AgilityMagazine Issue 4 November 2018
Jonnie
Peacock
The Paralympic champion is ready to get back on track ALSO INSIDE: INVICTUS GAMES PREVIEW | TIM HOLLINGSWORTH | MAISIE SUMMERS-NEWTON
Editor's
Welcome Celebrating our Paralympics stars…
WELCOME to the November edition of Agility – the digital magazine focusing on disability sports and our Paralympic stars. Just three days after this issue is published comes the fourth instalment of the Invictus Games. Sydney plays host this time around as wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans from across the globe unite for a truly unique sporting event. We talk to the UK Team’s chef de mission Jayne Kavanagh and team captain Mark ‘Dot’ Perkins ahead of the start of the action – along with former Invictus competitor Dave Henson, who has since progressed to the Paralympics podium. Summarising the extraordinary Invictus spirit, Kavanagh told Agility: “It’s not about finding those finite individuals who will excel at that sport – it’s finding how sport can support that individual and using it for a bigger purpose. “It will be great if Sydney is outstanding, but it’s about ensuring that when we come home those individuals are in a better place than
they were before they started the journey.” Also returning to action is Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock. After taking a year out to hone his moves on the dancefloor, chart his family history and inspire thousands of youngsters, the sprint king reflects on his comeback at the Great City Games in Newcastle and recent return to fulltime training ahead of a massive 2019 season. Throw in a stack load of reviews from some of the largest para-sports events from across the globe, and you have another packed edition to savour. It’s our fourth and final issue of a wonderful first year for Agility. We hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have. Many thanks for your support - and see you in January! Lee Jones Agility Magazine, Managing Editor Take a look at this great video from BP
Many thanks to…
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AgilityMagazine Issue 4 November 2018
Jonnie Peacock
The Paralympic champion is ready to get back on track ALSO INSIDE: INVICTUS GAMES PREVIEW | TIM HOLLINGSWORTH | MAISIE SUMMERS-NEWTON
Cover image: Jonnie Peacock Credit: British Athletics / Getty Images © 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, Ben Booth Photography, British Swimming, British Triathlon, Boccia UK, British Rowing / Naomi Baker, British Judo, Zsuzsanna Vekassy / British Canoeing, British Wheelchair Basketball / SA Images 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 4 November 2018
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TIM HOLLINGSWORTH The BPA’s outgoing chief executive looks back on his time at the helm
JONNIE PEACOCK The Paralympic champ is back on track and returning to ‘normality’ EURO ATHLETICS CHAMPS How GB’s 50 medals are helping to empower the next generation
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HANNAH COCKROFT Hannah’s drive is back after a ‘disappointing’ European Championships
INVICTUS GAMES PREVIEW The UK team of competitors are heading to Sydney for Invictus part IV DAVE HENSON The Invictus Games have been just the start for the Paralympic medallist Agilitymagazine | 2
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MAISIE SUMMERS-NEWTON European titles, world records and GCSEs – it’s been an incredible year
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL GB’s teams made history at the World Wheelchair Basketball Champs REVIEWS SECTION Equestrian, paracanoe, rowing, triathlon and boccia championships
HUUBDES IGN .COM /A LBACOR E
In the News... Fox retires after glorious career in pool PARALYMPIC gold medallist swimmer Jonathan Fox has called time on a successful career that has spanned almost 18 years - and saw him win medals at three Paralympic Games. The first of his Paralympic medals was claimed at Beijing 2008 with silver in the 100m backstroke. Gold followed at London 2012 with two world titles in Eindhoven and Montreal also in the 100m backstroke. Those achievements led to Fox receiving an MBE in 2013 for services to swimming from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. Another highlight was his return from injury in 2016 when he won gold at the European Championships in Funchal. He later broke his own world record in Sheffield and qualified for the Rio Paralympic Games, where he went on to win 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke silver. Earlier this year Fox was reclassified from an S7 to an S8, changing his world ranking and
therefore making it harder to be competitive in his chosen events. Fox explained: “My reclassification prevented me from being able to attend the Commonwealth Games 2018 and I also missed out on qualification for the World Para Swimming European Championships in Dublin 2018. Both were hard to deal with. “In August, I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, something that I’m still coming to terms with and getting used to. 2018 has been a bit of whirlwind for me and now feels like a suitable time to step away from the sport and focus on my health.” He added: “It has been such a great honour to represent Great Britain and I would like to thank British Para-Swimming, UK Sport and everyone that has been part of my sporting journey, especially my family in Cornwall, and everyone who supported me whilst overcoming injury. You have all helped me to achieve my dream.”
Strong GB team heading to World Champs Skelley is the current IBSA European champion and has won silver at the Tashkent and Atyrau IBSA Judo World Cups. Ingram, who has moved up from -90kg, showed his class at the higher weight with gold in Tashkent last year and silver at the Antayla IBSA Judo World Cup in April this year. Stewart has only been fighting at international VI Judo level since August 2017 but has already won bronze medals at the Tashkent and Antalya World Cups.
GB JUDO will take an eight-strong team to the 2018 IBSA World Judo Championships in Portugal from November 16-18. The team includes five judoka with Paralympic Games experience - Natalie Greenhough (-70kg), Daniel Powell (-81kg), Chris Skelley (-100kg), Jack Hodgson (+100kg) and two-time Paralympic medallist Sam Ingram (-100kg). Connah Anders (-66kg), Evan Molloy (-73kg) and Elliot Stewart (-90kg) will be making their IBSA World Judo Championships debuts.
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Take a look at this great video from BP
Bayley and Davies head squad PARALYMPIC champions Will Bayley and Rob Davies head a squad of 14 British athletes who will compete in the World Para Table Tennis Championships in Slovenia from October 17-20. The line-up also includes this year’s Commonwealth Games gold and silver
medallists Ross Wilson and Kim Daybell. Bayley will be defending the men’s class 7 World title that he won in Beijing four years ago and admits that he is still driven by his desire for more titles. “To be honest, it doesn’t feel much different to me going into the World Championships as defending champion,” said the world number two. “I still feel that I’ve got a lot to prove as a player and a lot more to achieve. “I’m just going there as one of 20 players in my class and I’ll take every match as it comes.” “Everyone has a chance to win – we start at 0-0 so we’ll see.” “I’ve been playing really well in the British League and beaten some good able-bodied players and if I can take that form into the World Championships then that will be really good for me.”
Hewett’s double delight in US ALFIE HEWETT played his “best tennis” to storm to the US Open men’s singles wheelchair title. The 20-year-old had already won the doubles event with fellow Brit Gordon Reid before beating Japan’s Shingo Kunieda 6-3 7-5 in the singles final. It was the second singles title of Hewett’s career following his French Open success in 2017 - and his seventh overall. “I felt like I’ve been playing my best tennis
this week and last week,” he said. “There’s something here that’s really clicking for me and I need to put my finger on it and take it into the other Slams.” The win against top seed Kunieda completed a dream second half of the season for Hewett in Grand Slams following his doubles title at Wimbledon earlier this year. Hewett and Reid continued their dominance of men’s doubles with their second US Open triumph.
