Month: January 2018

New Boccia Sessions in Grangemouth

Are you looking to get more active and meet new friends? These fun sessions could be for you!

Boccia is a sport for people with disabilities. These fun sessions are open to all individuals with physical and learning disabilities.

  • All ages, abilities and disabilities welcome
  • No previous experience required
  • Equipment will be provided
  • Starting on Monday 26 February from 6.00-6.45pm at Grangemouth Sports Complex, FK3 9JB
  • Cost: FREE!

For more information contact Lisa Male, Falkirk Community Trust, on 01324 590 931 / lisa.male@falkirkcommunitytrust.org or Twitter @ASC_Lisa.

Nithsdale Disability Sports Clubs

  • Football: Palmerston Indoor Arena, Dumfries – Wednesdays 10.00am-11.00am
  • Table Tennis: Loreburn Hall, Dumfries – Fridays 11.00am-12.00pm
  • Wheelchair Track Athletics: David Keswick Athletic Centre – Fridays 6.45pm-8.30pm
  • Weekly Activity Club: Loreburn Hall, Dumfries – Fridays 4.30pm-5.30pm
  • Splash Club: Temporary Pool, Dumfries Ice Bowl – Every second Saturday 4.00pm-5.00pm
  • Saturday Sports Club: Loreburn Hall, Dumfries – 10.30am-12.00pm

For more information download the flyer here.

Tyler’s back and we have missed him lots

Tyler McLelland from Glenrothes and Auchmuty HS is back in training at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre and he was missed by everybody who knows him. In 2017 Tyler went through surgery and a lengthy period of rehabilitation and rest. Recently his consultant gave him the go ahead to resume training and he could not get back to boccia quickly enough.

Coach Emma (Tyler’s mum) had a full and well thought out programme ready for him on his return. Tyler has had little chance to train with his new Spanish boccia balls purchased with funding from the Order of St John in Fife. After only a few sessions it was noted that he was throwing as well as ever and cannot wait for the competition season to start.

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and in particular the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre have been massively supportive of the young Disability Sport Fife member since he was first introduced to the game less than two years ago. The most recent supportive measure by the FSLT is to agree to a boccia court being laid in the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre for Tyler to use in training.

Tyler has been identified by DSF as a young boccia player of considerable promise. Coach Emma is signed up for a UKCC Level 1 boccia course this year having completed her Leaders award last year. Team McLelland will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in national boccia in years to come. Tyler competes in the BC4 class, the same class as Rio Paralympian Kieran Steer from Crossgates, who recently retired from the sport.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

 

SDS & Lothian Disability Badminton Championships

The Scottish Disability Sport Lothian Disability Badminton Championship provided a feast of competition and tensely-fought encounters on Saturday, with titles galore being won in Edinburgh.

It was hosted at Napier University by Lothian Disability Badminton Club and Scottish Disability Sport, and run by Roselind and Alistair Hall with support from David Gillespie as well as volunteers from Edinburgh University.

And the action itself saw some excellent badminton on show with some truly eye-catching individual performances giving fans a terrific spectacle.

Michael McCraw defeated Murrie Robertson in two games in the final of the LD men’s singles Division 1 final.

After defeating McCraw 21-18 in the round robin earlier in the day, Robertson lost out in the final as his opponent sealed a 22-20 21-12 victory.

It was Mahesh Bhatt who was left celebrating in Division 2 after battling past Dean Bernard 16-21 21-19 21-11.

Bhatt had to come from behind against Bernard, who started the quicker despite losing to his opponent in the round robin stage. Bhatt’s only defeat came in the round robin at the hands of Derek Tomkinson.

In Division 3, Ross Doig found an extra gear as he defeated Alistair Daniels in the final, in three games.

Daniels had looked the strongest player in the competition and had topped Group A in qualifying, with Doig finishing second after Daniels had beaten him 21-17 in the round robin.

And the two met again in the final but it was Doig who seized his moment, sealing a 21-16 19-21 21-6 success.

Diane Gillan dominated the LD women’s singles Division 1 throughout the competition, dropping just 22 points across all her matches.

Qualification successes against Louisa Ramsay (21-6) and Caitlyn De Souza (21-1) set up a semi-final clash with Jaz McNeil.

However, she powered through 21-3 and had the beating of Kerry Duncan in the final, sealing victory with a 21-8 21-4 scoreline.

In the women’s Division 4 singles it was Emma Stewart who claimed the glory – winning two from two against Sharon Munro and Claire Jeffray to seal top spot in qualification standings.

