Team Solent Sharks on the move to Division One
Team Solent Sharks, Southampton Solent University’s wheelchair rugby side, have secured the Great British Wheelchair Rugby Super Series national title.
“It’s not unknown for disabled competitors to face tough times, but in the quest for this championship the Sharks had experienced harder times than most,” says Gus McKechnie, Press Officer for Solent Sharks.
“The Sharks had to face off against five opponents in their quest for the title and stay perfect, and they did a great job.”
The team faced their toughest opponents in the first and second games, where they beat the Bulls 59-32 and then the Ospreys 65-36.
On the second day of the five game tournament, the Sharks still had two games to win. They beat the Crushers, from Glasgow, 63-18 and then the Hawks 56-23.
The Sharks second team, the Hammerheads, also competed over the weekend, fresh from winning two games in the Bernd Best Tournament in Germany. The weekend gave important match experience to new players, including Diana Mann, from Hove, a Para Dressage rider.
Player Donna Stenner, who missed action earlier in the season due to a below knee amputation, had over the course of the rest of the season worked her way from the second to the first team. The recovery from such a major operation hadn’t dampened her spirit nor determination. Other players had faced major operations and treatment for cancer, none of which stopped the team moving forward.
Co-presidents Donna Stenner and Adrian Scott were speechless and delighted at the win. “It is not only testament to a great club spirit, but also the support from Southampton Solent University,” says Donna.
Adrian adds: “The University not only helps with facilities and equipment, it also helps with its deep knowledge of sport science, which is the same knowledge they help Southampton FC with.”
The club also has Paralympic stars Myles Pearson and Aaron Phipps on their books, but had to face off against teams loaded with international players. The next competition for the club will be the nationals, being held at the Copper Box, the 2012 Olympic venue in London.
The club is looking for sponsors, supporters and new players. To find out more go to: www.facebook.com/teamsolentsharks or Gus McKechnie on 07583051098.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8201 3079 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
About Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The University was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2014 poll of students. Solent Business School has been awarded the Small Business Charter Award, which is supported by the Association of Business Schools and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and ‘gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
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