Urgent, Urgent, Urgent Athletes Wanted! <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Rowing is open to everyone, big, small, young and old. We have rowers who are two metres tall and Coxswains who are just over a metre. Ages vary from Under14 to 90 years old. Competitive Adaptive Rowing is for people with disabilities who qualify in one of three boat classes LTA (Leg, Trunk and Arms) See Qualification criteria at the end of this letter TA (Trunk and Arms) See Qualification criteria at the end of this letter A (Arms only) See Qualification criteria at the end of this letter I desperately need female athletes for the LTA class as I have a space available for a female athlete in the LTA 4+ destined for the Beijing Paralympics. So far this year the LTA four has competed at the South African Championships (1st Place), Poplar International Regatta in London, England (2nd Place) and World Cup II in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (4th place). Due to a citizenship issue, the crew was prevented from taking part in the World Championships in <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Munich, Germanyon>. That space is now up for grabs; it could be yours! Having said that the trials in January will be open to all applicants (male and female). There are three and a half months to master the technique and get fit! The Profile of the successful athlete is: LTA Men LTA Women TA A Anthropometric Parameters Height (m) >1.93 >1.81 N/A N/A Weight (kg) >88 >74 Same as LTA Same as LTA Arm Span (m) >1.95 >1.83 Same as LTA Same as LTA Physiological Parameters Vo2 Max >5.5 >3.96 Same as LTA Same as LTA Testing Parameters 18k 3 x 6k >190w >110w 100w 60w 80w 50w 5k <19:30 <22:00 <20:30 <30:30 <30:30 <35:30 2k <7:30 <8:30 <10:30 <15:30 <15:30 <20:30 250m >400w >150w 200w 75w 150w 60w 7str max >500w >220w 300w 150w 200w 80w Strength Parameters Bench Pull >90 >50 Same as LTA Same as LTA Bench Press >90 >50 Same as LTA Same as LTA Squat >90 >70 N/A N/A Power Clean >90 Body Weight N/A N/A ELIGIBILITY & CLASSIFICATION A. LTA (Legs, trunk and arms) The LTA class is for rowers with disability but who have the use of their legs, trunk and arms and who can utilise the sliding seat. LTA rowers must meet minimum disability requirements in at least one of the following three disability groups: (1) Intellectual disability A rower must meet the eligibility criteria established by the International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID) and have completed the athlete eligibility application using the April 2005 Form on the INAS-FID website (www.inas-fid.org) and have been issued with a INAS-FID Athletes Card. Athletes classified under criteria prior to April 2005 must be re-registered with INAS-FID using the April 2005 Form. The FISA Classification Application Form must be completed and submitted to FISA accompanied by a copy of INAS-FID April 2005 Form with support documents such as copy of IQ test score and INAS-FID athletes card by the closing date for entries for the event at which the athlete wishes to compete. 3 (2) Visual impairment A rower must have been classified by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) in one of the B3, B2 or B1 classes. Refer http://www.ibsa.es. (3) Physical Disability The minimum physical disability is the loss of ten points on one limb or fifteen points across two limbs when assessed against the Functional Classification Test (as set out in the Classification Application Form for Physical Disabilities), or a full loss of three fingers on one hand. Eligible LTA rowers will typically have a minimum disability equivalent to one of the following: ? Amputation: At least one single foot amputation at the metatarsal tarsal joints or three fingers of one hand. ? Neurological Impairment equivalent to incomplete lesion at S1. ? Cerebral Palsy Class 8 (CP-ISRA). ? Blind: 10% of vision in best eye with best correction (from visual acuity above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or a visual field of more than 5% and less than 20%) ? Intellectual impairment: INAS-FID April 2005 criteria Note: If a crew includes rowers whose disability is visual impairment, a maximum of two such rowers is permitted in the LTA4+, one of whom must be B1 or B2. All visually impaired rowers must wear FISA approved eyewear at all times when on the water during both training and competition from the opening day of the course until the final race of their competition. Such eyewear shall completely block all light. Control Commission officers may check eyewear during competition to ensure that they comply with the above. B. TA (Trunk and Arms) The TA class is for rowers who have trunk movement but who are unable to use the sliding seat to propel the boat because of significantly weakened function of the lower limbs. Eligible TA rowers would typically have a minimum disability equivalent to at least one of the following: ? Bilateral around knee amputation, or impaired quadriceps, or ? Neurological impairment equivalent to a complete lesion at L3 level, or an incomplete lesion at L1, or ? Combination of the above such as one leg with around knee amputation and one leg with quadriceps impairment; or ? Classification by the international sports federation for athletes with cerebral palsy (CP-ISRA) as eligible to be in CP Class 5. C. A (Arms Only) The A class is for rowers who have no or minimal trunk function (i.e. shoulder function only). An A class rower is able to apply force predominantly using the arms and/or shoulders only. Eligible rowers would typically have a minimum disability equivalent to at least one of the following: ? Cerebral Palsy Class 4 (CP-ISRA); or ? Neurological Impairment with a complete lesion at T12 level, or an incomplete lesion at T10, or ? Functional impairment of rectus abdominis (Beevor?s sign). Anyone wanting to compete for a place in one of the above classes or indeed who would like to give the sport a try should contact Adrian Higgins on Adrian@hrhpapers.co.za or +27 82 322 5255 If enough interest is shown we will run an open day at Victoria Lake in Germiston, Gauteng Yours in Rowing Adrian Higgins Adaptive Rowing Coach
