Inclusive Boccia Tournament hosted in Suffolk – July 2024

Posted on July 30, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Special Olympics Suffolk delivery partner, ActivLives,held the second Inclusive Boccia Tournament recently in Stowmarket, Suffolk. The event attracted 42 competitors, who played a total of 70 ends of boccia, over 26 matches, scoring 123 points. There were over 75 people attending the event, during the course of the day.

Boccia (pronounced ‘botcha’), is a target game, played with balls, where all of the participants are required to sit down whilst they play. “It is one of those sports that is relatively easy to play, but devilishly tricky to play well”, said Mike McCarthy, from ActivLives. The sport is particularly suitable for players with a disability, and will be part of the Paralympic programme being held in Paris next month.

The tournament in Stowmarket consisted of three divisions, where players competed in teams of three, in a round-robin format. The day concluded with a ‘spider decider’ mass team event, with all 42 players involved.

“The atmosphere has been absolutely brilliant, with plenty of very close matches throughout the day. It has also been great to welcome visiting players from Special Olympics Peterborough and Kent”.

Many thanks to all of the athletes, to our brilliant team of volunteers, to our supporting partners Special Olympics Suffolk, Special Olympics GB, the Suffolk Community Foundation and to our hosts for the day at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre.

If you would like to find out more about how to get involved with boccia in the Stowmarket, Ipswich or Felixstowe areas, please call ActivLives on 01473 345350 or email mike@activlives.org.uk

Gymnastics training camp and competition a huge success!

Posted on July 22, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Waveney Gymnastics Club (WGC) hosted a magnificent three day gymnastics training camp and competition 19-21st July in Lowestoft. Head Coaches of WGC, Ellen and Alex spent many hours preparing for the event and their hard work paid off as the event was very well supported by over 50 gymnasts representing 13 gymnastics clubs from all over the UK.

Ellen and Alex are both National and International coaches and judges, and are no strangers to hosting big events and competitions, but they paid tribute to the judges who travelled long distances to officiate at the event, the coaches who travelled with their teams, the raft of volunteers, supporters and staff at WGC who gave up their time to make the day such a success.

Special Olympics Great Britain proudly supported the event, as did SO Suffolk.

Huge congratulations to all at Waveney Gymnastics Club for hosting such a successful competition, SO Suffolk thank you for your hard work and are proud of your endeavours.

Spoiler Alert!

Posted on July 16, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

The last post asked you to ‘save the date’ – the 8th September. Now I can give you more information…

Special Olympics Suffolk are hosting a Fundraiser Scavenger Hunt Challenge in Ipswich on Sunday 8th September meeting outside the main entrance of the Ipswich Train Station at 10.45am. You are invited to join us and you can bring family, friends, supporters with you.

This is a social event and one that we ask you to help us raise money by getting sponsored to take part in the Scavenger Hunt. Your coaches will have copies of the information and sponsorship forms to give out, but you will also receive an email with a digital copy.

On arrival, you will be given instructions to follow and 10 clues to find. The route will be approx 3k, so participants can walk, run, hop, skip, jump, wheel or scoot their way round. The final destination will be Christchurch Park where we will meet in front of the Mansion House to reveal the correct answers to the clues (there is a prize for the person with the most correct answers and also one for the person who raises the most sponsorship money) after which will will gather together for a picnic lunch and a game of rounders/cricket in Christchurch Park (weather permitting) before departing at 2/2.30pm.

Want to join in?

All you need to do is:

Let me know if you are coming (email me on allisonboggis@hotmail.com or leave a voicenote or message on 07979120787
Ask family and friends to sponsor you
bring a packed lunch and drinks
wear suitable clothing and footwear

See you there!

Save the Date – Sunday 8th September!

Posted on June 12, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

This is a ‘shout out’ to all SOS athletes, supporters, coaches, parents and volunteers…

Special Olympics Suffolk are organising a sponsored walk and social activity on Sunday 8th September and we need you to join in and help us raise money for SOS to allow us to continue to support so many of you to participate in sport in Suffolk and to take part in competitions locally, nationally and internationally.

We will meet at the Ipswich train station on the morning of 8th September (time to be confirmed) and join in with a scavenger-style hunt around a carefully navigated route around Ipswich (4k in total), answering quiz questions along the way. We will finish in Christchurch Park where we will have a picnic together (bring your own lunch) and a game of rounders (weather permitting). There will be prizes for the most correct answers to the scavenger hunt, and we will guarantee a good day out with lots of fun (and exercise) on the day!

More details will follow, but in the meantime, please save the date!

Special Olympics Suffolk Athletes are invited to try out Inclusive Cricket

Posted on June 4, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Suffolk Cricket invited Special Olympics Suffolk athletes to a ‘come and try’ cricket session in Ipswich. Sponsored by The Lord Taverners, Inclusive Cricket runs free sessions every Monday at the Ipswich Cricket club from 5.15pm-6.15pm throughout the summer, and this week we were invited to join in.

James and Eddie from Suffolk Cricket made our athletes (and their supporters) very welcome, introducing them to a fun session of cricket, learning new skills in batting, bowling and fielding. They were also introduced to the concept of table cricket.

If you fancy joining us, please do come along and join in – the sessions are free and run every Monday (except for Bank Holidays). Please ignore the age limit and the dates for Ipswich on the poster!

Special Olympics Suffolk Badminton Players flying the County Flag in Kent

Posted on June 4, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Suffolk badminton players flew the county flag successfully at a Para-Disability Badminton tournament held recently in Gillingham, Kent. The event was hosted by Kent Badminton, in partnership with Badminton England and was attended by the President of Badminton England, Derek Batchelor and the CEO, Sue Storey.

In addition to our local athletes, the event attracted competitors from Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, Lancashire and Devon.

Seven athletes from Special Olympics Suffolk/ActivLives competed with great distinction, in divisions for athletes with an intellectual (learning) disability, across the singles and doubles events.

“We have seen some brilliant performances from our players today, which have resulted in medals of all colours being won”, said Mike McCarthy, Badminton Coach from ActivLives and Special Olympics Suffolk. “As well as being competitive though, the positive, exuberant and fun attitude of our athletes is a privilege to witness, they are a credit to Suffolk!”.

The full results for this event can be found at https://be.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/winners.aspx?id=9ad0c9ca-67f4-4f5a-86e1-0e8e6be2707a

If you would like to find out more about getting involved with badminton for players with a learning disability, particularly in the Ipswich area, please call ActivLives on 01473 345350 or email mike@activlives.org.uk

Inclusive Cricket comes to Suffolk – free sessions offered !

Posted on May 22, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Suffolk Cricket are offering free sessions to try out a new sport, have some fun, meet new people and learn some new skills!

They are offering a ‘come and try’ session on Monday 3rd June from 5.15-6.15pm in Ipswich and James Sturgeon and his team would love to see you there. James highlighted that the upper age limitations on the poster do not apply and any disabled person aged 12 + is very welcome. Please book by scanning the QR code on the above poster.
I shall look forward to seeing you there!

Inclusive badminton tournament in Ipswich a huge success!

Posted on May 3, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Special Olympics Suffolk delivery partner,ActivLives, held another Inclusive Badminton Tournament recently at Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich. The event, delivered by ActivLives, in partnership with Special Olympics Suffolk, and with the support of Special Olympics GB, was a tremendous success with 26 competitors from inclusive groups in Ipswich, Wimbledon and Southampton, taking part.

The programme consisted of four divisions, where players competed in doubles and singles groups in a round-robin format. The day concluded with a team relay event, with all of the players involved. There were some very close matches and divisions with one of the gold medals being decided by just a single point!

“Each time that we host one of these tournaments, the standard of play just keeps on rising”, said Mike McCarthy, ActivSport Development Officer. “These inclusive events, which are targeted at athletes with an intellectual/learning disability, are very important for us. They are a great way to help showcase the sportsmanship, commitment and talent of all the athletes who take part.

Many thanks to our brilliant team of volunteers and also to our supporting partners Special Olympics Suffolk, Special Olympics GB, Suffolk Community Foundation and Ipswich Borough Council”.

If you would like to find out more about getting involved with badminton for players with a learning disability, please call ActivLives on 01473 345350 or emailmike@activlives.org.uk

Special Olympics Suffolk visit to Woolverstone Project at Alton Water

Posted on April 22, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Ex Paralympian sailor and Special Olympics Suffolk Patron, Kevin Curtis accompanied Chairperson Allison Boggis to an Open Sailing Session at the Woolverstone Project at Alton Water, Tattingstone recently to meet Andy Burrell who is a long-standing volunteer with the Project to find out what happens during a typical open session for disabled people.

Andy explained that the project offers year-round dingy sailing opportunities for people of all ages and any type of disabilities with trained instructors in a safe environment. There are many specially trained volunteers and supporters around to help prepare and launch the boats. The atmosphere is very positive and friendly and we were given a really warm welcome (and a nice cup of tea in the club house!).

Some of the boats are specially adapted to suit the needs of the sailors and those participating can be accompanied by trained volunteers or learn to sail independently.

Kevin was made to feel especially welcome at the club and soon felt at home in the nautical environment at Alton Water – chatting about boats and exchanging sailing experience stories with members, volunteers and supporters.

No matter what ability or disability, they have a boat for you, and a lot of people on hand to come sailing with you, to teach you how to sail and improve your sailing.

Allison, Kevin and Andy are hoping to work together to open up opportunities for SOS athletes to a ‘come and try sailing’ session in the summer and hope to encourage more disabled people to experience the joys of sailing. Date and details to be confirmed so watch this space…..

Posted on April 17, 2024 by specialolympicssuffolk

Special Olympic Suffolk athletes visit University of Suffolk for ‘Movement and Healthy Living Workshop’

SOS athletes Ed, Joe and Donna visited the University of Suffolk recently and enjoyed a tour of the campus including the newly refurbished Health and Wellbeing suite (complete with simulated hospital wards, physiotherapy unit and sports science laboratories). They were hosted and accompanied by second year Physiotherapy degree students and joined by Derek (Steering Group member of SOS), adults and support workers from Fairview Farm and other adults with intellectual disabilities to take part in a ‘Movement and Healthy Living Workshop’.

The visit was coordinated by Danielle Ramsey (Course Leader BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, UoS), Ellie Rossiter (Research Assistant at UoS) and Allison Boggis (Chairperson of SOS) with the aim to bring students and people with intellectual disabilities together to facilitate practical experiences of working together and an opportunity for all to gain some valuable experiences of physiotherapy practice.

It was a fun, enjoyable visit which provided a great opportunity for our athletes, Donna, Joe and Ed to join in with thought provoking activities that explored the importance of movement and heathy living. It also gave the trio opportunities to share experiences and examples of the ways in which movement and healthy living enhances their lives.

SOS Chairperson, Dr Allison Boggis, thanked the University of Suffolk (especially Danielle and Ellie) for hosting the event, the athletes who attended, the parents and support workers who facilitated the visit and the second year Physiotherapy students for their support, wishing them good luck in their future studies and careers.