james gribble

Happy New Year!!!

, , ,

What were your highlights in 2015?

What are you looking forward to over the next 12 months? Apart from the Puffin Magic Circus Ball on 19 March!!!

As individuals and as a society we are in constant flux between reflecting and learning from the past and planning and prophecising about the future.

For me, facing my fear of sit skiing, stand-up fly fishing, joining the management committee of an incredible new resort for spinal cord injured individuals, called Sargood, and the growing success and impact of Empower Golf were standouts of the last 6 months. Understanding that one must be conscious of “stopping something old” to “start something new”, will be key to a successful year ahead.

(more…)

Puffin Magic IX – Test Event

, ,

Recently it was decided that, in an effort to re-live some of the glory from the mid 1990’s, a few of the boys would jump back into an VIII to row in a regatta known as the Shore Rowing Challenge.  Eight VIIIs will be representing three decades of Bob Shirlaw’s Rowing Supremacy as Rowing Master at Shore School (with countless wins and championships to his name).  They will race head-to-head for bragging rights as the most ‘Glorious and Decorated’ crew of their era!!
They’ve been training hard and, in an effort not to disappoint their fans (and their own egos), will be racing to win at all cost.  Competition at its best!

SHORE ROWING CHALLENGE
SATURDAY 28th AUGUST 2010
Shore Boat Shed
Wharf Rd (right at the end), Gladesville
Heats 9:00am / 9:15am
B FINAL 10:00am
A FINAL 10:15am followed by a BBQ and presentation from 11am

95/96 GPS, National, World Champion Puffin Magic VIII
Stroke Saxon Lyne
7 James Armarti
6 Sam Wallrock
5 Andrew Waite
4 Joel Cape
3 Michael Irvine
2 Evan Sturrock
Bow Matt Davis
Cox TBA
Coach Michael Doyle

Hope to see you there!

For more information, contact Evan Sturrock evansturrock@gmail.com or 0412 304 419

Puffin Magic Test Venue

, ,

Recently it was decided that, in an effort to re-live some of the glory from the mid 1990’s, a few of the boys would jump back into an VIII to row in a regatta known as the Shore Rowing Challenge.  Eight VIIIs will be representing three decades of Bob Shirlaw’s Rowing Supremacy as Rowing Master at Shore School (with countless wins and championships to his name).  They will race head-to-head for bragging rights as the most ‘Glorious and Decorated’ crew of their era!!
They’ve been training hard and, in an effort not to disappoint their fans (and their own egos), will be racing to win at all cost.  Competition at its best!

SHORE ROWING CHALLENGE
SATURDAY 28th AUGUST 2010
Shore Boat Shed
Wharf Rd (right at the end), Gladesville
Heats 9:00am / 9:15am
B FINAL 10:00am
A FINAL 10:15am followed by a BBQ and presentation from 11am

95/96 GPS, National, World Champion Puffin Magic VIII
Stroke Saxon Lyne
7 James Armarti
6 Sam Wallrock
5 Andrew Waite
4 Joel Cape
3 Michael Irvine
2 Evan Sturrock
Bow Matt Davis
Cox TBA
Coach Michael Doyle

Hope to see you there!

For more information, contact Evan Sturrock evansturrock@gmail.com or 0412 304 419

A while between drinks

, ,

Ok so it has been a while between drinks…

The best part of a year ago, a dynamic filmmaker Jefferson Grainger approached me to ask whether he could tell my story as part of a film festival called Focus On Ability. Following my humble acceptance, we went to work over 2 incredible days filming and many more for the production and editing team. The result, taking out the most online votes i.e. winning the people’s favourite competition in the open category.

With a rookie talent a.k.a. Moi involved, it shows just how much magic was weaved behind the camera. In case you didn’t catch it during our blanket mass marketing promotional effort, here it is – link

The ultimate high and low of the period played out representing Australia in my first World Disabled Golf Championships alongside a team of 4 amputees. The excitement of them opening up a wheelchair category (a month prior to the tournament starting) and the thrill of an enterprising first nine holes to begin my campaign were slowly, painfully and methodically unwound over the course of the next 2 days. (more…)

Sharks, Expos and Sponsorship

, , ,

Who in their right mind would seriously signup for a 1.6km ocean swim starting at Shark Bay?

Apart from the above, a local quadriplegic (a.k.a. me) and his ever-supportive, bikini-clad fiancee (the only one out of 300+ competitors) entered to attempt their first-ever ocean swim – The Bay to Breakers. Website here.

I am immensely proud and happy to announce that after 1 hour, 24 minutes and approximately 47 seconds, Sarah and I were finally back on solid ground. Our combined body heat working overtime to return her lips back to normality and counteract the overwhelming exhaustion my body was engulfed by. The memory of the final 200 m and struggling around the outgoing rip with my “spaghetti arms” almost failing to emerge from the water following every stroke, will be with me for years to come. As will the standing ovation I was met with by the particularly patient crowd in situ on the beach. (more…)

Superstition, Swimming and Soul Patch

, , ,

We are all constantly challenged and confronted by life’s inevitable surprises and inherent quirks. But as one who has a historic penchant for fate and its consistent role in every day, even I was at a loss as to how, in my debut appearance in Golf Australia Magazine (Feb edition), there was also a 6-page spread on golfing in Iceland of all places, including coverage of Westerman Islands (where the original Peter the Puffin was caught) and puffins for heaven’s sake! One can only marvel at its originality. (more…)

2014 is going to be BIG!!!!

, ,

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody! I hope you managed some quality downtime over the break and are ready for a bigger and better 2014!

It has been a mad couple of months with Sarah’s family in town over the festive period, Australia going golfing crazy at the end of the year and good progress for Empower Golf Australia. The only downsides were a long bout of cellulitis and limited time for quality exercise and rehabilitation. (more…)

Changing the face of Disabled Golf in Australia

,

I am now officially a Hubber! Check out this link. The Hub is basically a co-working space which encourages networking, collaboration and learning for individuals and small businesses from all industries. I am spending 2 to 3 days a week there (amongst exercise and walking practice) working on various initiatives, some of which I will touch on later. It provides a hyper interactive environment with an incredible cross-section of professionals from social entrepreneurs to graphic designers to management consultants. For anybody debating a fresh change to working from home, I highly recommend it. (more…)

1 2