Pitted against Munro in the final, Stewart overcame her spirited opponent 21-9 21-15 to take the title, while Mary Wilson was too good for Laura Halil in the standing ladies combined final, the former sealing a 21-11 21-19 victory.

Colin Leslie got the better of Rory McLaren in the SL3 singles, Leslie taking the first game 21-11 before edging a closer second 21-15.

While in the SL4 singles, Jamie Munro was no match for David Purdie, who looked comfortable throughout as he secured a 21-8 21-11 triumph.

The SS6 singles threw up some tasty ties, but ultimately it was Bobby Laing who would prove to be a cut above the rest of the field, winning without conceding a game.

He topped his qualification group with two wins from two, dropping just 16 points in the process, to set up a semi-final against Jack Purvis.

Purvis was beaten 21-4 21-5, with Andrew Davies awaiting Laing in the final, having enjoyed three wins from three in his own qualification group before battling past Ross Foley in a three-set semi-final encounter.

But despite proving to be Laing’s sternest test of the tournament, Davies fell just short with the former triumphing 21-9 21-9. Laing would also go on to beat Leslie in the standing combined final 21-17 21-14.

The LD men’s doubles saw Grant Hunter and James Pert prevail, beating Kevin Dobson and McCraw 21-17 21-18 in the final after finishing as the top two pairings in Division 1.

While Gregor Hardie and Peter Sabine beat Doig and Campbell Reynolds 21-16 16-21 21-13 in the Division 2 doubles final and Becca O’Callaghan and Ramsay won the women’s doubles by beating Duncan and Stewart 21-18 9-21 21-18.

The combined mixed doubles saw a victory for Leslie and Wilson, beating Munro and Halil 21-4 21-12, while Pert and Gillan topped the LD mixed doubles Division 1 after four wins from four.

The final three categories saw mixed doubles Division 3 success for Hardie and Jeffray as they beat Reynolds and De Souza 21-19 15-21 21-14.

In the SS6 doubles combined it was Foley and Davies who took the glory with a 21-8 21-11 win over Finlay Davidson and Purvis in the final, while Leslie and Purdie got a walkover in their standing combined doubles final as Laing and Munro could not take to the court.

Applications are now open for the sportscotland Young People’s Sport Panel!

sportscotland looking for a group of young people to speak up for sport and work with them and Young Scot to help influence and shape sport in Scotland. Are you or do you know know someone who has got what it takes to speak up for sport? Please encourage them to apply online at www.sportscotland.org.uk/sportpanel, we would love to hear from them!

Applications will close at noon on Thursday 22nd February 2016

sportscotland are looking for young people who are:

  • Living in Scotland
  • Aged between 14 – 23
  • Passionate about sport
  • Able to commit 3 hours a week on a voluntary basis
  • Want to make a difference

Applications are welcome from young people from a wide range of backgrounds including SIMD areas and those with protected characteristics.

The work of the sport panel

Being part of the sport panel is a great opportunity for a young person; over the years the experience has made a positive difference to the lives of past and present panel members and they have made an important contribution to Scottish sport. The sport panel have been involved in a range of activities supporting the development of projects that help improve sport in schools, clubs and communities, attending and contributing to workshops and conferences to influence decision making and creating content for the web and social media to raise the profile of sport. You can follow the work of the Young People’s Sport Panel on social media using #sportpanel. More information is available at: www.sportscotland.org.uk/sportpanel-projects

What do members of the current panel have to say about it?

“Being part of the sport panel is an incredible opportunity, to be able to work with other young people and really be part of influencing change for young people in sport in Scotland. Its so inspiring to know you are making a positive difference for others.” Kirsty

Grampian Para Shooter sets new Scottish Record

A Parashooter from Aberdeen has set a new Scottish Record at a top competition in Spain.

Allan Ritchie, who only transferred to the Olympic Trap discipline in early 2017, scored a record 108/125, taking gold in the Class 1 (sitting) category and the overall Para High Gun at this year’s IV Olympic Trap Grand Prix International held in Malaga.

This event is the first major shooting Grand Prix to integrate Para Trap alongside the mainstream competition, and Allan was delighted to place 73rd out of a total of 238 mainstream and Para Trap shooters with a score equating to =15th out of 54!

Allan has his sights set on continued Para Team GB status, representing the country in International World Cup Events, the next being Al Ain, UAE this March, and future Paralympic Games. We wish him all the best in his journey to the top!

