Disability Sports Club, Brecon Integrated Sports Association celebrates its twelfth year .
On Friday 24th January 2003, Brecon launched its first sports club for people with disabilities at Brecon Leisure Centre. The multi-sport club proved to be immensely popular with over 20 people attending on the opening night.
Twelve years later the club is going from strength to strength, with over fifty members of all ages, attending each year.
The club is spearheaded by Beverley Tucker, Disability Sport Wales development officer for Powys and has recently formed a new committee to sustain inclusive opportunities for the future. It has provided teams and individuals with the opportunity to try their hand at football, basketball, cricket, athletics, trampolining, boccia, table tennis, outdoor activities raquet sports, new age kurling and ten pin bowling. Different sports are played each week with exciting new equipment to ensure that participants get the most out of the sessions.
The club is affiliated to Special Olympics Wales and three of its members have represented Great Britain at the 2011 Athens Summer games where Hannah Charnley won two Athletics gold medals an Shain Lewis bronze in Tennis, and our latest athlete Lloyd Crawley is to represent GB in Badminton at the 2015 Los Angeles Games in July.
The club has provided two members which have gone on to represent Wales in the Disability Sport Wales Athletics academy, whilst Shain Lewis a former member, competes for GB in tennis INAS FID competitions.
Linking with organisations such as the FAW and the Cricket Federation for People with Disabilities, the club has provided Football and Cricket teams which have won tournaments at a National Level.
The club shares its facility fortnightly with the Powys Panthers Disability Football team which competes in the FAW competitions throughout the year.
Our members also have access to opportunities provided by local clubs and we have organised disability activity days with Llangorse Sailing club, Brecon Canoe club, Brecon Athletics Club, Brecon Swimming club and Bryngwyn Riding for the Disabled and Staylittle Outdoor Centre.
Our focus is on participation for fun, fitness and health and we always focus on ability not disability.
If you would like further information about the Multi Sport Club at Brecon Leisure Centre or other Disability Sport Wales activities please contact Beverley Tucker on (01874) 612034 .