Disability Sport Fife Awards Evening

Almost 90 athletes, players, coaches, volunteers and family members attended the 2017 Disability Sport Fife Annual Awards Evening at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre. The Awards Evening is supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and offers DSF the opportunity recognise and celebrate the many successes of the last 12 months.

The guest of honour was Jim Thomson, past Chair of Scottish Disability Sport. In introducing Jim, DSF President Richard Brickley acknowledged the immense amount of support Jim had offered DSF members throughout the 80s and 90s when he was a staff member with Capability Scotland. DSF developed an internationally recognised programme for athletes with cerebral palsy, head injury and stroke with guidance and support from the sports committee of Capability Scotland. Claire Morrison, Board Member with Scottish Disability Sport, provided an inspiring end of evening round up to what was described as one of the most successful Awards Evenings to date.

Scott Urquhart, Operations Manager with The Fife Sports and Leisure Trust accepted the Organisation of the Year Award from Kathleen Thomson and Jim Thomson. Kathleen is the wife of the late David Thomson, a Founder Member of DSF. The award acknowledges the influence David had on DSF for almost four decades. DSF currently recognises the FSLT as its major partner in the delivery of services for participants of all levels of ability with different impairments.

The Ambassador of the Year Award was presented to Anne Marie McMorrin, Principal Teacher in the Department for pupils with additional support needs at Balwearie HS. This major DSF award is in the name of the late Alec Thorburn who lost his life in a tragic kayaking accident a few years ago. Alec was the Treasurer of DSF and a very active volunteer. Anne Marie was introduced as a teacher who had greatly influenced the relationship between ASN schools in Fife and DSF through her role as a promoted staff member and Chair of PEPAS. The partnership between schools and DSF has never been stronger.

Jim Thomson and Scott Urquhart from the FSLT presented Garrie Roberts, Head Coach of the Incas swimming club, with the Service to Sport Award. This award carries the name of the late Steve Donnelly who offered DSF hours of voluntary and professional support while an employee of the FSLT. Garrie started coaching with Carnegie SC in 1988 and moved to Glenrothes SC in 1999 where he coached Paralympians Paul Noble, Lara Ferguson, Andrew Lindsay, Paul Johnston and Tracy Wiscombe. In 2002 he coached at Incas and following a two year spell in Dundee,returned to Incas in 2014 where has remained until now. Presently five members of the Fife Performance swim squad train with Incas. DSF recognises Incas as a truly inclusive community performance club and Garrie as an outstanding inclusive coach.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife