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Competitions

Three BWB ITOs selected to represent Great Britain at the European Championships 2023

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British Wheelchair Basketball are proud to announce that three International Technical Officials (ITOs) will represent Great Britain at the upcoming European Championships. The prestigious competition takes place at the inaugural European Para Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands. 

+ Janine Timms – Games Commissioner 

+ Frances Kremarik – Referee 

+ Christopher Stainton – Referee 

Janine, Frances and Christopher each have vast experience of the game at both domestic and international levels. 

The European Championships will feature eighteen national teams in total – twelve men’s and six women’s teams. The first games get underway on Friday 11th August.

CEO of British Wheelchair Basketball Justine Baynes commented:  

“I am delighted to see that three of our ITOs are going to be in action at the European Championships in Rotterdam. We are proud both to have such a high standard of officiating in this country and to have this recognised on an international level. I look forward to seeing Jan, Frances and Chris in action! ” 

We’ll be covering all the action on our dedicated GB Fanzone: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/fan-zone/iwbf-european-championships-2023/  

The European Para Championships will be streaming every game on their dedicated website. Find out more about the EPC2023 here: https://europeanparachampionships.com/  

The Summer of GB is almost here!

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The countdown is nearly complete as the GB Men’s and GB Women’s teams finish their preparations ahead of travelling to the IWBF World Championships 2022!

GB Men competed in the Nations Cup Cologne last weekend, lining out on the court against The Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and Germany. The competition was a key developmental opportunity for the squad ahead of Worlds. Full results and livestreams can be found here: https://www.nations-cup.cologne/spielplan/spielplan-2023/

GB Women this week have hosted Canada for a series of friendlies as they put the finishing touches on their preparations ahead of travelling out. Adele Atkin joins the GB Women line up – the Cardiff Met Archers player has experience of competing for GB having made several appearances as a GB Junior, and will be marking her first senior call up with her inclusion in the Worlds squad. Adele’s call-up comes following a squad change with Maddie Thompson no longer available for selection.

GB Men

#5 – Simon Brown – 2.0

#6 – Kyle Marsh – 2.0

#7 – Terry Bywater – 4.5

#9 – Harry Brown – 2.5

#11 – Phil Pratt – 3.0

#12 – Gregg Warburton – 2.0

#13 – Martin Edwards – 4.0

#14 – Lee Manning – 4.5

#15 – Ben Fox – 3.5

#16 – Jim Palmer – 1.0

#17 – James MacSorley – 2.0

#18 – Lee Fryer – 4.0

GB Women

#4 – Charlotte Moore – 1.0

#5 – Sophie Carrigill – 1.0

#6 – Kayla Bell – 1.5

#7 – Helen Freeman – 4.0

#9 – Jude Hamer – 4.0

#12 – Lucy Robinson – 4.5

#13 – Siobhán Fitzpatrick – 3.0

#14 – Joy Haizelden – 2.5

#16 – Jade Atkin – 4.5

#17 – Maddie Martin – 3.0

#18 – Ellan Fraser – 3.0

#19 – Adele Atkin – 1.0

Originally scheduled for November 2022, the competition gets underway on the 9th June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 28 of the best men’s and women’s national teams from across the globe will compete in the competition. Fans will be able to follow the action on our dedicated GB fanzone.

Photo credit: Gero Müller-Laschet / Köln 99ers

GB SQUADS ANNOUNCED FOR 2022 IWBF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

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The GB Men’s and GB Women’s squads have been announced for the upcoming 2022 IWBF World Championships, which take place in June.

Originally scheduled for November 2022, the competition gets underway on the 9th June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 28 of the best men’s and women’s national teams from across the globe will compete in the competition.

Both squads feature a strong blend of experience and youth, with several Paralympians heading out onto the court alongside players earning their GB senior vests for the first time.

GB Men head into the competition as defending champions, having won the title in 2018. Notably today’s squad announcement marks Terry Bywater’s sixth consecutive World Championship selection, drawing on a legacy of high-level competition experience to light up the courts in Dubai. Recent IWBF Champions Cup and BSR league winners Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Charlotte Moore and Phil Pratt have been selected. The 2018 World Championships MVP Gregg Warburton and Copa del Rey winner James MacSorley will also feature for GB this June.

