Agility Magazine // Issue 5 // April 2019

AgilityMagazine Issue 5 April 2019

David WEIR It’s London Marathon number 20 for the home favourite

ALSO INSIDE: MILLIE KNIGHT | TOM HAMER | PARASPORT CAMPAIGN | SUPERHERO SERIES

Editor's

Welcome Celebrating our Paralympics stars…

WELCOME to the April edition of Agility – the digital magazine focusing on disability sports and our Paralympic stars.

Following a great launch year, we’re back with our first issue of 2019… and it’s another cracker!

As you will have noticed on the front cover, eight-time London Marathon winner David Weir is among our great interviewees. The Weirwolf is preparing for his 20th tilt at the race around the streets of the capital – and hopefully a crack the Paralympic marathon crown in Tokyo next year.

Elsewhere, swimmer Tom Hamer reflects on the best year of his career so far, while skier Millie Knight is determined to return fitter and faster from her recent injury, and rower Ellen Buttrick is still getting used to being called a world champion.

Our first ever columnist, Hannah Cockroft, is back again for 2019 (thanks again Hannah!), and we also have some fantastic new contributors, with the Activity Alliance’s CEO Barry Horne and Paralympic trike racer Hannah Dines joining us in this issue.

The hugely popular Superhero Series is less than five months away, and we have linked up with the organisers for a fabulous competition.

Head to page 20 for more on that.

Big news ahead of publication of this issue was the launch of the refreshed Parasport website. This wonderful initiative, supported by ParalympicsGB and Toyota, will give disabled people all the info they need to become active.

As sprint king Jonnie Peacock, who attended the official launch event, remarked: “There is a sport or activity out there for everyone, no matter their age, gender or impairment – it doesn’t matter whether you are competitive or not.”

We don’t think it’s possible to summarise what Parasport is all about any better than that.

Read on to find out more – and thank you once again to all Agility’s readers, supporters and contributors!

Lee Jones Agility Magazine, Managing Editor Take a look at this great video from BP

Many thanks to…

Agilitymagazine | 1

AgilityMagazine Issue 5 April 2019

David WEIR It’s London Marathon number 20 for the home favourite

ALSO INSIDE: MILLIE KNIGHT | TOM HAMER | PARASPORT CAMPAIGN | SUPERHERO SERIES

Cover image: David Weir 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 Contributors: Hannah Cockroft, Barry Horne, Hannah Dines Images: ParalympicsGB, James Robinson, British Athletics/Getty Images, Activity Alliance, Superhero Series, British Rowing/Naomi Baker, British Swimming, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council 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

08

PARASPORT LAUNCH

Contents Issue 5 April 2019

12 14 20

ACTIVITY ALLIANCE Barry Horne backs the relaunched Parasport website in his new column DAVID WEIR Can the home favourite make it nine London Marathon victories?

SUPERHERO SERIES Unite with Paralympians for Superhero Tri’s Celebrity Challenge!

22 28 34

MILLIE KNIGHT Millie’s determined to return from injury fitter, stronger and faster TOM HAMER On world records, winning titles and mingling with Prince Charles

LIZ JOHNSON From the swimming pool to helping the employment talent pool Agilitymagazine | 2

40 42 44

ELLEN BUTTRICK The world rowing champion takes Agility’s Quick Five questions HANNAH COCKROFT Our columnist explains why she’s backing the #More2Me initiative

HANNAH DINES Top winter travel tips with British Paralympic trike racer Hannah

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In the News...

Best ever world champs for Great Britain DOUBLE gold glory for Dame Sarah Storey and tandem pairing Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott helped GB to their best ever medal total at a UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships.

In total, the British team claimed 20 medals in Apeldoorn, with Jody Cundy, Kadeena Cox, Katie Toft, James Ball and Pete Mitchell, and Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham among the other title-winners.

Britain’s most successful female Paralympian, Storey, added track world titles 14 and 15 to her collection in the Netherlands.

Following her victory in the WC5 pursuit, she remarked: “I was excited to see how quick I could go back in competition. I raced here four years ago, so the same time from Rio as we are from Tokyo now, and did a 3:39, so I was really pleased to post a 3:37 this time.

“I felt really good in the start gate ahead of the final, really snappy, and I wanted to see if

I could catch her and how quickly that could happen.

“I’m in a really positive frame of mind looking ahead to Tokyo. There’s a lot more depth in the C5 category so I’m obviously delighted to still be at the top of that field. But there are more and more riders coming in, which makes the fight for places really hard.

“I’m excited to keep pushing forward though and there will be no complacency from me - I’m going to keep working hard.”

As double Paralympic medallists and current Commonwealth champions, Thornhill and Scott were always expected to deliver on the global stage. They did just that – defending their kilo title before putting in another dominant display to win the sprint crown.

Thornhill commented: “These championships have been amazing – we’ve put in some really solid rides and come away with some amazing performances.”

Goalball teams claim double podium success Holder, Antonia Bunyan, Amelia Robertson and Lois Turner, and was coached by Becky Ashworth.

There were also individual honours for two members of the squad – Holder was top goalscorer, finding the net 15 times, while Leiter was named best defender.

Ashworth said: “The quality of opposition in this tournament was really high, so we’re extremely proud that the team have managed to come out on top and claim the gold medal.”

TWO Great Britain goalball teams claimed spots on the podium at the International Goalball Tournament in Trakai, Lithuania.

The women’s squad collected the gold medal, while the under-23s men’s team took bronze in the youth division.

This was the first time the women’s GB squad have won the tournament and their first international competition victory since the European B Championships in 2016.

The team consisted of Sarah Leiter, Kali

Agilitymagazine | 2

Take a look at this great video from BP

First recreation camp for CPISRA CEREBRAL PALSY International Sports and Recreation Association is hosting its first outdoor recreation camp in September.

The camp is being delivered by Calvert Trust in the Lake District, and will include activities such as bush craft, rock climbing, canoeing, horse riding and more. All activities

at the Calvert Trust are fully accessible and run by experienced instructors.

The focus of the camp is to provide adventure opportunity and exposure to the outdoors for adults with Cerebral Palsy and related conditions. The camp will build personal development, break boundaries, challenge preconceptions, and create new friendships – not to mention be lots of fun.

Head of Recreation for CPISRA, Julie McElroy, said: “This camp is designed to enhance the confidence of the participants and also increase their personal development.”

CPISRA are now on the look-out for 16 people with Cerebral Palsy or related neurological conditions to sign up and take on the adventure. The camp is open to adults aged 18+ of all impairment levels.

