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Wheelchair curling's hopes for sport in the south

Tom Williams/BBC People in wheelchairs trying curling in Cambridge. A woman in a wheelchair is being guided by a man, also in a chair. She has a curling stone on a long pole. Another man in a wheelchair is watching from the sideTom Williams/BBC
Unlike the mainstream sport, wheelchair curlers cannot sweep the ice away from the stone, so accuracy is all the more important

A "come along and try" session for wheelchair curling has taken place, in the hope of creating a new hub for the sport in the south.

Cambridge Curling Club says it is one of only a few such clubs in England with its own rink, at Cambridge Ice Arena.

Cheryl Lappin, the Paralympic pathway manager for British Curling, said the talent on show at the session was "exciting and inspiring".

Curling - a sport more popular in Scotland and the north of England - involves sliding a granite stone down an ice rink towards its target.

John Brown, secretary of the English Curling Association, said there were very few places people could play curling in the south.

"The equipment [for wheelchair users] is all the same," he explained.

"The stones are the same; the main difference is they don't sweep - they are much more dependent on touch.

"Once they let the stone go, it's out of their hands, basically."

Tom Williams/BBC Cheryl Lappin from British Curling is looking at the camera, wearing a blue jacket with Great Britain written across the front. She has long, fair hair and is standing at the side of an ice rink with a British Curling banner behind herTom Williams/BBC
Cheryl Lappin, from British Curling, said she and colleagues were hoping to establish a new home for English curling

Ms Lappin said the public session was helping create a pathway, so curlers could take a shot at reaching the national squad and Team GB.

"We're trying to recruit the next generation of Paralympic wheelchair curlers," she said.

Tom Williams/BBC Jake McHale is looking at the camera and smiling. He is on the ice in his chair, wearing a grey jacket. People in wheelchairs can be seen on the rink behind himTom Williams/BBC
Jake McHale has been trying various sports and curling was his latest

One of those giving it a try was Jake McHale, 35, from London, who said he was "doing better than I thought I would".

"I set myself a challenge earlier this year to try out 10 Paralympic sports and this is the tenth one today."

Tom Williams/BBC Tania Nadarajah is on an ice rink, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a dark-coloured jacket and a bobble hatTom Williams/BBC
Tania Nadarajah said curling might be the new sport for her

Also new to curling, Tania Nadarajah, 44, from Surrey, said she just "wanted to give it a go".

"It's one of those sports that I've loved watching both in the Olympics and the Paralympics so I thought it would be amazing to have a go - and it is," she said.

"I've done sport before, but I've been out of the environment for a little while, so to come back and be around people who are learning and enjoying themselves is great."

Could it be the new sport for her?

"Maybe," she said. "We'll see."

Tom Williams/BBC Stan Wilson, president of Cambridge Curling Club is standing on the ice rink looking at the camera. He is wearing a grey top and has grey hair and glasses. People can be seen behind him on the rink in wheelchairsTom Williams/BBC
Stan Wilson, president of the Cambridge Curling Club based at the arena, said it was important to "build the club" and include new members

Stan Wilson, head of the Cambridge Curling Club, was pleased with how the sessions went.

"It's a very sociable sport where able-bodied and wheelchair users can play alongside each other," he added.

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