Month: February 2017

World Wheelchair Curling Team Announced

The World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2017 will be held in Gangneung, South Korea from the 4th – 11th March 2017. Scotland secured their place at the World Championships following a silver medal finish at the World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship 2016 in Lohja, Finland. The team representing Scotland in South Korea will be:

  • Aileen Neilson (Skip)
  • Gregor Ewan
  • Hugh Nibloe (Vice Skip)
  • Robert McPherson
  • Angie Malone

The teams competing at the 2017 World Wheelchair Championships will be Russia, China, Norway, USA, Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Scotland and hosts South Korea. The Scots have been handed an opening encounter against Canada on the 4th March.

Scotland have already ensured Great Britain’s involvement in the Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea from the 9th – 18th March 2018.

For more information visit the World Curling Federation website on http://www.worldcurling.org/home

Photo from World Wheelchair-B Championhip 2016 © WCF / Janne Ojanperä

Ayrshire Sportsability logo

Ayrshire Sportsability Awards

In 2009 ASA introduced awards to promote and applaud local achievements in sports for children and young people with a disability in Ayrshire and Arran.  This years winners will be announced at our annual Charity Ball on Saturday 18th March 2017 at the Princess Royal Suite, Ayr Racecourse.

 Ayrshire Sportsability Award Categories

Young Athlete of the Year Award 2016 sponsored by Ayrshire College  —This award is for a student who has displayed exceptional qualities in disability sport (The young person must have been 18 or under at the time of participation) The deciding criteria will be: Dedication, Effort, Significant achievements in medals/trophies.

Athlete of the Year Award 2016  —This award is for an athlete who has displayed exceptional qualities in disability sport (over 18 at the time of participation) The deciding criteria will be:

Dedication, Effort, Significant achievements in medals/trophies

Most Active School Award 2016 sponsored by South Ayrshire Council —This award is made to a school in Ayrshire or an individual within a school who has promoted a new initiative for children and young people with a disability: Criteria will include Inclusion and Innovation

(Finalists will be one from East, North and South Ayrshire).

Activity in the Community Award 2016  —This award is for a club that has made a difference over the year in delivering sports to people with a disability. This award recognises the skill, experience and devotion that exist in disability sport.

Disability SportsCoach of the Year 2016  – This award is for a coach who has made a difference in delivering disability sports to people with a disability.

The Award will be decided using the following criteria: Continual professional development, Helping others achieve their goals, Club/Individual Achievements

Nomination form

 

(Please advise the person you are nominating that you have submitted a nomination. If they reach the final they will receive a pair of tickets to attend our Charity Ball on 18th March 2017 to see if they have won)

Please return before 28th February 2017 by email to admin@ayrshiresportsability.org.uk

 

 

Group photo of presentation

Over 20 years of Working Together in Fife

The members of the Order of St John Fife have been passionate supporters of Disability Sport Fife (DSF) for over 20 years. Successive fund raising committees have supported individual Fife athletes and teams to achieve their full potential in sport. By far the largest project was the provision of a mini bus but for many DSF members it was the training bursaries or equipment purchases that made all the difference when they were starting out in performance sport.

Traditionally the Order cheque is handed over at the annual Carol Service but this year Committee Members travelled to the DSF Office at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre to make the presentation to three generations of DSF athlete members.

Three times Paralympian Adam Morley, 2016 Rio Paralympian Derek Rae and 11 year old Tyler McLelland gratefully accepted a cheque for £500 on behalf of the DSF Chairman and President. Adam and Derek are fully committed DSF sporting ambassadors and young Tyler, who has only been a DSF member for three months, was representing the talented youth contingent that is a feature of DSF in 2017. Already Tyler has shown promise in boccia, swimming and athletics.

DSF President Richard Brickley thanked the Order Chair, Stuart Morris of Balgonie, for many years of generous financial support and friendship. Successive generations of Committee members have demonstrated commitment to individual Fife athletes and they have responded by being successful in competitive sport.

Also in attendance were Order Treasurer Lesley Macdonald, Secretary Findlay Macrae and Committee members Mary Gilmour, Elizabeth Laing and Ewen Macdonald.

Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife

Group photo of 2017 winners

2017 SDS National Carpet Bowls Championships

The 37th annual Scottish Disability Sport National Carpet Bowls Championships took place at Dundee International Sports Complex (DISC) on February 4 2017.

This event traditionally is one of the first major events in the competition year and brings together many of the nation’s leading indoor and outdoor bowlers. The quality of the bowling on show was frequently of the highest level and yet again demonstrated the standard of bowler regularly playing in Scotland.

