RNIB - See Sport Differently

Would you like to spend a week on a yacht, sailing around parts of the English South coast in July 2023?
If your blind or partially sighted, even if you've never been on a boat before, there's an invite for you to get involved.
RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Will Bridge, one of the organisers, to learn more about the week and how people can apply.
Applications open on January 1st 2023, with the week beginning on July 8th, and if you'd like more info, go to www.sailingvision.org
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Time to take to the waters and catch up with visually impaired Sailor Emily Wright to find out what it was like competing in her first Blind Match Racing Championships in France.

Emily first took up sailing through the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. With the support of the Trust Emily has gained her Royal Yachting Association Day Skipper certificate, competed in her first yacht race with Round the Island Race earlier this summer on board the trust’s yacht Solent Hero with Ellen joining them for the race too and has now competed in her first Blind match Racing Championships with GBR Blind Sailing.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Emily to find out how the blind Match Racing Championships went in France, how match racing differs from both yacht races like Round the Island Race and blind fleet racing.

Emily explained to Toby how blind Match Racing works as unlike blind fleet racing where there is a mix of both visually impaired and sighted crew on board in match racing it is just the visually impaired sailors on board, using sounds on the boats and the marks marking the course, with match racing being one boat against another and a bit like playing chess on the water. 

Emily talked about what she will take from her blind match racing experience to her racing with her sighted friends at University and to other up-coming blind racing championships too.

If like Emily you would like to get into sailing and racing as a blind or partially sighted person then do visit the GBR Blind Sailing website where you will find out more about opportunities to get into sailing and race training-
https://www.gbrblindsailing.co.uk

For more about the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, visit the Trust’s website-
https://www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org


(Image shows Emily's Team's yacht with two white sails up with the letters 'FRA' written on them in black. There are three people sat onboard, one of whom is facing towards the camera and smiling)

Scottish Disability Golf and Curling is a charity which enables anyone to pick up a golf club, play for fun, play to an international tournament level, or just have a game and socialise.

RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Jim Gales to hear about some recent tournaments and how beginners are encouraged to come along and have a go.

If you'd like more info on SDGC, go to www.scottishdgc.org.uk or call 07903596552.

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Image shows a golf course. 

British Blind Sport, along with UK Deaf Sport and Sport Birmingham, are hosting an event on August 18th 2022 to give 10 to 20 year olds, with disabilities, the chance to try some Commonwealth Games sports.
The free family fun day aims to be a fun and exciting event for everyone.
RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Connor, from British Blind Sport, to find out more about the free event and how to register.
For more information, go to www.britishblindsport.org.uk or email [email protected]
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What were the Top 10 moments of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games?

Our sports experts Allan Russell and Tom Burton take a look back at the big sporting event and the thrilling Closing Ceremony.

What were your favourite moments from the Games? Let us know at [email protected]

Image shows the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 logo. 

Our roving reporter Allan Russell is back in the studios, and joined by our sports expert Tom Burton to take a look ahead at today's action at the Commonwealth Games and of course, the exciting Closing Ceremony! 

Image shows the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 logo. 

The para lawn bowls have concluded at this year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Allan Russell spoke to the gold medal winners from Scotland, George Miller, Melanie Inness, and Sarah Jane Ewing. 

Image shows the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 logo. 

Thursday evening saw the final of the Men's 100 meter T11 T12 race at the Alexandra stadium in Birmingham.

Allan Russell was there and spoke to England's Zac Shaw, who was aiming for a medal.
 
Image shows Allan interviewing Zac. They sit facing each other. Allan is wearing his headphones and holding out a microphone to Zac, whilst the athlete has the flag of England draped around his shoulders.

With the fantastic success of the England Lionesses winning the 2022 Euros you might be wanting to know a bit more about the history of Women’s Football? 

Audio description company Rational Method have produced recorded descriptions for the exhibition ’Stoppage Time: Sheffield Women’s Football Her Story at Sheffield Library and the descriptions are available online too.

The Stoppage Time exhibition recognises and celebrates women’s involvement in football in and around Sheffield and beyond, from the 19th century to the present day.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Nathan Geering from Rational Method to find out more about the exhibition and the recorded descriptions.

Nathan began by telling Toby a bit about the background to Rational Method and the type of audio description they produce which also uses beat box and sound affects to describe movement in dance and the performing arts.

Nathan also talked about how Rational Method started working with FURD (Football Unites, Racism Divides) on the descriptions of the photographs, posters and other exhibits that make up the exhibition  ’Stoppage Time:  Sheffield Women’s Football Her Story’ with Nathan highlighting one of the exhibits that showcases how women’s football was promoted and marketed back in the 1980s and how we have come on a long way since then. 

The audio descriptions for ‘Stoppage Time:  Sheffield Women’s Football Her Story’ can be found by visiting the following website-
https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/visit/uefa-women-s-euro-2022/stoppage-time-Sheffield-women-s-football-herstory-exhibition/

To find out more about Nathan and Rational Method do visit the following website-
https://rationalemethod.com


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

What's it like volunteering at the Commonwealth Games?

Our Paulina Kuchorew chats with visually impaired volunteer Alison Smith about her experience.

Image shows the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 logo.