Latest news with #SpecialOlympic
Otago Daily Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Uni club's success a team effort
It is hard to pinpoint one area that has made the Otago University Rowing Club a success. Maybe that is the beauty of the hard-working club — it is strong across the board and that led to it being named club of the year at the recent Rowing New Zealand awards. Club manager Glen Sinclair was thrilled at the recognition. "Very stoked for all of the people that work behind the scenes at the club and have done so much work for a very long time," Sinclair said. The club, which last won the award in the early 2000s, is home to about 95 competitive rowers, nearly 30 recreational rowers, 12 Special Olympic rowers, nine high-calibre coaches — an area in which Sinclair takes particular pride — and five volunteers. Each person contributes to the club's fibre and has helped it to be New Zealand's top university club for the past 16 years, and only losing the national universities regatta on overall points once in the past 26 years. Many athletes have received higher honours in the past year including Juliette Lequeux, who represented New Zealand at the Windermere Cup and has been selected for world cup events this month, and Hannah Matehaere, who joined Otago University as a novice, also represented New Zealand at the Windermere Cup and will compete at the World University Games in Germany. Jack Pearson, Cody Johnson and recent graduate Fred Vavasour are part of the national under-23 programme. Otago University also maintains strong relationships in Japan, China and Germany, competing in five international regattas in 2024 and holding programmes that benefited rowers from different countries. "No other club has anything like that in New Zealand. We work hard to make sure that is our special thing," Sinclair said. "Because of our club's relationships, we're setting up the training camp for the world uni games in Germany. "Even going back further, it was because of Otago Uni's relationships in New Zealand that we set up the camp for the New Zealand Olympic team for the Japan Olympics." The club also supports Otago Rowing with several events, helps secondary school rowing clubs with facilities and rowing machines, and hosts yearly waka ama events. Earlier this year, it also opened a new performance centre at Lake Ruataniwha. For the past 27 years, Sinclair has also run Special Olympic indoor rowing sessions with 12 athletes involved — including six who have been there since the beginning — and the students help as coaches. "What I love even more is seeing my athletes who coach it ... the rewards that they get out of it." Otago Rowing and North End life member Lauren Farnden received a national service award. After hanging up the oars, Farnden has given back to the sport through coaching at North End and St Hilda's Collegiate, led the Otago provincial team, directed Otago's winter development programme and contributed nationally. Since 2004, Farnden has moved through the administrative ranks as chairwoman of the Otago secondary school rowing association and serves on the Southern Rowing performance centre board. She has made her mark as an official and was the chief umpire for the New Zealand championships earlier this year, and internationally has officiated at the world cup in Poland and the world masters championships.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Much-loved' ski centre to reopen, council says
A "much-loved" ski centre will reopen, a council has announced. Rushmoor Borough Council said Alpine Snowsports Centre in Aldershot, Hampshire, was expected to reopen later this month "with a new operator at the helm". Places Leisure, which currently operates and manages Aldershot Pools and Lido on behalf of the council, will be running the centre while the local authority explores long-term options for the facility. Dave Jolliffe, area manager at Places Leisure, said he hoped the reopening "will create more opportunities for people to become active and enjoy sports that are not always as easily accessible". The facility was built by the British Army in 1969 and was one of the longest synthetic ski slopes built in England at the time. The council described it as "hugely popular", having previously attracted more than 25,000 users every year. It had offered three dry ski slopes for open sessions, and lessons and activities for all ages. It had also been a training venue for a number of high-level snow sports athletes who started their careers there. The council said it had been informed "without warning" on 2 April that the company previously managing the centre, Active Nation UK Limited, had ceased trading at the site. Since then, it has been taking legal advice and assessing options for its future operation. The council's cabinet member for healthy communities and active lives, Sophie Porter, called the ski centre "an important facility for local people which we don't want to lose". "It's been integral to the success of winning Special Olympic gold medals and it's the first place many people learned to ski," she said. Mr Jolliffe added the Places Leisure team was "committed to improving people's lives and the communities in which they live". "We hope that the reopening of the centre will create more opportunities for people to become active and enjoy sports that are not always as easily accessible," he added. A date for the reopening will be confirmed after an audit, along with information about future events and bookings. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Medieval building reopened after £300k restoration Fashion museum gets £768k towards reopening Shipley toilets to reopen 10 years after closure Rushmoor Borough Council Places Leisure