For more information email julie.mcelroy@ cpisra.org or lauren.milstead@cpisra.org.

More title joy netted by Whiley TEN-TIME Grand Slam champion Jordanne Whiley claimed the Biel-Bienne Indoors women’s singles crown after beating world number 12 Michaela Spaanstra.

The win sees four-time Wimbledon doubles champion Whiley rise seven places in the world rankings to number 31. She had already secured her return to the top-40 after winning the LTA’s Wrexham Indoor tournament - her first international event since the birth of son Jackson - and

reaching the final of the LTA’s Bolton Indoor tournament.

She said: “I changed my serve one day before I flew out to Switzerland and I’m in the process of improving my forehand, so all things considered I’m pleased.

“The final against Spaanstra was my best performance all week. I feel I played well but it was much closer than the score suggested. Michaela is a strong player but she didn’t have her best day on the court.”

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Inclusion 2020 project THE Youth Sport Trust is leading a consortium of organisations commissioned by the Department for Education to increase opportunities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to enjoy physical education, school sport and physical activity.

The Inclusion 2020 project will see 50 primary, secondary and special schools across England organise inclusive countywide ‘Learning and Discovery’ sport festivals ahead of summer 2020.

At the events, 3,000 pupils of all abilities will experience a variety of Para sports and get the opportunity to compete. They will be supported by a team of Youth Sport Trust athlete mentors including ParalympicsGB swimmer Kate Grey.

The Youth Sport Trust will support 50 Lead Inclusion Schools to act as champions in their local areas. As well as staging festivals, they will be responsible for training staff and sharing best practice with other schools.

Paraspor Jonnie Peacock is supporting Agilitymagazine | 8

Parasport - an onlin

rt POWER

ne hub aimed at helping disabled people become more active Agilitymagazine | 9

“I’ve definitely come back stronger and more focused on my goal in the future, which is getting a gold medal for Great Britain in Tokyo.”

P

ARASPORT powered by Toyota is the new way to discover inclusive local opportunities to become more active.

The ambition is to create the UK’s biggest fun and vibrant community for players, parents and coaches to share their experiences of para sport, and find useful hints, tips and information on what’s happening near them.

This includes in-depth listings and all the information needed to connect to local inclusive opportunities.

By highlighting inclusive activities and one-off events which able-bodied and disabled people can do together, Parasport aims to inform and inspire people to discover something new.

Double Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock has teamed up with ParalympicsGB and Toyota to support

the campaign, which will create one online destination for people with an impairment to discover and share the physical activities best suited to them.

The sprint king attended the official launch of the campaign at Marjorie McClure Special School in Chislehurst to play boccia, curling and sitting volleyball with pupils and promote the wide range of benefits of disabled people being active.

He commented: “I wanted to be part of this campaign as sport and physical activity has transformed my life in so many ways, providing countless great memories, friendships and filling me with the confidence to try new things – even dancing!

“There is a sport or activity out there for everyone, no matter their age, gender or impairment – it doesn’t matter whether you are competitive or not.

“My message to everyone is if you just turn up and have a go, you are already a winner.”

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Recent research shows that between 34 per cent and 51 per cent (depending on number of impairments) of disabled people are inactive, compared to 25 per cent of the general population who are inactive. Parasport helps to address this challenge by encouraging people with disabilities to try new physical activities. The new Parasport hub will: • Connect disabled people to opportunities to get active through a new digital platform: Parasport.org.uk, creating a vibrant community for people to share their experiences and become advocates for the benefits of being more active.

• Increase awareness of physical activity opportunities that are available for disabled people in the UK by enriching current listings and sourcing new ones, including accessible and inclusive sessions • Challenge attitudes to disability and empower disabled people and their networks by providing the information, inspiration and confidence they need to become active

Accompanying the launch was a new film campaign, ‘It’s Anyone’s Game’, which made its television debut in Channel 4’s The Last Leg earlier this month. The campaign will also target the family and friends who can play a vital role in enabling disabled people to take part in more physical activity.

Mike Sharrock, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, said: “Parasport is a key part of helping us to deliver our vision: through sport, inspire a better world for disabled people.

“I am delighted that, working closely with Toyota, we are able to highlight the wide range of opportunities available for disabled people and provide the resources to empower them to make informed choices about the activities they would like to try.”w

Agilitymagazine | 11

Click here to watch ‘It’s Anyone’s Game’ – the film which accompanied the launch of the Parasport campaign.

Columnist

GETTING THE MESSAGE

ACROSS

Activity Alliance Chief Executive, Barry Horne, backs the relaunched Parasport website in his first Agility column

A

CTIVITY ALLIANCE enables organisations to support disabled people to be, and stay, active for life. That’s why we are supporting the British Paralympic Association on their refreshed Parasport site, powered by Toyota.

Following its launch, we are encouraging clubs, events and activity providers to sign up for the great online hub that aims to empower more disabled people to become more active.

Our research has looked at disabled people’s backgrounds, motivations, and their support networks. Also, the activity providers, who provide many of the sessions, which will go on Parasport. We have a real all-round view.

Disabled people are infinitely variable and there is no single solution to increasing their activity. So, we all need to look proactively at what people will relate to and what gets them motivated to become active.

Our research tells us that two-thirds of disabled people are not particularly enthused by the ‘hard-edged’ concept of sport. We know they are not necessarily aspiring to become overly competitive - they just want to have fun and get fit, healthy and active.

Therefore, a big part of what Activity Alliance does is to look at the mix of offers and the way that providers position and promote sport and activity. We Agilitymagazine | 2

need to ensure that the activity message is getting through to everyone.

Although it rightly has a strong grassroots focus in connecting people to opportunities, there is a particular power with the Parasport offer. It will resonate with a significant number of our disabled population who are more motivated to move into competitive sport.

We believe a large number of disabled people will go down the ‘Paralympicinspiration’ route. They are motivated and inspired by elite imagery and language, and some of them will be our future Paralympians! Therefore, it is fantastic that BPA and Toyota are working to bring that Paralympic gold dust to more disabled people - and use it to encourage more to become active.

Other messaging needs to complement this to reach people who may not necessarily be inspired by this approach. Messages to motivate people into an active lifestyle will vary for different people.

But Paralympic competition is also important in other ways. The 2012 London Games made a massive impact on positive imagery and positive perceptions of what is possible for disabled people.

Since then the Paralympic movement has gone from strength to strength.

When you have elite athletes like Jonnie Peacock being so passionate about getting everyone active and you see Ellie Simmonds talking to schoolkids across the country, that’s immensely powerful. That brings disabled athletes to the forefront of elite sport.

