Month: February 2018

Tennis Scotland Board Vacancies

Have you got what it takes to help get more people playing tennis more often?

If so, we want to hear from you.

Following recent changes, Tennis Scotland has vacant positions on its Board and is now looking to recruit the following:

  • Participation Director
  • Non-Executive Directors x 2

These are voluntary roles, similar to the other Tennis Scotland Board positions, with a time commitment of up to eight Board meetings per year, as well as involvement in Board Sub Committees or Executive Working Groups as appropriate.

The Board of Tennis Scotland has a critical role to play, to support the organisation in the fulfilment of its strategy which is to deliver a sustainable legacy from the Murray era relating to:

  • Significantly increased participation
  • Improved performance opportunities for future talent to succeed
  • Quality and affordable facilities available to all

Therefore, Tennis Scotland is looking for individuals who share this vision and are keen to play a part in its delivery.

Participation Director

Specifically, the Participation Director role is for a term of three years and will support Tennis Scotland’s Chief Executive Officer in the objective of getting more people playing tennis more often and relating to:

  • Establishing a club development programme available to all but focusing on those clubs seeking to grow
  • Developing Community Tennis Networks, which co-ordinate the activities of clubs, schools, tennis centres and parks
  • Providing a competition pathway that motivates players of all levels
  • Establishing community, disability and education programmes that link to tennis venues

Therefore, the Participation Director will ideally have the following experience and skillsets:

  • Track record of growth in sports participation
  • Working knowledge of tennis, preferably in a playing or coaching capacity
  • Experience of sports administration, ideally at the tennis club level
  • Ability to communicate effectively at Board level

Non-Executive Directors

In terms of the Non-Executive Director positions, which are normally for two year terms, the key elements of these roles are:

  • Providing an independent view to the Board
  • Ongoing input and challenge into Tennis Scotland’s strategy, including the monitoring of its delivery
  • Providing advice and support to the Executive Team in specific areas of expertise
  • Participating, where appropriate, in Executive Working Groups as an advisor

Tennis Scotland, for its Non-Executive Director roles, is looking for individuals with a broad range of sporting, business and/or professional experience that will add value to the organisation in the areas above, while those with expertise in the following areas will be particularly welcomed to apply:

  • infrastructure development will be welcomed linked to Tennis Scotland’s objective to deliver significantly more indoor facilities across the country in the coming years
  • public relations and communications to help Tennis Scotland with its external messaging
  • business networking to support the Tennis Scotland extend its corporate partnerships

For both the Participation Director and the Non-Executive Director positions, Tennis Scotland is adopting the following approach:

  • We particularly welcome female applicants and those from an ethnic minority, as they are currently under-represented within Tennis Scotland at this level.
  • Broadening of skills range, with the Board looking to complement the expertise that it has already

If you are interested in joining the Board of Tennis Scotland, please email Governance Director, Gordon Bell (GB@dallasmcmillan.co.uk) to express your interest by Friday 16th March, and include details of your relevant experience and expertise that will add value to the Tennis Scotland organisation.

Please also complete the anonymous Tennis Scotland Equality Monitoring Survey which can be found below.

Tennis Scotland Equality Monitoring Survey

Launch of Falkirk Boccia Engage Session

Monday 26th February saw the successful launch of the Falkirk Boccia Engage sessions, in partnership with Falkirk Community Trust. These boccia sessions are open to all individuals with a physical, sensory or learning disability, as part of the National Engagement of Boccia programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Details of these weekly sessions

Where: Grangemouth Sports Complex, FK3 9JB

When: Monday 6.00-6.45pm

Who: All ages and abilities welcome, no previous experience required, equipment provided

Cost: Free

To book or for more information please contact Lisa Male on 01324 590 931 or email lisa.male@falkirkcommunitytrust.org.

To find out more about disability sport within Central Scotland, please contact Cheryl Willet, Scottish Disability Sport Regional Manager, at cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com / 07577 830 360.

 

 

John de Courcy Obituary

It is with great sadness that SDS has learned of the sudden and untimely passing of John de Courcy.

John was a true volunteer and friend to SDS, having been involved with people with a disability from the 1970s to the current time. He was volunteering as recently as last Tuesday, helping to organise the final round of East Cross Country series for young people with a disability.

