Sport and technology have come together to benefit a local teenager thanks to Lincolnshire County Council’s onlincolnshire project.

Charlie Bonner, a 16-year-old wheelchair basketball player from Boston, was born with the rare neuromuscular condition known as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC). His condition causes him to experience involuntary contractions around his joints and he attends regular physiotherapy sessions to improve his daily movement and performance during games.

During a recent visit to his physiotherapist, Charlie was referred to Franky Mulloy, a Sports Biomechanist at the University of Lincoln, to analyse his technique.

Franky, who also runs onlincolnshire’s Louth Technology Hub at The Meridian Leisure Centre, used the hub’s high-speed cameras to film Charlie in action.  The pair were able to analyse Charlie’s movements in slow motion to assess his strengths and identify areas of weakness in his modified technique which could be improved.

“Being able to analyse my movements in such detail has enabled me to break down my shooting technique,” explained Charlie.

“It’s been a great opportunity to identify where my power is coming from when I shoot.

“Franky from the Louth Technology Hub was very helpful. He gave me useful advice on how to improve my skills and techniques to achieve greater consistency, which will help me play better.”

Charlie, whose interest in wheelchair basketball was first sparked at the age of seven, currently plays for the Jaguars under-19 team and attends GB Training Camps. He has previously competed at the National Junior Championships and was a reserve for the Sainsbury’s School Games England Central squad.

Thanks to the high-speed technology cameras at the Louth Technology Hub, Charlie was able to identify why his back was getting sore when he played and was able to make adjustments to his chair to prevent this.  The technology has also given him an opportunity to hone his skills and use the experience to pursue his ambition to play at a national level.

The Louth Technology Hub, is one of five hubs set up by onlincolnshire across the county to give businesses access to state-of-the-art digital technology. The hubs, which are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), are home to a range of digital technology including 3D printers, laser cutters, scanners, GoPro cameras, milling machines and Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets.

The onlincolnshire project has been included in the 2015 Digital Leaders 100 list and shortlisted in the Best Digital Skills Product or Service category.

Voting for the overall winners of the Digital Leaders 100 is now open and will close at the end of May 2015. To vote for onlincolnshire visit www.digitalleaders100.co.uk

For more information about Charlie Bonner visit: http://lincolnshiresport.com/charlie-bonner/

To find out more about the Lincolnshire Technology Hubs please visit the onlincolnshire website www.onlincolnshire.org , follow @onlincolnshire on Twitter or visit www.facebook.com/onlincolnshire

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Notes to Editors:

About onlincolnshire
• onlincolnshire is a Lincolnshire County Council-run project which is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.
• In March 2013, the council signed a £48 million contract with BT to provide superfast broadband to at least 88% of county properties by 2016, with the remaining properties having access to at least of 2Mbps broadband. A further investment of £2.8 million was announced in February 2014 which has increased the number of properties to 89%.
• The contract with BT concentrates on an intervention area of over 150,000 premises where existing or planned commercial roll outs would not deliver superfast speeds.
• The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
• Some internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 12 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
• onlincolnshire also offers up to 12 hours of support and advice to eligible Lincolnshire businesses to help them make the most of their access to improved broadband. Specialist consultants provide demonstrations, workshops, masterclasses or one-to-one coaching and mentoring to businesses to improve their services, processes, productivity and profitability.

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Kate Strawson
Shooting Star PR
kate@weareshootingstar.co.uk
01522 528540
07733 230293
@KateStrawson