Meanwhile, away from the Parasport site, our research also tells us that two-thirds of disabled people want to be active in inclusive settings with nondisabled people. That’s where our Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme comes in.

GOGA focuses on getting some of the UK’s least active disabled and non-disabled people moving more together. Funded by Spirit of 2012 and guided by Activity Alliance’s Talk to Me principles, the programme works in collaboration with local and national expert partners to rise to the challenge of inactivity. More on GOGA below and to follow in June’s edition of Agility. w

Meet Bill for a GOGA taster…

Bill was first introduced to the GOGA programme in Nottingham through Golden Gloves, a boxing-based activity set up across the independent living scheme Furze Gardens, where Bill lives with his wife Val. Take a look at Bill’s incredible journey from participant to GOGA volunteer by watching this fantastic video or visit the Activity Alliance website at www.activityalliance.org.uk for further information.

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DAVID WEIR Can the home favourite make it NINE London Marathon victories next month?

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I

T’S certainly set to be a massive year for David Weir.

His 20th London Marathon, on Sunday April 28, doubles up as the World Para Athletics Marathon Championship.

While the World Championships take place in Dubai in November, the marathon medals are on offer seven months earlier on the streets of the capital.

Six-time Paralympic gold medallist David is joined in the T54 race by Commonwealth Games silver medallist JohnBoy Smith and Simon Lawson, who took bronze on the Gold Coast last year.

Derek Rae will represent GB in the T46 marathon, with the British team being completed by World Championship debutant Charlotte Ellis.

After announcing his intention to target the marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, David is determined to maintain his fantastic record on home turf as he nears his 40th birthday.

“London was fantastic again last year and I had a good marathon circuit overall,” he told Agility.

“I also did well in Chicago and New York and was really happy with my performances. I’m looking forward to continuing that form this year and having another go at the London Marathon.

“It’s going to be a big one for me because it’s my 20th year at London and I’m excited to rock up, do my best and hopefully win again.

“It’s always special to get on that course – the crowd are great and it makes a big difference when you have people shouting your name all the way round. It’s just getting bigger every year with people realising that wheelchair racing is thrilling to watch, and they’re coming out on the streets of London to see us come past even if it’s just for a split second. They’re loving it.

“It’s been tactical over the last few years but after the last two marathons I think that’s going to change heading into London. Marcel (Hug) and Daniel (Romanchuk) are pushing well and I expect them to go from the gun again and try to split the pack. If you can live with them then it’s going to be a battle at the end.

“That motivates me and drives me on in training. I know what I need to do – I need to be on my toes in every training session and the intensity has to stay up all year round now. There’s no chance to relax now. You have to cover every base and ensure you have a strong winter to compete now.

“I’m happy with what I’ve achieved so far but obviously you want to improve and break records. I’ve been lucky the last couple of years and if I can maintain my form hopefully I’ll get that ninth win.

“It is getting tougher though – obviously I’m getting older and the next generation are coming through, and they’re fitter and stronger than they’ve ever been before.

So it’s a challenge and that’s what drives me on every day when I get up and go training.

“I’ve announced that I want to get to Tokyo 2020 and Agilitymagazine | 16

“It’s going to be a big one fo 20th year at London and I my best and hopefully win

or me because it’s my I’m excited to rock up, do n again.”

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David Weir has been a huge supporter of the Superhero Series - and was involved again for December’s Winter Wonderwheels event

hopefully I get selected. We’ll see after that – it’s still a long way away and that’s enough for me to think about at the moment!”

During a busy winter of training and preparation for 2019, David managed to find time to fit in the popular Winter Wonderwheels event.

Part of a star-studded line-up of team captains including Jonnie Peacock, Sophie Christiansen and Adam Hills, he once again gave his support to the event which is part of the Superhero Series.

Everyday Superheroes are invited to cycle, walk, run, push, or anything in between around Dorney Lake. With 1km, 5km and 10km challenges, there’s truly something for everyone.

Ensuring the event is inclusive and accessible to all, there are no cut-off times and all types of gadgets and gismos are welcome - from day chairs, handcycles, walking frames and trikes to tandems, race runners, blades and bikes.

Explaining how he first got involved, David said: “The organisers of the Superhero Series approached me when they first started and asked if I would take part in the

event and help promote it. I read the brief and really liked how they were aiming to include all different types of disability. It just seemed such a fun event and it was nice to see that families would be doing sport together - that’s what convinced me to get involved.

“I’d known Sophia Warner for a number of years because she was a competitor for GB, and when I first did it I fell in love with what they were doing. It was great to see something for general disabled people who aren’t particularly sporty but want to do something with their family and enjoy a great day out. I got to grips with the concept pretty quickly and it blew my mind.

“It’s getting massive now – there are more and more people entering and wanting to take part. I was with Team Barclays in December. They have a competition and someone wins to be in my team.

“This time, that was Owen West – a 14-year-old from Kent - and I took him round for 1km and encouraged him to do the race and have fun. That’s what it’s about; having fun, being included and being part of a big sporting event.

“You see their faces light up when they’re looking at their sporting heroes – people like me and Jonnie

Agilitymagazine | 18

Peacock and the rest who are there supporting the event – and it’s great to see. You’ve made their day and it makes you feel very privileged indeed.

“I’ve spoken to a few adults who have enjoyed the event and then joined a gym because they feel they want to carry that on and do some regular exercise, rather than waiting another six months for the next event. So they’re being active and when they come to do the second event they are that bit fitter and faster, which gives them even more confidence.

“The Winter Wonderwheels can obviously be a little bit colder than the summer equivalent but you still get lots of people there enjoying themselves, being active and loving the moment.

“It’s great to see these big companies getting involved in disability sports as well, and I think it’s only going to get bigger and better in the future.”

This year’s Superhero Tri event takes place on August 17, with the Winter Wonderwheels on December 1 – both at Dorney Lake, near Windsor. Find out more about the events on page 20 – and online at www. superheroseries.co.uk w Agilitymagazine | 19

Watch this fantastic Superhero Series video to find out more about the event

Agilitymagazine | 2

GRAB YOUR

CAPES...

Unite with Paralympians and TV stars for Superhero Tri’s Celebrity Challenge!

ABOUT THE SUPERHERO TRI To find out more about Superhero Series or sign up for one of the challenges, head to www.superheroseries.co.uk. Don’t forget to enter the fantastic competition too for your chance to win a place in the Celebrity Challenge.

A

S Superhero Tri returns for its third year, don’t miss your chance to team up with superstars from sport and screen at the UK’s one and only mass-participation disability sport series Once again participants – AKA ‘Everyday Superheroes’ – will be turning out in their thousands, capes flying, for the unique tri challenges at Dorney Lake on August 17. These throw out cut-off times and equipment restrictions to give budding Superheroes with all types of disabilities the chance to release their inner superpower.

One highlight of every Superhero Series event is the Celebrity Challenge, where participants can win the chance to unite with Celebrity Team Captains to take on a stage each of the Sprint Superhero Tri: a 150m swim, a 3k cycle and a 1k glory push/run home.

This year’s competition was launched on March 7, and many of the 50-plus Celebrity Team Captains who have joined the fun at previous events are coming back for more this summer - alongside some new faces. Confirmed Captains include Kare Adenegan, Mark Ormrod, Liz Johnson, Menna and Jen, and Dave Henson with more to be announced soon. So get ready for some super-selfies with your sporting and screen Superheroes!

“Our past winners have ranged from two to 82 and have come from all walks of life,” explains Paralympian and Series founder Sophia Warner. “What they and their families all shared was a strong Superhero spirit that saw them face this and many of life’s challenges with great passion and positivity.

“Once again we’re looking for entrants with the same super spirit,” Sophia continues. “All you need to do is share your story and tell us about your own unique superpower for a chance to win a place. All winners are welcome to bring a ‘Sidekick’ to guide, push or simply accompany them on the course if they wish and all types of ‘gadgets and gismos’ are welcome, from day chairs, handcycles, buggies and trikes to tandems, race runners, blades and adaptive bikes. These events really are for everyone.”w

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Millie

KNIGHT Agilitymagazine | 22

HT

The triple-Paralympic medallist is determined to return from injury fitter, stronger and faster Agilitymagazine | 23

N

OBODY needs to tell Millie Knight about the highs and lows of elite sport.

Just over the last two years, the 20-year-old has suffered a huge race crash resulting in concussion and fought back to win three medals at the Winter Paralympics before, most recently, being forced to miss the Para Alpine Skiing World Championships due to injury.

The latter was a sickening blow for the six-time world medallist, who had excelled at Panorama 2015 and Tarvisio 2017 in the two previous world champs – after becoming the youngest ever ParalympicsGB competitor at any Winter Paralympics at Sochi 2014.

Here, Millie reflects on the ups and downs in her Agility Q&A‌ Agilitymagazine | 24

Being unable to defend your World Championship downhill title in January must have been a huge blow - what was the problem?

It was extremely disappointing, especially when I had my title to retain. But it’s just one of those things. It was something that ‘twanged’ in December so that was really frustrating.

I’ve been working on my recovery. Everyone has been great – we’ve got a fantastic team of physios, psychologists and coaches, and we’re really well supported.

When we were skiing ahead of that injury, we were going so well and it was the first time we felt really confident. If it wasn’t for that injury we would have been in a really great place for the World Champs, but that’s the sport that we do and it comes with those risks.

You just have to focus on getting stronger and fitter again, and hopefully we’ll come back faster.

Twelve months ago you were enjoying your triple-medal haul from the Winter Paralympics – how do you reflect on that achievement now?

PyeongChang was a bit of a miracle to be honest! Having had the concussion before that – which was a massive thing in my life at that moment – I didn’t expect to recover from that in time.

So it was a really difficult time and the racing was awful. The races either got cancelled or I really underperformed, so my confidence had gone and it was very stressful. We didn’t know if we would even be selected for the Games because we were performing that badly.

The crash that caused the concussion was on the very same course that we’d be skiing on at the Games too, so psychologically that really didn’t play very well with me.

So when we crossed the line and came second that was just the most phenomenal feeling ever. To do that again on the second day was incredible. We went into the Games having no expectation of winning any medals at all, so to come away with three was amazing.

Millie Knight and her guide Brett Wild have formed a highly successful partnership since linking up

Did that ‘miracle’ in South Korea take a while to sink in?

Initially, in the first few days it was an incredible feeling and we were on a massive high. Then you come home and realise that you didn’t get a gold – I didn’t really achieve what my 12-year-old self wanted to achieve.

But in the grand scheme of things, considering the concussion and season I’d had beforehand, it was just mind-blowing what we’d done. It’s only now that I can look back and think ‘I was in a bad place but that’s what we managed to do’ and can use that energy to propel me on.

Have you noticed a rise in the Winter Paralympics’ popularity since you made your Games debut as a 15-yearold in Sochi?

I think the Games definitely got more attention this time around but there’s always that annoying aspect of time difference. One day I’m hoping for a Games in Europe, so we can get the TV coverage live. I don’t think it helps the races being on TV at 2am!

The support has been incredible and we are so grateful to every single person who watched or has helped us along our journey. When we were in Sochi we had one

Agilitymagazine | 25

Find out more about Millie Knight with this fantastic video

“If it wasn’t for that injury we would have been in a really great place for the World Champs, but that’s the sport that we do and it comes with those risks.” man and a van, with one coach trying to help the Elite Squad and Development Squad, and no outside support at all.

But when Kelly Gallagher won gold over there she helped with UK Sport funding. They put in a lot of money and support and we were fortunate going into South Korea with the support we had.

We had four coaches, three physios, a sports psychologist, a physical prep guy, a nutritionist – it was fantastic and that was a real key to our success. I hope what we did has helped raise the awareness of our sport and by 2022 we’ll have a really good GB following. It can only be positive.

We can’t forget Brett Wild’s part in this – how important has your guide been to your success?

Brett is a fantastic guide and I am so lucky to have him.

Before Brett came along I had many, many guides and it was a really frustrating quest to find the right one.

When he arrived he brought professionalism, good

communication, trust, friendship and humour. He’s been amazing, he really has.

Having friendship off snow is probably the most important thing because it’s all very well being able to ski fast together but that’s only built up off snow. Brett and I spend so much time together and recently I’ve moved up to Scotland to be able to train with him more. We see each other every day and ski once a week in Glasgow.

That’s going to help our relationship and our results in years to come.

What’s the plan going forward – particularly with the 2022 Winter Paralympics in mind?

We were 0.86 seconds off a gold medal last year in PyeongChang, so we’ve got three years now to make one second up ahead of Beijing.

We’ve got another World Championships in 2021, so that will be great preparation for the Games and it would be nice to get faster each year in the build-up, rather than aiming to recover and get better this time! w

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FOR EVERY ADVENTURE. RIDE CONNECTED.

