Request from Chairman of BPA

Hi All Many of you have come across me over the years and I am fondly known as “the blind man with the gorgeous guide dog “V”.  I am one of the fortunate ones who have lost sight but with a great network and support from our organisation and my work colleagues to be able …

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Matt Lloyd

GB Sledge Hockey to carry the Olympic Flame

The British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA) is proud to announce that their chairman, retried GB player and Paralympian, Matt Lloyd, has been nominated to carry the Olympic Torch by Sport England.  Additionally up and coming Kingston Kestrels and GB squad member Matthew Woollias has been nominated for his work in raising awareness of teenage cancer. …

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Ice Sledge Hockey Game

Red’s Rovers fly off to launch 2012 British Sledge Hockey Season

The launch of the British Sledge Hockey league season will be marked by the participation of a British All-star team, Red’s Rovers, in the Sportlife Open in Eindhoven over the week end of the 14th and 15th April.  The event which features a number of European club teams including Bremer Pirates, Dresdner Cardinals, and the …

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Planet Ice Logo

2012 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey League

The British Sledge Hockey Association is proud to announce that Planet Ice, the UK’s largest ice leisure provider, have committed to continuing their on-going support for the sport of Ice Sledge Hockey by sponsoring the 2012 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey League (PIBSHL). The PIBSHL will showcase the competitive, inclusive sport of Ice Sledge Hockey …

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All IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship Games Streaming Live

All games from the 2012 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships are being streamed live at www.icesledgehockeyworlds.com. The Championships started on Saturday (24 March) when the world’s top eight teams gathered together for the Opening Ceremony in Hamar, Norway. “In just 713 days time the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will begin …

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Request from Chairman of BPAGB Sledge Hockey to carry the Olympic FlameRed’s Rovers fly off to launch 2012 British Sledge Hockey Season2012 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey LeagueAll IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship Games Streaming Live

Request from Chairman of BPA

Hi All

Many of you have come across me over the years and I am fondly known as “the blind man with the gorgeous guide dog “V”.  I am one of the fortunate ones who have lost sight but with a great network and support from our organisation and my work colleagues to be able maintain a normal and rewarding career.  I was fortunate enough to go on holiday to  Kenya in October last year and came across some truly wonderful people and was shocked to find out that kids are dying just because they have cataracts and that their parents are not able to support them and had to make a heartbreaking decision to abandon them and leave them to die.  It costs just £150 per child to operate and successfully remove them.  But for many there ability to pay for this is far beyond their reach.

With this in mind I am embarking on doing the Blenheim Triathlon on June 10th this year in aid of sports relief.   Many of the people I met had nothing, not even clean water to drink in their villages thus  many more kids are dying because they have no choice but to drink contaminated water.

I know we can’t change the world but I would be really grateful for your support no matter how small to help raise a little towards this cause .  My link is below

http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/timreddish

kind regards

Tim

 

 

Tim Reddish OBE

Executive Director British Disability Swimming

Chairman British Paralympic Association

GB Sledge Hockey to carry the Olympic Flame

Matt LloydThe British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA) is proud to announce that their chairman, retried GB player and Paralympian, Matt Lloyd, has been nominated to carry the Olympic Torch by Sport England.  Additionally up and coming Kingston Kestrels and GB squad member Matthew Woollias has been nominated for his work in raising awareness of teenage cancer.

Lloyd made his debut for GB Ice Sledge Hockey in the Turin qualification tournament in 2005 and then went on to represent Great Britain at every event in which they have participated in since.  Additionally he played Sitting Volleyball for Great Britain at international level including featuring as part of the team that participated in the 2007 IPC European Sitting Volleyball Championships.

Lloyd said, “It’s a great honour to be nominated and I know that Birmingham Sport and Physical Activity Partnership were the organisation really pushing for recognition of the work I’ve done to provide inclusive sport opportunities.  I lived a pretty nomadic life and so it is a real honour that the people of Birmingham wish to claim me as one of their own.  Sport is a great catalyst for change and I hope that I can contribute in some small way by providing people with the opportunity to chance their lives for the better.  I find it rewarding that Matt Woollias has also been selected to carry the torch as I remember introducing him to the sport of Sledge Hockey through a British Paralympic Association Talent ID day in Guildford last year”.

