season’s best 23.72s (See more from the double Paralympic champion in the embedded video at the top of this page). After a typically fast start, Whitehead was caught at the line by South African Ntando Mahlangu, while David Henson took third and Luke Sinnott finished fifth for GB. Stef Reid jumped a season’s best 5.55m to take gold in the T44/47/64 long jump to add to the world title she won in London last year. Reid sealed the victory with her fourth leap, just one centimetre ahead of Marie-Amelie Le Fur in silver with Polly Maton finishing fifth.
Para-Dressage squad named for World Equestrian Games Solitaire), Isobelle Palmer (Touchdown M) and Georgia Wilson (Midnight). “I’m so, so proud of everything we’ve achieved this year,” said five-time Paralympic gold medallist Baker. “Massive thanks to Mount St John and my whole team for their support. “To build such a partnership in such a short space of time, I just can’t believe it. I’m so grateful and massively excited for the World Equestrian Games.”
NATASHA BAKER is part of the four-rider para-dressage squad named by the British Equestrian Federation for September’s World Equestrian Games. Baker on Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, Erin Orford on Dior, Sir Lee Pearson on Styletta and Sophie Wells on C Fatal Attraction are all included for the event in North Carolina. Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Wells is also on the reserve list with Gladstone, alongside Suzanna Hext (LJT Enggaards
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European delight for Steadman
Five golds and four silvers claimed by Great Britain team at European Paratriathlon Championships in Estonia LAUREN STEADMAN claimed a superb sixth career European title and Hannah Moore a first as Great Britain excelled at the ETU European Paratriathlon Championships. In all the Brits claimed nine medals at the event in Tartu, Estonia. Steadman, the Paralympic silver medal from Rio, is in arguably the form of her life. Claire Cashmore exited the swim just ahead of her, but Steadman was in the lead by the time the duo hit the bike course. They maintained their positions all the way to the finish line to achieve PTS5 gold and silver. Steadman said: “I’m really pleased to be European champion again. This was my sixth title and it meant just as much as all of them before. Estonia offered a great racing venue and although it wasn’t my best personal performance, I am chuffed to be bringing home the gold for GB.” Moore, meanwhile, is on a rapid rise after having her leg amputated two years ago. In her first championship event she
Patrick said: “I’m super happy to be European champion again. I’ve been working with a new guide and I’m so proud of her for putting together all her learning.”
dominated the PTS4 race. The 21-year-old commented: “I am so delighted to win. To win the European Championships just one day after the two-year anniversary of having my leg amputated feels very special.” Fran Brown won PTS2 gold, setting her fastest ever time over a sprint triathlon course, and there was double gold in the visually impaired category through Alison Patrick and Dave Ellis. Patrick raced with a new guide, Hannah Drewett, while Ellis was guided by Jack Peasgood to continue his lengthy unbeaten run of results. Agilitymagazine | 7
There were silvers for Ryan Taylor and Andy Lewis. Taylor ran side-by-side with Daniel Molina (ESP) and lost out by just two seconds in a sprint finish. He said: “I loved every minute of the run, but it was so painful. That’s the most exciting race I’ve done.” The final silver was won by Joe Townsend in the wheel chair category (PTWC) after moving up from third to second during the 5km run course. His great rival Geert Schipper claimed gold. British Triathlon head coach Jonathon Riall said: “Overall, we achieved a really good set of performances in what was a relatively non-standard race due to a downriver swim. It bunched the fields much closer together making for dramatic and close bike and run races.” w
Kare Adenegan I After excelling on her Paralympic debut Kare Adenegan aims to repeat the trick at her first European Champs
T’S hard to believe that Kare Adenegan is still just 17. The Coventry Godiva athlete burst onto the international stage three years ago with two bronze medals at the World Championships in Doha. Those podiums in the T34 400m and 800m gave a glimpse of her potential, which was confirmed in Rio at year later with further bronze medals over the same distances and a silver in the 100m. Keen to build on that fantastic performance in Brazil, Adenegan completed her GCSEs last year en route to the World Championships in London where she replicated her Rio haul on home turf.
Adenegan continued: “I’m still only 17 and I just want that to carry on at the European Championships. I’m so used to Hannah winning and she’s an amazing athlete, but it was all about doing my own thing. I wanted a quick time but that was a bonus. “It’s great to be in the GB team and have something big to really work towards. Having a big competition coming up is great motivation. It will be my first Europeans as well so I’m pretty excited about the new challenge and experience.” With the 100m and 800m events to go for, Adenegan is eyeing more medal success. “I’ve done well in both of those events this season, so I’ll approach them both in the same way and aim for two good results,” she added.
This year - with fewer educational ‘distractions’ – the teenager is heading to her first World Para Athletics European Championships as part of a strong 52-athlete GB squad. And, fresh from her 100m world record at the Muller Anniversary Games, Adenegan will arrive in Berlin bursting with confidence. The youngster posted a stunning time of 16.80 seconds at the London Stadium to take three-tenths of a second off the existing record and defeat five-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft. She said: “I didn’t expect it (the record) at all and I was speechless when the time came up. I thought I was dreaming because I can’t believe it actually happened. “I knew my 100m was strong because I set a PB about a month earlier, so I knew I was capable of something big but didn’t expect that.”
Giving the inside track on her form and training ahead of the Europeans, the youngster continued: “It’s been a really good season so far. Last year I had my GCSEs and the World Championships on the track to prepare for and compete it, so it was very difficult. “This year I’ve been in my first year of A-Levels and do still have one exam but have had more time to focus on training and have a more consistent season. That’s been so helpful. I still have lots of work and it’s not easy by any means! But not having a huge block of exams in the summer has certainly been beneficial.” “I go into every international race aiming to get on the podium, but it’s important to just do my best and not think too much about medals. If I go out there and do my best then I’ll be happy.”
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Š Mike Varey, elitepix
“Having a big competition like the Europeans coming up is great motivation. It will be my first Europeans as well so I’m pretty excited about the new challenge and experience.” Adenegan will line up against Cockroft once again in both of her events in the German capital. Beyond that, the main rivals from mainland Europe remain something of an unknown. “Hannah will obviously be there as the European champion but beyond that I’m not exactly sure yet who else will be racing,” remarked Adenegan. “Amy Siemons from the Netherlands will probably be there and she’s pretty strong as well. It’s hard to tell but there are sure to be some strong European girls there, so it’s all about focusing on my own training and seeing where that takes me. “We’ll be having quite strong training sessions right up to the Europeans. Not much changes, it’s just about being consistent and ensuring I’m feeling fresh and ready to compete at my best in Berlin.” Even at the midpoint of the Paralympic cycle, the Games are never far from athletes’ minds.
Inspired to take up the sport by London 2012 and enthralled by her 2016 experience, Adenegan’s excitement for Tokyo 2020 is clear. “Rio was such an amazing experience and being able to medal in all my events was great,” she remarked. “I was so pleased with how I did and that experience helped me a lot going forward. It gave me extra motivation to train harder and set myself my new goals ahead of the World Championships and with Tokyo in mind. “Tokyo is the huge goal and my focus. After how well Rio went and how much I enjoyed being at the Paralympic Games, I’m desperate to go to Tokyo and have another great experience. “The World Championships next year are another big goal on the way. With those being in November, my A-Levels will be done and I’ll have a good period of sustained training heading into those. I was pretty happy to see that the Worlds were later in the year!”w
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Nathan Ma H A European Championships medal is in the youngster’s sights
AVING only just turned 21, wheelchair racer Nathan Maguire could be forgiven for viewing the upcoming World Para Athletics European Championships as an experience building exercise. But after narrowly missing out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, the youngster is setting his sights higher than that. Selected for the T54 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 4x100m mixed relay, Maguire is eyeing a top-three finish or two. “My preparations have gone well, I’m looking forward to it and it’s going to be a great competition,” he remarked ahead of the action in Berlin.
“In Europe we’ve got some of the best racers in the world, so it’s going to be a tough one but it’s always good to gauge yourself against the best and hopefully I can come away with a medal – that’s definitely the aim. “I’ll be up against Marcel Hug, the Swiss racer who is amazing, Kenny van Weeghel from Holland, Leo-Pekka Tahti from Finland, and Britain’s Richard Chiassaro (pictured below), so it won’t be easy!” He continued: “Me and Richard train against each other a lot, so we can gauge ourselves from that. At the moment he’s a little bit quicker but I’m hoping that changes at the Europeans. “We’re always chatting and sending messages to each other about how our training is going and we go on a lot of training camps together. It’s not just every man for
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aguire himself – we help each other and exchange ideas on how we could improve.” Maguire certainly won’t be short on belief following his fourth place in the 1,500m on the Gold Coast in April. “The Commonwealths were amazing and have given me so much confidence,” he confirmed. “Coming fourth – and only 0.13 seconds from a medal – really showed me what I can do. During the heat, me and Richard worked together and controlled the race. It was the first time I’ve felt so strong in a race against the big guys like Kurt Fearnley and Alexandre Dupont. “Then in the final I just tried to play to my strengths. I sat in, played it pretty well and finished strongly. Hopefully, I can go even better in Berlin.”w
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Hannah Columnist
COCKROFT
Our columnist on relinquishing her world record and being a TV presenter
L
OOKING back on the Müller Anniversary Games at the London Stadium, Kare Adenegan has been building up to beat me on this scale for a while now. We’ve only raced together once this season, so deep down I knew she was going to beat me – I just didn’t expect her to break the world record and by that distance. The fact that she has done that is fantastic. For me, getting under 17 seconds has been such a barrier. Sometimes when you’re the person in the lead with no one to chase, you put this barrier in your head and you can’t get past it. I’m hoping that now Kare has done that it will take the pressure off me, especially heading into the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin. I said from the beginning that I was going to have a quieter year and focus on different things. I’ve just turned 26 so it’s important to think about my future, and obviously Kare is putting my future into focus a bit quicker than I’d anticipated! It genuinely is great to see someone coming through. For ten years I’ve had comments like ‘you’re not in the right class’ and ‘it’s too easy for you to win.’ Now, with Kare coming through and taking that world record it just shows the work that’s gone in over ten years to stay at that top level. Agilitymagazine | 14
It’s also proved a lot of things to me and set me a challenge. It’s a new motivation – I haven’t ever had to chase anybody, and it’s easier to be the chaser than the target. I’m not completely ruling myself out of winning at the Europeans by any means, but I think it will be longer-term that we’re going to see better things from me. I know what’s possible and I know I can go quicker than that time. Berlin is going to be a completely different kettle of fish. London is a fast track whereas Berlin is going to be a very slow and windy track, which is very much like what I train on at home. Kare also had a lot of support in London from her family and her coach, whereas I was there on my own, trying to please sponsors and be around the public. That can be tiring. I won’t have a lot of those commitments to worry about at the Europeans, so it will be a completely different race – and a very interesting one. I’m looking forward to it and I’m sure Kare is too!
I’ve tried to stay away from social media since the Müller Anniversary Games because people just write you off straightaway. One race is just one race. I’ve been on top for ten years and then suddenly the media are reporting that I’ve been dethroned and that I’m a ‘has been’. If people can write you off that quickly after one race then I guess that shows how much respect some parts of the media have for athletes. I’m looking forward to getting out there and showing what I can do when I’m well rested and ready to go. Away from the track, I’ve started working with BBC Countryfile - I’m one of their new presenters, which is so exciting! It’s been a long time in the planning and although the timing isn’t perfect I feel like it’s an opportunity that I can’t turn down. Going into the media has always been something I’ve wanted to do. I’ve had eight years of back-to-back competing and this year is one where I’ve needed to focus on what’s going to happen next. I did a TV presenting course in February and this has come off the back of it. I started filming recently and we’ve got a couple more slots of filming before the Europeans, so I’ll have to learn to multi-task in the hope I can get it all right! So many athletes get to the end of their careers and think ‘what now?’ I don’t want to be in that position.w Agilitymagazine | 15
Khetsuria Irma
Paralympic glory is the aim for Georgia’s world champion whe
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ani
eelchair fencer
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G
EORGIA’S para fencing squad consists of five athletes, all women, with world champion Irma Khetsuriani leading the way. After claiming World Cup gold 11 times with the sabre, she finally fulfilled her dream of officially becoming the best in the world in Rome last year. It was a proud moment for Khetsuriani who has also worked as an office manager at the Georgian Paralympic Committee in Tbilisi, and is keen to promote parasports and women in sport as a BP athlete ambassador. “Today, Georgia’s para fencing team consists of five athletes and we all have one big similarity - we are all women. We have a very good team and, in my opinion, it is becoming even stronger,” she told Agility. “In our country, fencing is first among the parasports in terms of results. Society has learned about this fantastic sport whereas a few years ago they only knew about it from films and books.” “Today, it puts a smile on my face when different parts of our society recognise me and even ask me to explain more about fencing! “When I decided to try fencing, I wanted to have at least a minor influence on others. As you may be aware, there was a tough environment for the disabled community in Georgia. “I always wanted my achievements to be the subject of someone’s interest - for them to think how this sport can change a person not only by physical parameters but personally. So I will not be entirely successful in my sports career if I cannot be a source of inspiration for at least one person.” Reflecting on her World Championship triumph last November – which saw her overcome London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medalist Saysunee Jana Khetsuriani admits it was a proud moment for her and her country. She continued: “At last I achieved what I have planned for and finally won the world title. To be the champion of the planet in fencing with sabre in Category B among women is a different feeling - truly exiting and emotional. “Only winning at the Paralympic Games will surpass that feeling of being world champion. It was also the result of my team’s tireless work. A real sense of pride fills you when you listen to your country’s national anthem and watch the flag representing your small country. All these things are difficult to experience without tears!” She added: “I improve my results every time, quality wise.” “Despite the fact that fencing is such a tough sport and it needs quite a long time to master, I still believe that there is plenty of progress and improvement to come in my sports career.” Agilitymagazine | 18
Having been diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour at the age of 18, Khetsuriani was first introduced to wheelchair fencing by a friend, and immediately found a love for the sport. She explained: “It is a sport that once tried is never forgotten. Even during my holidays I miss it! “I always want to improve, and every result and victory is a stimulus for me to progress for the next competition. When you love what you do you do not need a boost you just love it and do it.” “Fencing has brought the most active and interesting phase of my life. When I first went to the class I thought I would just become an amateur. I found such a friendly atmosphere there that I immediately loved it. It completely changed my life, and I realised it was attracting me more and more and making me stay in the class for a long time. “It taught me that if you do the job you love everything else is circumstantial. It is thanks to fencing and maybe a little bit to my inner freedom that today I am an absolutely different thinker. It taught me patience, respect for competitors, love for work and taking great enjoyment in my fencing.” Discussing how she has focused 100 per cent on fencing in recent times, Khetsuriani said: “Doing two jobs you like at the same time is not easy, but I liked my office manager job at the Paralympic committee. It was a new and quite demanding role. I had no experience and was learning all the time, absorbing every piece of information I had. “When you train six days a week, five hours a day, you do not get tired because you’re doing what you love. When I realised that fencing had developed deep roots in me I was reluctant to devote any time to anything else - I faced the choice and I chose fencing. “Today my new life is quite busy, but the main direction of my life is this sport. All my energy, strength and thinking is needed to achieve specific results. Therefore, I do not have time for something else.” Looking forward, Khetsuriani and her compatriots are looking forward to competing in their own country when the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup heads to Tbilisi in November. That signals the start of the qualification period for the 2020 Paralympics Games in Tokyo. This year’s action also sees the European Championships in Italy in September, with another World Cup event in Kyoto, Japan later in the year. “Many days, weeks, months and years of hard work, from myself and my team are directed towards the biggest competition, the Paralympic Games,” she added. “I believe I will have my say in Tokyo, and will show my quality too. The Paralympics are the event where you develop your sport knowledge - theoretical and practical to the highest level.”w Watch Irma Khetsuriani find ‘The Energy Within’ by clicking on this great video
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Ollie Hynd Agilitymagazine | 20
The Paralympic champion makes his return to action at the World Para Swimming European Championships Agilitymagazine | 21
I
T’S been a challenging year for swim star Ollie Hynd to say the least. The three-time Paralympic gold medallist suffered a major setback in March when he saw his classification changed by the International Paralympic Committee. Moved from the S8 class he has competed in since his international debut seven years ago to the S9 classification, he subsequently missed out on representing England at the Commonwealth Games. However, the 23-year-old is ready to make his international return in Dublin from August 13-19 at the European Championships as part of a 24-strong British team. And, as he told Agility, Hynd is feeling positive and ready to enjoy an event at which he has won six gold medals in the past. On the European Championships… “Obviously, it’s been a bit of shaky year for me, so it’s not been ideal preparation. I missed quite a bit of training earlier on in the year, but the last couple of months have been really good. “I’ve recently been on a training camp with my club (Nova Centurion) – we went out to Hungary for two weeks which enabled me to get some really good training done out there, so everything is looking positive. “Every time you get to represent your country it’s a massive honour and I’m really looking forward to the event. It’s not too far way either, being in Dublin, so I think my family are going to be there supporting me. It’s not long now and getting very real! “We’ve got a great mix in the team of some of the older swimmers and a few new faces who are coming through and proving themselves. It’s great to have such a strong squad right across the board. It’s great for the youngsters to get some experience of a major championships, especially with two years until the big one in Tokyo.” On the challenges… “I’m actually due to be reclassified during the competition so that throws in another obstacle. I don’t know what the outcome of that is going to be, so I can only focus on trying to be the best I can possibly be. Whether I’m swimming in S8 or S9 I can only do my best and see what happens. “At this point in my career I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved, so I just want to go out there and enjoy the whole experience. “The reclassification was a massive blow and something I’ve struggled with all year, and to be honest something I’m still struggling with. It’s not been a very good year. Having missed out on the Commonwealths – regardless of what happens at the Europeans – I’ll never be able to get that back. “It’s been really challenging but now I’m feeling positive again. These things are sent to challenge us but I’m still hoping to go to Tokyo regardless of the result. Hopefully, this experience will help me in dealing with things for the rest of my life.” Agilitymagazine | 22
“Every time you get to repre and I’m really looking forwa
resent your country it’s a massive honour ard to the European Championships.”
