Latest news with #SpecialOlympic
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Marking 150 years of rowing
Rowing skiffs have now been seen on the Ōreti River for 150 years. Invercargill Rowing Club (IRC) jubilee committee member Bill Potter said when the club was originally founded the clubrooms were on the New River Estuary. Plans were already under way for the IRC to celebrate the significant milestone from August 1-3 with a variety of functions and events. "Past members will have the opportunity for a row, including with their old crew members." It was expected former members from as far as the United Kingdom and Australia would be attending the weekend to celebrate. "Tales, some true and some questionable, from the past have been collected and would be narrated during the Saturday dinner at the Ascot. "A panel of club members who have represented New Zealand will share their experiences and answer questions during the function. "These include club life members and Olympic gold medallists Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan," he said. Seven of the 2004 women's novice eight who rowed at the nationals in Twizel are attending with "Cyril" — a club-coloured painted rock used to meet the weight regulations for the boat. "Cyril" had been cared for by one of the crew, and was known in the day, to travel everywhere with the crew — both on and off the water. The club, first established in August 26, 1875 had its clubrooms moved to the existing clubhouse on the Ōreti River in 1958. It later expanded its facilities in 1983 when the first female members joined the club. Later, in 2005, boat storage increased to house competition and training skiffs. The Ōreti River had some of the best training water in New Zealand, with more than 7km of rowable water in both directions from the clubrooms, Mr Potter said. The club has 70 members across most age groups who represent the club at local and South Island championship regattas, including the Southland Masters regattas on the West Coast. It supports members of all levels from school age through to masters rowers. The club hosts teams from most of the city's senior campuses including: James Hargest College, Verdon College, Southland Girls' High School and Southland Boys' High School. The club also catered for most levels of proficiency and interest including, recreational and Special Olympic rowers. Rowing was a great sport that built team work, respect and discipline, Mr Potter said. Jubilee celebration registrations can be completed via the club website. By Toni McDonald
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
SEK Special Olmypians enjoy ‘Luau'-themed sendoff
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Southeast Kansas special olympians enjoy the tropics on this Wednesday. All part of their end of the sports season Luau through Special Olympics Kansas. Food, games and fun were on the schedule today at New Hope in Pittsburg. The gathering was two-fold: Let these athletes, many of whom only see each other during competitions, be in one place, without competing, so they can further build on relationships. SEK Special Olmypians enjoy 'Luau'-themed sendoff Hatchet attack charge dropped against Pittsburg woman Crawford County seeks community input for new growth plan New data center coming to southeast Kansas PSU's Center for Reading hosting educational summer camp for kids The other, involved the facility itself. 'Show everybody the awesome facilities that New Hope has. They have their own gym. They have a kickball-softball field. They have a basketball court. They have a bocci court. So we want to show the different agencies what's possible, and further the idea of inclusion throughout our community,' said Olivia Ryan, Special Olympics Kansas SE Region Director. 'We work really hard, and we would love it for more people to come out and come, like, cheer us on — see what we can do — and it will give us more confidence. More booting. More energy. More — oh yes go team go kind of spirit,' said Hope Baker, Special Olympic Athlete. 'I get to enjoy spending time with my family and friends, especially the one you just interviewed — my big sister. And I — and — that's it,' said David Harris, Special Olympic Athlete. Terry Collins is a 9-time gold medalist in the way, Olivia Ryan told us they thought they might have about 75 people in ended up being close to 200. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Local Special Olympics torch run marks 39 years
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Special Olympics athletes know most events have a start and finish. A torch run Friday started at Cobbs Hill Park. 'I know it's a little rain, but we got through it,' Special Olympic athlete Jacob Babcock said. At the run, Babcock reconnected with some of the members of local law enforcement who ran with him during the pandemic. 'So me, Erin, John 'Pre,' and all them and Brett Sobrieraski and Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, we all came together, it was such an amazing process,' Babcock said. He's talking about Rochester Police Detective Erin Rogers. She helps with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. 'As soon as you see the athletes and see how excited they are to see you and how they're supportive of you, there's nothing better than that and you just want to support them back,' Rogers said. Cori Piels, also an athlete, will tell you that relationship means a lot. 'It's so nice to have the support of law enforcement. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't be doing this,' Piels said. The two groups have been doing the torch run together for 39 years. The event gives Chris Teich and everyone else a chance to celebrate all things Special Olympics. 'It embodies family, friendship, leadership and so much more,' athlete Chris Teich said. This year's course took them through Park Ave and all the way to Parcel 5 where they stopped running, making it look like this event is one of those that has a finish, but because of the bond between all of them, there's no end in sight. Friday's torch run is part of a series happening across the state. That series will end in Ithaca where the Special Olympics summer games will later in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Otago Daily Times
