Eilidh McNaughton

Our GB athletes are continuing to display a strong start in their respective domestic and international club seasons.

At home in the BWB National League, Jaguars (Lucy Robinson, Lewis Edwards) had a 81:63 win at home against London Titans (Jack Perry, Jude Hamer). For Jaguars, Lucy Robinson had 12 points and 2 rebounds. Lewis Edwards had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. For London Titans, Jack Perry had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Sheffield Steelers (Maddie Thompson) had a 77:44 win over Mohawks. For Steelers, Maddie Thompson had 4 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists.

In Spain, Amivel Reyes Gutierrez (Kyle Marsh) defeated Fundacion Aliados 65:53. For Amivel Reyes Gutierrez, Kyle Marsh had 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 15 assists.

CD Ilunion (Gregg Warburton, Terry Bywater, Charlotte Moore) had a dominant 38:92 win over Amiab Puertollano BSR. For CD Ilunion, Gregg Warburton had 14 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists. Terry Bywater had 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Bidaideak Bilbao (James MacSorley) defeated Rehatrans Getafe BSR 50:82. James MacSorley had 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Amiab Albacete secured a 78:70 win against Econy Gran Canaria. For Amiab Albacete (Simon Brown, Ben Fox, Phil Pratt), Ben Fox had 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.

UCAM Murcia (Lee Fryer, Peter Cusack) had a strong 70:36 win against Menarini Joventut. For UCAM Murcia, Lee Fryer had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Peter Cusack had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

In Germany, Rhine River Rhinos (Jim Palmer) were narrowly defeated 66:62 by Hannover United. For Rhine River Rhinos, Jim Palmer had 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.

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Spanish League: http://bsr.feddf.es/

German League: https://rollstuhlbasketball.de/ergebnisse/

University of Alabama (USA): https://bamaadapted.com/sports/wbball?path=wbball

BWB National League: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/competition/national-league/

BWB Women’s Premier League: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/competition/womens-premier-league-2023-24-2/

Italy: https://www.federipic.it/

Wheelchair basketball is back in season after a monumental summer. Our GB athletes have begun completing in their various club seasons at home and abroad.

In Spain, Bidaideak Bilbao (James MacSorley) were narrowly defeated 70:71 by Amiab Albacete (Simon Brown, Ben Fox, Phil Pratt). For Bidaideak Bilbao, James MacSorley had 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. For Amiab Albacete, Simon Brown had 1 rebound and 1 assist. Ben Fox had 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Amivel Reyes Gutierrez (Kyle Marsh) had a 59:78 dominant win over Iberconsa Amfiv. For Amivel Reyes Gutierrez, Kyle Marsh had 11 points, 1rebound, and 9 assists.

In Germany, Rhine River Rhinos (Jim Palmer) started their season on a high with a 45:73 win over Baskets Hamburg. Jim Palmer had 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.

At home in the BWB National League, Sheffield Steelers (Maddie Thompson) claimed a 73:62 victory over Reading Rockets (Maddie Martin). For Steelers, Maddie Thompson had 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. For Reading Rockets, Maddie Martin had 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist.

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Spanish League: http://bsr.feddf.es/

German League: https://rollstuhlbasketball.de/ergebnisse/

University of Alabama (USA): https://bamaadapted.com/sports/wbball?path=wbball

 BWB National League: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/competition/national-league/

BWB Women’s Premier League: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/competition/womens-premier-league-2023-24-2/

Italy: https://www.federipic.it/

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In a culmination of 10 days of energetic competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, our GB squads played their final games at the Bercy Arena to determine their placings.

After a string of undefeated games demonstrating their team power and cohesiveness, our GB Men headed into the gold medal match against the fierce USA opposition.

The GB Men’s journey to the final saw them defeat Australia 84:64 in a dominant fashion, progressing them to the semi-final to face Germany once again.

After a close first half, GB Men stormed into the lead to claim a 71:43 victory against Germany to advance to the gold medal match.

Despite constant determination during the final to remain on the tails of the experienced USA squad, and a memorable last-minute 3-pointer from Terry Bywater, the game finished 69:73 in favour of the USA.

The squad was awarded their well-deserved silver medals, making them the first GB squad to do so in 28 years.

Abdi Jama commented following the conclusion of the game:

“We are happy and bitter at the same time; we came here to win the gold but to leave here with a silver medal is amazing.

It’s always horrible to lose in a final but at the same time we’ve had an amazing tournament so we should keep our heads up and we’ll come back, hopefully for LA.

We’ve had amazing guys that have broken through like Peter (Cusack) and Lee Fryer, both of them were phenomenal – the future is bright for us.”

Our GB Women concluded their Paris journey in the 5^th/6^th classification game against Germany following a narrow 59:52 defeat by USA in the quarterfinals two days prior

Ending the competition on a high, the team demonstrated their ability to deliver under pressure, claiming the win and 5^th place with a 48:39 finish.

