Katy Berisford (Anni)- Senior Player/Committee
Age:
51
Classification:
5
Disability:
Dodgy knees and hips alongside hypermobility syndrome (I’m super bendy)
Do you train with another team?
not at the minute, I've played for a couple of women's league teams in the past but I've decided not to play women's league for now
What is your role at the club?
I am a senior player, volunteer and committee member
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. I felt that the ethos of the club fitted very well with me.
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...?
My goal, as always, is to be the best I can be (and not to be last!)
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 am usually up to my eyeballs in various crafty type passtimes.
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
I earned my degree through the Open University when I was in my 40s, to show my dyslexic daughter that there is no time limit on learning
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. I only eat the first bit to get to the pudding so my dream meal would be lots of puddings! 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?
Shep (one of the Blue Peter dogs many years ago who never quite did what he was supposed to do....)
Quick fire questions
Which one is your favourite?
Tea or ✓Coffee
Sweet or ✓ Savoury
Summer ✓or Winter
This is for the committee/ volunteers...
What makes you want to help the club out? And what do you enjoy most about being at the club?
The club has given me so very much, and it is a privilege to be able to give something back
Are you part of another sport or volunteer anywhere else?
I dabble a bit with adaptive boxing and I sew pyjamas and hospital gowns for the Pyjama Fairies charity.
What is your goal for your role and Cheshire Phoenix?
To carry on being useful and supporting the next generation of players to develop to the very best they can be