Annual Wishaw disabled games proved huge success

Aug 28 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

THIS year’s Wishaw Games attracted over 350 participants from all over Scotland to Wishaw Sports Centre again for the weekend event, now in its 18th year.

The Wishaw Games is one of Scotland's premier multi-sports competitions for people with physical and learning disabilities and the event showed its usual supreme mix of skill, effort and endeavour from the participants over the two days.

The Games were officially opened by North Lanarkshire Council's Depute Provost Jim Robertson and medals were presented throughout the day by event sponsors from Rotary International, Tesco Stores Ltd and the local area sports councils.

The Saturday indoor programme consisted of table tennis, carpet bowls and boccia and the local Wishaw club shone in the table tennis, taking gold, silver and three bronze medals. The carpet bowls event was won by Prestonpans Disabled Bowling Club for best team performance in the Wishaw and District Housing Association Jim Johnstone Memorial Trophy.

The athletics on Saturday afternoon provided a full programme of track and field events, assisted by a window of dry and sunny weather.

One particularly notable performance was Red Star Club athlete Colette Martin, who attends Taylor High School.

She won the 100m in a new personal best and the second fastest time by a Scottish woman.

Colette will represent Scotland in the 100m at UK School Games in Bristol and Bath at the end of this month.

GAMES’ TOP COMPETITORS: competitors at the Wishaw Games 2008 carpet bowling event are pictured above with NLC Depute Provost Jim Robertson.