University of Northampton to take part in first ever University Wheelchair Basketball Championships

The University of Northampton wheelchair basketball team will compete in the first ever British Wheelchair Basketball University Championships at the University of Worcester Arena on Sunday March 2014.

Uniting players of all physical abilities, this will be the first competition of its kind in the UK for Universities to compete at disability sport giving them the opportunity for their disabled students to play alongside their peers.

This year, there will be fierce competition from five universities, University of Worcester, Nottingham Trent University, Durham University, University of Northampton and Sheffield Hallam University, who will be competing for the inaugural trophy!

University of Northampton Wheelchair Basketball President, Brian Hinton, said: “Every person that gets involved with our club, be it the Students’ Union, students, or outside organisations, there is always an extremely positive attitude towards wheelchair basketball. People like to get involved, and truly believe that we’re supplying something exceptional in the shape of a new tier of wheelchair basketball for prospective disabled students.

“As a team, we are unbelievably excited to be part of such a huge opportunity for disabled sport at University level. We like to see ourselves as one of the forerunners in University wheelchair basketball, pushing for more University collaboration and believe that this Championship is going to open the flood gates for future development of the sport.

“As a University, I’m not sure some understand the history we’re about to make as a sport, yet they are very much supportive and are supplying us with everything we need to compete.”

British Wheelchair Basketball’s Education Officer, Oliver Mitchell, said: “British Wheelchair Basketball has just begun to work within the HE sector, and it is hoped that from this inaugural competition, the HE wheelchair basketball competition framework shall be significantly developed and provide students with further meaningful competitive opportunities in the future.”