I have always used Sena Bluetooth headsets to communicate with my guide Brett Wild on the slopes and in 8 years, they have never let me down. They are reliable and robust and cope with severe weather condition too - I would not use anything else as they are my most important piece of equipment and I need the best that I can trust.

- Millie Knight, Downhill World Champion, 2 x Paralympian, 3 x Paralympic medalist Popular Sena Headsets:

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Get involved... @AgilityMagazine @Agility_mag

Tom Ha

On breaking world records, claiming major titles and mixing w Agilitymagazine | 2

amer

with Prince Charles

Agilitymagazine | 3

L

AST year is certainly going to take some beating for Tom Hamer.

Gold and a world record at the Commonwealth Games was followed by a repeat result at August’s World Para Swimming European Championships.

His Euros victory, in Dublin, saw him shave a further 0.17 seconds off his S14 200m freestyle mark as he clocked 1:55.71.

The 20-year-old also picked up bronze in the 200m individual medley in Ireland, and he was part of a record-breaking relay quartet in the S14 mixed 4x100m freestyle, a non-medal event.

So, how could 2019 have gone any better? Perhaps through a brush with royalty…

“The Commonwealths were probably my highlight of last year because I had my medal presented by Prince Charles, which was a great honour,” Tom told Agility, ticking that achievement off his list too. “There were only a handful of athletes who experienced that and I didn’t know it was going to happen – he was at the stadium watching and offered to hand out the medals.

“Australia was great – I’d never been over there before and it was really nice that my family and a few friends were able to go out there to support me and Team England.

“Breaking the world record, winning and having my family there made me so proud. My best memories are always after the race when you see your parents and it’s pretty emotional. My mum was in tears and my dad - who’s a big, tough cookie - was choked up as well.

Winning and being in the pool is cool but the aftermoments are what stick with me.”

Tom’s in-pool involvement in the Games began and ended on the opening day of the swimming competition, allowing him to fully embrace the Gold Coast experience.

“At the Commonwealths, the spirit around the village and the pool was great,” he added. “I raced on day one of the meet and then had the remaining days off. So I was chief cheerleader with a few of the other swimmers.

“At Rio 2016, I raced on day two and my second race was on the last day, and then we flew home the next day.

I didn’t get to sit back and enjoy the overall experience and celebrate. Whereas in Australia, it was all done on day one and I could celebrate my success, spend some time with my team-mates and enjoy the full environment and atmosphere.”

Following up that success four months later at the European Championships appeared a safe bet, but Tom admits he wasn’t in top condition heading into the Dublin meet.

Agilitymagazine | 31

He commented: “I’d enjoyed it a little too much after Australia, being a bit more relaxed with what I could eat and spending more time with my friends and family.

Suddenly, the Europeans were coming up and I wasn’t in perfect condition, but I was in such a happy place that I think that got me through my race.

“I was five kilos heavier than I was at the Gold Coast but I ended up breaking the world record again! It was as if all the pressure and tension had gone and I was just determined to really enjoy it. I stood behind the blocks

and felt so relaxed and had a fantastic race.

“That taught me a lot and I think it’s true that a happy swimmer makes a fast swimmer. The happier you are in any sport the better you’re going to perform.”

Tom jetted off to South Africa in April and March for a training camp ahead of a year scheduled to include the World Para Swimming Championships. The venue for the meet remains an unknown after Malaysia was stripped of the event earlier this year.

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He remarked: “Obviously, the Worlds are massive but the main priority is next year when we head to Tokyo. You want to get all the little things right this year so everything falls into place perfectly for 2020. The Paralympics are the big one.

“Tokyo is still a long way off, so I’m just taking it step-by-step.

I need to see how the trials and Worlds go and then it’s about that final push and seeing what I can achieve in Japan.

“I’ve always loved my food – I’m a real take-out boy - so this year so far has been about getting back in top shape and shredding the weight. I’ve been training over in South Africa and am back in good condition ahead of the trials and then the Worlds.”

Tom has also opted for a change of training scenery back in the UK. After five years at the British ParaSwimming National Performance Centre in Manchester, Tom began training at Stockport Metro Swimming Club in January under the tutelage of coach Sean Kelly.

“After so much success last year I got a bit down,” he explained. “I didn’t know what to do next and felt I needed to mix things up a bit.

“I’m absolutely loving it there. There’s a big group of us and it’s a great combination of good banter and very hard training. It was the right time for a change and that’s brought my love back. I wasn’t getting stale because I was swimming really well but the best time to make a change is when you’re swimming well, not when things are going south.

“It’s an able-bodied programme and I’m the only para guy there. When I was at Manchester I was the target for everyone else to chase, whereas now there are a few very quick guys at Stockport and I can try to chase them down.

That can only help me go even faster in the future.”w

“You want to get all the little things right this year so everything falls into place perfectly for 2020.

The Paralympics are the big one.”

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Liz

Johnson On transferring her skills from the swimming pool to helping the employment talent pool

S

WIMMING is an individual sport, right?

Not according to Liz Johnson.

“So many people played a part in making me the athlete that I was. That made me realise that when I finished swimming I wanted to go into a world and have a role in life - that gave me a sense of purpose, where I was making a difference and creating opportunities for other people.”

Paralympic champion Liz is achieving exactly that as cofounder of The Ability People – a recruitment consultancy staffed exclusively by people with impairments.

Created to address the employment gap for people with disabilities, the organisation was officially launched in September and is already proving its value to individuals and employers alike.

Three-time Paralympic medallist Liz told Agility what inspired the foundation of the company and its ambitions for the future.

She said: “I was watching the news on television one evening while eating my dinner, and there was a feature on how the employment gap for disabled people was over 30 per cent and had been for more than ten years.

I was shocked and my first instinct was to find out why – what were the potential reasons?

“Was it that there weren’t the right roles out there, that people didn’t want to work, that people didn’t know where to look for work? Ultimately, there are a whole combination of reasons, but one of the big ones is the barriers and restraints enforced on people by society.

“I got involved with a lot of consultancy within the recruitment industry, and realised it was an industry where there were no barriers really in terms of what time you worked and where you worked from. Provided you were

able to commit to a process, match people up and focus on the outcome then ultimately that was the only barrier.

“My now business partner was getting frustrated by the lack of diversity within the recruitment industry, so we got talking about why that might be and what I thought. It was then that The Ability People was born.

“It’s essentially a recruitment company - that’s our primary form and purpose - but due to the natural diversity and authenticity of our team we have quickly added the consultancy and advisory side of the business.”

