There is such a lot going on at the moment and all of it very exciting as we continue to grow the sport and develop a performance system which will take us into the medals. This weekend we piloted our new ‘Rugby Wheels’ programme in Exeter and Newquay. The aim of this programme is to give any disabled person who wants a go the chance to experience our sport no matter what their functionality. This is an exciting initiative which meets our charitable objects as an organisation and offers something different. This weekend we thank Paul Jenkins and Keith Jones for coaching the sessions and also West Country Hawks, Steve Hillman from Cornwall CSP and Amanda Thomas for supporting them. There were a real mix of individuals talking part including a new participant from Taunton who is classifiable and looking to join the sessions we are also running in Gloucester. Keith and Jinx did a great job of adapting the sessions to suit all participants and everyone had a brilliant time, including Ed Larkin’s younger brother William from Plymouth who is an electric chair user. We will be looking to formally launch this programme in the near future with its own branding and own style. It promises to be a really great programme which builds on the Paralaympic legacy and brings an adapted version of the game into the reach of those who previously did not get an opportunity to play.
We have also had a highly successful Talent ID day. A total of 20 budding paralympians took part in a barrage of tests which we continue to work with the Peter Harrison Centre to refine and improve. From this work a number of athletes have been selected to go forward to take part in two further camps which will be aimed at confirming their potential for the Talent Squad which we aim to be in place by January. The exciting thing is that we are now identifying individuals who are new to the sport but who have real potential to grow and perform as elite athletes. The work that Lorraine Brown, Paul Shaw, Justin Frishberg and the performance team are doing is tremendous and is underpinned by the growth in new players coming out of the development work led by Kirsty and Paul, Jo and Amanda in the regions.
Finally, the new website is developing well and we are still on target to launch at the end of the year. It is going to look fantastic whether accessed from a laptop or a mobile device. Watch this space…………..
David Pond
