January 25, 2023
Two South Burnett players were part of a team which brought home a gold medal at the recent Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Basketball T23 tournament.
Bradley and Lincoln are both members of the South Burnett Spinners team, which trains at the South Burnett PCYC in Murgon.
The pair were part of a successful Suncoast Spinners team which won a gold medal in the B Grade category.
Lincoln was also presented with an All Star Five trophy for his performance.
South Burnett volunteer Pam Jones was the team manager and accompanied the players at the Caloundra tournament, which was played on January 13-15.
South Burnett program manager Sandra Kent was also present supporting the team from the score bench.
A Suncoast Spinners’ spokesperson said the T23 Tournament was the biggest of its type in the country.
It was the first time it has been held since the pandemic with more than 150 players competing in 18 teams across three divisions.
“The competition was fierce but it was the social aspect of everyone coming together again that everyone said was the highlight,” the spokesperson said.
The tournament featured Paralympians and former-Paralympians playing in the same tournament alongside players with a disability and able-bodied players.
“It’s unique to have a tournament where we have both legends of the game such as Liesl Tesch and retired Aussie Gliders playing on the next court to one of our local Spinners members
who is just starting out the game,” Suncoast Spinner president and former Paralympian player Bridie Kean said.
“It creates such an amazing environment where new players can learn and meet absolute legends of the game. Everyone is there for the same reason, to play our great game.”
The Suncoast Spinners’ social wheelchair basketball programs are open to people of all abilities as part of a “reverse inclusion” program.
The club began a South Burnett program in April 2021 after attending a Disability Expo in Kingaroy and identifying a need for wheelchair sport in the region.
South Burnett Spinners sessions will resume at the South Burnett PCYC in Murgon on Saturday, February 2, from 10:00am.
A club spokesperson said the first two sessions were free, wheelchairs were provided and everyone was welcome.
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The T23 National Tournament medal winners included:
A Grade Division 1:
- Gold – Brisbane Bullets
- Silver – Rockhampton Rockwheelers
- Bronze – Gliders Alumni
A Grade Division 2:
- Gold – South Australia
- Silver – Rockhampton Rockwheelers Green
- Bronze – Suncoast Spinners
B Grade:
- Gold – Suncoast Spinners
- Silver – Toowoomba Bushrangers
- Bronze – Fraser Coasters
(Photo: Barry Alsop, Eyes Wide Open Images)