As Liz mentions, the diversity of The Ability People team is a key asset, with a 50-50 split of male and female, athletes and non-athletes.

She explained; “They’re open to talk about anything, so a lot of organisations feel they can sit down with us around a table and ask questions that they might not be sure about, in terms of what is an acceptable form of behaviour or acceptable adjustments.

“A lot of the time the unconscious bias or the assumptions people make about people with disabilities are almost an educated guess. They possibly haven’t come

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“It’s a very humbling and fortunate position to be in when you get to do something that you love and it benefits you, but it also has a greater impact.”

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across anybody with a disability and therefore they don’t know what’s appropriate. Rather than use inappropriate language they just don’t bother speaking to them.

“We can help remove that level of unconscious basis because our team have all been there and we also understand the potential solutions.

“It’s important to realise that there are certain things that people with certain disabilities can’t do. That’s not discrimination, it’s the same with tall people and short people or whatever.

“All of us as disabled people, we don’t do things conventionally but that doesn’t mean we don’t do them at all. A lot of the time people make assumptions about what is required or what someone might not be able to do. As a result, people are just naturally ruled out of the process without consulting them or finding out about their coping mechanisms.

“It’s about opening up those conversations, increasing that awareness, and acting as advocates for that person, having that conversation in the middle. There is usually someone within our team that has experience in that area. If there isn’t they are definitely connected to someone that has.”

Liz’s competitive medal haul includes gold, silver and bronze medals across three Paralympic Games (from 2004 to 2012) in the SB6 100m breaststroke, along with four world championship titles.

As mentioned, roughly half of the TAP team are also former athletes, with Sam Hynd, David Hill and Rachael Latham among the other consultants.

“Athletes have fantastic transferable skills,” Liz remarked.

“There’s no better preparation for working life than trying to balance a 17-hour day with swim training!

“When your alarm goes off at 4am and you really don’t want to get up that can only help build you resilience.

You’ve got no choice – you have to get up if you want to win.

“Not every day as a swimmer was easy, that’s for sure. But I loved every day and got something positive out of every day. I was contributing to myself, my society and my family and friends – and everyone deserves that opportunity.

“The same thing is happening now in the workplace and employment for people with disabilities as it did in sport.

“Twenty-five years ago the Paralympics did not have the same awareness as they have now. They have developed and people now see that you can be an elite athlete with a disability. The best thing about the lessons learned from sport are that it shows it is possible to make that transformation but it takes time.

“Everyone in some shape or form relate to the Olympics and Paralympic Games – whether they love sport, whether they are just fans, whether they get involved for that four weeks every four years. They know about those two amazing events and people can make a direct comparison.

“Just like sport, you need role models, you need to know it’s possible and you need to know it’s going to Agilitymagazine | 37

be worth it. The Olympics and Paralympics show how that migration and change in people’s attitudes and perceptions can have a positive effect on wider society.

“Less people are going to want to be Olympians and Paralympians than are going to want to go to work, so this is a bigger issue and it will have a greater effect if we can influence it.”

On The Ability People’s sporting and non-sporting pedigree, Liz continued: “It’s not that we went out and insisted on having 50 per cent of our team as former athletes or had a target for that. We focused on getting the right people to join TAP, who were invested in the same outcomes and possessed the same values and beliefs.

“That’s how the world should be – inclusion should be everywhere to the point where you don’t even notice it’s there. Once you’ve got inclusion then you’ve naturally got diversity. We’re all good at different things so if you select the right people for the right roles at the right time then you will naturally end up with a range of different types of people.

“If the one thing that TAP does is show that the model works, and then other people choose to open their minds and implement it a little more, that will help the employment of disabled people as well.”

On the future goals of the company, Liz commented: “We’re still a very new organisation, but our main aim is to change people’s experiences and perceptions, and remove the barriers that society sometimes places on people.

“We will continue with the recruitment side and look to help the best people get placed in the roles they want and our clients to find the best people.

“But also, with the advice and consultancy side, that will provide the foundations because it will help create organisations where people will want to apply. One person has a positive experience and the word spreads, and in today’s society social media promotes positive experiences and can help open doors for everyone.

“We want to keep growing our team and continue growing the awareness and opportunities out there for people within a fully inclusive environment.

“Everybody deserves the opportunity to do a job that they are capable of, qualified and want to do. Nobody should be pigeon-holed based on other people’s assumptions. Also, nobody should be left in a position where they can’t reach their true potential because of that. Not every job suits everybody. But everybody deserves the right to be able to access work to contribute to their living.”

Referring to her impact from a sporting and business perspective, Liz adds: “It’s a very humbling and fortunate position to be in when you get to do something that you love and which benefits you, but it also has a greater impact.

“I’m so fortunate that all of my experiences have not only enhanced my life and my lifestyle – physically and mentally – but have maybe paved the way for other people to achieve something similar. That’s immensely satisfying.” w Agilitymagazine | 38

“A lot of the time the unconscious bias or the assumptions people make about people with disabilities are almost an educated guess.�

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Ellen Quickfive

World rowing champion Ellen takes Agility’s Quick Five questions…

BUTTRICK

Agilitymagazine | 2

F

ROM a British Rowing Talent ID day to the Development Squad to a seat in the PR3 mixed coxed four to World Championship gold. That’s 15 months in the life of Ellen Buttrick!

Here, the 24-year-old reflects on her whirlwind journey as a GB para-rower, becoming a world champion in Bulgaria last September and her Tokyo hopes…

It all began with a Talent ID day?

Ellen: Yes. I attended one in July 2017 and I had the right attributes to join the Development Squad. I started working with them and was invited to a training camp in May when I got asked to row in the PR3 four, where I had a lot of time invested in me. I was only training parttime, but once we got on the training camp prior to the Worlds we were able to develop quickly as a crew. That time together made the difference.

How did you progress so quickly?

Ellen: We had two Paralympic champions and a world champion in the boat, so anything they did or told me to do I was going to do! It was the same with the coaching and support team – they know how to win and I just needed to take their advice and follow their processes. I had ultimate faith in the system.

What were the expectations ahead of the Worlds?

Ellen: The mindset was that we were going there to defend our title. There was a lot of pressure because they’d had the title for seven years. If they had lost it this time, I was the only difference! People have said that I dealt well with that. It was a very tight race – we knew the Americans would be ahead of us and we had to trust that we would have a stronger finish. Thankfully, we held our nerve.

What’s next?

Ellen: The main goal this year are the World Champs in Austria - they double up as the Paralympic qualification regatta. I’m aspiring to make Tokyo 2020 and would love to represent GB there, but I have to focus on getting in the boat this year. I’m improving every day, especially since moving south and starting to train full-time. I can see how much faster I am now than I was at the World Champs.

How important are the coaches and support staff?

Ellen: The environment that they create is amazing. It’s incredible that they can develop people so quickly - and have people like me ready to compete and win at a World Championships. It’s great that the para squad is based with the Olympic squad. Training alongside the fastest rowers in the world definitely gives you an incentive to go faster! w

© British Rowing/Naomi Baker

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Hannah Columnist

COCKROFT

The five-time Paralympic champ explains why she is backing the #More2Me initiative

T

HE #More2Me initiative was launched by the English Institute of Sport at the end of February, and I was delighted to get involved along with the likes of Lizzy Yarnold.

It aims to encourage athletes to lean on the support from their lifestyle advisors more and to think about a future outside of their sport.

I was approached and asked if I would support it and I loved the idea immediately. I meet so many athletes who think they are going to win lots of gold medals and live off that for the rest of their lives. The reality is that I’m a five-time Paralympic champion and I’m certainly not set up for life financially, far from it.

This is about encouraging athletes to consider if they are not one of the lucky 0.01 per cent who can make a fantastic living off their sport, what are they going to do next? What support can you get while you’re competing so that when you retire you’re not stuck with no income?

I’ve always used my lifestyle support to its absolute maximum. Julie, my lifestyle advisor, helped me through university – getting my place and then juggling competing with my deadlines and exams. That continued right through to the TV presenting course I did last year.

When I’ve only got training to think about it can become boring, so it’s Agilitymagazine | 2

important to have other interests to help you switch off. Everybody needs something else and if you have something you enjoy then why not make a skill out of it and be prepared for the future?

Racing will take more of my focus this year but if any more presenting opportunities with Countryfile come up then I’ll give that some thought. I’m filming Crystal Maze in a few weeks too, so that should be interesting! I’m taking the opportunities available but I’m not pushing myself out there to get loads of work this year because it’s so hard to strike the balance.

Training is going well. I feel a lot stronger than I did last year – and a lot more motivated. I’m hoping this season is going to be a lot better than the last one.

It’s only March, and the season doesn’t start until the end of May, so I’ve got a lot of time to play with things and change things up and then a long season to look forward to.

The first event is the British Wheelchair Racing Champs at Stoke Mandeville on May 18-19, and then we go straight from there to compete at the Swiss

Watch this great video

thanks to Hannah Cockroft and Irwin Mitchell

Nationals. It will be a tough start but should also show where I’m at and what I need to work on.

The World Championships are in November in Dubai, so it’s going to be a long season. I’ll start competing in May, then finish competing in June, have a couple of months of hard training and then go back to competing to qualify for the Worlds.

The season is going to be long but it doesn’t feel as full-on – we’re not competing every weekend like we normally do. So if my season doesn’t go as well as I would like then I still have time to work on things that I want to change. The focus of the winter has been about getting stronger – working hard in the gym and getting the miles in. Now, I’m concentrating more on the sprint, so working on the start and the speed elements.

Hopefully, because I’m stronger everything about my race will be stronger.

That’s the theory but the theory doesn’t always carry through, so fingers-crossed!

I think the longer distances – my 400m and 800m – are going to be stronger this year but it’s the 100m I need to find improvements in.w Irwin Mitchell is proud to sponsor Hannah Cockroft’s column in Agility Magazine. www.irwinmitchell.com Agilitymagazine | 3

Travel tips with Paralympic trike racer, Hannah Dines EACH year my mum promises to get her Lycra on and head out with me on Christmas Day. I swear she pre-empts me every time because she’s all innocent eyes and elbows deep in a turkey when I say it’s time to head out.

She’s wise to it now anyway. In Glasgow on Christmas Day the cycle-paths are so bedecked with broken glass from the previous night’s revelry that three Christmasses in a row I’ve been stranded; frozen fingers fumbling a puncture repair.

This year I had had it, I booked a Christmas training camp for myself and some likeminded sun-worshipping grinches in Lanzarote.

Warm weather training camps are old news for most of the sporting community but for people with musculoskeletal disabilities it isn’t just a bit of sun and a less hostile environment to get some winter miles in.

It is more like a brand-new body just gets delivered to us with that first hit of warm air.

My joints unfurl like thirsty baby ferns, my muscles stop gripping onto the last vestiges of internal body heat and I have to raise my saddle by an inch. Begone the aches that my granny and I knew so well, huddled in heaps of cats and cardigans on the sofa, to get through winter.

That’s all very well and good but accessing Agilitymagazine | 44

those azure skies and barren rocks in the middle of the Mediterranean is pretty tricky when you have several mobility devices in tow. I cannot emphasize enough that no matter how bumpy the travel experience, it has always been worth it. Here are my tips: Airlines of developed countries with disability discrimination laws in place always have an access policy for disabled travellers. Usually you can travel for free with two items of disability equipment, the size limits are if it can fit through the door of the hold which is fair enough.

Really though, staff just need to be

All I want for Christmas...

reassured that whatever you take won’t spontaneously blow up (ahoy big lithium batteries which go in the cabin… so that they are readily extinguished if necessary).

I feel like it is a matter of courtesy, when I have the luxury of time and forward planning, that I contact my airline ten days in advance. If you are flying with something very standard (day chair without a tri-ride etc) you could chance it on the day of travel.

On my most recent trip Jet2 phoned me up – no rooting around on google for the right phone number – gold star, Jet2.

If you leave it until check in on the day, you

risk testing the mood of the check-in clerk, which, if they’ve just checked in a family of eight including three screaming toddlers and a blow-up flamingo, might not be the most reasonable.

In fact, you may as well start playing Prodigy’s ‘Firestarter’ at full volume on your phone as you manoeuvre your way to the desk and they envision their job going up in flames along with you and everyone else on your flight.

Best to have prior notes waiting on their computer, written in brief, unemotional, informative airport-language and you’ll be on your way in no time.

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My tricycle is my everything - it’s my painkiller, my exercise, my shopping trolley, my tourist bus, my psychoanalyst and my only option when curbs are too high or distances too long for my mobility scooter or legs to manage.

It is, at its most basic, access to a place itself, almost more than the aeroplane.

If the worst does happen, remember social media is a bigger force than ever before. We have got to own our space and be present.

The system will never fit you if it does not know what shape it needs to be.w

Project Showcase

South Lake Leisure Centre Disability Sport NI is helping Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Boroug “THIS is a game-changing project. It is a fantastic advert for a council’s commitment to the community - and to the health and wellbeing agenda.”

It may be more than 12 months until the opening of the £35million South Lake Leisure Centre, but Project Director Andrew Stevenson is as excited about the landmark facility as the community it will serve.

The state-of-the-art location will have been 12 years in the making - upon completion in summer 2020 - after the initial decision to replace the older centres of Waves in Lurgan

(built 1965), Cascades Portadown (1969) and Craigavon Leisure Centre, Brownlow (1974) was made in 2008.

But the decision to combine those three locations looks set to pay off – and be well worth the wait.

The impressive result will include a 50m main pool, learner pool and fun pool.

Meanwhile, the dry side facilities will consist of the largest gym in Ireland (around 1,000 square metres), an eight-court sports hall, a range of studios including a dedicated spin Agilitymagazine | 46

room and dance studio, two squash courts, a health and beauty suite, an open hub space with café and soft play area and an outdoor watersports adventure centre.

“Because of where the centre is situated on the lake we want to encourage people to use this as a destination, and not just leisure users. It will be a destination for people to walk around the lake – dog walkers, cyclists and horse-riders,” explained Andrew. “There will even be a GP referral unit included in the project which showcases the community hub aspect perfectly.”

gh Council create a truly accessible sports and leisure facility Across all aspects of the design and build process, accessibility has been a watchword.

For instance, the new centre will be among the first in Northern Ireland to feature ‘Pool Pod’ platform lifts, designed as a legacy of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics to improve pool access for those less mobile.

This follows a major partnership with Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI) to deliver a flagship leisure centre which supports the development and longterm sustainability of sports and leisure programmes for people with disabilities.

Working with DSNI, the council has ensured that access and facilities have been prioritised and advanced from design through to completion.

“One of the most interesting characteristics that we picked up in the design phase was that there was an opportunity to enhance the provision for disabled visitors and athletes,” confirmed Andrew.

“It’s been a case of our design team working with DSNI from the very early stages because it needs to be a close working relationship on a Agilitymagazine | 47

project of this scale. You work in tandem and they play a key role in providing advice and guidance. There are set guidelines in place but it’s also imperative to work with them and they have been very helpful in that regard.

“The movable pool floor, pool pods and accessible changing facilities are all key, but it also includes features like wider corridors with passing places. Quite a lot of those are spatial requirements but there are also some specific facilities incorporated too – changing facilities for example. It will be seen by the community as a facility that is accessible to all.”

Other features for disabled sports users include an induction loop system, provided to reduce background noise. This will be available at reception, sales counters, key meeting rooms and viewing gallery areas with a PA system. Meanwhile, signage will enable people with disabilities to successfully navigate around the new facility unassisted.

Disabled spectators will also be catered for. Accessible vantage points will be made available next to a companion in the pool area, squash courts and sports hall.

Bleacher seating will be modified to include ramp access, elevated wheelchair viewing, fold-up arm rests and additional signage.

THE KEY ACCESSIBILITY OBJECTIVES: • The council and DSNI aim to develop sport and physical recreation for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.

• To ensure compliance and enhancement to the Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006.

• By working together, promote the sporting requirements of people with disabilities, including team sports, wheelchair sports and access to fitness equipment.

• DSNI has assisted the council to meet their duties under the DDA; this has included working alongside the architect of the building.

• The council wants to achieve the ‘Inclusive Sports Facilities Accreditation’ (excellence award) for the new centre.

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The South Lake project was procured via the Scape Major Works framework, which has since been superseded by the Scape National Construction framework. Created to deliver construction projects across the UK, the framework’s performance management processes ensure lead contractor Farrans Construction is working directly with local suppliers, contractors and the wider community.

One of the UK and Ireland’s leading construction firms, Farrans has a long track record of delivering successful projects, including Bangor’s award-winning Aurora leisure centre, Victoria Square shopping centre in Belfast and Craigavon Area Hospital.

“It’s been a case of our design team working with DSNI from the very early stages because it needs to be a close working relationship on a project of this scale.”

Andrew explained: “Farrans are a strong and stable business in what is a volatile world of construction. They brought people with individual expertise who worked on the Aurora project to this scheme. It’s not about the balance sheet - equally it’s about the individuals that they can deploy.

“We have worked collaboratively with them

since September 2016 and our design team includes people who are leisure experts, so we’re very content with that aspect of the scheme.

“With the project being procured by Scape, that means areas like social engagement and work in the local economy are very important factors and central to it. There has still been competition within that.

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We’ve tendered something like £30million of subcontract work in the marketplace, so it’s extremely competitive.”

He continued: “Firstly, this leisure centre delivers a service for customers - rate-payers and visitors. In a larger sense it supports wellbeing through physical activity.

“With the project being procured by Scape, that means areas like social engagement and work in the local economy are very important factors and central to it.”

“There is also a strong community angle here. The way in which it is being built under a framework arrangement with a local contractor means there will be an impact on various areas – from longterm unemployment circumstances to apprenticeships to employment.

“We’re spending about 80 per cent of the budget within 40 miles to build this centre, there are opportunities for leisure staff in terms of career advancement, and it’s also a key regeneration project for this council.”

Looking ahead to completion and beyond, Andrew added: “When you’ve got a project that you’ve been talking about for more than ten years people can start to lose a little belief, but as soon as you get on site and make progress they regain that belief. It’s had whole-hearted, cross-party support and also community support - that’s key.

“Factors like adding £6.5 million to the Northern Ireland economy are great, and the end result will be a real asset for the community. It’s exciting stuff and I have the

privilege of sitting over the lake watching it take shape and become a reality.” w

Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, added: “We are pleased to see Craigavon’s new leisure centre taking shape. It has taken tremendous effort from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council to create an exciting facility that will be accessible to all - and encourage a healthier lifestyle for the local community.

and SME engagement, the project will also drive long-term economic benefits through the provision of training, upskilling and employment opportunities for the local community. We look forward to seeing this project evolve in the coming months.”

AN EXCITING FACILITY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL… Speaking in December, with the centre’s steel frame in place on the dry side of the building and the scheme firmly on course for next year’s completion date, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Cllr Julie Flaherty, said: “A flagship project creating at least 500 jobs on site, with more to follow, this is a pivotal moment in the development of this new and exciting leisure facility, which has been designed to transform the health, wellbeing and quality of life for residents and visitors for generations to come.”

“Creating social value and delivering community benefits is embedded throughout our frameworks. As well as ensuring a maximum spend on local labour

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