Captain Sophie Carrigill commented:

“We felt really good and confident during that game – it was important for us to finish this tournament on a win.

“It’s difficult sometimes to go into those games when you are so hopeful but I’m really proud of the girls’ resilience throughout the whole tournament.

“It’s been incredible, our whole togetherness, the belief that we have in each other, the support that we have for each other has been incredible throughout the whole two weeks of being here despite the highs and lows that a Paralympics brings.

“Our support has been incredible, the fans have been unbelievable, we’ve had people in the stands supporting us every single game.

“Our whole program, our coaches have been incredible as well so shoutout to them for the tactics, the technical side of things that nobody ever really sees.”

We would like to thank all of the supporters who cheered our squads on, both from the Bercy Arena and at home.

The atmosphere created by fans has been repeatedly mentioned by athletes and commentators as a defining highlight of the Games.

If you want to re-live the action you can stream all games on the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel: Channel 4 Sport – YouTube

All results and statistics from the competition can be viewed here: Paralympic Schedule & Results – 29 August | Paris 2024 Paralympics (olympics.com)

GB Men and GB Women are through to the quarter finals of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games after completing their pool fixtures. Each fixture is being contested at the Bercy Arena. 

Getting underway on the first day of the Games, GB Men won 76:55 over Germany. In game two, the squad delivered an electric performance to win 58:88 against Canada. In their final pool game against hosts France, GB secured a dominant 50:85 victory in front of a roaring home crowd to complete an undefeated run in the pool stage.  

Ben Fox commented after their win against France: 

“We were clinical today, off to a great start and just hoping to build for tomorrow – we’ve got to get back, get the recovery in and go again tomorrow as it’s a very quick turnaround. 

Australia are a great team – they’ve got a rich experience in this sport, they’ve won the Paralympics so they know what it takes to win.  

We’ve got to come out and be the best versions of ourselves to make sure we’re in for a medal. “  

GB Women opened strong with a 34:69 win against European rivals Spain. In game two, Canada took the win 54:63 after a fierce competition between the two sides. In their final pool game, GB Women were defeated 47:62 by China.  

Laurie Williams commented following their game against China:  

“We know we’re not in the position we wanted to be in the pool, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go out and still give it everything in the quarter-final. 

“We’ve played some incredible basketball throughout this tournament so far, so it’s just working on that – we’re not trying to solve a massive problem because there isn’t one, it’s just about making small changes.” 

The British fans have been loud throughout the competition so far, cheering the athletes on with enthusiasm and excitement during every game.  

GB Men will play Australia in the quarter-finals on Tuesday 3rd of September at 6:15pm BST. 

GB Women will meet USA in the quarter-finals. Fixture info is yet to be confirmed, so keep an eye on the official Paralympics schedule following the conclusion of all pool games!  

View the full wheelchair basketball schedule here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/schedule/wheelchair-basketball 

Channel4 are delivering the broadcast in the UK –find out more: https://paralympics.org.uk/articles/where-to-watch-the-paris-2024-paralympic-games 

This year’s edition of the Youth Sport Trust School Games National Finals was hosted at The Ball Park at Loughborough University, an exciting outdoor venue hosting both the running and wheelchair 3×3 tournaments.

Three days of competition from 30^th August – 1^st of September saw stands full of spectators cheering on teams from across the country.

Athletes, team staff and Officials have been immersed in the multi-sport village from Thursday evening, where they were welcomed to the School Games 2024 with a thrilling opening ceremony alongside the 10 other competing sports.

This year’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball competition involved 45 athletes from nine teams.

In the girl’s competition, three teams took to the court. England Orange claimed the gold medal, ENGSCO took silver, and England Green won bronze.

In the boy’s competition, six teams provided an exciting on-court show. Scotland claimed gold after their strong 105 performance in the final against England Green, who claimed silver. In the bronze medal match, England Orange came out victorious with a 7-5 win against England Purple, who placed fourth. Wales placed fifth, followed by Northern Celtic in sixth.

Both athletes and officials reflected positively on their time at the games, noting the friendly competition and lively atmosphere helped along by MC Stan Kadzunge as highlights of the weekend.

We would like to thank all athletes, team staff, officials, venue staff, supporters, and volunteers who made this School Games Finals such an enjoyable tournament.

Full results from the tournament can be found here: 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball | School Games National Finals (schoolgamesfinals.org)  

Missed the games or want to rewatch your highlights? Catch up on the games on the official Youth Sport Trust YouTube channel here: School Games 2024 – 3×3 Basketball – Day 3 – YouTube

Phot Credit: ParalympicsGB

Paralympic medallist, Terry Bywater has been selected as flagbearer for ParalympicsGB at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony on the eve of what is set to be his seventh Paralympic Games.  

The Middlesbrough-born wheelchair basketball player now joins an elite group of athletes who have carried the flag for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Paralympic Games. He will proudly parade alongside Lucy Shuker in this prestigious celebration of the world’s greatest athletes. 