Investment in the development of talented players is visible across the selections as five of the selected Men’s team athletes won the 2017 U23 World Championships (Palmer, Fox, Warburton, MacSorley, Fryer), and four of the Women’s team won the 2015 U25s World Championships (Haizelden, Carrigill, Moore, Fitzpatrick).

Marking their debut for GB in their first senior international appearances are Lee Fryer, Maddie Martin and Ellan Fraser.

BWB / SA Images

The GB coaches have been hard at work preparing the teams ahead of the busy summer schedule. Bill Johnson and Joey Johnson, coaching team for the GB Men’s squad, have experienced success on the world stage in previous coaching roles with Canada and have been preparing the GB Men for the challenges ahead. Leading the GB Women is Head Coach Miguel Vaquero Maestre, working intently across the programme to ensure the athletes are prepared physically and mentally ahead of the World Championships.

Athletes across both squads are sure to bring significant power and energy onto the courts in Dubai, with masses of supporters at home and abroad cheering them on. A summer of GB action awaits as the European Championships 2023 follows closely behind in August, taking place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. We will be bringing you all the action across both squads across these exciting competitions!

GB Men

#5 – Simon Brown – 2.0

#6 – Kyle Marsh – 2.0

#7 – Terry Bywater – 4.5

#9 – Harry Brown – 2.5

#11 – Phil Pratt – 3.0

#12 – Gregg Warburton – 2.0

#13 – Martin Edwards – 4.0

#14 – Lee Manning – 4.5

#15 – Ben Fox – 3.5

#16 – Jim Palmer – 1.0

#17 – James MacSorley – 2.0

#18 – Lee Fryer – 4.0

GB Women

#4 – Charlotte Moore – 1.0

#5 – Sophie Carrigill – 1.0

#6 – Kayla Bell – 1.5

#7 – Helen Freeman – 4.0

#9 – Jude Hamer – 4.0

#12 – Lucy Robinson – 4.5

#13 – Siobhán Fitzpatrick – 3.0

#14 – Joy Haizelden – 2.5

#16 – Jade Atkin – 4.5

#17 – Maddie Martin – 3.0

#18 – Ellan Fraser – 3.0

#19 – Adele Atkin – 1.0

ROBYN LOVE RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

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Two-time Paralympian and World Silver Medallist Robyn Love has announced her retirement from international duty in wheelchair basketball.

GB Women’s Robyn Love has called time on her extensive international career, having dedicated a decade of her life to the highest level of the sport.

A natural leader on the court, Robyn has been a stalwart of the sport for ten years having first played in 2013. An instant connection with the sport ensued – within one year of playing, Robyn was on the Performance radar and soon earned her first international call up in 2015 to assist the GB Women’s senior team to Silver in the Osaka Cup, Japan.

Closely following her first appearance in the European Championships in 2016 and securing qualification, Robyn made her Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 and assisted the team to a historic fourth place finish. With GB Women, Robyn would go on to claim Silver at the 2018 World Championships, Silver at the 2019 European Championships, 7th Place at Tokyo 2020. Robyn captained the side to Silver at the 2021 European Championships, joint-highest ever achievement for the GB Women in a European Championships.

No stranger to marking milestones in the sport, Robyn made history at Birmingham 2022 in the first ever appearance of wheelchair basketball in a Commonwealth Games, proudly leading Team Scotland – a dream come true to represent her hometown of Ayr. In 2022, Robyn captained Loughborough Lightning as they won the first ever BWB Women’s Premier League title.

Most recently, a milestone was marked in her personal life as Robyn and partner and GB Women’s athlete Laurie Williams welcomed baby Alba into the world.

Robyn commented on her retirement from the international stage of wheelchair basketball:

“Wheelchair basketball for me is more than the game, it’s the people, the experience, the joy that it has brought me over the years and will continue to bring me.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to represent Great Britain, something that I never thought possible. Growing up with a disability, I never knew I could play sport at the highest level. When I saw it during the London 2012 Paralympics, I knew that that was what I was meant to do. Four years later, I was doing it.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way and I’m so grateful for the opportunity that this sport has given me. We’ve created a legacy over the past ten years and one that I know the squad are going to build on going forward. Wheelchair basketball for women has grown so much, not only in this country but around the world, and I’m excited to see the progress of the women’s game, something that I hope I’ll still have a part in through the next kind of journey in my life.”

