"Focus on the ability and not the disability," Scots curler Michael McCreadie told members of the Moray Wheelchair Curling Club.

McCreadie (61) was at Moray Leisure Centre in Elgin to deliver a motivational talk to the curlers.

He has never bowed to his disability – polio confined him to a wheelchair from an early age – and has achieved international success in basketball, bowls, swimming and curling.

He was crowned curling world champion in 2004 and 2005 and last year, after competing in five summer Paralympic Games, struck silver at the Winter Paralympics in Turin.

McCreadie has just returned from Australia where he was manager of the Scots bowls team at the World Championships.

Next week he is off to Oslo in Norway as part of a Scottish/GB squad which will be followed by competitive trips to America and Canada as part of the team's preparations for the 2008 World Championships in Switzerland.

However, McCreadie's ultimate goal is to go one better at the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver and win a gold medal.

His message to people is simple; your life does not end if you suffer from a mental or physical disability.

"Despite whatever perceived difficulties you have, whether they are physical or mental, there are opportunities, although perhaps you don't always see them," he said.

He has been in a wheelchair since 1947, but has never let that be an obstacle to what he wants to achieve.

Aside from his own sporting success, McCreadie is inspired to help others and is a qualified coach in basketball, curling and boccia (a sport similar to bowls), as well as a qualified reflexologist and Reiki practitioner.

"We all have a choice. You can choose to have a sedentary life or, through sport, have an interesting life and perhaps represent your country," he said.

McCreadie is much in demand for his motivational speaking, although this was his first talk to a disabled sports group and he admitted to a few nerves.

Curling has quite literally given former fisherman William Bain a "new lease of life".

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago, depression took hold of his life and after his condition worsened last year he now relies on a wheelchair to get about.

Bain (50), who lives in Lossiemouth, started attending the Moray Resource Centre in Elgin, which provides support to people with disabilities.

Helping hand – World and Olympic medallist Michael McCreadie (right) gives curler William Bain some advice about playing on the ice at Moray Leisure Centre. NS

"I met some of the curlers and came along to see if I would enjoy it. I love coming here (leisure centre) and what a buzz I get from the curling," he said.

"It has been a new lease of life for me and we have a brilliant laugh. We have some good players here as well."

He joined the club six months ago and can now be found curling twice a week at the centre and the group also meet regularly on a social basis.

"Since I have been in my chair I look at what I can do and not my disability," he added.

"I have got involved in a lot of charity work. We raise money for our own club and I am also in the process of raising money for my granddaughter who has cerebral palsy."

Bain admitted it took him time to come to terms with his own situation, however, he is determined now to help others in a similar situation.

"I would like to encourage others not to sit in the house. There is more to life than simply being in a wheelchair."

Club secretary Michael McKenzie urged others to consider curling as a sport.

"I just started playing at the beginning of the year and had never curled before," said McKenzie, of Elgin, who has been in a chair for almost 40 years. He has played other sports, such as bowls and snooker.

The club has welcomed around half a dozen new members this year alone and meets twice a week, on a Monday from 2-4pm and a Wednesday from 3-5pm. They also have a session on a Tuesday for blind curlers.

"It is a nice leisurely sport and we all enjoy coming here. We have a good bunch," he added.

The sessions are open to any wheelchair user to attend.

Curling in Moray has received a recent boost with efforts by the new Moray Province Development Group to recruit new players across all age levels and abilities.

c.saunderson@northern-scot.co.uk

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