by Ian Marshall, Editor

Both are established internationals and have enjoyed notable success.

At the Slovakia Para Open earlier this year in May, competing in Class 5, Jack Hunter-Spivey was a Men’s Singles bronze medallist and with Norway’s Tommy Urhaug a Men’s Team silver medal winner.
Similarly later in the year, he was a Men’s Singles bronze medallist in Slovenia and silver medallist in the Czech Republic.

Notable performances but arguably his best to date came just under a year ago; at the United States Para Open, he won Men’s Singles gold.

The comment from Jack Hunter-Spivey is clear:

“Should be able to handle pressure.” Jack Hunter-Spivey

Similarly, it has been a highly successful year for Ross Wilson. Competing in Class 8, at the Lignano Masters in Italy and later in Slovenia he was a Men’s Singles bronze medallist. Meanwhile, with erstwhile colleague, Aaron McKibbin in the Men’s Team events, in the former it was silver, in the latter bronze.

However, the crowning glory for Ross Wilson was in April at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games when on duty for England; he struck gold in Men’s Singles Class 6-10 beating colleague Kim Daybell, a Class 10 athlete, in the final.

Similar to Jack Hunter-Spivey, Ross Wilson does not mince his words:

“Success takes years.” Ross Wilson

Overall the message is “let’s talk” and surely that is the way forward but it must be “let’s talk to each other not about each other”.

Developed by a Mental Health Steering Group, the strategy promoted is focused on education, provision, communication and assurance. The policy will be promoted throughout the cycle of the Tokyo 2018 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.