TOKYO Paralympic gold medalist Ellen Buttrick and Paralympic and World champion Alice Tai joined forces to salute Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s adaptive section as Parasport Club of the Year.
Pararower Buttrick and paraswimmer Tai presented the club with the winner’s plaque to the adaptive section last Thursday.
Guests at the presentation also included Barry Lloyd, Parasport Campaign Project Manager for the British Paralympic Association; Richard Burt, centre principal, Listers Toyota; Joseph Hawkins, marketing manager, Listers Group Ltd; Cllr Kevin Jackson, Mayor of Stratford, and Jo Atkinson, community support manager, British Rowing. Toyota is the sponsor for the Paralympic Games.
Ellen and Alice out on the water.
Buttrick and Tai took to the water in Stratford Boat Club’s adaptive boats with adaptive athletes and coaches and were shown a typical adaptive session as well as inspecting some of the club’s specialised adaptive equipment
“We are very grateful for this accolade and winning Parasport Club of the Year has been a great morale booster for the adaptive athletes,” said Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s head adaptive coach.
Mayor Kevin Taylor takes a look at Ellen’s gold medal.
“To have the winner’s plaque presented by such inspirational Paralympian athletes as Ellen and Alice was the crowning glory.”
Paul Stanton, club president, said, “To have our adaptive section recognised with this award and have so many guests see and understand what it takes to get adaptive athletes safely onto the water is a great honour.
“We look forward to consolidation our co-operation with local companies to make our adaptive section accessible to all disabled athletes where possible”
