To celebrate the Great British Week of Sport we are talking to members of the #GoalballFamily to find out more about other sports that they are involved in.
Today, we are featuring Lois Turner who is in the GB Women’s squad:
Goalball:
I first tried goalball when I was aged 11 and instantly took to it, progressing rapidly. I had to take a break from the sport during my teenage years but returned when I was 18. Initially I started playing for Croysutt Warriors, as I lived in South London so they were the closest club to me, but then I moved to Hereford to study at RNC so began playing for them. For the past 2 seasons, as I have been studying at Staffordshire University, I have played for Birmingham Barbarians in the Intermediate League (South & West) and RNC in the Elite League. I am also part of the GB Women’s squad and have played at international tournaments in Lithuania (where we won gold), the Netherlands and the USA. I love goalball because of the depth of competition. It has motivated me to get really fit.
VI cricket:
Like with goalball, I started playing cricket when I was 11. I went along to my local club – Surrey VICC– just to ‘get me out of the house’! I have been playing for them ever since and have recently also simultaneously played for Yorkshire and Staffordshire (because they all compete in different leagues). I therefore never have a free weekend! I enjoy the wide variety of people that I get to play with and the light-hearted, fun environment.
Additionally, I am the captain of the UK Women’s Blind Cricket Team. In October 2014, when I was just 17, we went on our 1st ever tour to Nepal. We then went to Barbados in July 2018 for a 5-match series. You can read all about it in this report by Sky Sports. These trips had a real impact on me, causing me to reflect on how lucky I am to have access to the amazing facilities in England, together with great support. I would really like to go to India next.
I am also a Level 2 qualified cricket coach and work for both the Surrey Cricket Foundation and Street Games, helping young people off the streets and into playing sport – a brilliant initiative!