Spalding Rotary's annual sports day
This year our Disability Games had an exciting new venue at the Tulip Academy’s waterside campus. We were hosted by the academy’s operational lead Dom Mason.
Dom used his skill and experience to support our special guests from local Gateway Clubs.
Gateway Clubs are for those with learning disabilities and offer a safe environment to socialise, play games and enjoy themselves.
This year, a team from Boston competed with Spalding. Both teams had a broad range of ages and abilities.
Spalding Rotary’s annual games included previous events such as walking races, long-jump and shot-putt. However, this year we added some exciting new games, including javelin and hammer throwing.
Rotary organiser Alan Rumsey said ‘The abilities of the participants are very varied and the events were selected to allow for this’.
The atmosphere was up-beat and the excitement was infectious as teams competed for gold, sliver and bronze medals. There was good-natured rivalry and well-deserved pride when the Boston Gateway Club were announced as the overall winners.
It’s all hands on deck for these events, and we were grateful for the support of three octogenarians who assisted with starter and timekeeper functions.
It’s hungry work, and as always, the Inner Wheel Club provided copious amounts of food and refreshments. We are always grateful for the support of the Inner Wheel Club.
Karen Howard of Boston Gateway Club said: ‘Our Boston Gateway Club members had a wonderful day. They took part with huge smiles, lots of enthusiasm and great team spirit. They were absolutely over the moon to be announced as the overall winners and love all their medals – they haven’t stopped smiling!’
Wendy Houghton from the Spalding Gateway Club added: ‘Everyone enjoyed their afternoon. The weather was just right, and we appreciated all the hard work put in to organising everything’.
Club President Jim Tyner said ‘We always look forward to hosting this fun sports day. It’s on of our favourite events of the year. This wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing efforts of Rotary Club members and the generosity of others in providing a new venue, time-keepers, judges and amazing refreshments’.
