Claire celebrates sports successes
ASK proud mum Jeanette Ryan which of her daughter's many achievements she most treasures and she's temporarily lost for words.
Is it the three silver medals athlete Claire won at the World Championships in Australia three years ago? Or was it watching her 'little star' receive the BBC's Disabled Sportswoman of the Year award from Look North's Christa Ackroyd?
After a pause Jeanette says: "Really I'm very proud of all her achievements. Claire works so hard at her athletics and she's so determined to do well. She really is a star."
Claire, aged 28, of Wilson Road, Wyke, is a pentathlete and sprinter who has won more than 100 medals and trophies. She has learning difficulties and is on medication to control her seizures but there's no stopping her once she's on the athletics track.
This spring she won the Sportswoman of the Year title at the npower Federation of Disability Sports Awards – for the second time. The award recognises her amazing consistency and determination to succeed. Kevin Rodgers, npower's community involvement executive, said: "Claire is an incredible role model for younger athletes. She is continually enthusiastic about her sport and refuses to compromise her standards of achievement."
(Full story printed in the Brighouse Echo 12/6/2008) A huge fund-raising effort ensured that Claire was able to attend the 2005 World Championships in Canberra.
Claire said: “I love competing and I love travelling though I miss my mum when I go away. I think the long jump is my favourite event.”
For Jeanette the benefits to Claire of being involved in sport are obvious. “It has given her so much confidence and maturity. I think it’s like a big release for her. She has so much strength and stamina.
“Claire finds it hard to make new friends but sport has brought her out of herself. She’s very modest about her achievements but to us she’s just amazing. But if she carries on winning I’m going to have to find somewhere to keep all her medals!”
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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