Matt WoolliasWoolias was diagnosed with a rare case of bone cancer in May 2009 in his second year at University. His treatment involved not only chemotherapy but also the impossible decision to have his leg amputated below his knee to facilitate his recovery further. Whilst undergoing his chemotherapy Matt began fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust and has so far organised local fundraising events and presented at national conferences.

Woolias made his sledge hockey debut playing as part of the league winning Kingston Kestrels and is about to take part in his first European event, the Sportlife Open in Eindhoven.

GB Head Coach, Andy Linton said, “Matthew (Woollias) is a promising young player who has made the step up from league player to being part of the GB squad in a relatively short space of time. If he continues to develop both on and off the ice then I have no doubt that he will soon represent GB at the highest levels of the sport”.

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Red’s Rovers fly off to launch 2012 British Sledge Hockey Season

Ice Sledge Hockey GameThe launch of the British Sledge Hockey league season will be marked by the participation of a British All-star team, Red’s Rovers, in the Sportlife Open in Eindhoven over the week end of the 14th and 15th April.  The event which features a number of European club teams including Bremer Pirates, Dresdner Cardinals, and the Nowaco Sharks.

The event will mark the European debut of three new players, Darren Borwn, Tyler Christopher and Matt Woollias as well as being the first time that Caroline Bonner has played alongside British players instead of being part of the European Women’s Sledge Hockey programme.

Team manager Captain Geddes said, “This is a great way to mark the start of the British Sledge Hockey league season and it exciting to take a team to this prestigious European event.  We have chosen to take players from all of the teams participating in the league this season with the intent of inspiring them and setting the standard of play for the forthcoming league season”.

The trip has been made possible by sponsorship from the Disability Syndicate, an organisation with close links to British Sedge Hockey in the form of Strategic Director and retired GB player, Martin Austin.  Martin said, “I am really pleased that the Disability Syndicate has been able to support the guys going over to Europe to mark the start of the league season.  I know that the new guys will befit a great deal from the experience and that the experienced players will ensure that we play hard, fair and with pride”.

Red’s Rovers; Bryan Hackworth (Kestrels), Rob Gaze (Phantoms), Matt Clarkson (Kestrels), Karl Nicholson (Kestrels), Gary Farmer (Phantoms), Matt Woolias (Kestrels), Matt Coleman (Phantoms), Darren Brown (Phantoms), Tyler Christopher (Bisons), Lee Coupe (Bisons), Caroline Bonner (Flames).

Red Geddes: Manager

Andy Linton: Head Coach

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2012 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey League

Planet Ice LogoThe British Sledge Hockey Association is proud to announce that Planet Ice, the UK’s largest ice leisure provider, have committed to continuing their on-going support for the sport of Ice Sledge Hockey by sponsoring the 2012 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey League (PIBSHL). The PIBSHL will showcase the competitive, inclusive sport of Ice Sledge Hockey and feature last year’s League champions the Kingston Kestrels and playoff champions the Peterborough Phantoms.  Joining these well-established teams with be the Battle Back Bisons (consisting of injured military personnel) and the Manchester Phoenix.

Sledge Hockey is a variant of ice hockey and can be played on and off ice, using sledges to allow participants to move about the rink at high speeds hitting a puck travelling at speeds of up to 100kph. Players sit in sledges, propelling themselves with sticks adapted to allow propulsion in a manner similar to skiing. As players are strapped to a sledge all players have the same restrictions, regardless of whether or not the player has a disability.

Phantoms vs BisonMatt Lloyd, Chairman of the BSHA said, “The league is going to provide a great summer of sport and the league will hopefully attract interest from people who are getting excited about the London Paralympic games and  ice hockey fans who are looking for a hockey fix over the summer. We are also really fortunate to have Planet Ice as our league sponsor as they bring ice hockey and event management experience as well as an enthusiasm to provide an audience friendly sport”.

John Neville, Managing Director of Planet Ice said, “Sledge Hockey is amazing as it provides a fast, full contact, high adrenalin sport which can be played by anybody and where everybody is equal. By supporting the league we hope we can help attract a wider audience to the sport and assist the BSHA in developing Sledge Hockey and increasing participation”.

Pete Hagan, head coach of the newly formed Manchester Phoenix Sledge Hockey team said, “I am really excited about entering a team from the North West in the league for the first time and we’re hoping to have Manchester Phoenix senior players such as James Neil playing for our sledge hockey team.  In order to support growth of Sledge Hockey we will be welcoming players from the Coventry Flames and Widnes Wolverines Sledge Hockey clubs to play for the Phoenix so that they can develop players with a view to entering teams into the league for next season”.

Female Sledge Hockey PlayerPlayers from the Swindon Wildcats sledge hockey team will also be participating alongside the Battle Back Bisons.  Aaron Nell, Head Coach of the Wildcats sledge hockey team commented, “rather than enter a team of our own this year we felt it would be benefit our programme for us to gain experience though our players and coaching staff being part of the Battle Back Bisons rather than put out an inexperienced team.  We are honoured to have been invited to play alongside the brave service personnel who have given so much for their country”.

Games in the PIBSHL will be played within a series of tournaments taking place throughout the summer months and each team will play each other within each tournament. The tournaments will be hosted at each team’s home rink and will be free for fans to watch.

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All IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship Games Streaming Live

All games from the 2012 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships are being streamed live at www.icesledgehockeyworlds.com.

The Championships started on Saturday (24 March) when the world’s top eight teams gathered together for the Opening Ceremony in Hamar, Norway.

“In just 713 days time the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will begin in Russia,” IPC Governing Board member Rita van Driel said at the Ceremony.

“Although winning this tournament will not guarantee qualification for those Games, performances here will go some way to indicating which teams will battle it out for Paralympic gold in 23 months time.”

Round-robin play began Sunday (25 March), and viewers on the live stream had the chance to see USA, Korea, Czech Republic and Canada all win their opening games.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve got the Ice Sledge Hockey live feed up and running,” said IPC Media and Communications Senior Manager Craig Spence. “Ice Sledge Hockey is one of the most TV-friendly sports with its fast-paced, aggressive nature. Viewers are in for a treat.”

The round-robin games can be viewed at 8:00, 11:15, 14:30 and 18:00 (CEST) each day.

Sunday began with a thrilling match between USA and Estonia, as the Americans escaped with a 2-1 victory in a shootout.

Each team put forward three players for the shootout, and USA’s Taylor Lipsett was the only one able to find the net, giving the reigning Paralympic and world champions the win in the event opener.

Czech goalie Michal Vapenka was stellar in the net in the second game, helping his team to a 2-0 victory over the Japanese – the silver medallists from the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Vapenka saved all 15 shots made on goal in the game.

Zdenek Safranek and Zdenek Krupicka both scored for the Czech Republic in the final period to end what had been a nail-biting contest.

In the day’s third game, Korea shocked hosts Norway with a 4-1 victory after coming out very strong in the first period.

Jong Kyung Lee scored just 49 seconds into the contest on an assist from Min Su Han, and then Seung Hwan Jung found the net just five minutes later to give the Koreans the quick edge.

Norway could not muster enough offense to make a comeback, as Helge Bjornstad’s power-play goal in the second frame was its lone score of the game.

Byeong Seok Cho and Jung each scored in the final period – both assisted by Lee – to pad Korea’s lead.

Man Gyun Yu manned the net for Korea, saving 12 of 13 shots – six of those from Norwegian veteran Eskil Hagen.

In the nightcap, Canada edged the 2011 European champions, Italy, 3-1, as Billy Bridges notched two goals and Brad Bowden added another for the tournament favourites.

The Championships run through next Sunday (1 April), with the round-robin stage finishing Wednesday (28 March) and the playoff round beginning the following day.

Viewers can tune into all games live at www.icesledgehockeyworlds.com, as well as follow the action on Facebook (www.facebook.com/icesledgehockey) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/paralympic).

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Sledge Happy with the Swindon Wildcats

Swindon Wildcats LogoSwindon Wildcats in the Community are proud to be launching their sledge hockey initiative at their Fill the Rink game at the Link Centre on the 26th November whilst supporting the Undentable Trust.

A team of local celebrities will take on an Armed Forces team representing the Undentable Trust charity in the period break of the Swindon Wildcats ice Hockey game against the Peterborough Phantoms that night to launch the scheme. Sledge Hockey is an inclusive Paralympic sport for disabled and non disabled people of all ages and abilities giving them the chance to take part in a winter sport that is fun and accessible.

The Sledge Hockey game will be officially started with a ceremonial puck drop by North Swindon Member of Parliament Justin Tomlinson who has been a great supporter of the community work that the Swindon Wildcats undertake.  He will be joined by More Radio DJ Howard Taylor, local World Record Breaker and renowned fitness guro Mike Buss, and Swindon Advertiser Sports reporter Ned Payne, representing the Celeb team with more names to be confirmed soon.