Diccon Edwards, Performance Director at British Wheelchair Basketball, commented:

“It has been evident ever since I started in the role the significant impact Robyn has had in the sport. Her passion and commitment to the GB team have always stood out and she has always led by example in her drive for success for the GB team.

“Whilst I know this has been a hard decision for her, she can be extremely proud of everything she has achieved and am confident she will have success in whatever she chooses to do next. She has been the inspiration for so many players, and I know she will continue to support and promote the game. Though she is retiring from GB, I am keen that she continues to develop as a coach and share her knowledge and experience to the next generation of players and I look forward to supporting her in the future.”

Robyn is set to continue playing domestically, building on success at Loughborough Lightning, alongside developing her skills in coaching. All at BWB wish all the best to Robyn for the next chapter, and a huge congratulations for her GB career.

GB Round-up: 6th/7th May 2023

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Amiab Albacete were triumphant in the EuroCup Champions Cup, and in the WPL several GB Women stars rounded out their season in the last weekend of regular fixtures ahead of the National Championship Finals.

Hosted in Bemmel, The Netherlands, this year’s EuroCup Champions Cup was a dramatic weekend of fixtures with three of four teams featuring GB athletes. Gregg Warburton and Charlotte Moore were named in the All Star Team for the competition!

In the semi-finals, Amiab Albacete (Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Charlotte Moore, Phil Pratt) won 81:63 against CD Ilunion (Gregg Warburton, Terry Bywater). For Albacete, Harry Brown had 5 points. Ben Fox had 13 points and 1 rebound. Lee Manning had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 1 assist. Phil Pratt had 18 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. For Ilunion, Gregg Warburton had 19 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists. Terry Bywater had 12 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist.

RSV Lahn-Dill (Simon Brown) were defeated by German league rivals Thuringia Bulls. Simon Brown had 1 point and 3 rebounds.

In the 3rd/4th place playoff, CD Ilunion won 73:71 against RSV Lahn-Dill in a close game. For Ilunion, Gregg Warburton had 11 points, 4 rebounds and 12 assists. Terry Bywater had 31 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. For RSV Lahn-Dill, Simon Brown had 9 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists.

In the final, Amiab Albacete were victorious over German league winners Thuringia Bulls, winning 77:73 and claiming the Champions Cup title for the second time in a row. For Albacete, Harry Brown had 2 points and 2 rebounds. Ben Fox had 7 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist. Lee Manning had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Phil Pratt had 25 points, 3 rebounds and 12 assists.

In the final weekend of regular season games for the WPL, East London Phoenix (Amy Conroy, Jude Hamer, Sophie Carrigill) won 46:59 against hosts Cardiff Met Archers (Jade Atkin). For Archers, Jade Atkin had 21 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. For Phoenix, Jude Hamer had 16 points, 18 rebounds and 7 assists. Sophie Carrigill had 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

Loughborough Lightning (Siobhán Fitzpatrick, Robyn Love, Lucy Robinson) won 35:57 against Worcester Wolves (Kayla Bell). For Wolves, Kayla Bell had 4 points and 3 rebounds. For Lightning, Siobhán Fitzpatrick had 2 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Lucy Robinson had 21 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

All four WPL teams head into the National Championships, taking place 20th/21st May. Loughborough Lightning will take on East London Phoenix in the final, and Worcester Wolves and Cardiff Met Archers will meet in the 3rd/4th playoff game.

