Following the success of the pilot engagement day held in March of this year, participants from across Scotland came together for Scottish Disability Sport’s second ‘Visual Impairment Sports Engagement Day’ on Saturday 26^th November, hosted at the Falkirk Sensory Centre, Mariner Centre and Falkirk Indoor Bowls Centre.

Thirty-three children, young people and adults with visual impairments aged between 5 and 48 years of age travelled from across Scotland to try a variety of sports delivered by top sports coaches and volunteers from scottishathletics, Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club, Talking Tandems, Scottish Football Association, Goalball UK, JudoScotland and Scottish Swimming.

The aim of the event was to provide an introduction and engage participants in more sport.  Many people with a visual impairment may not be aware of opportunities available to them, and Scottish Disability Sport Regional Managers were on hand to tell people about how to get involved with clubs in their local area.

In addition to the sports, partner organisations RNIB, Haggeye, Guide Dogs Scotland, Blind Children UK Scotland, FABB Scotland and Visibility provided information on their organisations and the support they can provide people.

Gavin Macleod, Chief Executive Officer of SDS said: “SDS is delighted to be working in partnership with the sports and the support agencies to support people with visual impairments to access this unique event to be introduced to and engage in sport.”

If you would like further information about sporting opportunities for people with a visual impairment, please contact Scottish Disability Sport by telephoning 0131 317 1130 or by emailing on admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

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Wednesday 23 November was an important fixture in the calendar of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) as it represented the final Championships of the 2016 sporting calendar, however it also represented the end of an era with Colin MacDonald drawing his tenure as SDS Swimming Officials Co-ordinator to a close after a significant and successful period at the helm.

The MacDonald family first became involved with SDS because of their son Gordon who was a physically disabled swimmer with enormous potential. Sadly Gordon retired from competitive swimming while still a junior but mum, dad and daughter continued their interest and over the years have made an enormous contribution to swimming officiating in the west and the Scottish Disability Sport national events programme specifically. The team of swimming officials Colin has assembled is second to none and nobody epitomises commitment to SDS swimming more than Colin and his wife Carolyn. They have supported the programme for almost two decades and in recent years Colin has coordinated the swimming officials’ team-list for all galas nationally and in the west of Scotland. Colin is a true gentleman in every sense. Very professional and reliable and at the same time understanding of the needs of SDS members. Colin has supported SDS gala personnel enthusiastically and ensured that SDS swimming events are of a standard appropriate to the needs of SDS performance swimmers. Although Colin will be greatly missed from his role as co-ordinator it is hoped that both Colin and Carolyn continue to be involved at SDS events in the future. A fine couple in every way! We wish Colin, Carolyn and their family well and thank them for many years of unstinting service.

Thanks to Richard Brickley MBE for additional content.

The Junior Swimming Championships are one of the longest running in the national calendar organised by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and next year we celebrate the fortieth edition of the Junior Championships for swimmers with a learning disability – the major occasion of the junior swimming year.  SDS was pleased to return to Tollcross International Aquatics Centre for the 39^th edition which assisted in inspiring further record-breaking performances at a venue considered amongst the best in the world.

Paralympians from Scotland have represented their Branch junior teams in the past with distinction. One of Scotland’s leading swimmers is Scott Quin from Lothian.  Scott won a silver medal in 100m Breaststroke SB14 at the IPC World Championships in July last year at this very venue before repeating this achievement at the Rio Paralympics where he lost the gold by a whisker to his GB stablemate Aaron Moores in arguably the most thrilling finish seen at the games. Scott is a great supporter of the Junior Championships, competing many times for Lothian and was sorry he couldn’t join us at the event to see the next wave of swimmers coming through.

This year’s event, as with last year, was supported by the Sports Council for Glasgow and SDS is hugely grateful to the Sports Council for Glasgow for their significant support, enabling the event to take place at Tollcross. It is hugely exciting for our swimmers to compete again in such an impressive venue and it really allows the championships to exist in an arena worthy of the effort put in from the participants.

Youngster Tamsin Neef (Highland) followed her outstanding year in 2015 with an even more successful visit this year. Neglecting the early morning start required in 2015 to travel in from Skye, Tammy decided to stay the night before to ensure she was well rested for her personal assault on the Championship Records (CR) held by Perth’s Reagan Doig. Tammy was successful in breaking the 50m Backstroke CR in a time of 35.07 and was just outside the others but retains the ambition of making these records her own in future years – as a relative youngster she has plenty of years left to do this. Tammy was a clear winner of the trophy for ‘Best Female’ of the Championships.

A feature of these championships in the last few years have been the enthralling battles between Rhys Handleigh from Dumfries & Galloway and rivals that present themselves each year. Highland’s Dean Brannen fulfilled this role in 2014, Louis Lawlor (West of Scotland) and Christian Buchanan (Lothian) had designs on his titles in 2015 but this year it was the turn of Tayside’s Jack Milne to go head to head with the D&G swimmer. And what a battle it was; Rhys added to his collection of gold medals with a championships record in the 100m Freestyle along with a first place finish in the 100m Individual Medley. With the title on a knife-edge the ‘Best Male’ of the Championships was awarded to Jack for his exceptional performances in the 50m Breast Stroke, 50m Butterfly and the 50m Backstroke where he finished ahead of last year’s ‘Best Male’ Rhys Handleigh.