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GB goalball joy GREAT BRITAIN’S place in IBSA Goalball European Championships B is safe after they ended their tournament on a high with a dramatic victory over Montenegro. After missing out earlier that day to Portugal, the GB team knew they would have to be at their best in the final game of the week as they took on Montenegro in a battle for seventh place. The meeting had extra meaning with the team fighting for survival in their bid to avoid relegation - doing so with a 4-3 victory in their final outing in Poland. They had to wait until the very last second to confirm their fate however, with a great save preserving their lead with just two seconds left on the clock. The side’s other game on the final day had seen them in fifth-to-eighth classification action against Portugal, knowing a win would guarantee a top-six finish. However, victory was not forthcoming for the GB side, who lost 6-1.
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Tim Hollingsworth Looking back on his tenure at the British Paralympic Association helm
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FTER seven years as British Paralympic Association chief executive Tim Hollingsworth leaves the organisation to become Sport England’s CEO in November. Here he looks back on his BPA journey…
How do you reflect on your seven years in the role? It has been a real privilege to be involved with the BPA and Paralympic movement in the period that has gone into, and out of, the impact of London 2012. The way that movement has been transformed and galvanised has been incredible. It’s a great organisation and a fantastic movement, and with the athletes performing as they have been, it’s been inspirational to be involved. The most gratifying thing is the way that the Paralympic movement is starting to move on to a new phase of growth and development. That is being manifested not just in increasingly competitive performances at Games time but the depth of field, the number of nations competing and the way in which more and more nations are bringing athletes to the fore. That’s not to say that it is anywhere near where it can be, nor is it to suggest that hasn’t been without challenges. But overall it has been a transformational period for the movement. How has the BPA changed and evolved during that time? Hugely. It’s grown in terms of personnel although we remain a lean organisation. I would argue that we now have a structure of people in the BPA to deliver across all our responsibilities in a world class way. I’m intensely proud of the team here and the leadership shown by my colleagues in various areas. We’ve grown commercially – the budgets now at Games time are unrecognisable from those before London. We’ve also
grown hugely in terms of media attention, but most of all I think we’ve grown in terms of our expectations of how we deliver. We are a far more competitive nation on the field of play and we have played our part in that in terms of our preparations. The higher purpose in our view is ‘through sport, inspire a better world for disabled people’. That includes finding ways to use the inspirational power of our athletes to challenge and change perceptions of disability in society. And your proudest achievements? I can take pride in the achievement of others in this role. When Menna Fitzpatrick and Jen Kehoe won their gold on the last day in Pyeongchang this year that was the 280th medal ParalympicsGB had won while I was chief executive, and the 100th gold. There’s a symmetry to that and I am very proud of that because we do so much of what we do to allow medal success and for athletes to fulfil their potential. It’s how we do that which has made me most proud. We have a fantastic values-driven approach to sport, we have great engagement with the athletes through their experience as a member of ParalympicsGB and their experiences in the village. But how we have sought to translate that into a positive agenda around disability and a view of what’s possible has been key. What’s the future for Paralympic sport in the UK and further afield? In a bizarre way I’m very envious of my successor. That’s not because I haven’t left them with any challenges. There will be lots of management and leadership challenges within the BPA because that’s the nature of growth and ambition. But I think the Paralympic movement and para sport generally still has a huge amount of potential to grow, develop and make a difference at every level in people’s lives.w
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Jonnie Peacock
The Paralympic champ on getting back on track and returning normality after a ‘relaxing’ year of dancing and Superhero Tri
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g to events
Agilitymagazine | 11 Š British Athletics / Getty Images
“I’m not expecting big things too quickly because it’s early days but it’s been good to get back into the hard work.”
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HAT a year it’s been for Jonnie Peacock. After impressing millions of viewers on Strictly Come Dancing, following that with the hit show’s arena tour, charting his family history in another BBC One favourite ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and taking part in the latest Superhero Tri event – what’s next for the sprint king? Back to the day job is the simple answer. Peacock made his official comeback in September at the Great City Games in Newcastle – finishing second behind Germany’s Felix Streng in the men’s T64 100m in an encouraging 11.08 seconds. Agilitymagazine | 12
Now, as he tells Agility, the hard work really begins with winter training as next year’s World Championships and the 2020 Paralympics Games come into sharp focus. ON TAKING A BREAK… “It’s been really nice to take time out from being an athlete and do something completely different. I took the decision to have a year out a couple of years ago – I thought that would be great, I would get a good rest and go away when I want to. It ended up being the busiest six months of my life! “I had Strictly, then the Strictly Tour and a few other things I’ve taken the opportunity to do, so it’s been pretty non-stop and it will be nice now to get back to normality. “It never really got to the point where I didn’t want to go in and train – it’s sometimes tough when you wake up tired in the winter and you have to drag yourself out of bed for a training session but I still love it. However, taking that time out definitely made me appreciate it even more and realise how much I do enjoy the training. So, yeah, I’ve missed it. “You constantly have something you’re working towards. For most athletes, that’s the championships each year. You target the next one, compete, have a few weeks off and then start working towards the next one. For me, when I’m not training now I’ve learnt to unwind - play Xbox or play with my dogs - which suits me perfectly.”
Sprint king Jonnie Peacock was on the gold trail once again at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio
GETTING BACK ON TRACK… “I’ve started training again over the last couple of months and came back for the Great City Games in Newcastle. I went there to try my best with what I had. I only had two or three months of training leading into that whereas everyone else had the full year behind them. I wasn’t expecting world records or anything! “I’m not expecting big things too quickly because it’s early days but it has been good to get back into the hard work. In October I’ll be back into winter training and back to the normal routine with my sights set on the 2019 World Champs and building ultimately towards Tokyo 2020. “Everything is geared towards the big ones – the Paralympics and the World Championships. We build the training and preparations around that. Beneath that decisions are made on an event-by-event basis, so we’ll see how things go this winter and take it from there!” ON BEING A SUPERHERO TRI TEAM CAPTAIN... “I’ve been involved in the Superhero Tri a number of times now and it’s just a really good event. There’s no other event in the UK that I’m aware of that caters for all abilities in this way. “There are no real rules or regulations and if someone needs a little bit of a helping hand to get them through the course then it’s there for them. There are lots of different distances and it’s all about getting as many different people involved as possible. “There are team captains, and I was captain of Team npower, with people like Adam Hills and David Weir also involved. It’s just a really cool day for everyone involved.”
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“It’s sometimes tough when you wake up tired in the winter and you have to drag yourself out of bed for a training session but I still love it.”