The eagerly anticipated National Championship Finals will feature teams across the BWB National League, with finals for Divsions 1-3, Premier Division, Junior League and Women’s Premier League. This prestigious event takes place in Manchester, 20th/21st May, and tickets are available now: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/national-championships-2023/

GB Round-up: 22nd/23rd April

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In Spain, the BSR held its Copa del Rey competition in Madrid. In the opening stages, CD Ilunion (Gregg Warburton, Terry Bywater) won 79:54 over Fundacion FDI-V.Leganes. Gregg Warburton had 10 points, 3 assists and 6 rebounds. Terry Bywater was game leader on assists with 10 assists and had 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Amiab Albacete (Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Charlotte Moore, Phil Pratt) had a comprehensive 113:60 victory over Fundacion Aliados. Harry Brown had 7 points, 1 assist and 2 rebounds. Ben Fox had 9 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. Lee Manning had 25 points, 4 assists and 8 rebounds. Phil Pratt had 20 points, 9 assists and 1 rebound.

UCAM Murcia (Lee Fryer) won 64:71 against Econy Gran Canaria. Lee Fryer was game leader on assists with 9 assists, team leader on points with 21 points, and had 11 rebounds.

Bidaideak Bilbao (James MacSorley) had a 79:72 victory against Amivel Reyes Gutierrez (Abdi Jama, Kyle Marsh, Lewis Edwards, Peter Cusack). For Bidaideak Bilbao, James MacSorley had 6 points and 3 rebounds. For Amivel Reyes Gutierrez, Abdi Jama had 6 points and 1 assist. Kyle Marsh was team leader on assists with 6 assists and had 15 points and 4 rebounds.

GB players featured across all four teams in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. In a high-scoring game, Bidaideak Bilbao (James MacSorley) narrowly took the win 75:76 against CD Ilunion (Gregg Warburton, Terry Bywater). For Bidaideak Bilbao, James MacSorley had 4 points, 2 assists and 1 rebound. For CD Ilunion, Gregg Warburton was team leader on assists with 10 assists, and had 14 points and 2 rebounds. Terry Bywater had 19 points, 8 assists and 3 rebounds.

Amiab Albacete (Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Charlotte Moore, Phil Pratt) delivered a comprehensive performance against UCAM Murcia (Lee Fryer) to claim their place in the Copa Del Rey final, winning 73:43. For Amiab Albacete, Harry Brown had 1 point and 1 assist. Ben Fox had 8 points, 2 assists and 11 rebounds. Lee Manning had 18 points and 6 rebounds. Phil Pratt was game leader on assists with 9 assists, and had 8 points and 8 rebounds. For UCAM Murcia, Lee Fryer was team leader on points and assists with 11 points and 4 assists, and had 6 rebounds.

In the playoff for 3rd/4th place, CD Ilunion (Gregg Warburton, Terry Bywater) had a 71:77 victory over UCAM Murcia (Lee Fryer). For CD Ilunion, Gregg Warburton was game leader on assists with 8 assists, and had 7 points and 6 rebounds. Terry Bywater was team leader on points with 21 points, and had 4 assists and 4 rebounds. For UCAM Murcia, Lee Fryer had 25 points, 5 assists and 10 rebounds.

In the exciting final of the Copa del Rey, Bidaideak Bilbao (James MacSorley) claimed the title for a second year in a row by defeating current BSR league leaders Amiab Albacete (Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Charlotte Moore, Phil Pratt) 72:80. For Bidaideak Bilbao, James MacSorley had 6 points, 1 assist and 4 rebounds. For Amiab Albacete, Ben Fox had 3 points and 1 rebound. Lee Manning was game leader on rebounds with 12 rebounds, and had 8 points and 1 assist. Phil Pratt was team leader on points and assists with 23 points and 9 assists, and had 5 rebounds.

A dramatic conclusion to the season took place in Germany as RSV Lahn-Dill (Simon Brown) entered into the finals against rivals Thuringia Bulls. RSV Lahn-Dill needed to win both games to secure the championship. In the first game, RSV Lahn-Dill won 63:67. In the second game, Thuringia Bulls took the victory 76:65.

At home in the BWB National League, Manchester Revolution (Martin Edwards, Sophie Carrigill) defeated Mohawks 40:56. For Manchester Revolution, Martin Edwards had 12 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. Sophie Carrigill had 3 rebounds.

London Titans (Jack Perry, Jude Hamer) won 75:61 over CWBA. For London Titans, Jack Perry had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Jude Hamer had 1 rebound.

