Polio
Games at Walsall Feb 24th 2007, by
Robin Stephens
Oh
what fun, I was asked to represent the
Worthing branch at the Walsall games this
year as part of the South of England team,
my speciality is darts and I was going to
show these amateurs just how to play the
game!!!.
My
wife Karen and I travelled up with Maureen
Sullivan, another member of the team
competing in the indoor bowls, and it was
a nice opportunity for us to get to know
Maureen, a newer member of our branch. We
stopped for lunch at a Sussex winery and
left there with plenty of time for the
onward journey.
After
a long uneventful journey we were met at
the door of the Hotel by Mary Gillies who
had organised the south of England group
and was soon whisk through a very
efficient checking in system and off to
our rooms.
After
unpacking the suitcase and checking out
the TV, heating, hairdryer etc, we all met
at the lounge bar an hour or so later and
to meet and greet everybody. I bumped into
some old friends that I hadn’t seen for
many years, and was pleased to see that
most of them had put on a few pounds, just
as I had. The organiser Gordon Lumb came
over and introduced him self, told us
about the games, the people helping him
with the organisation and where the events
were to be held, along with some really
juicy gossip, but you’ll have to ask me
in person about that!!!! Anyway all very
friendly and we all felt quite at home.
Later
than evening we all rolled into the
restaurant where we were dished out a very
mediocre meal, nothing special at all, a
typical canteen type meal, but welcome
nevertheless as I was starving. That
evening we sat around talking and taking
in the atmosphere. Talking about
atmosphere, I was more than surprised that
many polio members were smoking for all
they were worth, thus polluting the whole
area, but at least that wont be a problem
next year when the new smoking regulations
coming into effect in July, cant wait.
The
following day we went to the restaurant
where we had a lovely breakfast with all
the trimmings, Karen very sensibly had
fruit and cereal and I, not so sensibly,
had a full English, hmm lovely. After
breakfast we turned up at our respective
events, the darts match was being played
next to the restaurant and I checked in to
the games. On the games list I was the
last player and so had plenty of time to
go and watch some of the other games, we
watched Maureen expertly launch her bowls
towards the puck, looking quite pleased
with herself, then onto the botchers match
where we watched Aidan Linton-Smith
representing the Home counties, playing
expertly like a real pro. We couldn’t
really sit in and watch the dominoes or
the drafts matches at all, as they really
aren’t spectator sports, but we popped
our heads in anyway to see what was going
on, and saw that they were all
concentration for all they were worth on
their next moves, so we left them to it
and made our way back to the darts. In
contrast the darts room was more like a
pub, plenty of activity and constant
chattering, laughter and cheering, also
screams of laughter as one by one the
flood light bulbs above the dart boards
were destroyed by stray darts, oh yes,
this happened three times in the first
round alone; luckily they bought plenty of
spares.
10.30
tea and biscuits, I really had to force
myself.
12.30
a pack lunch, of sandwiches biscuits and
fruit.
At
2pm the games re-started and at last it
was my turn, it was about now I found out
I was playing last years champion Steve,
not a polio sufferer himself, but an
associate member and a regular darts
player at his local pub, he was very good
indeed and I was well and truly thrashed
by him, although we did get down to
doubles together on the first game. I
really should have done a lot better, if
only the draw had gone my way, as a number
of the players only hit the dartboard
purely by chance, still that’s the luck
of the draw and the guy I was drawn
against this year was just far too good
for me, and again he went on the win the
Darts event for another year, well done
Steve (he said through gritted teeth).
So
that was it for me, one match and out,
that’s life, still not too worry, we had
plenty of time to visit the other games
going on around the hotel and watched as
the other matches as they drew to a close.
After
the games there was a presentation, then
it was soon time for another meal, again
nothing special, the staff didn’t quite
seem to know what was going on at all,
that made me smile as we watched them
rushing about in all directions. But the
food was ok and it gave us all a chance to
reflect on the day. The entertainment that
evening was from a one woman sing-a-long
who strutted her stuff to many of the old
songs that we all knew. I nearly got up to
dance myself at one point, but thought
better of it in the end, as I remember
falling over the last time I had a go, so
we sat and were entertained by the others.
We met up with our group and were soon
joined by some new friends we had made at
the darts match and exchanged stories all
evening; we retired to bed at about 11pm.
My
overall impression was very positive, and
for me it was nice to be in company where
so many other people waddled up and down
as they walked as I do, I didn’t feel
the odd one out for a changed, plus I made
many new friends, and found that I had so
much in common with many of them. The
games were good fun, well organised and a
pleasure to have been part of, and I am
already looking forward to next year’s
event.
Well
done BPF.
Robin
Stephens
PS
I’m sure your wondering about the cup we
are holding, well I’ll come clean, it
was borrowed from the table next to ours
for the photo.
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