Killester Basketball Club Special Olympics Programme

2004/5 Season Report

 

This was the first full season of the Special Olympics Programme and it was successful beyond anyones imagination. We started back to training in September and from the very first week we had new athletes and volunteers joining us. The numbers have grown steadily since then and we now have a very full gym every Friday night. This season will see us move to the larger Greendale gym to facilitate the growing number of Athletes

During the year we made a visit to Mount Argus Tigers for their Sunday morning training session and got to travel on the Garda Bus with the sirens blaring! Mount Argus also joined us for our Christmas Party. There was some basketball played but it was a night of fun with musical chairs, pass the parcel and a visit from Santa Claus with a presents and a goodie bag for everyone.

We entered the Eastern Region Division 2 League and played host twice to Prosper Fingal from Balbriggan. We played an away match against Carmona Cougars in Loughlinstown and we have one match left to play at the beginning of this season. We have had some very close games and although we are still waiting on our first victory we have shown great improvement in our performances. The league table is very close and the champions have yet to be decided.

Following their success last season in the Area Games three of our athletes, John Francis, Mary and Jude, were chosen to represent the club at the Eastern and Leinster Regional Games. The three athletes and their coach spent a weekend in DCU and participated in the events, the disco, the entertainment and even got a chance to go and watch the soccer games in AUL. It was a fantastic weekend and the hard work and training that each athlete had put in prior to the games was rewarded with the medals they received, two gold and a silver. Congratulations to them all.

Once again volunteers (both male and female) took part in the Women's Mini Marathon to raise funds for the programme.. Some ran, some walked but everyone made it across the finish line on what turned out to be a glorious summers day.

Two of our athletes (Michael and John Francis) and three of our volunteers completed the Irish Basketball Association's Introductory coaching course while two more volunteers received training in table marking. We will be making good use of their new-found expertise next season.

Our most successful event however had to be the Killester Basketball Club Special Olympics Jamboree. This was held at the end of May in Greendale Community School . The full Killester Special Olympics squad were joined by Mount Argus Tigers, Carmona Cougars, Prosper Fingal, Steadfast House from Carrickmacross and St Vincents to participate in both 3on3 and skills competition. The event took a huge amount of organisation and we would like to extend our thanks to all the volunteers who took part in the day. Representatives from the National League Team played against the club teams and also presented medals. Other visitors included the Director of Special Olympics Eastern Region, Liz Callery and the Killester's mascot, the Tiger. The day was such good fun for all involved that we have decided to make this an annual event and have already booked the gym for 20th of May 2006.

We look forward to another great season in 2005/2006