Bywater made his Paralympic debut at the Sydney 2000 Games at the age of just 17. Since then, he has accumulated four Paralympic bronze medals over a remarkable 24-year career. 

Selected from a pool of 217 athletes across all sports, the flagbearers are chosen through a vote by their fellow athletes. 

The Opening Ceremony takes place at Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées on August 28^th, getting underway at 7pm UK time. Channel 4 will be covering all the action live. The wheelchair basketball competition begins the following day, with GB competing in a thrilling opener as both squads are in action.  

On his selection, Terry commented: 

“It’s another dream come true. I have to keep pinching myself… doesn’t feel real right now. We’re here at the GB House just starting all the media today. Huge thank you to everyone involved, this is massive for me personally. Also to my family, my wife Jodie, my son Benjamin. I’m going to be carrying the flag for my country at the biggest sporting event in the world – it’s a dream.”

British Wheelchair Basketball CEO, Justine Baynes, said: “Terry Bywater’s selection as flagbearer for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is a testament to his extraordinary dedication, skill, and leadership within our sport. Over the past two decades, Terry has not only excelled on the court but has also been an incredible ambassador for wheelchair basketball and for Paralympic sport as a whole. We are immensely proud of all he has achieved, and this honour is richly deserved.” 

Watching from home? We’ll be covering all the action across our social media channels, so make sure to follow us to keep up to date with the GB squads. 

View the full wheelchair basketball schedule here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/schedule/wheelchair-basketball 

Photos: BWB / Ahmedphotos

The BWB National League 2024/25 season will commence on Saturday September 14^th as teams across several divisions are scheduled to tip-off.

Premier Division and Divisions 1-3 are first up on opening weekend.  

Junior League will kick off with its first of four rounds on the 12^th and 13^th of October.

Cardiff Met University will host the first of three Women’s League rounds on the 2^nd and 3^rd of November.

Once again, teams across all divisions will work towards earning a place in the anticipated National Championship Finals, this season taking place on the 17^th and 18^th of May.

There is lots to note in this new season. Reading Rockets and Lothian Phoenix have been promoted to the Premier Division after both teams went undefeated in their respective Division 1 regular season.

After winning their Division 3 playoff final and being promoted to Division 2, Southport have joined forces with Liverpool Basketball Club. They will now have a team in both Division 2 and Division 3 for the 2024/25 season.

Surrey 89ers are a new entrant in the National League, fielding teams in Division 1 and Division 3. Dean Brady from the 89ers, who have absorbed the Blackhawks organisation, said “We are really excited to be forming Surrey 89ers Wheelchair Basketball team and becoming part of a great club and environment… Our goals are centred around getting more exposure to the sport and national league in this country both on the court and online.” 

Another new entrant, Swindon Shock, will return to the National League in Division 3. Coach Ben Humphrey said “The team are extremely excited to be back in national league. After a tough 4 years, which included COVID and losing our home venue, we see rejoining National League as a big step in a positive direction.” 

The Women’s League continues to grow, with the addition of a 3^rd division to encourage appropriate competition levels for all. Two teams, University of East London and Jaguars, will make their debut in the league.

Announced over the summer, Mohawks will enter a team in the Women’s Premier League, bringing the competition pool to five teams.

We are wishing everyone competing in the National League the best of luck in this upcoming season.

Anyone participating in the National League must have a 2024-25 membership – find all the details and member benefits here: Membership – British Wheelchair Basketball

BWB Calendar: BWB Calendar – British Wheelchair Basketball

Images: BWB / AhmedPhotos

Two days in Worcester packed with basketball action and loud supporters has concluded with U14s and U18s champions being crowned for the 2023/24 season at the RGK National Junior Championships.

The Bear Cubs won the U14s competition after a weekend full of fun fixtures where the young players showed how much they enjoyed working together on-court. Scotland claimed silver, and Cymru won bronze.

Players were awarded their medals by GB Paralympians Gregg Warburton and Jade Atkin.

The ‘Fair Play’ award is an honour decided by the team coaches and officials and is awarded to the U14s player who demonstrated the best sportsmanship across the weekend. Emily Small of Yorkshire won this award for her positive attitude throughout the weekend.

In the tightly contested U18s competition, England Central emerged victorious after a weekend of challenging matches. Scotland took home silver, and England North claimed bronze.

Henley Cavanagh of England North was named MVP of the tournament, voted on by the U18s coaches.

Coaches were also asked to vote for their ‘All-Star 5’ team of the tournament. The top 5 players emerged as; Henley Cavanagh, Finlay Dowdeswell, Shayne Humphries, Finlay Erskine, and Elana Brand.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, RGK, who were present all weekend chatting to community members and letting everyone test out their products!

Congratulations to all players who participated this weekend – there was a huge display of skill and passion on-court, as well as camaraderie and enjoyment off-court.

Additionally, thank you to all of the volunteers and officials who made this event possible, and the supporters who came along to support our juniors.

We look forward to seeing you all in the upcoming season!