John was involved with people with a disability from the 1970s, working with people with cerebral palsy at the New Trinity Centre in Edinburgh. He moved on to a post in the University of Edinburgh where he remained until his recent retirement. In this role, John influenced and inspired many undergraduate teachers to include young people with a disability within PE. John always maintained his links with disability sport and although originally involved in wheelchair dance, it was as an extremely accomplished athletics coach that he attended the 1984 and 1988 Paralympic Games in New York and Seoul respectively as a team coach.

 In the 1990s, John coached one of Scotland’s most successful Paralympic athletes, Stephen Payton, to triple world championship/Paralympic gold medals in 1994/96 respectively and holder of three world records over 100/200 and 400. John also supported discus thrower Keith Gardner to achieve success in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics.

 Through the 90s until the present day, John was involved in athletics for people with a disability. He was part of the initial SDS athletics group that worked in partnership with Scottish Athletics to develop the sport for people with a disability. He ran the National squads for athletes with a disability for many years, supporting athletes and coaches to aspire to achieve their full potential. He would also meet individual athletes for one to one coaching sessions. John was always to be seen supporting national and local events where athletes were competing. His influence on many young and developing athletes cannot be overstated.

In 2005 John was the Head Coach to the athletics squad as part of the Scottish Team that travelled to Connecticut, USA to compete in the CPISRA World Games. That team returned home with 13 gold, 14 silver and 7 bronze medals and all those who attended will remember the huge contribution of John to those Games. His encouragements, support and good guidance to all athletes were exceptional as were his team spirit, motivation and wicked sense of humour.

John was also the ‘life and soul’ of the SDS Summer Sports Camp. He has been a key volunteer at the camp since its inception almost eighteen years ago and there are many young people who have benefitted from John’s enthusiasm and encouragement.

Reluctant to accept any accolade or recognition for his achievements, great lengths had to be gone to so as to ensure John arrived at SDS AGM of 2010 to be awarded the  Glasgow Trophy in recognition of his service to disability sport.

Outside of athletics, John supported and mentored many individuals, having a huge influence on many lives. It is perhaps his infectious enthusiasm for helping people, along with his humility that has endeared John to so many. He was a true volunteer and gentleman who gave so much of his time to others. His unassuming manner and willingness to support has had a positive impact on so many people. He will leave a large gap in the world of disability sport in Scotland and be sadly missed.

Ian Mirfin MBE, Paralympic lead for Scottish Athletics said: “John made a massive contribution to athletics for people with a disability and the wider athletics community in Scotland. He will be sadly missed. Our condolences and thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Gavin Macleod, CEO of Scottish Disability Sport said: “John was a true gentleman and a committed supporter of Scottish Disability Scotland for many years. He supported many young athletes to meet their full potential and introduced many more to the sport that he loved. He will be sadly missed by all at SDS and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”

 

Details of funeral arrangements will posted when we have them.

Scottish Athletes Ready for Winter Paralympic Games

The 2018 Paralympic Winter Games will be held for 10 days from 9 to 18 March, 2018 in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, the Republic of Korea. The Paralympic Winter Games will be held in Korea for the first time in 30 years after the Seoul Paralympic Games in 1988. The Games will feature up to 670 athletes, who will compete in 80 medal events across six sports. PyeongChang will be the stage for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and most snow sports. Alpine skiing events will take place in Jeongseon, and all ice sports will be competed in the coastal city of Gangneung.

Four years ago in Sochi, the ParalympicsGB team had their most successful Games of modern times, winning six medals. In PyeongChang, Great Britain will be represented by a team of 17, the largest representation since the Turin Games in 2006, with 7 Scottish athletes within the ParalympicsGB team.

Having won the bronze medal at the Sochi Games, Great Britain’s wheelchair curlers will be among the favourites for the gold medal in PyeongChang. Scots Aileen Neilson (skip), Gregor Ewan, Robert McPherson, Angie Malone MBE and Hugh Nibloe face a difficult opening match against Norway in the round robin section with the medal matches scheduled for the 17th March.

Glasgow’s Brett Wilde will compete in PyeongChang as guide to Millie Knight with their confidence high following medal success at the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships. The duo will compete in the Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G, Super Combined and Downhill.

Scott Meenagh

ParalympicsGB will also be represented in the sport of Para-Nordic skiing for the first time since 1998 with the news that Scotland’s Scott Meenagh has been selected to compete in both the biathlon and the cross country events in PyeongChang.

 

The opening ceremony for the PyeongChang Games will take place on the 9th March and in the lead up to the Games, SDS will be profiling all the Scots on the ParalympicsGB team. There will also be regular updates during the Games on this site and on social media so keep your eyes peeled.