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Eddinger is Sterling High School student of the month
May 3—STERLING — Natalie Eddinger, a senior, is a May student of the month at Sterling High School. She is the daughter of Shari and Mike Eddinger and has a brother, Nickolas. What class do you find really engaging and why?: My favorite class is anatomy, as it is helping me prepare for my future. Mrs. Schlemmer makes learning fun, establishes positive relationships with the students, and provides learning opportunities through field trips. What are your career and post-graduation plans? What school(s) or other instruction, travel or endeavors do you have planned?: I will be attending the University of Iowa, where I will major in microbiology on the pre-medical track and minor in Spanish. I will also be part of the women's rowing team. This summer I will continue working at Shepherd Premier as a CNA. I have been chosen as a CGH summer scholar and look forward to learning from the medical professionals I will be shadowing. What are your two favorite extracurricular, volunteer or community activities you participate in?: I enjoy volunteering at Special Olympic activities as well as helping out at the food bank packing boxes during the summer. Please share a moment, group event or activity at school that was meaningful or memorable.: Going to Chicago with the anatomy class to see the cadavers was exciting and gave me a glimpse of what I will see when I attend the University of Iowa. What is your hope for the future?: I want to become a pediatric cardiologist.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Behrend students take polar plunge for Special Olympics
Members of Penn State Behrend's athletics department were freezing for a reason Wednesday as they partnered with Special Olympics for a fundraiser. Student athletes took the polar plunge Wednesday at Behrend's campus to help raise money for Special Olympics programming. Jersey Mike's presents Shriner's Erie with annual donation Special Olympic athletes don't pay a dime to be involved in their programs so fundraising is a huge piece of what they do. 'Having the students here, come out to plunge today, and just tell them a little bit about the special Olympics and the good work that we're doing is incredibly important and we're so thankful,' said Katherine Rein, regional director of the Special Olympics. Erie Regional Airport Authority hosting Global Entry event 'We had people here earlier in swim trunks and ski goggles, getting really into it. I think it's something that everybody is passionate about. We're just happy to come out here and raise awareness and raise support,' said Oliver Petsch, a senior and president of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Special Olympics will be taking their dunk tank to Mercyhurst University Thursday and then to Erie's bayfront on Friday to continue efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jacksonville law enforcement honors Special Olympic athletes with 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run
For athletes across the state of Florida and in Duval County, the chance to participate in the Florida Special Olympics means everything. 'It's about having the same opportunities [as] people without intellectual abilities,' explained Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run director Ken Roop. 'That's really what it's all about.' Friday morning, hundreds of members of law enforcement agencies from across the Jacksonville area gathered for the 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run to help kick off this summer's Special Olympic games. Advertisement The torch run serves each year as a chance to honor all those participating with intellectual disabilities like Leanne Gray. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'The great part is just enjoy it and have fun … enjoy this, enjoy the Special Olympics,' Gray told Action News Jax Friday morning. 'This is what I have to and I have enjoyed it all my life.' However, the event also serves to raise money so the athletes can continuing competing for years to come. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'They don't pay for their uniforms, their transportation, the food, the lodging, the, you know, the venues, all that is paid for by Special Olympics,' Roop explained. 'So, you know, without law enforcement a lot of this wouldn't be happening.' Advertisement 'We're gonna do it as long as I'm around, I think it's gonna continue when I'm not here, so I'm very happy about it,' added Jacksonville sheriff T.K. Waters. You can find more information on the Special Olympics and how to donate by clicking the link here. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
