Waterskiing in Cork

Weekends at the Carrig Waterski & Wakeboard Centre started in early May and continue with additional weekends on: 11/12 June, 9/10 July, 13/14 August. IBS will provide these weekends free of charge so all visually impaired persons are welcome. The weekends will follow the usual format; arrival on Friday, skiing from 10am on Saturday with two sessions, skiing on Sunday with one session before lunch from 9:30am before returning to bus or train station by early afternoon. Book your place now by emailing David Waldron on d.waldron@ucc.ie

Stadium Tickets

A number of people have attended both rugby and football matches in the Aviva Stadium over the last few months using the access to seating allocated for disabled patrons. Feedback has been very favourable and with well located seating this is said to enhance the experience. The access provided allows the visually impaired person to attend matches along with their guide who receives an adjacent complimentary seat. The patrons need to register with the IRFU and FAI for access to these tickets.

We hope to clarify in the coming months what the situation is in relation to the availability of ticketing for disabled patrons attending Croke Park for GAA matches and at non sports events in the Aviva Stadium.

Ten Pin Bowling

Margaret and Catherine Leacy had yet more success for the third year in a row at the Malmo Open in Sweden. Margaret won Gold in the Ladies Singles while Catherine won Silver. Together they then won the Gold in the Ladies Doubles — see picture above.

New Website

IBS have launched a new website which will provide more up-to-date information than previously. www.ibsports.ie. You can also follow IBS on Facebook.

Change of Address

We have moved to a new office in the city centre area and hope by doing so that it becomes more accessible. Irish Blind Sports, 1 Christchurch Hall, High Street, Dublin 8. Tel: 085 8500193. It is likely the phone number will have to change also and we will post this number as soon as it is available. Email contact point will remain info@ibsports.ie

Paracycling

Irish tandem cyclist Catherine Walsh and pilot Fran Meehan have once again cemented their place among the top Paralympic cyclists in the world by claiming the bronze medal at the UCI Paracycling World Championships in Montichiari, Italy, in the Female Tandem 3km individual pursuit.

They were pitted against the US tandem, reigning world champions and record holders, for the medal and world record holders coming into the event. Catherine and Fran finished behind New Zealand (Gold) and Great Britain (Silver). In the male tandem 200m match sprint, Michael Delaney and Con Collis finished in 7th place after racing Great Britain and the Argentineans.

Making Judo Classes Accessible

In a nationwide effort to promote the participation of children and adults who are blind or vision impaired in their local judo class, assistance and advice about adaptations that can be made is now available to local judo clubs. Weekly junior judo classes are also being provided in St. Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired in Drumcondra, Dublin 9. For more information please contact James Mulroy at info@blackeaglejudo.com or Irish Blind Sports at info@blindsports.ie.

35th Metro Athletics Championships

These will take place at the Mile End Stadium, East London, Saturday 18th June 2011. Any athletes interested in attending this very popular event in London are asked to contact info@ibsports.ie or George Hellis george@hellis.net who will coordinate things on behalf of IBS. The venue and accommodation are as in previous years. Entry is free to the events and B+B accommodation has been organised for £20 per person per night.

B2/3 Futsal World Games

Ireland completed the IBSA World Games Championships by beating France in a play off for 5th and 6th place to leave them ranked 5th in the world, their highest ranking to date for an Irish Team. Well done to all the players, Robert Moore (Manager) and to Tommy Gallagher, who stepped down recently as coach.

Summer Plans

Keep an active ‘eye’ on the website for more details of events planned over the summer. It is hoped to organise events for people to try out a number of new sports such as lawn bowls, archery, canoeing, recreational tandem cycles in the Dublin area, blackball (formerly pool), goalball and rounders / beep baseball.