Disability Sport Fife (DSF) is delighted to report that inspirational athlete Susanne McGrath from Glenrothes has just completed her second wheelchair marathon of the year and for the first time in Dublin. To add to the celebrations Susanne completed the course in a personal best time of 3.35.

Along the way Susanne was cheered on by her Aunt Marie and her two friends. The “influential” banner they carried was the creation of family friend Geraldine Walsh from Dublin who ensured that all the arrangements for Susanne went smoothly on the day.

Susanne came to wheelchair racing late in her athletics career but has made amazing progress within a short period. Her father Eddie is never far away when she is training or competing and his support has been critical as her “enabler” and “fixer”. Eddie also completed the Dublin Marathon and has been encouraged and inspired by Susanne to follow her lead into distance running training and the occasional big event.

Susanne is a member of the DSF wheelchair racing squad that is coached by DSF lead athletics coach Pamela Robson. Recently the group was inspired by a visit to Fife from world champion Sammi Kinghorn and her coach Ian Mirfin MBE from Scottish Athletics.

Up until earlier this year Susanne trained in a racing wheelchair provided by Disability Sport Fife but that chair has now been returned to stock awaiting the next newcomer to the sport. Due to her own fundraising efforts, those of local fundraiser Neil Smart and a bursary from the Russell Hogg Trust, Susanne took possession earlier this year of her own bespoke Bromakin chair and she has not looked back since. Improvements in technique, higher levels of fitness and of course the new racing wheelchair have resulted in a finish to the season that she could only have dreamed of a couple of years ago. Well done Susanne an inspirational Fife athlete.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Curling for All at the Peak

Stirling Sports Village, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ

For adults and youn gpeople witha range of disabilities. The cost is £3 for participants, one parent/carer/supporter friend joins in for free. Places are limited, booking is essential.

Wednesday 22nd November 2017, 3-4pm, 4-5pm

Wednesday 29th November 2017, 3-4pm, 4-5pm

Wednesday 6th December 2017, 3-4pm, 4-5pm

Open to people with physical, learning and sensory impairments, and autistic spectrum disorders. Traditional, stick or wheelchair curling available.

For more information and to book a place contact Helen Kallow, RCCC Disability Curling Development Officer, 0131 333 3003, helen@royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org.

Have you the desire to learn how to skate, gliding over the Ice like Torvill and Dean? Well, now you can!

Intu Braehead Ice Rink is introducing a new open Inclusive Skating session every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am.

It will cost £8.50 for an inclusive skater and carer, and skate hire is included in the price.

If you are interested in this exciting new venture, head along to Braehead Ice Rink this weekend, or contact Margarita Sweeney-Baird on margarita.msb@gmail.com for more information on inclusive Skating.

Conner Morrison and Toni Shaw beat off strong competition to take home the Disability Sports Achiever of the Year & Junior Disability Sports Achiever of the Year awards respectively at this year’s Aberdeen Sports Awards held at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The swimmers, who train and compete with the University of Aberdeen Performance Swimming Team, are working their way up the British Swimming World Class programme and have aspirations of making Team GB for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as well as joining Team Scotland in next year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Both Toni and Conner have worked exceptionally hard over the past few years and it certainly paid off when both athletes were selected for the GB Squad for this year’s World Para-Swimming Championships in Mexico.

Toni was shortlisted alongside Jack Caird, a wheelchair basketball player who was recently selected for the Scottish U15 Team, and Conner was shortlisted with Kerry Mathers, a RaceRunning athlete who recently took home bronze in the 100m RR3 final in the CPISRA RaceRunning World Championships held in Denmark.

Congratulations to all of our athletes who were nominated, shortlisted and award winners, and thank you to the Active Aberdeen Partnership who hosted the event.

Name: Steven Key

Branch: Perth & Kinross Disability Sport

Sport:   Bowls

Club:   Inchture Bowling Club

How did you get involved in your sport? Initially through a fun charity day. But since disability through SDS and Inchture who have helped me so much.

How long have you been playing your sport for? About 9 years able bodied then 1 year in a wheelchair.

Biggest Strength (as an athlete): Commitment, determination and the love of the game.

What’s the best thing about your sport? Anyone can take part. Also it’s a team sport and the competitive spirit of individual games

What equipment do you need to take part in your sport? 4 Bowls. Oh and in my case a wheelchair   

Greatest sporting achievement: Winning the 2017 Lawn Bowls National Championships in Aberdeen.

Favourite Para-athlete:  Tough question, but I suppose Billy Allan for his commitment to the sport.

Favourite athlete to compete against:  Anyone really.

Any advice for someone interested in your sport? Try it and you will love it. It’s not an old persons’ game as the myths say.