Leisure & Culture Dundee and Dundee City Disability Sport proved to be excellent hosts and DISC is a venue ideally suited to the hosting of this Championships, indeed we hope to return in 2018 to the same venue. Many thanks to all staff involved in the set-up of this event, especially Gordon Quinton, Darren Thomson, Carol Duncan and Sam Thomson.

This year saw players from Highland, Fife, Lothian, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and host branch Dundee compete over 5 sections to determine the leading carpet para-bowlers in the country. It was gratifying to see an increase in the sections with a learning disability and to welcome back the bowlers from a branch with a strong bowling history, South Lanarkshire. More development work is required to unearth bowlers with a physical and sensory disability and SDS and Bowls Scotland will continue to identify bowlers through the grassroots programmes within schools, clubs and branches. SDS Bowls Performance Development Manager Ron McArthur is gathering a picture of provision and accessibility amongst bowling clubs in Scotland and is developing the Regional Indoor Hubs with 4 clubs evidencing progress. Allied to an extensive Coach Education programme and the comprehensive national events programme the sport is well placed to ensure existing and new para-bowlers in all classifications are well catered for in accessible sessions and competition structure.

Interestingly, none of last year’s title winners were able to retain their trophy this year, which only serves to prove the level of competition evident each year at these championships.

Team Highland were celebrating their first trophy in almost two decades with Evan MacKintosh victorious in the Wheelchair section. With previous champion Wullie Harrison in the draws it was certainly well contested. It was, however, another Fife bowler who won through to contest the final with Evan. In a group where three bowlers finished on the same points, Theresa Wyse from Central Fife progressed to the final thanks to her superior points difference, partly achieved with her victory over her stablemate Wullie, however, Evan proved too strong in the final emerging the victor by 11 shots to 4.

In the Mixed Ambulant & B3 section the clever money was on a repeat of the 2016 final between Fife’s Billy Allan – a Commonwealth Games 2014 representative and a member of the current Games squad for 2018 – against Lothian’s Jimmy Restorick. Billy won the 2016 final which brought his title tally to four and he was keen to add the fifth this time around, however the roles were to be reversed this year with Restorick, the Prestonpans bowler in scintillating form and not allowing his experienced opponent from Cowdenbeath a foothold in the final.

In the all-Fife section for restricted ambulant & B2 bowlers two former champions went head to head. Eleanor Clark from Kirkcaldy lost a narrow final to Central Fife’s Neil Laughlin

Fife’s Craig Donaldson has shown incredible consistency in the section for male bowlers with a learning disability, contesting many finals over the years and has also won titles in this section. He was beaten by Lothian’s Alan Gordon – who exited at the semi-final stage this year – in 2016 and it is worth noting that the quality of bowler in this section is remarkable. Andrew Harrison, a previous multiple winner in this section and conqueror of Alan Gordon in the semis, from South Lanarkshire was the man to defeat Craig on this occasion in an incredibly tight affair, Harrison completing the victory 21-19 in a match that kept a ferocious pace throughout.

Thanks as ever go to our Fife office – Norma Buchanan and Richard Brickley MBE who prepared the programme and draw for the event, with Norma providing crucial administration support on the day. Further thanks to Ron McArthur, Bob Christie – Director of Development at Bowls Scotland, and Gordon McCormack OBE, Chairperson of the Glasgow Disability Sport branch for their support of this event.

Officials from local Bowling Clubs all provided officials for the day and without this input the event simply would not be possible. The support was again significant with 30 officials attending on the day and SDS are indebted to all who attended.

This continues to be an incredibly exciting period for bowls in Scotland as preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast gathers momentum and on national attention turns to the new SDS National Indoor Championships in April at Falkirk IBC.

Photo Credit: James Mackie

Photo: L to R: Christine Fisher (Dundee), Evan MacKintosh (Highland), Amanda Craig (Lothian), Neil Laughlin (Fife), Andrew Harrison (S. Lanarkshire) and Jimmy Restorick (Lothian).

Josh Manson and Gordon Reid playing in the Scottish Cup

Lothian Phoenix retain the Scottish Cup v St Mirren Warriors

The Scottish Cup this weekend was a closely fought game and definitely presented the sport in a positive light.  Colin Chriton, Chair of the Scottish Lord’s Taverners and Ruth Hampton form the Scottish Lord’s Taverners together with Lee Fawcett from RGK Wheelchairs presented the medals.  Lord’s Taverners Ambassador for Scotland, Steven Ross, was voted MVP for the game.

