Success for Brecon at Special Olympics
Special Olympics Brecon’s athletes had great success last week in Sheffield at the Special Olympics National Games.
All 17 of its team members came home with a medal!
In track and field three golds, four silvers and a bronze – all won by just three-star competitors!
Long Jumper Hannah Charnley, Brecon, landed a gold with 2.83m – division F04.
Hannah also won golds in 100m (F06) and in the 4x100m (F01) relay– very well-done Hannah!
Well done to Rebecca Morgan (Builth Wells) two silvers and a bronze.
Silver in the mini-javelin and silver for the standing long jump - bronze in the 100m (F04).
Great running Joshua Longbottom (Brecon) – Silver in 200m (M12) and the 4x100m category (T04).
Gold was the medal colour for Badminton double players Lloyd Crawley (Ystradgynlais) and Ethan Orton (Brecon)– well done!
In Basketball Brecon won the silver medal in pool B and were awarded the pan competition Special Achievement Award, as well as coming joint top for the Sportsmanship Award.
Coaches rotated the squad over 11 matches and the mixed sex and age group team lost only once.
In the close fought final, they were pipped by just one basket to the gold – beaten by Eastern Region from England.
Well done to Aled Thomas (Rhayader), Huw O’Reilly (Hay on Wye), Michael Delahaye (Builth Wells), David Whittle (Brecon), Lance Hughes (Hay on Wye), Tommy Davies (Ystradgynlais), Russell Reeves (Brecon/ Llandovery), David Gorton (Hay on Wye), Daniel Grinter (Brecon / Ystradgynlais), Samantha Hall (Llandeilo) and Bardh Gashi (Sennybridge).
Success was also had in the Badminton singles – with Lloyd securing a silver in the M5 division.
Great work from Shain Lewis in the Tennis who won silver in the doubles M1 division.
In total Brecon Integrated Sports Association sent 17 athletes to Sheffield all of whom came home with a medal!
Brecon Integrated Sports Association (BISA) is run by volunteers and is in its sixteenth year.
The Special Olympics draws team members from the Association’s intellectually disabled members, but BISA also offers sports for the physically disabled and families of club members.
It runs coaching sessions in track and field, basketball, football, table tennis, badminton, and on occasion sailing, indoor bowls and horse riding – among others.
The Special Olympics National Games takes place every four years – like the Olympics and the Para Olympics. The next Special Olympic World Games will be in Abu Dhabi in 2019 and some of our athletes hope to be selected.
2,600 athletes from across Great Britain took part, with a team also fielded by Australia.
There were 160 athletes competing for Wales of which 17 came from Brecon’s club – which draws its members from South Powys.
Funding has been kindly given to the Association by Brecon Town Council, Friends of Penmaes, Brecon Co-Op, Roger Smart of Powys People First, Kirsty Williams AM, Christ College, Par Homes Ltd., Builth Rotary Club, Owen Sports and Brecon Rotary Club. Thank you.
Thank you also to our supporters: Brecon Leisure Centre, Friends of Ysgol Penmaes, Bikes and Hikes, Builth Bike Bash, The Clarence Inn, The Tanners Arms, Builth Co-op, Llandovery Co-op, SO Wales, Rob Davies MBE and Glanusk Services.
Club members and parents – thank you as well!
The Association welcomes new members and supporters.
The next BISA sports club is Friday 8th September 7-8pm Brecon Leisure Centre cost £2 just turn up. Junior Club sessions (under 14s) are on Thursdays 4-5pm at Ysgol Penmaes, booking essential.
Please contact Beverley Tucker, Disability Sport Wales Development Officer for Powys, beverley.tucker@powys.gov.uk 01874 612034
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