EuroCup 2023: https://www.iwbf-europe.org/

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

German League: https://rollstuhlbasketball.de/

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

BWB Women’s Premier League: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/competition/womens-premier-league-2022-23/

GB Round-up: 15th-16th April 2023

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In Spain, Amivel Reyes Gutierrez (Abdi Jama, Kyle Marsh, Lewis Edwards, Peter Cusack) were defeated 61:54 on the road against Fundacion Aliados. Abdi Jama had 4 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.

Bidaideak Bilbao (James MacSorley) won 86:53 at home against Fundacion FDI-V.Leganes. James MacSorley had 10 points and 3 rebounds.

CD Ilunion (Gregg Warburton, Terry Bywater) won 51:84 against Abeconsa Basketmi Ferrol. Terry Bywater had 20 points, 5 assists and 10 rebounds.

UCAM Murcia (Lee Fryer) had a comprehensive 72:33 win at home against visitors Menarini Joventut. Lee Fryer was game leader on assists with 9 assists, and had 17 points and 4 rebounds.

Amiab Albacete (Harry Brown, Ben Fox, Lee Manning, Charlotte Moore, Phil Pratt) won 103:59 over Econy Gran Canaria. Harry Brown had 4 assists. Ben Fox had 14 points, 2 assists and 3 rebounds. Lee Manning was game leader on rebounds with 10 rebounds, and had 28 points and 4 assists. Phil Pratt was joint game leader on assists with 14 assists, and had 14 points and 3 rebounds.

In the Primera Division, Servigest Burgos (Helen Freeman) had a back-to-back weekend of fixtures. Servigest Burgos won 64:55 against UNES FC Barcelona in the first game and Helen Freeman had 5 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. In the second game, Servigest Burgos defeated hosts IMF Smart Education Getafe 40:73 and Helen Freeman had 1 point, 3 assists and 1 rebound.

In Germany, RSV Lahn-Dill (Simon Brown) were defeated 53:81 by Thuringia Bulls. Simon Brown had 4 rebounds and 1 assist.

Loughborough Lightning (Siobhán Fitzpatrick, Robyn Love, Lucy Robinson) won 71:49 at home against Cardiff Met Archers (Jade Atkin). For Lightning, Siobhán Fitzpatrick had 2 points. Lucy Robinson had 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. For Archers, Jade Atkin had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 1 assist.

East London Phoenix (Sophie Carrigill, Amy Conroy, Jude Hamer) won 36:47 against hosts Worcester Wolves (Kayla Bell). For Phoenix, Sophie Carrigill had 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Jude Hamer had 14 points, 19 rebounds and 2 assists. For Wolves, Kayla Bell had 1 rebound.

EuroCup 2023: https://www.iwbf-europe.org/

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

German League: https://rollstuhlbasketball.de/

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

BWB Women’s Premier League: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/competition/womens-premier-league-2022-23/

GB Men go undefeated to win the Easter Tournament!

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Photo credit: Rika Vandenbroucke

Competing against five other nations – Australia, Canada, Italy, The Netherlands and Türkiye – the GB Men’s team won all four of their games including the final against Australia.

The Easter Tournament was the first competition for Bill Johnson and Joey Johnson as the GB Men’s coaching team, having been appointed at the start of April.

All GB Men’s players had court time across the tournament – a crucial development opportunity ahead of the back-to-back majors later this year. Performances across the three-day competition highlighted the quality and strength of the depth within the squad.

In their first game, GB Men won 46:61 against The Netherlands. In their second game, GB Men won 72:41 against Canada. In their third game, GB Men won 52:70 over Türkiye. On the final day of the competition, GB Men won 58:43 against a strong Australia side.

Coach Joey Johnson commented:

“The weekend was a great success for us. We had an opportunity to see multiple lineups while also having a chance to 14 deep. The win is a testament to the depth of the programme as well as the skill level.”

Coach Bill Johnson commented:

“It was a great first step for this group as we enter a busy summer of competition. The players were focused and prepared, and the results showed that.”

Catch up on the action from the Easter Tournament here with both livestreams and stats: https://iwbf.org/event/2023-easter-tournament-wheelchair-basketball/

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