19 December 2007

Derby Disability Sports Group Chairman Wins Ten Pin Bowling Championship

Derby Disability Sports Group chairman Tim Etherington is celebrating after winning ten pin bowling’s National Pairs Championships. He and team-mate Peter Hutchinson won through in the British Blind Sport competition, after facing 11 other teams at the championships in Swindon. The win saw Tim scoop the title and a trophy at the event for the third time.

This time around he was part of the team ‘Crock and Bowl’, and achieved the highest scratch score for men and the highest handicap score for men. Tim, (40), from Chester Green, is chairman of the Derby Disability Sports Group, which works to develop and promote sport for disabled people in the city of Derby. Its members include representatives from local disabled groups, Derby City Council, Umbrella, and Derby College. They meet every two months to discuss ways of increasing opportunities for disabled people in Derby to get involved with and take part in sport and physical activity.

The group is keen to attract new members, particularly those with a disability. Meetings are held every two months on the first Monday of the month, and the next meeting will be held at Pride Park Stadium in Derby on 4 February at 6pm. Anyone interested in joining the group should contact Rebecca Corden, Sport Development Officer, Derby City Council on 01332 641238.

Sports activities open to disabled people in Derby already include wheelchair basketball, visually impaired ten pin bowling, athletics, gymnastics, martial arts, football, boccia and disability cricket.

Tim said: "We want to set up sport for disabled people with disabled people."

"If anyone has got an idea they should come along. Wheelchair basketball started with one person. Me and a friend set up a ten pin bowling club because we had played it at college in Loughborough and wanted to play it in the summer."