BATHURST was treated to the thrills and spills of wheelchair rugby on Saturday as the Indoor Sports Stadium hosted a round of the Sydney Slam competition.
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Members of the NSW Gladiators squad faced off against each other over three hours of competition, but not before spectators were given the chance to experience the game for themselves.
Bathurst’s own junior wheelchair rugby talent Harry Clist, who was involved across the day’s proceedings, was thrilled to see the sport come to his home city.
“It was an awesome day,” he said.
“We had a training session early in the day where I could show people what to do. Most of my friends from school came over to see what it was like and have a go too.
“I started playing about a year-and-a-half ago when there was a wheelchair expo that let you try out different sports ... Now there’s no way I want to stop.”
Bathurst was lucky to be selected as the first city outside a capital to play host to a round of this year’s competition.
The day’s action began at 10.30 when people of all ages were able to take a spin and learn the rules of wheelchair rugby. A celebrity match followed, before the experienced heads took to the court.
Although the members of the Australian Steelers national squad were in overseas competitions, the crowd was still treated to matches from many members of the Australia A squad and former national players.
Clist’s mother Sue said the day was a perfect introduction to the sport for the people of Bathurst.
“It was great because family and friends haven’t been able to see Harry play yet because he’s been travelling into Sydney. We’re looking into the possibility of getting some of the chairs in so we could get something going locally, perhaps through wheelchair basketball.”
Clist said allowing people to get hands-on with the sport added an element of fun to the day.
“It was great for the kids to be able to have a go in the morning. Some of them were still going on into four in the afternoon. They loved it,” she said.
“Curtis Palmer, who’s a Steelers player, took adults and kids through some training and skills sessions ... At the end of the day no one wanted to come off.
“It showed what it takes to play on the level that these guys in the Australia A side are doing. All of them enjoyed it and they’re already talking about bringing it back here next year.”
The family wishes to thank Brian Wood, Graeme Hanger, Macquarie Lions Club, The Department of Sport and Recreation and the general public who turned up for making the day possible.