On enjoying the event… “Obviously, medals and wins are important but, for me, just to get to this point and just wanting to swim again is a big win after everything I’ve been put through over the last couple of months. “The beauty of the Europeans being so close is that my family can easily get there to cheer me on. Considering everything that’s happened, it’s going to be great to have them there and supporting me. “Going to major championships like this is why we do what we do. I’m looking forward to getting back to the swimming and being part of the event.” On his inspirations… “For me, swimming was a fairly natural progression. I learnt to swim because my parents wanted me to be water-safe and it’s massively important that kids are at least able to survive in water. So I went through the badges scheme and then joined my local club. Being very competitive, I loved to race and always wanted to be
the best. “I would have to say that my brother, Sam, was my main inspiration. He went to the Beijing Paralympics and I got to see what it takes to be the best in the world – all the training and the lifestyle he had to live. “Then, as you get older, people inspire you in different ways and across different disciplines. That’s the great thing about life, you can draw inspiration from a lot of different areas and apply it to what you’re doing.” On his career highlights... “I don’t think I can pinpoint one career highlight in particular but obviously my first Paralympic Games and winning a gold medal at London 2012 was massively special. Having my friends and family there was a dream come true. “Winning all four titles was another big moment and more than I ever expected to be able to achieve. So I’ve had a fair few moments that I’m proud of – and hopefully there are one or two more to come.”w
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Cham
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World Rowing
mpionships B Great Britain are sending three strong medal-chasing crews to Bulgaria in September
RITISH ROWING Director of Performance Brendan Purcell admits that preparations for the World Rowing Championships have been far from straight-forward. Speaking ahead of the competition in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from September 9-16, he said: “It has been a tough season managing a number of injuries and rehabilitations within the squad but we are confident that these crews are in the best possible shape going into the World Championships. Chief Coach Tom Dyson and the wider support team have done an excellent job in getting the athletes ready for competition.”
claim her place in the PR2 mixed double sculls alongside fellow Paralympic gold medallist Laurence Whiteley. Andy Houghton won a World Rowing Cup silver medal in Linz in the PR1 single scull and will be battling to go one better in Plovdiv. The Newbury rower returned to the GB set-up after four years away in 2017 and finished just outside the medals in Sarasota-Bradenton in fourth place. Here, Clough and Houghton give their take ahead of the World Championships…
Despite the long list of injuries Purcell mentions, the GB team still looks incredibly strong with four Paralympic champions among the three crews. GB won world gold in the PR3 mixed coxed four in Sarasota-Bradenton last year. Grace Clough, who claimed gold at Rio 2016, and Ollie Stanhope return from that victorious 2017 crew, with James Fox and Giedre Rakauskaite forced to sit out the season with injuries. Daniel Brown, who also won gold in Rio, comes back into the crew along with debutant Ellen Buttrick and cox Erin Wysocki-Jones.
Grace Clough “Competing at the Worlds is going to be extra exciting for me because it’s been probably the toughest year I’ve had in this sport. I’ve had a back injury but with the support of everyone at British Rowing - the support staff, the coaches and the medical team – I’ve been able to get myself in a position where I can actually look to go in. “Even less than a month ago that might not have been an option. For much of the year I didn’t think this could happen. I felt that I needed to take myself away and focus on getting fit and well before I could even think about the World Championships. “I’m not the only one who has been injured either. With three of the four that went to the Worlds last year, two have been out for the season while I’ve been able to find a rehab programme to get back on track.
Lauren Rowles has recovered from off-season surgery to
“Despite that, we’ve still got huge expectations for the
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Worlds. There are two of us who were in the boat last year who were world champions. And then Dan Brown and myself went to the Paralympics and we’ve been rowing together for four years now. We’ve got huge experience in the boat and we’ve also got a new girl on board who is doing an excellent job. “I was that new girl four years ago. I know exactly what it’s like - I know the nerves and the passion that you feel. And also that feeling that you’re doing everything wrong when actually she’s doing a fantastic job, probably a better job than the rest of us! We’ve got a new cox, so it’s been a massive change but she brings a huge amount of energy to the boat which is exciting moving forward. “This is my fifth season and Para-Rowing here has been going since around 2007, and the coaches are saying this is the most challenging year they have ever had. So it wouldn’t just be a massive achievement for us, it would be a real achievement for British Rowing and the Paralympic team in general if we can pull off what we all know we can do.” Andy Houghton “There’s still time ahead of the World Champs for us to make improvements. We’ve got our important camps and this is where we’ll try to find some extra speed in the boat, which perhaps up until now hasn’t quite been at the level we want it to be. “We have to be a bit realistic this year. In terms of the Paralympic cycle, gold is the aim for everybody including me. This year we’ve had a good look at the lay of the land, we know where everyone is apart from the Australian and it’s very tight in this category. So the target for the World Champs is a medal, which I’d be very pleased with. “We’ve seen people who weren’t performing too well now performing really well. With some of the racing we did out in Linz, there was four of the finalists from the last World Champs, so that was a good marker and I was pushed quite hard by the Brazilian guy, finishing third behind the Russian. I want to leapfrog that Russian at least to show that I have made some progress this year. “Last year was a little surprising – returning to the sport and getting straight back to the World Champs, which I didn’t really think would happen.” “I felt like I did the team fairly proud, finishing fourth, because my predecessor would have been there or thereabouts as well. Now, I’ve got to stamp my own mark on it and try to go faster again.” “There were a few key people missing from some of the earlier races this year, so realistically I’m probably still sitting number four if I go well.” “Even making the final is going to be difficult. It’s got to that level now in the PR1 event that you can’t even guarantee being in the final.” “That’s why it’s so crucial for me to take this great opportunity between now and the World Champs to ensure my speed comes up and I can be competing at a better level than I was last year.”w Agilitymagazine | 26
“Even making the final is g be difficult. It’s got to that le in the PR1 event that you c even guarantee being in th
© Naomi Baker, British Rowing
going to evel now can’t he final.”
