Katy Berisford (Anni, Curly Sue etc...)- Senior Player
Age:
Shhhh, just turned 50 ;-) but I’m a teen actually ;D
Classification:
3.5
Disability:
Dodgy knees and hips alongside hypermobility syndrome (I’m super bendy)
Do you train with another team?
I play for our sister club Angels
What is your role at the club?
I am a senior player
Why do you like wheelchair basketball? And why did you start playing the sport?
I started after the 2012 Paralympics; my daughter really loved the sport after trying it at a Paralympic flame event locally. I love being able to be involved in a sport where I'm not in imminent danger of tripping over my own eyelashes! I spent all of my younger years being quite honestly rubbish at sport, it was a huge revelation to discover that all it took was for me to sit down to play for a significant improvement to be seen.
Why did you decide to join Cheshire Phoenix Wheelchair basketball club?
I joined Phoenix when it was in its early days as it is relatively local to me and incredibly friendly and welcoming.
Do you have a favourite wheelchair basketball player? If so, who and why?
Oh gosh! So many to choose from!
Do you have a future goal for the sport such as going Elite, becoming a coach etc...?
To keep playing as long as I can
What hobbies do you have?
When I'm not playing ball, I am a Tudor and Victorian reenactor (I dress up in old fashioned clothes and pretend I'm someone else), I enjoy pushing my wheelchair in a vaguely brisk fashion (I'm not sure I can call it racing, but definitely jogging) and since lockdown I have taken up adaptive boxing classes via zoom
Do you go to college or university and if so, what do you or did you study?
Not currently
Do you have any cool qualifications in anything?
well, I'm not sure if it counts as cool but I have Grade 1s in Piano, Violin and Viola and have just finished my level 2 British Sign Language
Tell me one fact about yourself
My name when I was a Brownie Guider was Fluffy Owl
Let's have some fun
What is your Dream meal comprising a starter, a main and a dessert?
Anything not too spicy that I have not had to cook. Honestly, you want to make me happy? Come around and cook my tea for me, I'll be at least as happy as if you took me out for a posh meal, more so if you then wash up afterwards.
Favourite type of music?
I'm really eclectic. I love a lot of classical music but also Queen, some musical theatre, lots of 80s pop.....
If you were going to name your basketball, what would you call it and why?
Gloing - in hommage to the noise the ball in Unseen Accademicals is described as making.
Quick fire questions
Which one is your favourite?
Tea or ✓Coffee
Sweet ✓ or Savoury
Coke ✓ or Diet Coke
Summer ✓or Winter