Winter hits Mike's action plans

Jan 24 2013 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Mike Kerr’s new wheelchair rugby season was literally put on ice last weekend as the opening Coloplast Super Series event was postponed.

Teams from around the country were to converge on the Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Buckinghamshire for the event on Saturday and Sunday, but adverse weather forced a cancellation on Friday.

Mike, from Uddingston, who competed at the London 2012 Paralympics, and has just emerged from his first break in four years, said: “One of the Welsh teams were snowed in and the Irish couldn’t get across so there would have been no point going ahead.

“It was disappointing because I was looking forward to getting back playing. It has been quiet since the Paralympics because I’ve taken a long break.

“I’ve played in a couple of competitions but more or less just for fun, rather than worrying about performances.

“I’ve been in proper training now for the last few weeks but the last time I took a long break was probably before the Beijing Paralympics, so I’m probably due one!”

It has been all change for Mike too, who has moved from the North East Bulls to the East Midlands Marauders in Nottingham to further his club career.

He explained: “The league has split into two and the Bulls were going to be in the Second Division; for the level I’m at that wasn’t going to be any use to me.

“The season should have started last weekend, and there was supposed to be a meeting in February and March and the National Championships in May, but they will need to reschedule it. The plan was to concentrate on the national team from April-May onwards, as we’ve got the European Championships in October.”