Yet again Scottish Disability Sport was able to call on a great team of volunteers and officials to ensure the smooth running of the event in testing circumstances due once again to the weather and number of withdrawals and we thank the officials – very able co-ordinated for the last time by Colin MacDonald – who assisted on the day. An article on Colin and his wife Carolyn appear elsewhere on this site, however SDS would like to place on record their appreciation of the unstinting support Colin and Carolyn have given the organisation for over a decade.

Branches are working on wider engagement and all now should have ready access to or are running qualification galas for this event which greatly helps the organisation and implementation of the national championships through the increased experience of swimmers and accurate timings and this should continue to be encouraged within branches and their links to key local partners including clubs, leisure trusts, education, local authorities and other leisure providers.

SDS hope that many more young people in Scotland are inspired to take up swimming following Rio 2016 and hope that the partnerships within the branch areas and regions can allow this to happen.

Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA

Scottish Disability Sport would like to invite coaches to register for the Reflections on Rio: Development Coach Conference 2017. There is no cost to attend as SDS recognizes the huge contribution coaches make to disability sport in Scotland.

A video of the 2014 conference can be seen here.

The day will begin at 0930 with registration, for a 1000 start, and will close at 1530. Workshop topics will include:

• Athlete Support – the transition periods of an athlete and how coaches can support the athlete through these transition phases;
• Leadership and Mentoring – exploring the leadership role of a coach and how to support successful practice;
• Understanding the basic principles of performance nutrition and hydration to support para athlete training and recovery;
• Developing a strength and conditioning programme for para athletes.
• Communication – the use of technology for ensuring communication is relevant to the needs of adults and children with a variety of disabilities;
• Planning and periodisation for coaches – consideration will be given to goal setting, competition and coping with unforeseen circumstances.

In addition, there will be keynote addresses from Nik Diaper, EIS head of sport science and sport medicine (Paralympic sports), and Matt Hammond ,GB Boccia Performance Manager. The day will also include a discussion panel of athletes, players and coaches on topical issues, future aspirations, and an opportunity for questions from the floor. The closing remarks will be made by Mike Whittingham, sportscotland Director of High Performance.

The information and registration pack can be downloaded here.

After watching Andy Murray end his season as world No.1, his compatriot Gordon Reid knows he has the chance to end the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour as world No.1 if he can win the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters 2016 that starts in London on Wednesday (30 November).

“It has been an incredible season – one that has gone by in a bit of a flash. I’ve loved every minute so far and hopefully I can end it on a high in London. I know the world No.1 ranking is at stake,” says Reid.

Reid, the 25 year-old world No.2 from Helensburgh in Scotland is careful not to over-state his chances of wrestling the top spot from Stephane Houdet of France when the action gets underway at the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

“Right now I’m feeling pretty good and quite relaxed, though nothing is guaranteed when you are competing at the highest level.  Expectations were high at Wimbledon where I did well (won the singles) and in Rio (Paralympic Games) I again played well (and took gold).  If I go out and play strongly next week I’ve got a chance, but I know there are eight very strong world-class players in the mix so it will be very tough.  I’ll definitely have to play my very best tennis if I’m to win it (the Masters).”

Left-hander Reid is one of five British players currently confirmed for the season ending Masters, with world No.7 Alfie Hewett (GB) making his debut in the men’s singles draw.  In a tournament that will also feature the defending men’s champion, Joachim Gerard (Belgium), Reid knows he must be at his best. However, if drawn against current world No.1 Houdet, he believes he now has the game to match the 46 year-old Frenchman. Though Houdet has won 21 of their 33 encounters, Reid has recently won 7 of those matches.

“Yes, I think for me the gap is definitely closing (against Houdet),” said Reid. “He’s a great player but I think I’ve had the better of our exchanges over the past couple of years. I’m increasingly using good tactics against him, my game has improved a lot and I’m making it harder for him to exploit any weaknesses.”

With Hewett joining Reid in the men’s singles and fellow Brits Andy Lapthorne (quads), Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley (both women’s singles) also competing in London, Reid hopes the home support can inspire the players to emulate Murray’s feat. As Reid headed for his latest practice session, he added:

“Whether it’s Nottingham, the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters or Wimbledon, it’s brilliant playing in front of crowds that are closest to my home in Scotland.  Last week you could see how the crowd got behind Andy Murray for his ATP World Tour Finals win. Hopefully, we can also get good crowds next week, with people coming to cheer on the British players and inspire us to a similar result! I really enjoy playing in front of home crowds and I’m looking forward to getting the matches started.”

In the women’s singles, world No.7 Diede de Groot (Netherlands) has signaled her form in advance of making her debut at the Masters by last week winning the women’s singles title at the ITF British Open in Bath. Jiske Griffioen (Netherlands) and David Wagner (USA), the respective women’s and quad Masters champions will also be competing in London, aiming to defend their titles at what is one of the most prestigious events on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

Tickets for the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters are available from as little as £1. For details visit www.wheelchairtennismasters.com

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation