Published: Wednesday, 29th July, 2009 12:00pm

Westmeath player travels to Latvia

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Mark Rohan from Ballinahown is among the Irish Senior International Wheelchair Basketball team who are in Latvia this week competing in Division C of the European Championships.

The team has been training for the tournament since last September and had been hopeful of progressing to the prestigious Division B. Wheelchair Basketball is the largest and most organised of wheelchair sports in Ireland.

The team of twelve includes a number of Paralympians and is made up of players who were born with a disability and others who acquired it. The team travelled with four staff, and are lead by experienced head coach and French Canadian, Alain Trembley. Trembley has a history of success with the team, positioning them as sixth in Europe during the 2007 Championships.

Mark Rohan, from Ballinahown, Athlone, is on the team and is very much looking forward to the tournament.

Mark, who also competes internationally at wheelchair tennis, captained the basketball team in 2007 and, speaking ahead of the championships, he was very confident in his team's chances of making Division B.

Speaking at Dublin Airport before departing for Latvia, he said, "We have been working towards this goal since the team was selected in September. I know we can do it."

The team is captained by Derryman, Jason Kennedy, while the team manager is Quentin Barry. The team was selected last September and is drawn from all over Ireland. Limerick, Kilkenny, Galway, Westmeath and Dublin are all represented on the panel.

Wheelchair basketball is the same as traditional basketball in every way but for the obvious exception that players participate in wheelchairs. However, court size, height of the baskets and all other rules remain unchanged, requiring wheelchair players to be at the height of their athletic abilities to play.

Irish Wheelchair National Team

Calvin Watson, David Young, Jason Kennedy, Captain John Fulham, Mark Barry, Mark Rohan, Micheal O'Cearra, Mick Cunningham, Mick Kelly, Paddy O'Neill, Peter Mitchell, Stephen Melvin.

Management

Alain Tremblay (Head Coach, Quebec, Canada); Orla Dempsey (Assistant Coach, Offaly); Quentin Barry (Team Manager, Dublin); Amanda Carty (Physio, Dublin).

European Championship for Men, Division C - 2009

At the time of going to press, the following results in games involving Ireland were to hand:

Ireland 52 Latvia 82

Ireland 56 Croatia 84

Ireland 58 Lithuania 71

Ireland 66 Ukraine 54

Ireland 54 Greece 73