Spinal Injuries Scotland

Wheelchair basketball is very much alive and well in Scotland. We are now fortunate to have two clubs, Lothian Phoenix and West of Scotland, each with two teams competing in the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association (GBWBA) leagues.

West of Scotland have been running for over 30 years, but with a recent change in the make up of their committee and coaching staff, they’ve had somewhat of a resurgence in the past year. With around 23 players regularly attending training, not only have they recently been promoted to the GBWBA Division 2 North, they are also entering a team into the GBWBA Development League to give their newest and youngest members vital experience.

West of Scotland currently trains two nights a week:

Tuesday 7pm-9pm, Senior Session, Clydebank Playdrome

Friday 6pm-8pm, Development/Junior Session, Cleveden Secondary School, Glasgow

Although only formed in 2006, Lothian Phoenix have achieved three divisional promotions in three years and their 1^st team now plays in the GBWBA Division 1 North. In the upcoming season their 2^nd team will be playing in Division 3 North. With a keen aim to be at the heart of the community, Lothian Phoenix are working with local schools to provide awareness and wheelchair basketball sessions during curriculum time, as well as providing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport.During the season, Lothian Phoenix trains two nights per week:

Monday 7.30pm-9.30pm, Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston.

Thursday 7.30pm-9pm at Bathgate Academy, Bathgate.

[Currently, off-season training is operating only on Thursday nights until the season begins on Monday 23^rd August.]

Both of Scotland’s wheelchair basketball clubs strive to offer an open and welcoming environment and are always keen to attract new players of all ages and abilities. If you want to know more about either club, or wheelchair basketball in general, then follow the links below. Alternatively you can pop along to one of the training nights.

SIS plans to keep you up to date with the progress of both clubs in the upcoming season, so please check the blog regularly.

Lothian Phoenix website: www.lothianphoenix.org.uk

West of Scotland website: www.westofscotland.btik.com

Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association: www.gbwba.org.uk

We first introduced you to Rough Riderz mountain bike club in Newsline back in 2007. When we spoke to club founder, Phil Hall last summer, he was trying to secure funding to create a series of “taster days” to allow others to try this new and exciting sport for themselves.

We’re very pleased to hear that not only are these taster days a reality, but they’re actually held just across the border in the North Lakes near Keswick. To celebrate, Rough Riderz are hosting a launch party at Whinlatter in Cumbria on Sunday 8^th August from 2pm till 8pm, with the chance to try one of the bikes for yourself.

To view the launch party flier as a PDF, click here.

You can find out more about Rough Riderz on their website: www.roughriderz.co.uk