Stay Active Wheelchair Curling
Picture courtesy of Curlit, Scottish Curling magazine
Ken Dickson, who has primary progressive MS, describes how he became a World Champion:
“I began curling in early spring 2001 at a ‘come and try day’ at The Borders Ice Rink in the town of Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Our club, The Borders Wheelchair Curling Club, was formed at the beginning of the 2001/2002 season. The club currently has twelve playing members and I am its Vice President.
The object and rules of the game are the same as those in mainstream curling with the exception of sweeping, which we do not do. The delivery of the curling stone can also be made easier by using an Extender cue, which is a telescopic pole with a plastic fitment on the end to fit over the handle of the curling stone. This allows for greater purchase from a seated position.
Wheelchair curling is gaining in popularity in Scotland with five clubs having been formed and affiliated to The Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC) , which is our parent organisation. The clubs play at the following ice rinks: Braehead – Glasgow, Green Hotel - Kinross, Hamilton – Lanarkshire, The Galleon – Kilmarnock as well as The Borders Ice Rink - Kelso.
“Curling gives me a very enjoyable outlet for the competitive and social sides of my character.”
Wheelchair curling, like mainstream curling, is not nearly as well developed in other parts of the UK with the English team all being members of the Borders Wheelchair Curling Club. The Welsh national team plays at Deeside in North Wales.
Internationally, wheelchair curling is also growing in popularity with 13 countries sending teams to the 2004 World Championships held in Switzerland in January. The teams were Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, England, Italy, Korea, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Wales. I had the honour and pleasure of being a member of the Scottish team. We won all eight of our matches, taking the gold medal. Very satisfying.
Picture courtesy of Curlit, Scottish Curling magazine
The sport is open to participants of both sexes who because of mobility problems use a wheelchair in their daily lives. It has certainly opened up a whole new sporting interest in my life, which had been sadly lacking since my legs stopped working. The nature of my symptoms does not have a marked impact on my playing of the game as long as I wear plenty of layers of clothing when on the ice. I just put up with cold knees.”
Both the playing of the game and the meeting of like minded people from home and abroad gives me a very enjoyable outlet for the competitive and social sides of my character.”
Ken Dickson
Vice President
Borders Wheelchair Curling Club
2 Megstone Court
Berwick upon Tweed
Northumberland
TD15 2ES
Tel: 01289 308876
Ken won a silver medal at the Turin Winter 2006 Paralympic Games as a member of the GB Wheelchair Curling Team. Read his account of taking part in this Open Door article.