2018 Disability Sport Fife 7s League

Six schools competed in the S1/S2 section of the second round of the Disability Sport Fife 7s League and four schools contested the S3-S6 section. These were the highest numbers in eight years organising the event. Special welcomes were extended to first timers Queen Anne HS and Levenmouth Academy.

DSF is indebted to David McArdle from the Scottish FA for continued support of football development in Fife and for his interest and encouragement. DSF is also indebted to Derek Lowe, Area coordinator for the Fife Referees Association for many years of support. Andrew McGachan and Paul Stringer were the referees for the February event. The provision of the excellent Kirkcaldy High School football facilities has been instrumental to the League’s success. Special thanks to Rector, Derek Allan and Principal Teacher of PE, Malcolm Stewart.

Defending champions Lochgelly HS won all their four games in the S1/S2 tournament to top the table with 12 points. Newcomers Queen Anne HS made an impact in their first event with two wins and a one draw to score 9 points. Balwearie HS juniors finished with two wins and two losses to occupy third spot after round two of the junior tournament. Ryan Baird from Lochgelly HS was leading goal scorer with 11 goals.

The S3 – S6 tournament was as always a very close affair. Balwearie HS have won the section for the past five years but they were pushed all the way by surprise package Madras/Bell Baxter who went through the section with three wins from three to top the table. The 3- 1 win over Balwearie HS was the key result. The combined schools team from north east Fife ended the day with 9 points, two ahead of the reigning champions. Lochgelly HS and Woodmill HS share third position. Alex Evans from Balwearie HS and Shakeel Ul Haq from Lochgelly HS were leading goal scorers with four.

The 7s league has come a long way in seven years. Each year a significant number of girls take part in and this year was no exception. Players now turn their attention to the Fife Indoor 5s competition on Thursday 8 March at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre as part of the annual Fife Sports Festival supported by Fife Council and Fife Sports and Leisure Trust.

DSF is involved for the third year with the Fife Football Performance Academy. This came about because of Davie Honeyman and Lee Bailey, Scottish FA Football Development Officers with Active Fife. They have always taken a keen interest in the DSF football programme. The Fife Football Performance Academy is inclusive and will help identify players with performance potential who may go forward for consideration for selection for the Scottish FA under 20 national squad.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Three Scottish Winners at the UK RYA Sailability Awards

Scotland was very well represented at the National RYA Sailability Annual Awards which took place in Bedfordshire on Saturday 17 February 2018.  The Scottish winners, all of whom learnt or do sail at Clyde Muirshiel’s Castle Semple Centre in Lochwinnoch, won three of the five awards on offer. It certainly was a fantastic result.

David Hill, Senior Instructor at Clyde Muirshiel’s Castle Semple Centre said “I’m really proud of all these guys and the effort they have put in. They are an inspiration to us all and it certainly goes to show that disability is no barrier to success.”

The Young Person of the Year Award went to 16 year old Rory McKinna from Stewarton. Rory learnt to sail at Castle Semple in an accessible dinghy.

Rory’s 2017 Results alone make for impressive reading:

  • Scottish TT Hansa 303 Singles Champion
  • Scottish Club Trophy Champion
  • GB Hansa Nationals 303 Singles Champion
  • Winner of the Endeavour Trophy Hansa Nationals
  • RYA Multiclass Regatta Hansa 303 Singles Champion
  • Silver Medal representing GB at the European Para Youth Games, Genoa, Italy
  • GB sailor on World Sailing Para Development Programme, Meze
  • Member of UK Hansa team at Hansa European Championships, Meze, France

Rory has been consistently sailing at a high level for a number of years now with some fantastic results in 2017. He learnt to sail at Castle Semple, doing all his RYA courses with the Castle Semple Instructors using one of their accessible Hansa 303 dinghies, he is still a regular for training sessions and at Regatta’s.

He has also moved into mentoring other young sailors with a disability through Castle Semple and Able2Sail and will continue this through 2018 working with the instructors at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park to drive on development and help grow participation in sailing.

The Team of the Year Award went to Able2Sail.  With the help of the outdoor instructors at Castle Semple – using their knowledge, equipment and enthusiasm they trained, supported and encouraged the Scotland West team to double Silver medal place and a bronze at the Special Olympics (SO) in Sheffield in August 2017.