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Uni club's success a team effort
It is hard to pinpoint one area that has made the Otago University Rowing Club a success. Maybe that is the beauty of the hard-working club — it is strong across the board and that led to it being named club of the year at the recent Rowing New Zealand awards. Club manager Glen Sinclair was thrilled at the recognition. "Very stoked for all of the people that work behind the scenes at the club and have done so much work for a very long time," Sinclair said. The club, which last won the award in the early 2000s, is home to about 95 competitive rowers, nearly 30 recreational rowers, 12 Special Olympic rowers, nine high-calibre coaches — an area in which Sinclair takes particular pride — and five volunteers. Each person contributes to the club's fibre and has helped it to be New Zealand's top university club for the past 16 years, and only losing the national universities regatta on overall points once in the past 26 years. Many athletes have received higher honours in the past year including Juliette Lequeux, who represented New Zealand at the Windermere Cup and has been selected for world cup events this month, and Hannah Matehaere, who joined Otago University as a novice, also represented New Zealand at the Windermere Cup and will compete at the World University Games in Germany. Jack Pearson, Cody Johnson and recent graduate Fred Vavasour are part of the national under-23 programme. Otago University also maintains strong relationships in Japan, China and Germany, competing in five international regattas in 2024 and holding programmes that benefited rowers from different countries. "No other club has anything like that in New Zealand. We work hard to make sure that is our special thing," Sinclair said. "Because of our club's relationships, we're setting up the training camp for the world uni games in Germany. "Even going back further, it was because of Otago Uni's relationships in New Zealand that we set up the camp for the New Zealand Olympic team for the Japan Olympics." The club also supports Otago Rowing with several events, helps secondary school rowing clubs with facilities and rowing machines, and hosts yearly waka ama events. Earlier this year, it also opened a new performance centre at Lake Ruataniwha. For the past 27 years, Sinclair has also run Special Olympic indoor rowing sessions with 12 athletes involved — including six who have been there since the beginning — and the students help as coaches. "What I love even more is seeing my athletes who coach it ... the rewards that they get out of it." Otago Rowing and North End life member Lauren Farnden received a national service award. After hanging up the oars, Farnden has given back to the sport through coaching at North End and St Hilda's Collegiate, led the Otago provincial team, directed Otago's winter development programme and contributed nationally. Since 2004, Farnden has moved through the administrative ranks as chairwoman of the Otago secondary school rowing association and serves on the Southern Rowing performance centre board. She has made her mark as an official and was the chief umpire for the New Zealand championships earlier this year, and internationally has officiated at the world cup in Poland and the world masters championships.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Much-loved' ski centre to reopen, council says
A "much-loved" ski centre will reopen, a council has announced. Rushmoor Borough Council said Alpine Snowsports Centre in Aldershot, Hampshire, was expected to reopen later this month "with a new operator at the helm". Places Leisure, which currently operates and manages Aldershot Pools and Lido on behalf of the council, will be running the centre while the local authority explores long-term options for the facility. Dave Jolliffe, area manager at Places Leisure, said he hoped the reopening "will create more opportunities for people to become active and enjoy sports that are not always as easily accessible". The facility was built by the British Army in 1969 and was one of the longest synthetic ski slopes built in England at the time. The council described it as "hugely popular", having previously attracted more than 25,000 users every year. It had offered three dry ski slopes for open sessions, and lessons and activities for all ages. It had also been a training venue for a number of high-level snow sports athletes who started their careers there. The council said it had been informed "without warning" on 2 April that the company previously managing the centre, Active Nation UK Limited, had ceased trading at the site. Since then, it has been taking legal advice and assessing options for its future operation. The council's cabinet member for healthy communities and active lives, Sophie Porter, called the ski centre "an important facility for local people which we don't want to lose". "It's been integral to the success of winning Special Olympic gold medals and it's the first place many people learned to ski," she said. Mr Jolliffe added the Places Leisure team was "committed to improving people's lives and the communities in which they live". "We hope that the reopening of the centre will create more opportunities for people to become active and enjoy sports that are not always as easily accessible," he added. A date for the reopening will be confirmed after an audit, along with information about future events and bookings. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Medieval building reopened after £300k restoration Fashion museum gets £768k towards reopening Shipley toilets to reopen 10 years after closure Rushmoor Borough Council Places Leisure