MAKING SPORT INCLUSIVE… “I appreciate how much sport has changed my life and how vital it has been for me. I was lucky that I could integrate and get involved in sport quite easily, but not everybody is so lucky – some people have to search more and need some assistance. The Superhero Tri event is so inclusive and so easy to be a part of. I’ve seen what a difference sport can make and I want to help carry that on and help more people get involved in it. “Kids can sometimes be a bit shy at first, but by the end of the day they are a lot more comfortable and just having fun without a worry in the world. That’s great to see and be a part of. Some people who are doing triathlons all the time just want to come along and get involved, while for other people it could be their first triathlon, so it’s a real range of people. “It’s 100 per cent about taking part in sport and enjoying it. The benefits from sport are there for all to see in terms of physical and mental health, so it’s about making sure people can get out there and enjoy themselves.”w
ABOUT THE SUPERHERO TRI The latest instalment of the Superhero Tri powered by npower took place in August at Dorney Lake, near Windsor. Jonnie Peacock was joined by fellow celebrity team captains including Adam Hills, Billy Monger, David Weir, Erin Orford, Menna Fitzpatrick and Stephanie Millward. It is the UK’s one and only disability sports series for the Everyday Superhero. The idea is simple - to create fun, full-throttle challenges where people with disabilities call the shots and don’t have to worry about cut-off times or equipment restrictions. With three unique challenges to choose from, there are three very different ways to take part. Participants can fly solo, unite with family and friends for team relays, or tow their Superhero around the entire course in the world first Sidekick Tris. Up next is npower Winter Wonderwheels on December 2 – again at Dorney Lake. This tinsel-tastic event is designed to keep participants motivated through the colder months. Get ready to cycle, walk, run, push, or anything in between around Dorney’s spectacular lake. Longer-term, participants can also book now for Superhero Tri on August 17, 2019.
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WPA European Championships r
Richard Whitehead, Kare Adenegan and Sophie Hahn were am Agilitymagazine | 16
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mong the big winners
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FTER adding another major international medal to his collection at the World Para Athletics European Championships, Richard Whitehead summed up the event perfectly: “Berlin has definitely put on a show for Paralympic sport.” Whitehead’s gold in the T61 200m final was one of 50 medals claimed by the British team in Germany. But the 42-year-old double Paralympic champ was happier to see young and inspired talent emerging across the continent. He commented: “When you look at the impact since 2012, it is about making sure it is not just about the Paralympic Games, but it filters down to European level and the domestic side. We want to engage and encourage communities all over the world and hopefully we empower the next group of athletes. “It wasn’t about winning the race - medals aren’t something that inspire me to continue. The impact sport has had on someone like Ali Lacin (the silver medallist from Germany) is definitely inspiring. The whole ethos around the team is what has everyone talking in Berlin. “We have the ability to bring young talent through and nurture that talent from an early age. We have also invested in coaching and the structures that are behind the performances. When you see a performance on the track, so much hard work has gone into it.” Amongst the other inspirational talent on show was 17-year-old Kare Adenegan, who took gold in the T34 100m final ahead of Hannah Cockroft. Five-time Paralympic champion Cockroft reversed that result in the 800m, but Adenegan was delighted to claim her first international crown. “It is crazy - it is such a dream,” she said. “I can’t believe I have got a gold medal. It was so tough (following her world record the previous month). The first week after it I was just so excited, I couldn’t contain that excitement, I was so happy. I just had to remind myself that the Europeans is where it is at and it is about getting medals at championships. “I had to ground myself and I am so happy that I have been able to deliver a great performance. It hasn’t just happened. It has been so many years and I am so thankful to everybody who has helped me to progress gradually and get to this moment. I am so pleased, I just want to keep going and stay consistent.” Elsewhere, Sophie Hahn grabbed a hat-trick of golds – claiming the T38 sprint double before teaming up with GB team-mates Zac Shaw, Laura Sugar and Nathan Maguire to land first place in the Universal 4x100m Relay. Hahn commented: “For me, I love training and working hard. I work so hard on the track and in the gym. I want to keep getting better and keep retaining titles. “We have got such a strong team. It is fantastic to see the young talent that has come through and for Tokyo and beyond we are going to have a really strong team. I
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© Ben Booth Photography
“We want to engage and encourage communities all over the world and hopefully we empower the next group of athletes.” – Richard Whitehead know my rivals are catching up with me, so I am taking each year as it comes. I would love to defend my titles and keep getting stronger and quicker.” Among the other star performers were Thomas Young, who claimed double gold in the T38 100m and 200m, while Maguire’s four-medal haul (relay gold plus bronze medals in the T54 100m, 200m and 800m) was another GB highlight. T36 sprinter Graeme Ballard brought the curtain down on a superb career with 100m gold and 200m bronze, while Britain secured gold and silver in both the men’s and women’s RR3 100m contests as Race Running made its debut at the championships. Hannah Dines and Gavin Drysdale topped the podiums, with Kayleigh Haggo and Rafi Solaiman completing the one-twos. See the next issue of Agility, in January, for more on Great Britain’s Race Running stars.w
GB MEDALLISTS Gold: Kare Adenegan – T34 100m; Hollie Arnold – F46 Javelin; Graeme Ballard – T36 100m; Hannah Cockroft – T34 800m; Aled Davies – F63 Discus & Shot Put; David Devine – T13 5000m; Hannah Dines – RR3 100m; Gavin Drysdale – RR3 100m; Sabrina Fortune – F20 Shot put; Dan Greaves – F64 Discus; Sophie Hahn – T38 100m & 200m; Harri Jenkins – T33 100m; Maria Lyle – T35 100m; Vanessa Wallace – F34 Shot put; Richard Whitehead – T61 200m; Thomas Young – T38 100m & 200m; Universal 4x100m Relay. Silver: Kare Adenegan – T34 800m; Jo Butterfield – F51 Club Throw; Hannah Cockroft – T34 100m; David Devine – T13 1500m; Rhys Jones – T37 100m; Kayleigh Haggo – RR3 100m; Stephen Miller – F32 Club Throw; Luke Nuttall – T46 1500m; Ross Paterson – T38 400m; Ben Rowlings – T34 400m & 800m; Zak Skinner – T13 Long Jump; Rafi Solaiman – RR3 100m; Ali Smith – T38 400m. Bronze: Graeme Ballard – T36 200m; Olivia Breen – T38 100m; Mo Jomni – T53 100m, 200m & 400m; Dillon Labrooy – T54 400m; Nathan Maguire – T54 100m, 200m & 800m; Polly Maton – T47 Long Jump & 100m; Stephen Osborne – T51 100m & 200m; Stef Reid – T64 Long Jump; Laura Sugar – T44/64 100m & 200m.
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Hannah Columnist
COCKROFT
After a ‘disappointing’ European Championships, Hannah has her passion for racing back
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ALWAYS said this was going to be my year to go out and do the things I wanted to do and build myself a future, and I really feel like I’ve done that. At the same time, it has given me my motivation and passion back – I missed focusing on racing this year and I’m tired! I’m ready for a break and ‘just’ training now! Even going into the European Championships, I felt nothing for it and had no motivation to be there. Whereas, going forward to the World Championships next November, I’m really motivated because I know I can do fantastic things this season. My head is back in the game and my passion is back where it should be, and I’m glad I took this year to find that again. It’s been tough for a few years to find that kind of drive to go out and do the training every single day. This was my ‘reward’ year in some ways – now I’ve got to go away and earn myself some more nice things to do! I was really disappointed with my performance at the Europeans – even with the 800m gold. It wasn’t how I want to race but I just did what it took to win. It was especially frustrating in the 100m. On the previous day I was absolutely flying but then it came to race day and it’s the first championships that I’ve ever had where I’ve not been allowed a warm-up lap which threw me off a bit. It was a case of experience hindering me if that makes sense Agilitymagazine | 2
because my routine was off and it messed my whole race up. All the while I was there in Berlin I didn’t feel as excited or awake as I usually am at a major champs. I was counting down to my next TV filming day or my next holiday, and that’s never how you want to feel at a championships. I knew something was wrong and now I know how to fix it. I know what I need to do next and know I can get back onto the top of that podium for the 100m, so it’s about doing the hard work and proving that. I loved watching my friend Sophie Hahn run and I think she should be up for Sports Personality of the Year. She holds every title that she possibly can as well as all the world records. She was exceptional again in Berlin. It was great to watch the younger athletes coming through as well. Thomas Young was so fantastic to watch – it was great to see someone so passionate about what they’re doing. Going in with a new team and a young team, and seeing how exciting it was for them to pull on that GB vest, made me think ‘I need to get that back’.
Nathan (Maguire) was another to do really well over there, winning his first international medals, so I was more excited to go and watch the racing than I was to race myself. I’m just glad that happened at a Europeans rather than a Worlds. It’s nice to think that we might have helped inspire these younger athletes and they do come up and say nice things like that. But it also makes you feel so old! Seriously though, it is really nice and you want to keep showing them that they can have as long or short a career as they want. I’m excited and just want to get back in my chair now. It will be great to get back to training and a normal schedule - and I’ve got loads of ideas on how to get faster! w
“It was great to watch the younger athletes coming through. Thomas Young was so fantastic to watch – it was great to see someone so passionate about what they’re doing.” Agilitymagazine | 3
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The UK’s team of 72 competitors are heading to
OLLOWING the huge success of the first three stagings of the Invictus Games – London 2014, Orlando 2016 and Toronto 2017 – the event returns for its fourth edition from October 20-27. In total, 451 wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans trialled across the 11 sports for one of the 72 places available on Team UK. As a result, 64 per cent of the team heading to
Australia are Invictus debutants. The rigorous selection process was based on the benefit the Games will give an individual as part of their recovery, combined with performance and commitment to training. Help for Heroes is again delivering and training the team. Jayne Kavanagh, UK Team Chef de Mission, told Agility: “The Games have continued growing year-on-year - we had more people apply than ever before and more people come to our trials, so it’s been a real whirlwind over the last year.
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Sydney this month for the fourth Invictus Games “We’re also thinking about the next steps and what we’re going to do after the Games. Every single person that applies or goes to the Games will have a very different reason for why they want to be there, and how Invictus will support their recovery journey. “For us, it’s critical to ensure that Invictus is part of the journey – that we ensure sport is part of a good life and we can support the wider recovery needs of these athletes.” The UK Team Captain is Mark ‘Dot’ Perkins. Former
Royal Signals Corporal Dot was discharged in 2005 and now works as a civil servant rehabilitating injured soldiers. He will compete in cycling and rowing in Sydney. He said: “There are few moments in one’s life when an event occurs that truly transforms your life - the Invictus Games is it. Whilst participating in the games our scars are like medals that we can proudly display rather than hide in shame or embarrassment. “Invictus allows us to be judged on what we can achieve, rather than what we can’t.”w
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Dave
Henson The Invictus Games have been just the start for Paralympic medallist Dave Henson
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SKED to describe the Invictus Games, Dave Henson remarks: “It takes a group of people who have given an awful lot of their lives and puts them on centre stage to celebrate all that they’ve given already and all they’ve got left to give.” It’s a perfect description of an event that began in London in 2014 and is preparing for its fourth staging later this month when Sydney plays host to the action. Henson, who lost both of his legs in Afghanistan after stepping on a IED while serving within the Royal Engineers bomb disposal unit, took part in the maiden Games and headed to Orlando for the second event in 2016. Since then the 34-year-old has gone on to represent GB at two World Championships, a European Championships and the 2016 Rio Paralympics where he claimed a bronze medal in the T42 200m. Looking back to 2014, Henson recalls the uncertainty among athletes about quite what to expect from the first Invictus Games. “It was something brand new that people hadn’t seen before,” he commented. “We knew, because of who was involved and who was pushing it, that it was going to be something big and something special but we didn’t know what else was going to be around that.
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“These are remarkable me think they should be celebr
“We thought they might put on a grand sports day in Aldershot or one of the other military sporting centres. But they provided us with the Olympic Park and sold over 70,000 tickets for that first Invictus Games. It was broadcast on the BBC and it was so big and extravagant and so celebratory of these service men and women. “It was quite staggering, and for me personally it provided an opportunity to focus on something other than rehabilitation. It provided goals for me to work towards which I hadn’t had for a while. From there it pushed me into a sub-career that I would never have anticipated. Pushing me into sport like that has been incredible and it all stemmed from those first Invictus Games.” Explaining the Games’ unique atmosphere, Henson continued: “It feels a lot more like a family compared to other team environments. From a UK perspective, some of the team had gone through rehabilitation together or had even been injured during the same incident or tour. So we had a connection with each other beforehand. “We’ve all been pushed and had to push others along on their journey beforehand, so moving that into the sporting arena was quite natural. As a result, you’ve got a very strong team bond and everyone pushing each other to be better. “We’re all pretty competitive individuals – but much more competitive as far as the team is concerned than on an individual level. That’s one of the more noticeable differences. It is more important for the team and your mates to do well than necessarily it is for yourself to do well. Equally, you understand that your own performance has an impact on how the team is viewed. “The Games are inherently relatable. Most people know someone who has served in the military and people understand that these are everyday individuals that have gone through something quite special. It captures the imagination and has done that more than we ever expected back in 2014. These are remarkable men and women and I think they should be celebrated like that. “Personally, Invictus sent me off down a path that I would never have expected. It’s all thanks to that one event and going in with the attitude ‘let’s see what my body can do here.’ “My coach and I will be sitting down soon and getting ready for the final run-up to the 2020 Paralympics. The World Championships are late next year, so all the planning now needs to be specific to Tokyo because we’re not going to get that rest after the World Champs that we would normally have. That’s the only way to ensure we head into Paralympics year in the right physical and mental state.” Sitting out this year’s World Para Athletics European Championships was a key part of that strategy, and ensuring Henson’s eyes remain on the big prize. “I’m aware of my own frailties as a person,” he confirmed. “Post-Invictus Games 2014 I pushed into a World Championships, another Invictus Games, a
Europeans, a Paralympic Games and straight into a home World Champs at London 2017. “This year we made a lot of changes in the prosthetics, in my form, in my technique alongside trying to complete my PhD and having a new baby, and I was a lot more tired than I should have been. So it’s about taking that rest now so we can push on in a much stronger position.” He continued: “Sport has certainly made me a better person – it has identified ways in which I can push myself which perhaps I wouldn’t have realised before. Sport has enabled me to tap into those inner resources, which you never access unless you’re looking to be the best in something. “That’s helped make everything else in my life remarkably easy. I’m much better at walking now, I’m much more able to concentrate fully in my day-to-day work, and I can do a whole lot more with my kids than I would have done had I not been so fit. It’s impacted on every aspect of my life and that all comes from pushing yourself on a daily basis.”w
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en and women and I rated like that.”
