We won’t benefit from Paralympics Club says people don’t know they exist
South Lanarkshire Wheelchair Curling Club hope the success of the 2016 Rio Paralympics will have a positive impact on their club – but they’re not holding their breath.
The club is the biggest of its kind in the world, with 32 members, but secretary Moira Law says there is a real need to raise awareness of what it does.
While she thinks some disability sports will benefit from a boost in uptake and popularity, Moira feels that curling will probably be left in the slipstream.
“A lot of people don’t know we’re there,” Moira said. “People in Hamilton don’t know there is an ice rink in the town, and it has been there for 40 years.”
South Lanarkshire Wheelchair Curling Club take a block booking out at the Mote Hill facility, where they will play recreationally and in competition.
She said: “The Paralympics might have an effect on disability sport, but I think it depends on which sport it is. If it’s cycling there is no problem but for some other sports... not so much.
“We do quite a lot to promote disability sport, but the facilities are the biggest drawback.
“We’ve been going for 12 years. It’s the biggest wheelchair curling club in the world, with 32 users.
“There are 10 clubs in Scotland, from Inverness to Stranraer, and there are internal leagues.
“There are a few championships across the season, and we select teams of four to play in the league, playing each other twice, and there are winners and runners-up. The season runs from September to April.”
Their season started on Monday, and Moira says there are spaces for more members, but pointed out that the sport can be hard-going at times.
“We’re quite full, but there are a couple of spaces if anybody wants to join. We offer a free six-week trial, to see if it suits people, and anybody is welcome to give it a try.
“We would say that anybody who is interested in wheelchair curling should wear suitable outdoor clothing.
“Although it’s indoors, the temperatures in some of these places is minus seven, and it gets to you, because you can be on the ice for hours.
“For those with disabilities, to the extent that they can’t propel themselves, they need a carer who is prepared to walk on ice for a few hours, and they need to be suitably attired, too.
“The club runs every Monday except for holiday weekends.”