Inclusive basketball on the fast break in Nelson

For almost two decades the Fulton Hogan Basketball League has been a pillar of the local inclusive sports community.

After being identified earlier this year as the best delivery model for a nation-wide expansion of what started in Nelson 18 years ago, another feather has been added to its cap of successes with the nomination of Nicholas Reid for the Diversity and Inclusion Award at this year’s local Sport and Recreation awards.

Having played and helped run the league for the last 15 years, Nicholas has been part of the driving force which has seen upwards of 150 people a year come together and enjoy basketball.

Born with a stroke on the right side of his body, Nicholas says that his love for the game has overcome a lot of the obstacles in his way.

While he’s had to learn other ways to do things two-handed people find easy, he started playing in primary school with his friends and was instantly hooked.

“But, by high school it was apparent that there were a lot better people than me who can use both hands.”

Fortunately, Nicholas didn’t have to wait long for a friend who was already playing in the Fulton Hogan league to ask him to come along, and he thought he’d give it another go.

“It’s so long ago I can’t remember, but after that I was hooked.”

This winter he was down there again, with a whistle in his mouth as he refereed the league that had given him so much.

As part of the Nelson Inclusive Sports Trust’s board of trustees, he says that there’s a sense of imposter syndrome about the whole nomination because he’s just one of the many cogs who make it all run.

“It all started from Heather Walker and her husband Derek and their dedication in giving people who don’t get a chance a place to play.

“I feel like it’s kind of a team effort, I don’t quite believe I got nominated.”

Nicholas says it’s humbling to be acknowledged alongside so many other great sportspeople and administrators.

“It feels like you’re a lotto winner, you don’t always expect it to be you and there’s someone more deserving.”

It’s this humble attitude that sees him say that he never did anything for an award or recognition.

“I do it because I enjoy the people I do this with.

“I’ve been a fan of basketball all my life, playing and watching.

“It’s something I enjoy. I love getting out there and running up and down the court. Win or lose, fun is all I care about.”

A full list of nominees for the 2023 Sport and Recreation awards can be found on Sport Tasman’s social media channels, the awards night is 1 December.