The game is a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE game with vouchers for the offer available in the Swindon Advertiser on the next two Fridays, online at www.swindonwildcats.com and via the Link Centre itself with ticket sales already very good.

With tickets discounted the Undentable Trust team will also asking people to donate to their great cause.

Justin Tomlinson MP said, “This is a great cause and I’m very happy to be supporting it.  I’m a big believer in the need for kids to get active and get involved in sporting activities, so I hope this is a real success.  It sounds like it will be a great evening and I wish everyone involved well – may the best team win!”.

Tracey Rogers from Swindon, is a representative of the Undentable Trust, a charity set up in her brother Captain Mark Hale’s memory after he was killed in Afghanistan in 2009 to raise money to support injured soldiers and bereaved families says, “I am delighted that The Undentable Trust has been chosen by Swindon Wildcats to be the charity for the launch of the Sledge Hockey scheme.  It will be a fantastic evening and The Undentable Trust team are looking forward to beating the Swindon Celebrities!  This is a great honour for us to be selected and we hope to raise a huge amount of money on the night to provide ongoing support to those who really need it”

More exciting news on the Wildcats Fill the Rink and Sledge Hockey Launch game will be out soon so get yourself a voucher and your tickets and keep up to date via Social Media and www.swindonwildcats.com

The Wildcats will also be starting up a Sledge Hockey team as well as running “Have a go sessions” in the near future.  For more information or if you are interested in taking part contact Ben Humphrey on 07815 77593 or email bhumphrey@swindon.gov.uk or contact the Wildcats office on 01793 885857 or email office@swindonwildcats.com

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British trio join European women’s sledge hockey squad

Female Sledge Hockey PlayerThe British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA)  is proud to announce that three of its members have been selected to join the European Ice Sledge Hockey programme.  The three players are; Julie Plumbley (Peterborough Phantoms), Caroline Bonner (Coventry Flames) and Sarah Geddes (Basingstoke Bison).  The trio are being supported by GB Team Manager, Captain Readford Geddes.

The European women’s sledge hockey programme is led by the Netherlands, Johan Balder, a Paralympic Ice Sledge Speed Racer and Dutch Ice Sledge Hockey Player.  The intention of the programme is to develop an all-female European team to play against the female teams of Canada and the USA in May 2012.

Julie said, “I am so pleased to be given this opportunity.  I only started playing Sledge Hockey after attending a British Paralympic Association talent ID day earlier this year.  Thanks to the support of my team, the Peterborough Phantoms, I have developed as a player and it is my dream to play for both the European women’s team and the GB team next year.  I’m also really honoured to get the chance to meet, and play with, Betty Meijer who was the first woman to play Sledge Hockey at an IPC event”.

Captain Geddes said, “It is great to see British Sledge Hockey working in cooperation with other countries to develop the sport of ice sledge hockey, inclusion and opportunities for women to play sledge hockey at the highest level.  We hope that this will inspire European countries to develop female players with a few to developing national women’s team”.

BSHA Chairman said, “This is a great initiative for us to be involved in.  In the early part of the last decade there was a British all-female team lead by Joanna Coates-McGrath, the Ice Maidens, but they disbanded due to a lack of competitive opportunities.  The BSHA will do everything it can to support the initiative and we hope to see players from this programme participating at the World Championships next year”.

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New BPA CEO Tim Hollingsworth speech

23 Aug 2011

With just over one year to go until the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, new British Paralympic Association Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth today stated clearly his belief that the Games can offer a moment of real transformation for Paralympic sport in this country.

He said: “Holding the Paralympic Games can have a profound effect on the host country. That was seen in Beijing where the achievements of people with an impairment, who had once been hidden away, were celebrated by the whole nation, and again in Vancouver, where ice hockey fans sat on their skateboards to play sledge hockey in the streets during the Paralympics. For the young people in Vancouver, this was just a different and uniquely cool way of playing their sport. Crucially they saw past the disability and just saw elite athletes playing a really exciting version of a game they loved.

My Bold for the full story go to: here.

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A summer of great sport on ice

Sledge hockey playerThis summer has seen the emergence of the fully inclusive sport of Sledge Hockey as a family friendly summer alternative to ice hockey.  Having generated crowds of over 200 spectators at some events Sledge Hockey has demonstrated it has all the thrills and excitement of traditional hockey but in a form that allows everybody to play and welcomes everyone to watch.

Sledge Hockey is a variant of ice hockey and can be played on and off ice, using sledges to allow participants to move about the rink at high speeds hitting a puck travelling at speeds of up to 100kph.  Players sit in adapted sledges, propelling themselves with sticks adapted to allow propulsion in a manner similar to skiing.  As players are strapped to a sledge everybody has the same restrictions, regardless of whether or not the player has a disability.

Hull based Kingston Kestrels ultimately won the league, demonstrating skill, vision and experience.  Lead by the league’s top point’s scorer, Karl Nicholson, the Kestrels iced a fully inclusive team featuring new comers, Paralympians and a host of experienced club players.

Once the league had finished attention turned to the playoffs, a celebration of sledge hockey and the athletes and volunteers involved.  Originally intended to be a fun competition between the top three teams in the country, due to transport difficulties on the day only the Kingston Kestrels and the Peterborough Phantoms were able to attend.  As the Phantoms were missing key players Matthew Coleman and Darren Brown, the Kestrels generously allowed Karl Nicholson to play for the Phantoms in order to ensure a competitive event.  The Phantoms emerged as winners, beating the Kestrels by nine goals to five.

John Neville, Managing Director of Planet Ice, sponsors of the Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league said, “It has been a honour and a privilege to support Sledge Hockey this year and something I am delighted to announce will continue next year.  Sledge hockey is a sport that anyone can enjoy as a fan, but more importantly, they can enjoy playing.  The excitement and passion we’ve seen in the league this season rivals the excitement and passion seen at the highest levels of English ice hockey.  I’m delighted that a team from Planet Ice rink won the playoffs and would like to congratulate the Kingston Kestrels on winning the 2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league”.

At the end of the playoffs the end of season trophies, sponsored by Portland Trophies, were presented to the all-star team, MVP, top point scorer and top net minder and it was announced that the 2012 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league will be expanding to include new teams that have started up having seen the success of the league and the playoffs including teams from Stoke Mandeville (Milton Keynes), Scotland, Manchester and Coventry.

In addition Planet Ice will be launching learn-to-play sledge hockey programmes at all of their rinks

All-star team: Rob Gaze (Phantoms), Matt Clarkson (Kestrels), Tyler Christopher (Bisons), Matt Coleman (Phantoms), Karl Nicolson (Kestrels) and Gary Farmer (Phantoms).

  • Top points scorer: Karl Nicholson (Kestrels)
  • Most valuable player: Gary Farmer (Phantoms)
  • Top net minder: Robin Gaze (Phantoms)
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2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey League Review

Kestrels team photoIt was, ultimately, the Kingston Kestrels from Hull that deservedly won the 2011 Planet Ice British Sledge Hockey league, demonstrating their pedigree as England’s most established Ice Sledge Hockey team.  Featuring the league top points scorer, Paralympic veteran, Karl Nicholson and a host of up and coming player such as Matt Woollias.  The Kestrels pushed hard all the way and Nicholson only beat his GB teammate, Matt Clarkson, by 5 points.  Whilst the Kestrels dominated the season, going undefeated, questions will be asked whether or not they have a strong net minder in Bryan Hackworth.  Hackworth may have conceded very few goals but in truth faced very few shots, being protected by an efficient and talented team who rarely let the puck pass over their blue line.

Possibly the surprise of the league were the Peterborough Phantoms, led by rookie coach Dan Breen and featuring the star net minder of the season, Robin Gaze.  Gaze, who is noted for bringing a completely new style of goal tending to the game of Sledge Hockey, established the best save percentage in the league.

Although unlucky to not win a single game the Battle Back Bisons won the hearts of everyone who watched them play.  Hampered by a system that meant they were unable to field a consistent team they showed guts and determination and never let their heads drop.  The smart money is on them identifying a few new players over the off season and setting their expectations for next season at nothing less than league champions.

A special mention is needed for the back office team who made sure the league was such a great success.  Mike Pack, Operations Director of the British Sledge Hockey Association (BSHA) who has worked tirelessly and has been supported by the Head Official, Ken Riddell, who has ensured a consistent and well organised group of linesmen and referees.

Saturday will see the playoff finals at Coventry, with the trophy and awards being sponsored by Portland Trophies, exclusive trophy supplier to the BSHA.  Coventry has been selected as it is hoped to host future International Paralympic Committee events such as the World Championships.

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