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Win up North! North West Region scoops gold at National
Indoor Games
THE North West
Region of The British Polio Fellowship is celebrating following their victory at
the charity's National Indoor Games, held at the Leicester Marriott Hotel,
between 18 March and 20 March, 2016. Led by Branch Chairman Mike Griffiths, a
jubilant North West team accumulated enough points to walk away with the Gordon
Lumb Trophy for Top Region, having beaten teams from ten regions across the UK
to secure first place.
The games saw those living with Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) competing
against each other in 9 disciplines adapted to allow wheelchair users and
people with other mobility issues to participate.
"I would like to congratulate the North West on their victory at the Indoor
Games. It was once again another hard fought contest but is also the one event
in our calendar when members from across the country get to meet and socialise.
It is about relationships and fellowship and as such it was a pleasure to
welcome a team from Northern Ireland once more." said CEO of The British
Polio Fellowship, Ted Hill MBE.
A record 229 attendees and 132 competitors arrived at the Leicester Marriott
Hotel for the Indoor Games having qualified from ten regional heats to compete
across nine games:- Kurling; Bowls; Darts; Boccia; Draughts; Cribbage; Dominoes;
5's and 3's; and Scrabble. Medals were awarded to the winners of each sport with
the Top Trophy renamed in memory of late Games Coordinator Gordon Lumb and
presented at the awards dinner by Chair of the Championship Committee, Christine
Lumb.
The North West stormed to victory with Andrew Gilliland securing gold in
draughts and Tom Maddock and Dinesh Gorasia coming silver and bronze
respectively in the darts sitting; a feat repeated by Howard Parker and Harry
Jackson coming 2nd and third in darts standing. Chairman Mike Griffiths himself
came 4th in Cribbage, while Lyn Morton came third in a tense Boccia (Class 1)
event.
The North West were confirmed in 1st place, with East Midlands in 2nd and
Scotland in 3rd. The big surprise was the absence of the Yorkshire region from
the top 3 after years of dominance, despite David Howells continuing his winning
streak in the darts (standing).
"Each year the Indoor Games has something new and 2016 has proved no exception."
added Ted. "It was an emotional event as the first without Gordon
Lumb, but John Haddock and Pat Parker, together with Shirley Russell and the
team of officials and staff from Central Office did Gordon proud. Record numbers
of attendees, record competitors, a team from Northern Ireland and the tensest
games I have ever seen will be long remembered."
As the Boccia events moved into their final tense stages, people finishing in
other events came along to watch. You could hear a pin drop as victories for
Home Counties North and East Midlands in Boccia class 1 and 2 could have changed
the result. Lyn Morton's hard fought 3rd place for the North West was enough to
edge the East Midlands region into second place overall, despite an amazing
individual performance from the East Midlands' Sharda Karia to take gold in
Boccia class 2.
"There was an added buzz to be playing the games in Leicester as the Foxes edge
ever closer to a fairytale Premier League title. The East Midlands Region was
keen to make it a Leicester sporting double and they will be hoping being edged
into second is not an omen for Leicester City's prospects!" said Ted.
The British Polio Fellowship provides support and information for its members
along with others in the UK who live with the late effects of Polio and PPS. To
find out more about The British Polio Fellowship and to learn about the late
effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome visit the charity's
website.
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