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Gor
It was a doub at thi
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rdon Reid
bles ‘triple’ for Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett is year’s Wimbledon Championships
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I
T’S becoming almost as synonymous with Wimbledon as strawberries and Pimms – a triumph for Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair doubles. For the third year in a row the GB pair teamed up to delight the home support at SW19 and claim another victory. A 6-1 6-4 win over Joachim Gerard and Stefan Olsson clinched the hat-trick after a thrilling, threeset semi-final triumph over Gustavo Fernandez and Shingo Kunieda. And, speaking to Agility Magazine following that fabulous third success, Reid was understandably happy. “We were delighted with the doubles win,” he said. “There was a fair bit of pressure on us going into the event - people were expecting us to come back and defend the title. “We had a really tough semi-final match where we had to play some good tennis to come through, and then we played in a high-quality final on the Saturday and were ecstatic to take home the title again. “You’re aware that people are expecting you to do well and there is a bit more pressure, but especially in the doubles and at Wimbledon that’s something we seem thrive on. As much as there is that pressure, there is also a lot of backing and support from the home crowd which helps spur us on as well.” Reid and Hewett, who combined for a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, were roared on by a vociferous Court Three crowd in the final. “As players, it’s more enjoyable for us if we get the opportunity to play in front of good crowds like we do at Wimbledon,” Reid added. “A lot of people came down to watch us in the final and it was great fun to play in. Ninety-five per cent of the spectators were backing us, so you could really feel that energy on the court and that definitely helped us to get over the line.” He continued: “My first Wimbledon was ten years ago when I played in the doubles event. There were a few people watching because we were a British pair but a lot of people had never seen wheelchair tennis and were just stopping by and having a look because it was something different. “Even four or five years ago we weren’t getting the best crowds for our matches. But now it feels like, in the three matches I played at the championships this year, each one was packed out and people were coming specifically to watch us and enjoy the tennis – rather than just stumbling across it and watching because they were intrigued.” There was less to cheer for Reid in the singles competition. The 2016 champion lost his quarter-final contest with Gerard in straight sets, but remained philosophical about his exit, saying: “Obviously, it was disappointing to lose Agilitymagazine | 30
“People were coming specifically to watch us and enjoy the tennis, rather than just stumbling across it and watching because they were intrigued.”
my singles on the Thursday. I came up against a guy who was in good form on the day, he was serving well and not making many errors. “I felt like that I was in the match and if I had managed to step up my tennis by just a fraction I would have been able to turn the match around. “Despite that, I’m happy with where I am with my tennis right now – I’m happy with my mindset and excited about the future, so it’s a good platform to build off. Just a few things need tweaks and hopefully that can make the difference.” As a pair, Reid and Hewett are still yet to be beaten on the grass courts of Wimbledon, having also won the US Open and Masters in 2017. Reid insists the British duo are well set heading into their US defence – and explained why they dovetail together so well. He remarked: “There has to be something there at the start of a partnership to kick things off, but I also think our styles balance really nicely and our personalities balance well. “There’s also work that goes into that to improve that and make us stronger as a team. Over the last four years we’ve really strengthened our partnership and been very consistent, over the last couple of years especially. As a result, we’re standing out as a force to be reckoned with in the doubles world.” Still just 26, Reid also has a Paralympic gold medal to his name following his singles victory in Rio. Explaining why the Games still sit top of his pecking order, he said: “Tennis is a bit different because we’ve got a lot more events than some other sports. We’re constantly travelling for tournaments, but I would say that the majority of people around wheelchair tennis still see the Paralympics as the pinnacle of the sport. “However, every year the Grand Slams are gaining more traction in the players’ minds. It might just be a matter of time before they surpass the Paralympics and it becomes the same as able-bodied tennis where they are the big events on the calendar. “The Paralympics are completely different though, in terms of the scale of the Games and the number of sports being involved. That’s something we don’t get to be part of very often, so it’s great fun to be around. It’s always special as well to be a part of Team GB and something we’re definitely looking forward to in two years’ time.”w
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Paracanoe
Champio
Emma Wiggs and Charlotte Henshaw will l Agilitymagazine | 32
World
ionships
lead the GB charge for medals in Portugal Agilitymagazine | 33
E
LEVEN GB paddlers head out to Montemor O Velho, Portugal for the Paracanoe World Championships from August 23-26. Amongst that strong squad of medal hopefuls will be Paralympic KL2 200m champion Emma Wiggs. Also a sixtime world champ, the 38-year-old will compete across two boats in Portugal - in the KL2 and VL2 classifications. In the second of those classes, Wiggs goes head-to-head with a very familiar friend and rival. Three-time Paralympian Charlotte Henshaw made the switch from the swimming pool to canoeing after the Rio Games, and the 31-year-old has already claimed silver medals at the 2017 and 2018 European Championships. On her quest for Worlds glory, Henshaw told Agility: “It was the aim this year to get selected for the World Championships. Now that is confirmed it’s about nailing those fine details to make sure we’re in the best shape of the season for the biggest race of the season. “This is obviously still very new to me. I went to the Worlds last year but I just wanted to take it all in and learn - I didn’t really have any performance expectations in mind. “Now I’ve been in the sport a year longer it’s about putting those performances in as we move into the nitty gritty end of the Paralympic cycle. It’s where the pressure starts to ramp up and where I want to start taking those steps towards getting my place on the plane to Tokyo. “I’m feeling excited to go out and race