AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Autism and sporting success do not normally sit hand in hand – but for one Shropshire youngster archery has given him the platform to showcase his hidden talents.
John Seabrook who has autism, has been successful in archery competitions
Autism and sporting success do not normally sit hand in hand – but for one Shropshire youngster archery has given him the platform to showcase his hidden talents.
John Seabury, a pupil at Severndale, a special school attached to Mary Webb School in Pontesbury, has become a surprise hit with his archery club, even taking first place in the target shooting at the 2015 Shropshire School Games only two years after taking up the sport.
John joined the club run by Jonathan Walton, of Bowbrook Archers, some two-and-a-half years ago.
In that time he has gone from picking out targets just 15 metres away to landing arrows on the board some 55 metres away.
Mr Walton said: “John came along with his mum Marese and she said he would like to have a go and I am a great believer in saying find a reason to say ‘yes’ rather than ‘no’.
“Marese was always there to aid the process but it became clear that archery was a sport that suited John’s difficulties with autism.
“John didn’t need much persuading to enter a county ‘clout archery’ competition, where arrows go up in the air and land as close as possible to a flag 110 metres away.
John Seabrook who has autism, has been successful in archery competitions after taking up the sport two years ago.
“He performed well and came away with a medal – then repeated the exercise a year later shooting an even longer distance. By the middle of 2014, John had earned his place in Mary Webb’s archery team that won last year’s Shropshire County Games KS3-4 competition.”
Mr Walton said archery is a sport that John had been able to adapt to and which allowed him to compete in open competition against other children who are not autistic.
He said: “Archery is a wonderful stress reliever and it certainly has a calming effect when he is on the line. It is like two different people – as soon as he is on it he’s focusing and concentrating.
“What is wonderful is to see him competing in a recognised sport on a level playing field.”
John has since claimed more medals in competitions.
Mr Walton said: “Most of John’s experience was shooting indoors at targets 18 metres distant. In order to continue the archery during the 2014 summer holidays, John joined Bowbrook Archers, which meant he could take advantage of the 365-day access facility whenever he wanted.
“His competence and confidence continued to grow and at the start of this summer season he wanted to take part in county-wide target archery competitions which involved shooting at targets up to 60 yards away.
“He focused and has now successfully taken part in two competitions, winning a medal on both occasions.”
Mr Walton said that John had progressed so much as a result that he was selected to represent Mary Webb in the 2015 Shropshire School Games, although it took some time to adapt to the targets which were now too close.
He said: “Once again, he was selected on merit to be part of Mary Webb’s team at the 2015 Shropshire school games. The most difficult thing for John was transferring back down to shooting only 20 yards for this competition.
“But, through some hard work he managed it and it was wonderful to see him ending up this year’s competition on top of the pile in the target shooting, in second place in the clout shooting, and as an integral part of Mary Webb’s team who retained their county title.”
Mr Walton said the club was proud of John’s efforts and they were delighted at his success.
He said: “I am confident that by finding a sport where he can excel, on a completely level playing field with other archers who do not have his difficulties, it has made a significant difference to John’s outlook.
“It would have been all too easy two years ago so say ‘no, I really don’t think that autism and archery will go together’.
“It would have been unforgivable to have taken that approach – and we never will now we have seen just how that saying ‘yes, you can do it’ can make such a difference.”
SOURCE: Archery proves a hit with autistic pupil « Shropshire Star
Autism and sporting success do not normally sit hand in hand – but for one Shropshire youngster archery has given him the platform to showcase his hidden talents.
John Seabrook who has autism, has been successful in archery competitions
Autism and sporting success do not normally sit hand in hand – but for one Shropshire youngster archery has given him the platform to showcase his hidden talents.
John Seabury, a pupil at Severndale, a special school attached to Mary Webb School in Pontesbury, has become a surprise hit with his archery club, even taking first place in the target shooting at the 2015 Shropshire School Games only two years after taking up the sport.
John joined the club run by Jonathan Walton, of Bowbrook Archers, some two-and-a-half years ago.
In that time he has gone from picking out targets just 15 metres away to landing arrows on the board some 55 metres away.
Mr Walton said: “John came along with his mum Marese and she said he would like to have a go and I am a great believer in saying find a reason to say ‘yes’ rather than ‘no’.
“Marese was always there to aid the process but it became clear that archery was a sport that suited John’s difficulties with autism.
“John didn’t need much persuading to enter a county ‘clout archery’ competition, where arrows go up in the air and land as close as possible to a flag 110 metres away.
John Seabrook who has autism, has been successful in archery competitions after taking up the sport two years ago.
“He performed well and came away with a medal – then repeated the exercise a year later shooting an even longer distance. By the middle of 2014, John had earned his place in Mary Webb’s archery team that won last year’s Shropshire County Games KS3-4 competition.”
Mr Walton said archery is a sport that John had been able to adapt to and which allowed him to compete in open competition against other children who are not autistic.
He said: “Archery is a wonderful stress reliever and it certainly has a calming effect when he is on the line. It is like two different people – as soon as he is on it he’s focusing and concentrating.
“What is wonderful is to see him competing in a recognised sport on a level playing field.”
John has since claimed more medals in competitions.
Mr Walton said: “Most of John’s experience was shooting indoors at targets 18 metres distant. In order to continue the archery during the 2014 summer holidays, John joined Bowbrook Archers, which meant he could take advantage of the 365-day access facility whenever he wanted.
“His competence and confidence continued to grow and at the start of this summer season he wanted to take part in county-wide target archery competitions which involved shooting at targets up to 60 yards away.
“He focused and has now successfully taken part in two competitions, winning a medal on both occasions.”
Mr Walton said that John had progressed so much as a result that he was selected to represent Mary Webb in the 2015 Shropshire School Games, although it took some time to adapt to the targets which were now too close.
He said: “Once again, he was selected on merit to be part of Mary Webb’s team at the 2015 Shropshire school games. The most difficult thing for John was transferring back down to shooting only 20 yards for this competition.
“But, through some hard work he managed it and it was wonderful to see him ending up this year’s competition on top of the pile in the target shooting, in second place in the clout shooting, and as an integral part of Mary Webb’s team who retained their county title.”
Mr Walton said the club was proud of John’s efforts and they were delighted at his success.
He said: “I am confident that by finding a sport where he can excel, on a completely level playing field with other archers who do not have his difficulties, it has made a significant difference to John’s outlook.
“It would have been all too easy two years ago so say ‘no, I really don’t think that autism and archery will go together’.
“It would have been unforgivable to have taken that approach – and we never will now we have seen just how that saying ‘yes, you can do it’ can make such a difference.”
SOURCE: Archery proves a hit with autistic pupil « Shropshire Star