Dave Henson is an Athlete Ambassador for soft drinks producer Coco Fuzion 100 – an official supporter of the Invictus Games. “Coco Fuzion 100 are a great company to be associated with,” he said. “Most important for me is their relationship with the Invictus Games and how they’re supporting a number of my peer group. They’ve identified individuals that take part in the Games that deserve their help and support. The Invictus Games isn’t elite sport, but Coco Fuzion 100 are recognising the unique attributes and history that these men and women have. I think that’s absolutely outstanding.”
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Quality for life
C-Leg: Leading the way in the NHS In 2017, the long awaited NHS microprocessor knee policy allowed hundreds of patients to benefit from being fitted with a life changing prosthesis. With an array of gold standard features including the ability to stand naturally, walk backwards safely and to instantly recover from a stumble, the award winning C-Leg continues to lead the way in helping amputees to live their lives with confidence. To find out more about the NHS microprocessor knee policy, your eligibility and how a C-Leg could benefit you, please download our patient guide or speak to our team. W: www.ottobock.co.uk/mpk-nhs-funding/ T: 01784 744 900
Maisie Summers-Newton European titles, world records and GCSEs – what a year it’s been!
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F 16-year-old Maisie Summers-Newton was nervous ahead of August’s World Para Swimming European Championships, it didn’t show. The Northampton Swimming Club youngster was amongst the stars of the GB team in Dublin, claiming three gold medals and a bronze. The gold rush began with victory in the SM6 200m Individual Medley before Summers-Newton shattered her own world record to claim another first place in the SB6 100m Breaststroke – ahead of the legendary Ellie Simmonds (pictured together above). Victory in the 34pt 4x100m Medley Relay – with Alice Tai, Zara Mullooly and Toni Shaw – completed her hat-trick, and added to her third-place finish in the S6 400m Freestyle. “I was so happy – it went so much better than I expected,” Summers-Newton told Agility. “I was confident but to get the PBs, the world records and come home with three golds
from my first Europeans was just amazing! “I went into the competition trying to get PBs and be close to the medals, and to just enjoy the whole experience. I was nervous ahead of the first race but I knew I was in good shape and at the start of the week felt ready to race. “Just to be there with the senior athletes was amazing. To be in a GB team alongside people like Ellie (Simmonds), Ollie (Hynd) and Hannah (Russell) was incredible because they could offer so much knowledge and support about how it would be and how to control nerves. “They made it really relaxing and comfortable for us. They’ve been to the biggest games and performed on the biggest stage so that’s great to have within the team. They are so supportive of us younger swimmers.” After completing her GCSEs earlier this year and beginning life at sixth-form recently, Summers-Newton is already looking towards the 2019 World Championships in Malaysia. “It’s the Worlds next year so it’s about Agilitymagazine | 29
training hard and using the meets throughout the season to be in the best shape for that,” she confirmed. “The aim is to improve on this season and there are always areas that can be improved on. Butterfly and backstroke are my weaker strokes, so I want to make those stronger and achieve more PBs as I progress. “I’m enjoying it more than ever. I’m already excited about starting the new season and looking forward to more great experiences like the Europeans. Having that major event behind me should give me plenty of confidence and belief when I’m next at a major championships. “It’s always been a dream of mine to get to Tokyo 2020, so fingers-crossed I can be there. That will be another incredible experience! “Obviously in sixth-form you don’t have as many lessons so that gives me more rest time and time to swim. That should really help over the next couple of years.”w
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WORLD WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS GB’s teams made history at the World Wheelchair Basketball Champs
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ISTORY was made at the 2018 World Champs with the GB men winning their first ever world crown and the women securing their maiden place in a final. The women stormed through their last-four encounter with a stunning 6037 victory over Germany before losing the final to a strong Netherlands line-up. For the men meanwhile, a semi-final triumph against Iran set up a titanic clash with Paralympic gold medallists, the USA. Having lost to the same opposition in the pool stages, captain Phil Pratt’s men delivered a commanding and unstoppable performance when it mattered most.
© British Wheelchair Basketball / SA Image
The GB men ratcheted up the pressure in the final quarter and secured a 17-point win, ensuring an emotional moment for Head Coach Haj Bhania’s team who headed to Hamburg with the singular mission of bringing home the gold. Following the win, Phil Pratt commented: “It’s an unbelievable feeling right now to beat some of my idols growing up like Steve Serio and Matt Scott – I used to watch hours and hours of their games. “To beat them by 17 points in the final is unbelievable – I don’t think they’ve lost a game for nearly four years so to be the team that breaks that streak… wow! “We are such a young team but we are good friends. This showed on the floor when times got tough – we dug in deep and knew it would come good at the end. Our future as a team is huge.” The GB men’s senior, men’s junior and women’s junior teams all now hold current world titles with the GB women holding the silver. Lisa Pearce, British Wheelchair Basketball’s new CEO, commented: “Our teams have committed their heart and soul to the sport and their team-mates. Every one of them has been single-minded in working towards achieving a podium finish at this tournament.”w
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Superb Sophie! There was double gold for Sophie Wells in Tryon as GB’s paradressage squad qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
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OPHIE WELLS declared her pride at being part of such a strong British team after claiming a hat-trick of medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games. The Paralympic champion landed double gold in the individual Grade V and freestyle Grade V events with C Fatal Attraction. That, combined with team silver, took Wells to three medals for the week – putting to one side her disappointment of missing out on glory four years ago. Wells, who won Paralympic team gold at London 2012 and individual gold at Rio 2016, had to put in plenty of work before recording her world title-winning score of 80.755 per cent. “C Fatal Attraction was a little bit tense and on edge but he’s given me everything,” Wells said. “When you miss out on an individual gold after training every day it’s hard, but to achieve this after a big gap like I’ve had
is amazing. That’s why Rio was so special because I missed out on the individual gold in London too. “The British team are amazing. It’s so hard to get on the team and selection is a massive hurdle to overcome. We have a lot of good riders with a lot of horse power and we’re seeing that more across the world – the team competition proved that. “The standard of the riders, the training and the horses is amazing for the sport and it makes me proud to be a part of it.” Five-time Paralympic champion Natasha Baker claimed two silvers in North Carolina – Agilitymagazine | 33
helping GB’s para-dressage team to qualify for Tokyo 2020 in the process. Just seven months after teaming up with her new horse Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, she could only be beaten by Rixt van der Horst and her mount Findsley in the Grade III individual competition. And another silver followed in the team test as the inexperienced pairing registered a personal best score of 74.118 per cent. That, coupled with strong performances from Wells, Sir Lee Pearson and Erin Orford, saw the squad total 222.957 – just 0.64 per cent shy of the Netherlands. With a place in Tokyo secured and almost two more years of preparations to come, Baker is full of optimism for the next Paralympic Games. She remarked: “If that’s what we can do after seven months then in another year’s time she’s just going to grow even more in confidence. I absolutely adore that horse. “I’m so proud of her. She went in there with so much more confidence.”w
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Great Britain topped the medal table at the 2018 Paracanoe Wo
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HARLOTTE HENSHAW and Emma Wiggs were confident, focused and eyeing medals when Agility spoke to the GB pair ahead of August’s Paracanoe World Championships. And their belief proved fully justified as they claimed four medals - of Britain’s haul of seven - in Montemor-o-Velho. Having switched to the sport from swimming last year following three Paralympic Games, Henshaw returned home with gold and bronze medals on her World Champs debut. A third-place finish on the opening day represented a great start for the 31-year-old – especially as it arrived in her secondary event, the VL3.