The Team are:

  • Jamie Cairns, Student at West College Scotland, Clydebank Campus
  • Darren McGregor, Student at Glasgow Kelvin College
  • Lewis Nicolson, pupil at Riverbrae School, Linwood
  • Mick Kelly, teacher/helper Riverbrae School, Linwood
  • Shannon McGhee, Student at West College Scotland, Clydebank Campus
  • Laura Carrick Able2sail Youth Co-ordinator
  • David Hill, SO Head Coach & Senior Instructor at Clyde Muirshiel

The On the Water Award went to Mary Christison, Renfrewshire Disability Resource Centre (DRC) Paisley for all the effort she puts in to get as many of her members sailing as possible.  As one person said “We would not be on the water without her work“.  The vast majority of the DRC’s on the water activity takes place at Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch.

A very well done to all the award winners, volunteers and their supporters, what inspirational stories.  It all started (and continues!) at Clyde Muirshiel’s Castle Semple Centre, Lochwinnoch, Scotland’s only Centre of Excellence for accessible sailing.

IMAGES:

Photo 1 – Group photo of all the Award Winners.

From the left Margaret Riley, Able2Sail Secretary; Shannon McGhee; Jamie Cairns; Laura Carrick; Gerry Campbell, Chair Able2Sail; Darren McGregor; Mick Kelly; Rory McKinna; Lewis Nicolson; David Hill; Craig Holland, DRC Member; Mary Christison.

Photo 2 – Close up of The Award

Photo 3 – Hansa 303’s racing on Castle Semple Loch at Multi-Class Regatta Sept 17. (Craig Holland, DRC, Paisley dark blue sails – won the single hander races, Rory McKinna E Ayrshire, red sails won single hander Scottish Traveller Series 2017 overall )

 

Abbie McNally – Muller Grand Prix Emirates Arena

Para athlete Abbie McNally from Inverness Harriers has been invited to run as a guest in the Muller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow, incorporating the IAAF World Indoor Tour Final, on Sunday 25th February 2018.

British Athletics were delighted to confirm the inclusion of some IPC events as part of the programme and Katie Jones, Paralympic Podium Potential Manager, was keen to offer a place to Abbie to give her some experience in that arena of competition against some of the world’s top Paralympians.

The sixteen-year-old athlete from Ross-shire who attends Alness Academy was identified by Scottish Disability Sport’s Regional Manager for Highlands and Islands Charlie Forbes, and was referred to a local athletic club to help improve her development where she has shown she has potential to achieve greater things. She had also been prior selected last year to the British Athletics Parallel Success Academy which has weekend camps at Loughborough University and had also been selected for the Athlete Academy of Sporting Excellence (AASE) at Manchester.

Abbie, who normally competes in the 100m and 200m outdoors, will compete in the women’s T37/38 60m which is for athletes with cerebral palsy. She has made tremendous progress over the last two years and has been selected twice now for Scotland in the British School Games winning two gold medals and also won medals in the British Age group Championships at Bedford.

Abbie stated: “This has come out of the blue and I am absolutely thrilled to get this invite from British Athletics and for this opportunity to compete on live BBC TV and also in front of a large home crowd.”

Charlie Forbes said: “This is a great opportunity for Abbie to experience the reality of top athletics in front of a large crowd against top athletes and she should savour the moment.”

The event will be broadcast live on BBC and includes some of the best athletes in the world, including a host of stars from the 2017 IAAF World Championships who will compete at the glittering Emirates Arena, offering the British public an opportunity to see the world’s best track and field athletes on show in an intimate indoor setting.

Scottish Junior Sportshall Festival 2018

Disability Sport Fife has selected two strong junior teams to represent Fife in the SDS Junior Sportshall Festival at Grangemouth Sports Complex, Abbots Road, Grangemouth FK3 9JD on Thursday 8 March 2018 – 10.30 hrs – 14.30 hrs.

The Festival is organised by Scottish Disability Sport and Scottish Athletics. The Fife teams are selected from performances recorded by athletes in Fife athletics/cross country events and weekly performances at run, jump and throws sessions organised by Disability Sport Fife. Each team of ten comprises of five athletes with a learning disability and five athletes who have a physical or sensory impairment. Training sessions are held after school at Pitreavie Athletics Centre, Dunfermline and Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre, Glenrothes Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday 16.30 – 17.30 hrs.

