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Affiliated to the
British Association of Disabled
Sports Grant Aided by Ipswich Borough Council |
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Registered Charity Number
299459 |
Ipswich Sports Club
for the
Disabled
This is an article written by one of our clubs members
about our Club.
Our club, the "Ipswich Sports Club for the Disabled", has
been going for over twenty years. The aim of the club is to provide social,
recreational and sports activities for physically disabled persons as a means of
enjoyment. The bowls section of the club meet on a Tuesday evening at
Northgate Sports Centre. Geoff Hoy is in charge of the bowls along with other
helpers.
The first night I joined the club I thought how friendly
everyone was and how much they were enjoying themselves. I had often watched my
husband Terry play outdoor bowls and was looking forward to participating in a
similar game indoors. My hopes seemed to be dashed right from the start when I
saw members bowling from the side of their wheel chairs or from a standing
position. I could do neither.
Then I espied what looked like a piece of guttering off
the side of a house. The member was rolling a bowl down this chute, it was by
passing a piece of wood in the centre of the course and it was landing the other
end of the mat in a very good scoring position. Geoff told me this was what I
could use. It looked quite easy and I tried it. The bowl went everywhere except
where I wanted it to go. By the time the end of the evening came everyone was
laughing with me at my antics, but they had also encouraged me to carry on. I
had thoroughly enjoyed myself.
We have a proper game of bowls and play by bowls rules
(minus one). We find we have to bowl our two bowls one after the other instead
of alternatively because the member and the helper found it tiring keep changing
over. At the end of our game the majority of us meet at the "Finishing Line" our
equivalent to Golf's 19th hole. There we have a drink and a social chat.
Each person wishing to join the club have three Tuesday
evenings free to ensure it is what they want. Come and join us I am sure you
will enjoy it too!
Barbara Titchner
(Club Member)