More success followed when Henshaw and Wiggs gave a masterclass in the women’s K2 200m to complete a one-two. After just over 50 seconds of racing it was Henshaw who crossed the line in front with Wiggs 0.7 seconds behind her. Henshaw remarked: “I always knew it was a possibility that I would win as Emma and I have always had some good races, but I would never underestimate her given that she has won everything there is to win and is such an incredible athlete. It was more of a distant dream.” Wiggs, a five-time back to back world champion in the event was determined to try and make it six in a row and travelled to Portugal to defend her title despite carrying a serious wrist injury.
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© Zsuzsanna Vekassy, British Canoeing
onships review
World Championships with a magnificent seven podium finishes However, the Paralympic champion was the first to congratulate her team-mate and said: “I am genuinely chuffed to bits for Charlotte. She has worked really hard. We have both worked hard pushing each other and have done what we wanted - taken the top two steps on the podium.”
Chippington, who had already taken bronze in the KL1W final, added: “I’m really pleased and it’s almost a role reversal from the previous day. I was really fighting for that at the end, really digging in hard and making sure every stroke made a difference, which it did because it was so close between me and the Russian girl.”
Wiggs bounced back in style to claim gold in the VL2 final, with Jeanette Chippington completing the GB onetwo on this occasion. “This is my second world title in the Va’a so I’m really chuffed about that, really pleased to line up on the start line and give it my best on the day,” said Wiggs. “I’m lucky that was good enough and so pleased to be there with Jeanette as well.”
Elsewhere, it was another battle of the Brits in the men’s VL3 Final. David Phillipson took the early lead but it was Jack Eyers who claimed the bronze medal. “I am over the moon and didn’t expect this,” said Eyers, who only joined the GB programme last October. “I was hoping for top six and in the heats and semis I struggled to put it together but I just felt really confident and in a good place, so it paid off.”
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© Naomi Baker, British Rowing
WINNING STREAK Can GB’s all-conquering PR3 mixed coxed four remain undefeated through to Tokyo and beyond?
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T’S now eight years unbeaten in major championship finals for Great Britain’s PR3 mixed coxed four crew following their superb victory at the 2018 World Rowing Championships. A fast USA crew gave GB a run for their money in the final in Bulgaria, ensuring it was one of the closest races in the category since the pararowing events moved to 2km at the start of the 2017 season. And with three members of the British crew having changed from their last outing in Sarasota-Bradenton for the 2017 World Champs, it will go down as a truly memorable triumph. Two-time world champion Ollie Stanhope remarked: “I’m really delighted. We had a tough season with a lot of injuries, including myself. So to come out and produce that kind of race was amazing. It was amazing to be a part of and a great exhibition of para-rowing.
“We knew the USA would try and lead us to the kilometre to shock us a little bit but we had trust and belief in each other that we’d move through in the second half. That absolute belief pushed us through and I’m really grateful to be part of this crew.” Grace Clough celebrated her fifth consecutive title in Plovdiv, with Daniel Brown taking his fourth in five years having not raced in 2017. Ellen Buttrick and cox Erin Wysocki-Jones were winners on their World Championships debuts. Stanhope was in their position last year, winning gold at the age of 19. Agilitymagazine | 36
“The winning streak is incredibly impressive and it’s great to be a part of that and carry on the legacy,” he added. “There are people like James Fox, who have been around for a while and he has been my mentor. To kind of fill in for him and keep the success going that he helped start is amazing.” Elsewhere at the World Championships in Plovdiv, Andy Houghton reached the final of the PR1 M1x, finishing sixth, while Laurence Whiteley came home fourth in the PR2 M1X final after winning his heat. If you think you have what it takes to become a para-rower for the GB Rowing Team, check out British Rowing’s talent ID page at https://www.britishrowing.org/gb-rowingteam/rowing-for-gb/para-rowing-talent-id/ This provides information about the different classifications and how to sign up for testing. More news on the British Rowing team’s fortunes at the 2018 World Rowing Championships at www.britishrowing.org w
© ITU / British Triathlon
GOLD COAST, GOLD RUSH! Dave Ellis, Lauren Steadman and Hannah Moore led the GB paratriathlon medal charge at the ITU World Championships
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REAT BRITAIN sent a team of nine para-triathletes to the Gold Coast for the World Champs – and every single one returned with a medal. Dave Ellis, guided by Mark Buckingham, won Britain’s first medal of the day in the visually impaired category after he overcame USA’s Aaron Scheidies with a rapid 5km run to the finishing tape. That set the tone for the next few hours as the British team achieved what head coach Jonathon Riall described as “the most collectively well executed team preparation and delivery to date.” Ellis himself was delighted to begin the medal charge with one of GB’s three golds. “What an amazing feeling,” he said. “It was
a tough race and I wasn’t sure it would happen, but I got it on the run.” Lauren Steadman not only beat Paralympic champion Grace Norman in the PTS5 category, but also brought team-mate Claire Cashmore with her, relegating Norman to bronze. Ahead of her switch to the dancefloor for this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, Steadman remarked: “I wasn’t expecting to win but I knew I would try my best and it was enough. “I kind of planned to make the bike leg my strongest but I didn’t get as far away as I wanted to, but then I found my legs on the run so I was really happy.” In the same category, George Peasgood won his first ever global medal and made the favourites Stefan Daniel and Martin Schulz work hard to catch him after exceptional swim and bike legs. Britain’s least experienced team member Hannah Moore made an immediate impact with a Agilitymagazine | 37
gold-medal winning display in the PTS4 category. “They were good conditions for me and on the bike I just went as hard as I could to try and create a gap to the other girls and then just hang on during the run,” she said. “It was hot out there and a tough race but I am delighted with the result.” Joe Townsend, sixth in Rio, has upped his performance in the wheelchair class massively this year. Not only did he win bronze, but he also edged closer to the huge Dutchmen Jetze Plat and Geert Schipper. Two of Britain’s Rio medal winners, Alison Patrick and Andy Lewis, both won silver. Patrick is adapting to working with new guide, Hannah Drewett, in the visually impaired class, and Lewis rode the emotional rollercoaster that has seen his PTS2 class omitted from Tokyo to win another global medal. Also claiming silver for GB were Fran Brown (PTS2) and Ryan Taylor (PTS3).w
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The success of the 2018 World Boccia Champs can help dev Agilitymagazine | 2
