… AND FINALLY: STRATFORD BOAT CLUB ADAPTIVE SECTION GETS IT’S AWARD!

Thursday was a great day for Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s adaptive section with the squad finally being awarded their plaque for winning Parasport Club of the Year!

The day was much enhanced by a visit from Ellen Buttrick, Paralympic Rowing Gold Medal winner from Tokyo 2020, and Alice Tai, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth Swimming Champion. The two Paralympian athletes jointly presented the Parasport Club of the Year winner’s plaque to the adaptive section

Guests at the presentation also included Barry Lloyd, Parasport Campaign Project Manager for the British Paralympic Association; Richard Burt, Centre Principal, Listers Toyota; Joseph Hawkins, Marketing Manager, Listers Group Ltd; Cllr Kevin Jackson, Mayor of Stratford upon Avon and Jo Atkinson, Community Support Manager, British Rowing. Toyota is the sponsor for the Paralympic Games

As well as the presentation, Ellen Buttrick and Alice Tai took to the water in Stratford Boat Club’s adaptive boats with adaptive athletes and coaches and were shown a typical adaptive session as well as inspecting some of the Club’s specialised adaptive equipment

Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach said, “We are very grateful for this accolade and winning Parasport Club of the Year has been a great morale booster for the adaptive athletes. To have the winner’s plaque presented by such inspirational Paralympian athletes as Ellen and Alice was the crowning glory!”

Commenting, Paul Stanton, President of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club said, “To have our adaptive section recognised with this award and have so many guests see and understand what it takes to get adaptive athletes safely onto the water is a great honour. We look forward to consolidation our co-operation with local companies to make our adaptive section accessible to all disabled athletes where possible”

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald page fifty nine and online at https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/paralympians-visit-a-crowning-glory-9218428 and also Stratford Observer online at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/paralympic-champions-present-club-with-top-award