again. I’m still limited in terms of experience of racing against a world field but this is another opportunity to learn and then push on again next year.” Wiggs clinched her first World gold in Duisburg five years ago but is as passionate as ever about another tilt at world glory. “When you get to this stage you just want to get going,” she remarked. “It’s about trying to make the changes you need but not doing anything too drastic and staying at a really good level. “For the first time we started racing in May and we weren’t expecting to race particularly well because of the time of year. But we delivered some excellent performances, which was a pleasant surprise. “That has meant it has been a bit harder to sustain. Across a year it’s about how you come out of the dips, and I’m really lucky with my coach, Matt. He’s able to explain why there might be a dip and then we rebuild and refocus. “It’s always challenging but that’s what I love about this sport. It’s about managing those downs and then enjoying the ups. It shouldn’t easy – it should be gruesome at times! “I’ve definitely got better at peaking at the right time each year for the major competitions. It’s different for myself and Charlotte because we need to peak for selection races in this country too. “We’re lucky that we have real depth within our Agilitymagazine | 34
squad and you’ve got to be in the top two within your classification just to go to the championships. With that challenge comes opportunities to practice your race delivery and do it under real pressure.”
© canoephotography.com, Bence Vekassy (ICF) © @NickHopeTV
Having swam to a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics and a bronze in Rio two years ago, Henshaw knows all about top-level competition. Wiggs believes that experience can benefit Henshaw, the GB squad and herself. “Charlotte has done a fantastic job and is an incredible athlete,” she said. “She’s been in Paralympic sport since she was a child and has a huge amount of experience to bring to the squad. She is also a fierce competitor and able to deliver under pressure. “Having that level of competition from a friend means that when we get abroad we know we’re in top shape to take on the rest of the world. “Overall, we couldn’t have had better preparation. The staff at British Canoeing are world class and we’ve got the support of the English Institute of Sport and all the practitioners there. It really is a six-day a week training regime which allows us to be the best paracanoe team in the world. “That’s what we want to go and show people in Portugal at the World Championships.” Henshaw, meanwhile, is full of admiration for her teammate - and her achievements. “I have huge amounts of respect for Emma and know that she gives everything to be the fastest paddler she can be,” she remarked. “When you’ve got somebody who you have that mutual respect with it breeds a healthy rivalry. That’s when rivalries can really be effective. “Obviously, we both want to be the person who stands on top of the podium but you must have full respect for the person that you’re racing, and I know that she puts everything in on a daily basis. “The most important thing is that the rivalry we have and competitive racing we have is only going to push paracanoeing forward. It’s still a relatively new sport and we want to see it grow and see more people supporting it and understanding it. “We both want paracanoe to grow and strengthen, and hopefully we can play our little part in that.”
© canoephotography.com, Bence Vekassy (ICF)
Elsewhere in the GB team, Dave Phillipson will make his World Championships debut in the men’s VL3, with Jack Eyers also competing in that classification. Phillipson will also take up a spot in the kayak, joining Paralympic bronze medallist Nick Beighton in the KL2 category. KL1 grand slam holder Jeanette Chippington will be aiming to defend her title and also joins compatriot Wiggs in the VL2. Paralympic bronze medallist Ian Marsden goes in the men’s KL1 in what will be his sixth World Championships. Paralympian Rob Oliver is joined by Jonny Young in the KL3 class, while an exciting prospect for the team comes in the women’s KL3 where newcomers Chelsey Dixon and Kiera Nash both compete.w
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Boccia
bonanza! In August, the best boccia athletes from around the globe will descend on Liverpool for the BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships
M
ORE than 180 athletes from over 30 countries will battle it out for world titles as well as all-important ranking points ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020. They all share the same dream - to become world champion. And hopes are certainly riding high within the British squad. Paralympic gold medallist David Smith, Britain’s joint most successful ever British boccia player, is without a doubt a favourite in the BC1 category. While he was unbeaten for the duration of the 2017 season, he suffered his first defeat in Montreal in April. But rest assured, this will only make the Eastleigh athlete more determined for the top spot on the podium. Meanwhile, Scotland’s Stephen McGuire - one of the most experienced and tactically aware players in the squad - is enjoying a superb season. Fresh from winning two gold medals at the BISFed World Boccia Open in Montreal, he believes Great Britain can top the medal table in Liverpool. He said: “It will be incredibly tough, we will need to keep our discipline and our focus. Britain has the strongest unity I have witnessed over my ten years and counting of being involved in the squad. “We push each other across every classification on a daily basis and I believe this has acted as a catalyst to our success over the past few seasons.” Britain finished in second place in Montreal but
climbing to the top of the medal table in August would mean toppling the great boccia nations of Thailand, Japan and Brazil. Yet McGuire remains confident. He added: “David Smith in the BC1 classification has consistently showed his class in the big events. Our BC4 Pair have been consistent in the medal matches of late. Our BC3 Pair won silver in their last World Championships outing together. “Jamie McCowan and I are highly ranked individually in our respective classifications at the moment and looking to put the pressure on, come the Worlds. We have the talent across every classification to top the medal table.” Smith and McGuire will be joined by five other Paralympians - Claire Taggart, McCowan, Patrick Wilson, Jess Hunter and Evie Edwards. New faces in the squad complete the line-up. Swansea’s Ricky Stevenson – David Smith’s protégé impressed selectors at the 2017 UK Championships. Will Hipwell made his international debut in 2017 while Louis Saunders is the youngest player on the squad. At 16, he has been juggling his training with GCSE studies. While Boccia UK and the British squad will be focussed on delivering podium performances, they also hope to revolutionise the image of the sport. Duncan Tunbridge of Boccia UK is Competition Manager at the Championships. He said: “Boccia can often been seen as a quiet and calm sport. But if you see boccia in countries like Brazil, it has a totally different feel. The crowd make a lot of noise and get really
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“We have the talent across every classification to top the medal table.” involved and that’s the sort of atmosphere we would like to have in Liverpool. “We have a superb venue - Exhibition Centre Liverpool – coupled with an organising team that is leaving no stone unturned in making this a must-see sporting event. “For the first time ever in a boccia event, spectators will be able to get up close to the action with courtside seating available on the eleven outside courts. The central show court will feature tiered seating, theatrical lighting and aerial cameras that will allow spectators to get a bird’s eye view of the court. “In another world first, we have ripped up the traditional boccia schedule so that the gold medal matches take place one at a time on the show court. This will dramatically improve the athlete and spectator experience as they will be able to focus all their attention
on each final, creating a superb atmosphere.” And long after the final ball is played in Liverpool, organisers are also hoping that the sport of boccia will be embraced by the city for years to come. A £32,000 Boccia England legacy programme, funded by Sport England, is setting out to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Liverpool by introducing the sport of boccia and encouraging more people to play. “Even though boccia is a Paralympic sport, many people don’t even know it exists,” said Smith. “So we’ll be using the World Championships as a shop window for the sport to get word out there and raise awareness.”w
Further information The BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships has been made possible thanks to UK Sport’s National Lottery funding through its Major Events Programme. The Championships will take place at Exhibition Centre Liverpool from 12-18 August 2018 and will attract over 180 athletes from over 30 competing nations. Tickets are still available at www.echoarena.com/worldboccia
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David
Smith Paralympic champ David Smith believes the GB team can wow the home crowd at the BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships in Liverpool
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H
AVING claimed European, World and Paralympic titles already, what is there left to achieve in the sport for David Smith? Regaining his world crown at the BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships, that’s what. The event will see more than 180 athletes from over 30 countries battle it out at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool from August 12-18. Here Smith discusses his, and the GB team’s, chances…
HOW ‘BIG’ ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS? “For us, this is the second biggest event we can compete in after the Paralympics. I’m the former world champion so that’s an extra motivation too. The ranking points from the event count towards Paralympics qualification so it’s a stepping stone in some respects – but a very big one! “I’m on a good run, so it would be fantastic to hold the European, World and Para crowns all at the same time.” TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR GB TEAM-MATES… “We’ve got Stephen Maguire, who is defending his world title, and Jamie McCowan who is the European champion. I’m going in as the European, Paralympic and former World champion, so the three of us are in a really strong place. “Then we’ve got Patrick Wilson and Scott McCowan, and Evie Edwards in the fours, who are not yet in the medal zone but are not far off and on their day can beat anybody.” “Having had a Paralympics, Claire Taggart knows what it’s all about. She recently won the British Champs for the first time, so that bodes well. “Will Hipwell is quite new but has been massively improving his performances this year. We’ve also got a brand new player, Ricky Stevenson in the BC1s, who has only just started. This is going to be his Worlds debut and there is a lot of potential there.” WHAT ARE THE BRITS’ CHANCES? “Across the board we’ve got some really strong players and if they can turn it on at the same time we could do very well. “It’s a really close-knit group. We’ve come a long way in the last few years in the transition from being amateur-ish with a little bit of funding to being much more professional now. The support staff have moulded us into a professional unit. That means we can have honest conversations with each other, which helps increase the performance levels and competitiveness between us.”w
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Road to gl G
REAT BRITAIN are certainly taking a strong team to the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago from August 2-5. And amongst their 20 riders in Italy will be non-other than Britain’s most successful female Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey. Returning to elite level competition following the birth of her son Charlie last October, she will be aiming to add to her impressive tally of 23 para-cycling world championship titles. Storey said: “After not being able to travel to the track worlds in March I’m excited to get out to Italy for the road worlds.
“The road season has started well and I’ve already raced internationally in Holland. Over the last few weeks I’ve had the HSBC UK National Women’s Road Series races and the HSBC UK National Road Championships as part of my preparations.” Joining Storey will be Lora Fachie piloted by Corrine Hall, Crystal Lane-Wright and Katie Toft - all of whom won gold medals at the World Cup in Ostend earlier this year. Paralympic champions Steve Bate and his pilot Adam Duggleby, Karen Darke, Megan Giglia and Louis Rolfe will be back in action, while Will Bjergfelt, Craig Collis McCann, Hannah Dines, Mel Nicholls, Simon Price, Liz Saul, David Smith and Ben Watson will represent Great Britain in their respective categories.
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glory?
Dame Sarah Storey returns to elite level competition as the GB team head to the UCI Para-cycling Road Worlds
Completing the line-up is Finlay Graham and George Peasgood, both of whom make their debuts in Great Britain Cycling Team colours. Performance director Stephen Park said: “We have selected a strong squad of riders to represent us out in Maniago and there’s a lot of potential for success. “It’s great to see new talent being selected to represent us at this world championships and I’d like to welcome Finlay and George onto the squad. Similarly, I’m pleased to see so many Paralympic champions competing as we build towards Tokyo.
Championships in Rio back in March. The first World Cup of the season went well for the team, who won fourteen medals in Ostend, and I’ll be looking for them to back that up in Maniago.” David Smith added: “Being selected for the road worlds is an incredible opportunity and one I am truly grateful for. “Cycling has been the only thing in my life that gave me the drive to get through the last two years since surgery, so knowing that I get the chance to race in a world championships makes all those hours in rehab worth it.”w
“The qualification period for Tokyo 2020 is well underway for the para-cycling squad and they topped the medal table at the UCI Para-cycling Track World
Steve Bate piloted Adam Duggleby (MB); Will Bjergfelt (C5); Craig Collis McCann (T2); Karen Darke (WH3); Hannah Dines (T2); Lora Fachie piloted by Corrine Hall (WB); Megan Giglia (C3); Finlay Graham (C3); Crystal Lane Wright (C5); George Peasgood (C4); Simon Price (C2); Louis Rolfe (C2); Liz Saul (C4); David Smith (C1); Dame Sarah Storey (C5); Katie Toft (C1); Ben Watson (C3)
GB Team
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Grassroots News... School’s out…for inaugural Müller Sports Day FOUR East London primary schools - Buxton, Gallions, John Scurr and St Paul’s with St Michael’s - headed to the London Stadium for a Sports Day to remember. Kitted out in their school sports gear, the children were led in a fun filled warm-up to get the adrenalin pumping. The athletes were then led out into the stadium to the sound of roaring crowds and Survivor’s ‘Eye of the Tiger’. With their school’s name plastered across the huge screens, everyone was raring to go. The young athletes took part in four activities around the track - Run, Jump, Throw and Push. They were coached by Olympic bronze medallist and newly-crowned Müller Athletic Squad Coach, Kelly Sotherton, with Müller Athletic Squad Member and 2016 Paralympic Games F34 shot put star, Vanessa Wallace, cheering them on every step of the way.
‘Run’ showed the athletes how to set up for a sprint and saw them tearing down the 100m stretch, running in the footsteps of
legends such as Usain Bolt. They then took part in a fun, old school classic, the egg and spoon race. ‘Jump’ measured how far each Sports Day athlete could long jump. A little high jump coaching on how to master the all-important run-up also featured. ‘Throw’ coached on under and overarm techniques as well as target practice. Coaches Sotherton and Wallace were on hand with tips to make every throw count. ‘Push’ showed just how much strength and skill Para athletes have, as each Sports Day athlete took to the racing wheelchair and pushed as fast as they could down the track. A truly inspirational day was had by all, watching the next generation become inspired by athletics in such an iconic stadium. The Müller Athletic Squad is helping to promote the important role exercise and diet play in leading an active and healthy life.
Netball training day for deaf participants ENGLAND NETBALL with support from UK Deaf Sport held a netball training day for deaf players, coaches and umpires. The event brought together players - some that haven’t played for several years alongside coaches and umpires to look at ways to improve the sport for people with hearing impairments. Taking place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, everyone took part in training drills and match play. They also
had the opportunity to discuss how coaching netball could be more inclusive and what considerations might be needed when umpiring a game with deaf players. The day was a great success with all players commenting on how interesting they found the training sessions and that they look forward to playing more netball in the future. Richard Evans, England Netball Strategic Lead for Disability, co-ordinated the event
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with the support of UKDS. He said: “This pilot marks the start of a journey to bring a new sport to women and girls from the deaf community. This pilot has provided great insight and will help shape and form a new and emerging sport.” Valerie Copenhagen, UK Deaf Sport Head of Participation, added: “This was a great opportunity to bring all parties together players from the deaf community, netball coaches and officials to develop the sport.”
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London Calling
© Mike Varey, elitepix
British Judo are pleased to announce that London has been named the FOLLOWING on from the resounding success and recognition of the first ID World Championships, which was supported by the International Judo Federation, British Judo have been given the same support from the European Judo Union (EJU) to run the first European Championships of its kind.
ID World Championships in Cologne last year winning seven medals including five gold. The BJA have been striving to improve the offering of adaptive judo across Great Britain and the event is just reward for the Association following excellent feedback from the EJU about our bid.
an important milestone for judoka from many nations.” commented Sergey Soloveychik, President of the EJU. “I am also convinced that the event in London will be a great success and a very positive step towards the inclusion of ID into the judo sporting environment.”
The event will be held on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 August at the SportsDock, University of East London (UEL Sportsdock). GB Judo had a very successful outing to the
“Judo is considered to be one of the most valuable sports for judo athletes with intellectual disability and I am positive that the Championships in London will become
Adaptive Judo lead at the BJA, Kerry Tansey, headed up the bid and was thrilled with the decision to land the event in London. “To receive the official email from the
Agilitymagazine | 46
e host of the first Intellectual Disability (ID) European Championships President of the EJU supporting the event is amazing for our Adaptive Judo Athletes,” she added. “Small steps are being achieved in recognition for our athletes on the World and European stage. This is an amazing opportunity for us to host the event following the success of the IJF World ID Championships in Cologne in October 2017.
commended for their dedication, patience and perseverance. Special thanks to Jane BridgeCharlot in supporting us too.” Following the ID Europeans, the venue will be hosting the British Open Adaptive Judo Championships and the British Judo Visually Impaired National/Invitational Championships on Saturday 25 August, also at UEL Sportsdock.w
“Everyone involved within the working group to make this opportunity happen have to be
Further event information: www.britishjudo.org.uk/2018-intellectualAgilitymagazine | 47
disability-championships/ www.britishjudo.org.uk/event/2018-britishopen-adaptive-judo-championships/ www.britishjudo.org.uk/event/british-judovisually-impaired-national-invitationalchampionships/ British Judo’s renowned Paralympic Programme is becoming a highly-coveted model for success in Visually Impaired (VI) judo. Find out more about Britain’s VI stars in future issues of Agility
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