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NYONE who read our fantastic preview in the August issue of Agility will know all about the BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships. More than 180 athletes from 33 nations descended on Liverpool for the competition, which has been hailed as an unqualified success. In fact, BISFed President David Hadfield says the UK’s first ticketed event for the sport outside of the Paralympic Games has raised the bar. “The Organising Committee have been so committed to making this not only a fantastic experience for our athletes but also a must-see spectator event,” he remarked ahead of the closing ceremony. “And they certainly delivered we enjoyed seven days of world class action. “Boccia is a sport which has perhaps flown under the radar compared to others, but I am confident that Liverpool has generated real momentum. Looking ahead to Tokyo 2020 and learning from the way in which Liverpool has taken the Championships forward, BISFed’s ambition is to raise the bar even further.” Boccia UK Chair John Dowson took a lead role in not only the bidding for the World Championships two years ago but also the delivery. He added: “The athletes have been blown away by the World Championships – and they loved the innovative layout of the field of play. “For the first time in a boccia event, spectators were able to get up close to all the action with courtside seating on the eleven outside courts. A central show court with aerial cameras really added to the drama of the event. “We wanted to build spectator excitement and atmosphere and we certainly achieved that. Coupled with the fact that people were able to watch all the action from around the world via BBC live streaming, the sport has been lifted to a whole new level.” There’s nothing like a home victor to excite the crowds – and David Smith delivered on the big stage again by winning the World individual BC1 title. “Winning here means everything,” he said immediately after the event. “The crowd have been awesome. I’ve really enjoyed it - the layout is spectacular. “This is how Boccia be should be done and I hope the rest of the world take note. The venue is great, the hotel is great and the courts are cool as well.” Fellow Brit Evie Edwards, who reached the quarter finals with the BC4 team, said: “The show court really stands out for me. It’s been totally different to any other comp we’ve ever been in. “These championships have put the sport on more of a stage and the BBC coverage has really lifted the sport. Not many people know about boccia so hopefully more people will get involved after seeing it.” * The 2018 World Boccia Championships were made possible thanks to UK Sport’s National Lottery funding.w
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Grassroots News... Hogan Lovells GB Para-athlete bursary time APPLICATIONS are open for the 2018 Hogan Lovells GB Para-athlete bursary to support para-athletes in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games or Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Paralympians and aspiring Paralympians - recognised by the British Paralympic Association and their national governing body - who are actively competing in national and international competitions can apply for bursaries to help with their career development. This may include purchasing and replacing vital equipment, paying for travel to training camps and competitions, additional coaching, and training support services. The maximum bursary award is £3,000 per athlete. Seven athletes from over 80 applicants were awarded bursaries of up to £2,000 in 2017.
James Barnes-Miller, who was selected as part of the first-ever ParalympicsGB snowboard team for PyeongChang 2018, said the bursary proved invaluable. He remarked: “I used the bursary to get flights out to Finland and accommodation for three weeks. While we were there we had two weeks of training on a world class boardercross course and a week of World Cup races. This was vital and the best training we had
last year.” Tokyo 2020 boccia hopeful Rich Amos and para taekwondo competitor Leif Thobroe put the bursary towards essential training. Thobroe said: “The bursary allowed me to purchase essential training equipment to enable me to train at home. That helped me increase the amount of training I’m able to do, which will hopefully make all the difference at competition time.” Amos added: “The bursary allowed me to afford more time with my Sports Assistant, whom I directly employ, and my time at the training venue. With the increase in training I aim to secure my spot on the World Class Programme, qualify and reach my goals at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.” Visit http://hoganlovells.com/en/britishparalympic-association for more information. The deadline for bursary applications is November 9.
ParalympicsGB play part in BGC Charity Day PARALYMPIC skiing champion Menna Fitzpatrick says the nerves of the trading floor were almost as intense as the slopes when sport and finance came together for the BGC Charity Day. The day commemorates the 658 colleagues and the 61 Eurobrokers employees who died on September 11, 2001, by donating 100 per cent of the revenue generated at the annual event to charities around the world. This year, ParalympicsGB was one of the
charities chosen. City traders got to rub shoulders with Paralympic champions as athlete ambassadors hit the trading floor in London. Fitzpatrick and guide Jennifer Kehoe were joined by Paralympic cycling champion Jody Cundy and presenter Clare Balding to represent ParalympicsGB. “I did a trade on the phone and I was so nervous,” said Fitzpatrick. “But it was really cool and great to learn about how it all works.”
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Take a look at this great video from BP
Lots to celebrate at Activity Alliance
Magnificent haul
FRIENDS from government, sport, leisure and third sector joined Activity Alliance to celebrate the charity’s 20-year anniversary. In addition to unveiling the organisation’s 2018-2021 strategy, the occasion allowed Activity Alliance (previously the English Federation of Disability Sport) to thank the many people who have supported it over two decades. Guests included Jennie Price, chief executive for Sport England, and Huw Edwards, ukactive public affairs director and the government’s leisure sector ‘Disability Champion’. Barry Horne, chief executive at Activity Alliance, called for actions not words to see a significant rise in the number of active disabled people. Unveiling a new three-year strategy Achieving Inclusion Together - he said: “I’m extremely proud of our work over the last
TEAM CP ENGLAND topped the medal table at the CPISRA 2018 World Games. Athletes from 25 countries came together to compete in a variety of sports in Sant Cugat, Spain. Team CP England - made up of 26 swimmers and 37 athletes - won 44 golds, 36 silvers and 30 bronze medals, more than doubling the tally of their closest rivals Poland. The event was not only a huge success for the athletes in terms of the medals won, there were also lifetime bests, season bests, and personal bests for almost all the team. Lisa Morton-Smith, Chef De Mission for Team CP England, said: “The Games were a fantastic opportunity for all Team CP England athletes. “Not only did most experience international competition for the first time, they made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”
20 years, but there is clearly a mismatch between what disabled people want and what sport and leisure offers. “The barriers that exist for disabled people are wider than those they face in sport. It will take national and local government, organisations who serve disabled people, as well as sport and leisure providers to look inwards at their own strategies.”
Silver ‘service’ for GB at Dresse Cup Victory over Germany in the first of four round-robin group ties had been the catalyst for a remarkable week for the GB team, who won all their group ties and the semi-final against Japan. One last deciding doubles rubber would settle the title after Germany’s Urs Breitenberger beat Fletcher 6-3, 6-0 in the second singles. With Fletcher and Hayat recovering from 3-1 down to level the first set, Germany won the doubles 6-4, 7-5.
