The Good to Great!

Oswestry Sports Network

Oswestry Cricket Club was packed on Friday, 9th February 2018 for the launch of the Good to Great! Oswestry Sports Network.  The network aims to support talented teenagers, nominated by their club or school as athletes who could achieve great things in their sport, plus their parents and coaches.  For the network Launch evening, over 80 people crowded into Oswestry Cricket Club to hear an inspirational presentation from Paralympic Medallist, Nick Beighton. 

Nick explained that he had been a sporty kid at school, just like the young people in the audience and, after falling in love with climbing, including in the Himalayas, he came to identify himself as an Adventurer.  When he joined the Army and worked in the challenging conditions in Afghanistan, Nick stood on a landmine and sustained multiple life-threatening injuries, including losing both legs.  He described this long period of recovery and rehabilitation as “When I was poorly in hospital”!  His talk was on how to cope with dips in motivation, such as when he was poorly in hospital!  His message, through his own experience, is to “Climb the mountain, one step at a time” and enjoy the journey.

As well as Nick’s presentation, Rob Walker, Chairman of Oswestry Sports Forum, explained why Oswestry Sports Forum was launching the Good to Great! Network then Stuart Manford, who instigated the idea, described his journey from swimming for Oswestry Otters to representing his country in the Commonwealth Games.  Stuart explained that Oswestry Sports Forum is a voluntary organisation run by volunteers from local sports clubs.  When he returned to the Oswestry area, he wanted to give something back to local sport.   With Oswestry Sports Forum, he hopes to develop a strong network where young aspiring athletes and their families can support each other and benefit from a series of quarterly talks from experts, on subjects which are relevant across all sports.  The next meeting will be in mid-June with a talk on Sports Psychology by a specialist from Loughborough University. 

Oswestry Sports Forum wishes to thank the Castle Hotel in Bishops Castle for generously sponsoring the launch evening.  They would also like to thank Oswestry Cricket Club for providing an ideal venue, excellent supper and helpful staff. 

Membership of the Good to Great! Network is by invitation.  Any local teenager who would like to be nominated, should ask their club coach or contact the Oswestry Sports Forum Secretary: susie(at)oswestrysportsforum.org.uk .