Full details can be found on the Basketball Scotland website: http://basketballscotland.co.uk/news_detail/10018699/

Swimming at the Discovery Games

Grampian Regional Swimming Gala

Fraserburgh Swimming Pool will once again will play host to the Mary Duncan regional swimming gala for athletes with a physical, sensory or learning disability.

The event will take place on Saturday 4th March from 12noon until 4pm.

If you would like to find out more information please contact: Claire McDonald on 07533056564 or email: claire.mcdonald@scottishdisabilitysport.com

Billy Allan bowling

Grampian Para-Bowls Development Day

When: Saturday 25th March, 2017 – 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Where: Garioch Indoor Bowling Club, Harlaw Business Centre, Harlaw Road, Inverurie AB51 4FR

No cost to attend.

Scottish Disability Sport are working in partnership with Garioch Indoor Bowling Club to deliver a -para-bowls “taster session” for all players with a physical, learning or sensory impairment.

  • Are you interested in starting a new sport or physical activity?
  • Are you interested in representing your country at international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games?
  • This may be the opportunity you have been looking for …

This event will invite players to come along and work with experienced coaches in the world of para-bowls, providing the opportunity to learn new skills. All abilities welcome!

For more information or to register your interest in the day, please contact Claire McDonald on 07533 056 564 or email claire.mcdonald@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Please note, players attending must bring appropriate footwear to access the playing surface (bowls shoes, flat soled infoor trainers, plimsoles, slippers, etc.). Please get in touch for further information.

Young skier coming down ski slope at ASN snowsports session

YASS Ski Sessions

Youth Additional Support Sport – introducing youngsters with additional support needs to skiing.

Tailored sessions available to learn and improve your skiing.

When: Wednesdays, 1800-1900
Where: Aberdeen Snowsports Centre

Just £5 per person. 5 week block – booking required.

To book call reception on 01224 810 215.

Additional information: Skiing requires active engagement and as such a base level of fitness and motor skills are recommended. If you would like to speak to a member of staff to discuss your requirements please contact program@aberdeensnowsports.com.

Our YASS sessions have qualified support need instructors however any conditions that may affect a learner’s ability to take on information and follow the safety rules should be declared in the client welfare form sent to you at time of booking to ensure suitable support is provided.

Neil Laughlin bowling

Fife Bowls Team Maintains Record at Scottish Championships

Fife sections were contested at the 37th Scottish Carpet Bowls Championships organised by Scottish Disability Sport at the Dundee International Sports Centre on Saturday 4th February. Ten players contested the five section finals and 50% of the finalists were representatives of Disability Sport Fife. Last year Team Fife won four titles and the Team of 2017 maintained the impressive Fife record with one title and four runners up medals. Fife Bowls Team Manager John Collins was pleased with the all round performances of the squad of 16 players.

Theresa Wyse from Central Fife CSS lost out in the final of the mixed section for wheelchair bowlers to Evan MacKintosh from Highland by 11 shots to 4. In the all Fife final for restricted bowlers with a physical or visual impairment, Neil Laughlin from Central Fife CSS defeated Eleanor Clark from Kirkcaldy by 10 shots to 8 in a closely contested final. In the mixed non restricted final for physically visually impaired bowlers, Billy Allan from Cowdenbeath lost out to Jimmy Restorick from Lothian by 5-21. Billy was the defending champion and has won the title on four occasions in the past. Jimmy won the title in 2007 and 2009.

Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC won the title for bowlers with a learning disability in 1998, 2006 and 2014. Only one other Fife bowler has won the title in 34 years and this was John Kennedy in 1984 and 1985. Craig came up against Andrew Harrison from South Lanarkshire in the final of the 2017 Championships and lost narrowly 19 – 21. This was Andrew’s third title having won it in 2002 and 2008. However this was another outstanding performance by Fife’s leading bowler with a learning disability who has an excellent record outdoors, indoors and on the short carpet.

The SDS National Carpet Bowls Championships were first held in 1981 at the Lochgelly Centre in Fife as part of Fife Regional Council’s contribution to the International Year of Disabled People. The 2017 Championships were the 37th occasion that SDS has held the event in venues throughout Scotland. The Dundee International Sports Centre (DISC) has been the venue for six of the last nine years. All bowlers qualified to compete at DISC by reaching the final stages of their local area Championships. The Fife Championships are supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and held at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes in November.

Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife