Suffolk Players Win Silver at National Games

Two Ipswich badminton players were amongst a group of Suffolk athletes competing recently at the Special Olympics GB National Games as part of the Eastern Region team. The two badminton players joined up with a team of 22 athletes and gymnasts to make up the Suffolk contingent of ‘Team East’ at the games which were held in Sheffield.

The National Games are a multi-sport event held every four years and the highlight of the Special Olympics calendar in this country. The event involved 2,600 athletes competing in 19 sports with the support of over a 1,000 volunteers all cheered on by over 7,000 family and friends throughout the week.

Ipswich pair, Kathy Brill and Cameron Sherman, both competed in the singles competitions where they came up against some very tough, and considerably more experienced opponents from around the UK. On the last day of competition they teamed up to win the silver medal in the mixed doubles event, defeating teams from the South of England and Scotland on their way to the final.

Marilyn Andrews, one of the athletes’ parents said "A massive well done to everyone involved with the Special Olympics in Sheffield. We had a fantastic week watching the badminton and supporting Cameron and Kathy. The spirit at the games was amazing with all of the players cheering and supporting each other. The volunteers deserve a special thank you for giving up their time to help make it a very memorable week for all of us”.

Mike McCarthy from ActivLives and Special Olympics Suffolk said “Winning a medal in their first National Games was an amazing achievement by Kathy and Cameron and is a testament to all of the hard work that they have put in over the last few months. Thank you to all of their local supporters, family and friends who helped to raise the money which has enabled them to compete at this fabulous event. We are all very proud of them both!”

Special Olympics Tournament in Suffolk

The third Special Olympics Eastern Region Badminton Tournament was held recently in Ipswich and has been hailed as terrific success by players and coaches alike. The tournament, which was organised by Special Olympics Suffolk with the support of ActivLives and the Suffolk County Council ‘Most Active County’ initiative, involved 41 competitors who, in addition to a very strong Suffolk contingent, came from as far afield as the south coast, Midlands and even the west of Scotland!

The standard of play was excellent throughout the day with some extremely close matches deciding the final medal placings.

“This tournament provides a great opportunity for our Suffolk badminton players to compete with and against Special Olympics players from across the country, said Mike McCarthy from ActivLives and Special Olympics Suffolk.

We really feel as though we have broken new ground this year with this being our first time at Ipswich Borough Council’s Gainsborough Sports Centre, a record number of entries and the brand new ‘Team Relay’ format, that we introduced and which was a terrific success with the competitors.

We have had such positive feedback from the players and coaches as a result of the event. Everyone has commented upon the great team of volunteers who made this event happen. Huge thanks must go to them as events like these simply wouldn’t take place if it wasn’t for the volunteers who organise and deliver them”, added Mike.

Murton Mann, Chairman of Special Olympics GB, commented having visited the tournament, “This is a great event for Special Olympics Suffolk to be running – great for Suffolk and obviously great for the athletes, their families and everybody involved. It was absolutely brilliant to see everybody having such a terrific day, this competition is now very much part of the national Special Olympics calendar”.