GREAT BRITAIN won the silver medal in the Dresse Cup - the men’s competition at the World Deaf Tennis Team Championships. Esah Hayat and Lewis Fletcher lost out to second seeds Germany 2-1 in the final in Antalya. Sixteen-year-old Hayat opened the final in the same way he began Great Britain’s campaign a week earlier - defeating Hans Toedter 6-0, 6-2 to end the competition undefeated in six singles rubbers.
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Project Showcase
Northfield Leisure Centre, Birmingham The revitalisation of Birmingham’s leisure faciliti COMMITTING £40million to an overhaul of Birmingham’s leisure centres and swimming pools certainly was a brave call. The project required the building of four new centres and refurbishment of five others across the city – each with the stipulation of being accessible for all. With three of the new builds now complete and open to the public, the results – a rise of 20-30 per cent in footfall - prove that the decision was not only brave, but also the right one. Serco Leisure’s Birmingham Partnership Director Jamie Bryant hopes the success of
this scheme will encourage other authorities to follow suit and invest in leisure for all... THE HISTORY Explaining the background to this landmark project in Britain’s second city, Jamie told Agility: “Birmingham historically had a very large and ageing leisure stock as you would expect for a large metropolitan authority. Some years ago they identified the need to replace some of that stock but also realised that they couldn’t do it all themselves and that they needed partners. “They began a process of outsourcing some Agilitymagazine | 42
of their leisure facilities. They outsourced the first few and then created a framework which Serco and two other leisure operators were successful in getting onto. They subsequently put nine leisure facilities out to tender across the city, which Birmingham Community Leisure Trust won with Serco as the managing agent. Part of that contract was £40m of investment to build four new leisure centres and refurbish five others.” THE PROJECT Of the four new builds, Erdington in the north of the city was the first to be completed and
ies continues at pace with Northfield Leisure Centre becoming the latest new addition opened, in September 2017 when a modern facility replaced the existing swimming pool. The £9million Stechford Leisure Centre was the next to open, in January this year, replacing the ageing Stechford Cascades facility. And May saw the third new arrival when Northfield Leisure Centre in the south of the city opened its doors following a £7.7million rebuild. Replacing the Victorian Baths – built in 1937 - the centre includes a 25m pool as well as a teaching pool, gym and community room. The fourth and final new build, at Icknield
Port Loop estate in Ladywood, opens in August 2019, while Fox Hollies Leisure Centre in Acocks Green, Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre in Kings Heath, Beeches Leisure Centre in Great Barr, Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield and Billesley Tennis & Fitness Centre in Kings Heath have all been refurbished in the meantime. THE FOCUS Managing nine separate projects across such a large city – all with differing challenges and nuances – promised to be a major undertaking. However, at the heart of Agilitymagazine | 43
the programme remained a core message. “One of the key criteria was accessibility and making sure the locations were accessible for all,” explained Jamie. “We were challenged from the design phase in terms of the accessibility aspects we needed to ensure were incorporated. “For example, Erdington and Northfield are both sloping sites with the challenges associated with that in terms of accessibility. And access to the pools was also something we had to research and discuss at great length. Pool hoists for disabled users are traditionally very intrusive and don’t look
“We were challenged from the design phase in terms of the accessibility aspects we needed to ensure were incorporated.” particularly great, so we worked with Sport England on the best possible solutions.” THE SOLUTIONS Becoming the first operator to have ‘pool pods’ in all their new buildings was an innovative solution for Birmingham Community Leisure Trust and their partners. Jamie said: “That’s an electronic hoist which is far less intrusive and a much nicer experience for the users. We can help disabled users in and out of the swimming pool where historically we may not have been able to do that. We also have fully accessible changing rooms with moving beds and sinks.
“Our commitment goes right through to ensuring we have the right door widths, the right corridor widths and having a hearing loop on reception. In addition, all our alarms are visible as well as audible to ensure we are catering for both visually and hearingimpaired users. There has been a great deal of thought from a technical design perspective.” THE RESULTS That attention to detail has certainly paid off, with Jamie and his team already seeing the fruits of their hard work at each of the completed locations. Agilitymagazine | 44
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He added: “When we opened Erdington we had a young lady who had never been in a swimming pool because she couldn’t access the existing pools in Birmingham. We invited her and her family for a private session in the new pool. That was an amazing thing to see and showed us that we had the right design for all visitors. “There was a lot of dialogue and consultation with end users at the pre-contract stage, and we still work with a number of clubs from an operational perspective. There is a disabled swim club at Fox Hollies who we work closely with and we’re constantly looking at ways to improve. “The feedback has been fantastic. We closed Northfield in July 2016 – it was a beautiful building but its life had expired. It was right to close and demolish it. We opened again in May and have had a great response from the community.”
“This has got to be right for the people of Birmingham – they’ve paid £40million to build it after all.”
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THE TEAM In addition to Serco’s own internal project team, Calderpeel Architects, Appleyard & Trew professional consultants and builders ISG were also at the heart of this complicated and multifaceted project. “It was a very complex programme, especially in the earlier stages,” confirmed Jamie. “The Erdington site was built on a car park behind the existing leisure centre. We shut the old centre on a Sunday and opened the new one the next day. “That was the same in Stechford. We had our staff in between Christmas and New Year for that one, undertaking training on the new systems and getting used to the new building. “Northfield was even more complicated. Although we shut that site in 2016, we made a commitment not to make any redundancies. So we deployed 42 staff
across the city of Birmingham’s leisure centres before redeploying them when the new centre opened. “Internally, we have a framework we work to and review the lessons learnt after every project – be it a refurb or a new build. That’s true of the builders as well. If you look at Erdington as opposed to Northfield there’s not a great deal of obvious difference, but the design detail is improving all the time. I think Icknield Port Loop will be even better again in terms of those smaller details.” THE SUPPORT Adding further expertise to the project team were Sport England, who have pledged £4million of funding to the scheme along with two consultants and a relationship manager. A hefty dose of common sense and leisure expertise also came included.
Jamie explained: “Sport England will specify a specific number of lockers and cubicles per metre square of water space, for example. But they will also be pragmatic about those requirements and help ensure that we get the best out of the space available for the money we have. They were very good at identifying factors like that and ensuring the final project was the best it can be. “It’s the more people, more active, more often approach, and that is Sport England’s driver. It’s about working on programming and having the best, most efficient building you can have. It’s got to be right for the people of Birmingham – they’ve paid £40million to build it after all.”w
Take a look inside the new Northfield Leisure Centre by clicking on this fantastic video
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“We have been delighted with how successful the Northfield Leisure Centre has been since it opened in May this year. By offering the right mix of activities and the BCLT approach to great customer service, this centre has already become a sporting and social hub the whole community is enjoying. “If you have not yet had the chance to visit, please come along to our centre. Our friendly team will be happy to show you around and answer any questions you have about activities, classes or membership options.” Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT) chair, Brian Taylor
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