During the Winter of 2010 a couple of mad Geordies (Steve & Stu) decided to have an expedition up to Kelso Northumberland on the worst arctic conditions day of the year (possible the last 10years). After an interesting 3 hour drive we had to get Jim the ice manager to open the closed rink after we made a path through the 2 foot snow in the car park. Jim scratched his head with disbelief. On this day Northern Ice was formed & we’ve never looked back.

Most of Northern Ice’s players are from the Northumberland/Gateshead area Northeast England, but the nearest curling rinks are over 60miles away. We access the rink in Lockerbie, Kelso and occasionally use the rink at Stirling which is almost a three hour drive away. All of the domestic competitions are held in Scotland. The distances we have to travel severely limits the amount of time we can practice.

In spite of these obstacles some of my team-mates and I have been identified by the England Curling Association and the hope is we can represent England at the 2015 World Wheelchair Curling qualifying tournament in Lohja, Finland this November. If we manage to finish in the top 2 this will enter us into the Finals held in Lucerne, Switzerland February 2016.

The team wants to make England wheelchair curling team one of the best teams in the world. Once we have competed internationally we would then be eligible for Great Britain selection. This is where our ultimate ambition lies, to represent Great Britain at the Winter Paralympics.