If you’re interested in sponsoring Allan, or if you know of any people living in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability who are keen to get involved in Para Sport in the Grampian area, please contact Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or on 07828 744 848

GOGA in Fife Making a Difference

Get Out Get Active has offered Adam Faulds from Glenrothes the opportunity to develop as an exceptional volunteer for active recreation and sport in Fife. The ex Balwearie HS DAS pupil transitioned comfortably from school to community activity at the beginning of the GOGA in Fife programme and from the start he has gone from strength to strength.

At school Adam was an enthusiastic participant but since leaving school he has taken to inclusive bowls successfully with Dovecot Bowling Club and has advanced his swimming skills out of all recognition. In both instances the sessions he attends have had GOGA investment with support from Spirit of 2012 over the past 18 months.

Adam was invited to become a Disability Sport Fife volunteer peer mentor and in this aspect of his leisure time he excels. Initially Adam signed up to support participants with severe and complex needs who attend the weekly multi sport and run jump and throws sessions. His skills as a peer mentor were obvious from the start and as part of his Disability Sport Fife (GOGA in Fife) training he was offered a place on a Walk Leaders Course tutored by Vivienne McNiven of Active Fife.

Adam made such an impression on Vivienne that he was invited to join the mainstream Walk Leaders programme and before Christmas he informed me that he had led his first community walk. The highlight of 2017 for Adam was being invited to the Bums Off Seats walk leaders Christmas lunch. The influence of GOGA, supported by Spirit of 2012 is considerable throughout Adam’s transition from school to community. This young man has a strong skill set for helping others and GOGA in Fife has offered him the opportunity to flourish.

Adam Faulds is one of a number of young volunteer peer mentors whose confidence and self esteem have developed significantly through being involved in the GOGA in Fife programme. Thank you Adam for your support and long may it continue.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

Fife Shooter Training in Spain

GB Para trap shooter Mike Drever from Leven, like all our other high performance athletes, is fully involved in intensive training, preparing for the season ahead.

Mike has recently been involved in a five day training camp in Malaga and has started working with Scottish Target Shooting Coach Marco Micheli. Marco is an A licence ISSF coach and regarded as one of the best in the world by shooters. Mike is signed up for a 5 day training camp with Marco in late February at the national shooting centre in Scotland (NSCS). Together they have set ambitious goals for the year ahead.

The next major event for Mike will be the World Cup Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. Mike is waiting to hear from GB Shooting about the selection policy and then he will make a decision about competing or not. This is the most expensive event on the calendar and because athletes are self funded, Mike has to select his programme of events carefully. If he does not travel to the UAE, Mike plans to compete in the GB selection shoot in Nuthampstead at the end of March.

Best wishes Mike, all of us in DSF are behind you all the way.

 

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Gold Coast 2018 Para Bowls Update

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), Bowls Scotland and Team Scotland, are disappointed to confirm that Para Lawn Bowls athlete Martin Hunter has been forced to withdraw from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games due to personal circumstances. Martin has been a stalwart of the Scottish Para Lawn Bowls Team for many years enjoying considerable success on the international stage, including a B7 Men’s Singles gold medal at the 2015 IBD World Championships.

SDS is delighted to announce that Garry Brown will step up to join the Open B6/B7/B8 Triples. Garry has a wealth of experience in Para Lawn Bowls having been a member of the Scottish Team that competed at the IBD World Championships in 2011 and 2015 and is also the reigning Scottish Indoor Champion. Garry is a fierce competitor who will also call on his previous international experience in the sports of swimming and football.  His passion, enthusiasm and technical ability will complement his fellow Open B6/B7/B8 Triples team mates, debutant Mike Nicoll, and Michael Simpson, who returns after taking 4th place at Glasgow 2014.

Gavin Macleod, SDS CEO said: “We are all massively disappointed for Martin at this time but in Garry Brown we have a readymade replacement who will grasp the opportunity to represent Team Scotland at the Gold Coast Games with both hands. Garry is a team player with a wealth of experience within international sport as well as being one of Scotland’s top Para Lawn Bowlers. This selection will realise his dream to compete at a Commonwealth Games and everyone at SDS wishes him and the rest of the squad all the best in their preparation for Gold Coast 2018.”

 

SDS is also delighted to announce that Eric McMillan will join Team Scotland as Para-Bowls Assistant Team Manager and Coach for Gold Coast 2018. Eric has extensive experience within the sport having been on the coaching team at the 2015 IBD World Championships and Head Coach at the 2015 CPISRA World Games. We welcome Eric to Team Scotland and wish him every success for Gold Coast 2018.