The BSHA are currently surveying the views and opinions of players.

The survey that has been developed has been written to allow the BSHA to further understand what players of the game in the UK experience as part of their club so that we are able to engage with stakeholders, support development and assist in securing funding.

We would like to hear from players at all levels of the sport. If you are just starting to play, at a new club, playing in a league or part of the National squad, we need to know your thoughts.

The survey can be found here: http://survey.mdsc.co.uk/limesurvey/index.php?sid=64271&lang=en

Residents and visitors to the East Riding will get the chance to see the Paralympic Flame at Beverley Minster on Friday, 24 August, from 5-6.30pm.

The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will take place from Friday, 24 - Wednesday, 29 August with four separate flames being lit in London, Greater Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

A special ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 28 August to unite the flames at the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, Stoke Mandeville. There will then be a 24-hour torch relay to journey the flame to London for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

On the Friday, the flame will travel from Trafalgar Square, London, to York where it will be collected by East Yorkshire town crier, Michael Wood, and sledge hockey player and flame ambassador, Matt Woollias.

The flame will then be transported to Beverley Leisure Complex, where the flame will be welcomed by the chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Chad Chadwick, for a flame celebration event.

The event, from 12noon-4pm, will focus on engaging young people, through Aspire Clubs and Inspiremark Projects, and adults with disabilities, day/resource centres and the East Riding of Yorkshire Disabled Swimming Association (ERYDSA), in a wide range of sporting competitions and taster sessions including sports hall athletics, boccia, football, archery, bowls, netball, cricket and swimming. This event is invite only.

After leaving the leisure centre, the flame will be escorted to Beverley Minster by Michael Wood who will welcome the flame with an Ode on the minster steps and then pass to Reverend Fiona Mayor-Jones who will welcome the flame in the minster before the viewing commences.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council is proud that Beverley has been selected as one of only 33 communities across the country to host a flame celebration for the Paralympic Lantern and hope that residents and visitors will join us in welcoming the flame to the East Riding at Beverley Minster.

“The celebrations focus on recognising the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality and we hope to share these during out event at Beverley Leisure Complex.”

For further information about the Paralympic Flame Celebration in Beverley, visit www.eastriding.gov.uk

Manchester Phoenix sledge hockey team made their debut at the Dome on Saturday with games against Peterborough Phantoms and Kingston Kestrels.

Phoenix will be joining the British Sledge Hockey League next season and the games were to gauge the development of the team and to introduce a dimension of hockey new to many fans.

Game 1: Manchester Phoenix 5 Peterborough Phantoms 1

Phoenix iced for the first time against a game Phantoms team. Dan Breen in goal kept the eager Manchester outfit at bay on numerous occasions but a hat trick from GB player Karl Nicholson gave the delighted home team the win.

Game 2: Kingston Kestrels 13 Peterborough Phantoms 1

The newly-crowned sledge hockey league champions proved too strong for the Phantoms outfit in the second game and ran out convincing winners. Huge credit was due to the relatively inexperienced Peterborough team who fought bravely for the whole 30 minutes.

Game 3: Manchester Phoenix 1 Kingston Kestrels 5

The final game of the day saw the home side take on the best team in the country and although going down by 4 goals, Phoenix showed plenty of promise and enterprise and one doubts if we will see a similar scoreline next time they meet.

3 goals from Matt Clarkson and one each from Berry and Warner completed the Kestrels’ scoring. However the biggest cheer of the night came when Karl Nicholson scored the home goal.

A reasonable crowd saw fast, skilful, entertaining hockey all afternoon and many left saying they cannot wait for the next event.

Phoenix coach Pete Hagan said after the games: “I am really happy with the way the team performed today. We have only been together for 12 weeks and some players started from scratch. A huge thanks to everybody who played or helped with the organisation of the day. The future of sledge hockey in Manchester looks bright.”

Phoenix press officer Jim Piper caught up with Great Britain player and 3 time Paralympic competitor Karl Nicholson after the games and he had this to say: “Today was a good day for everybody involved in the Phoenix Organisation. We only came together 3 months ago and the progress made is astonishing. The Kestrels have been together for more than 20 years and I think we acquitted ourselves very well in that game. They are deserved league champions but Phoenix have definitely designs on the title soon.”

A great day’s entertainment with sledge hockey winning over some new fans. Many thanks to the officials and all who turned up and gave their time to the event. There was a collection at the game to raise funds for the GB team who have an Olympic qualifying event soon and to boost the coffers of the Manchester team.

Updated players table after 3 rounds;

• Basingstoke - 28th May
• Hull - 17th June
• Peterborough - 14th July

In the game of Phantoms vs Battle Back Whittingham (Phantoms) was given a MATCH penalty

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 10^th 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