Pamela Robson (Balwearie HS) and Fiona Stewart (Bell Baxter HS) will once again be in charge of Team Fife with support from additional school staff, DSF coaches and volunteers. Teams selected are as follows:

Cameron Adam (Dunfermline HS)
Callum Sloan (Queen Anne HS)
Logan Harley (Rimbleton Pr.)
Cameron Herring (Touch Pr)
Abbie Steggles (Dunfermline HS)
Matthew Blair (Woodmill HS)
Alex Evans (Balwearie HS)
Aaron Howe (Bell Baxter HS)
Rosalind Penman (Balwearie HS)
Sophie Coughlin (Bell Baxter HS)
Finlay Davidson (Inverkeithing HS)
Owen Carmichael (Commercial Pr)
Connor Brown (Woodmill HS)
Brodie Hart (Kelty Pr.)
Callum Robertson (Balwearie HS)
Shakeel Ul Haq (Lochgelly HS)
Louise Harley (Lochgelly HS)
Ryan Dowie (Woodmill HS)
Edwin Barron (Woodmill HS)
Ryan Baird (Lochgelly HS)
RESERVE Larsson McKeown (Bal HS)

Photo: Sportshall Teams 2017

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

West Regional Swimming Championships

The West Regional Swimming Championships, organised by the West Federation of Swimming Clubs, took place at Scotstoun Leisure Centre on Saturday 10th February.

The event saw an entry of 169 swimmers, competing in 65 events, which meant a busy day for everyone involved but with experienced staff, officials and volunteers on poolside, the Championships ran smoothly and finished ahead of time.

A total of 14 teams competed in the championships, representing 10 Local Authorities in the West of Scotland.  The teams were; Annandale & Eskdale, Clyde Valley Beavers, Dunbartonshire Disability SC, Kilmarnock ASC, Kilmarnock Jets, Larkhall ASC, City of Glasgow Seals, Temple SC, Paisley Pirhanas, Cunnighame Action Club, Greenock Otters, Port Glasgow Otters, Monklands DSC and South Ayrshire Swim Team.

There were some fantastic swims and personal bests from lots of swimmers – everyone should be very proud of their performances.

The Federation were delighted to welcome their guest of honour, Gordon McCormack OBE, who had the role of presenting medals which he thoroughly enjoyed.

The event was a massive success and from this, the West of Scotland Teams will be selected for the SDS National Senior Swimming Championships in April for swimmers with a physical disability and/or sensory impairment and May for swimmers with a learning disability.

Thanks to staff at Scotstoun, all swimming officials, support staff and volunteers, swimmers and coaches for ensuring the smooth running of the event.

Para Cyclists Announced as Team Scotland pass the 200 Mark

Team Scotland’s selections for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games raced past the 200 mark as a further 92 athletes across 10 sports were announced at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum today (14 February). The list of newly selected athletes includes Olympic and World medallists, defending Commonwealth Games champions and a host of athletes breaking through to make a Commonwealth Games debut.

Olympic champions Katie Archibald and Callum Skinner head a list of 16 Cycling selections, with fellow Olympian, Grant Ferguson, also named. Tandem pairing Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston take to the boards once again, after double silver in Glasgow 2014 while Neil Fachie, double gold medallist four years ago, teams up with Matt Rotherham in the Men’s Tandem events, looking to defend both titles. There is also a raft of young talent on the track with Jack Carlin, Mark Stewart, Jonathan Wale and Neah Evans all medallists on the World Cup circuit in the past two years.

John Archibald, elder brother to Katie, also makes the team following a rapid rise on the track. Better known as a road cyclist, he made the switch in 2017 with the aim of making the Gold Coast Games, a decision that has been vindicated by top results. Most recently brother and sister won Points Race gold on the same weekend at the British Championships.

In Gymnastics, World and Olympic medallist Dan Purvis and reigning British Floor and Vault champion, Frank Baines are the returning members of the team which won a historic silver medal in the Team Event at Glasgow 2014. They are joined by three 19 year-old rising stars; 2017 Scottish All-Around champion Kelvin Cham, double British Championship medallist Hamish Carter and David Weir, who took seven medals at last year’s Scottish Championships including two gold.

After a fifth place in the Team Event in Glasgow, Cara Kennedy leads a women’s trio which includes Shannon Archer, who took four gold, including the All-Around title, at the 2017 Scottish Championships and Scottish Uneven Bars champion, Isabella Tolometti.

Dan Purvis said: “I was so proud and relieved to win the full set of medals in Glasgow, especially with it being a home Games. The biggest medal for me though was the team silver. I felt so proud standing on the podium with my team-mates having created history for Scottish Gymnastics.  It’s something I’ll never forget.