Month: November 2018

Grampian Boccia Festivals Enjoy Record Attendance

Grampian’s School Boccia Festivals experienced a surge in participation this month thanks to a drive from the region’s Active Schools Teams.

More than 100 pupils with additional support needs and physical, sensory and learning disabilities from primary and secondary schools across Aberdeen City and Shire took part in three Festivals, held in Aberdeen City, North Aberdeenshire & Central Aberdeenshire. It’s the first time that the entry levels have warranted the need for multiple Festivals to take place simultaneously and follows a successful summer term where Scottish Disability Sport staff and volunteers engaged hundreds of Grampian pupils in the sport through the delivery of Boccia Bonanza sessions within a number of mainstream schools.

This month’s Festivals are part of a series, which runs throughout the school year, and the next round is planned for March 2019. The top teams will then go through to the Final, which will take place on Wednesday 8th May.
It is hoped that the increase in Festival participation will lead to the development of new regular boccia sessions in more locations, and a new session is set to be launched in Peterhead in the near future.

Well done to all of the teams who entered and competed, and thank you to all of the Active Schools staff, Grampian Disability Sport volunteers and school staff who made the day possible. A special mention to national boccia squad player, Hannah Craig, who made a guest appearance at the Aberdeenshire Central Festival. Hannah really inspired the youngsters and got stuck in with the officiating!

If you or anyone you know lives in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability and is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.

Junior Learning Disability Swimming Championships 2018

SDS Junior Swim Championships for swimmers with a learning disability, 21.11.2018, Tollcross ISC.

Records tumbled at the 41st Junior SDS Swim Championships. This event traditionally concludes the SDS annual calendar of events and provides a fantastic platform for celebrating the youngsters involved in swimming in schools, clubs and sessions around SDS branches and regions.

It is incredible to see the continual advancement of swimmers who have been attending these championships for years. One such swimmer, Louis Lawlor had a day to remember as he secured no fewer than 4 Championship Records (CR) in the 100m free and the 50m Back, 50m Breast & 50m Fly events. This event has witnessed some compelling rivalries through the years and West of Scotland’s Lawlor versus Tayside’s Jack Milne was every bit as riveting as anything we had seen before. These two swimmers are swimming faster than any other S14 junior has done at these championships and when that roster includes Scott Quin, Craig Rodgie and Conner Morrison then you know it’s fast! Whilst Jack had to settle for second place in 4 out of 5 events, he did hang on to one CR in the 100m IM and secured his one gold medal of the day. Grampian’s Matthew Scott was in hot pursuit and completed the podium positions in all events. Louis, of course, won the title of Best Male Swimmer at the 2018 Championships ahead of Jack, 2017’s winner.

On the female side Highland’s Tammy Neef swept the board with the full complement of wins. She currently shares the CRs with Perth’s Reagan Doig but was not able to claim any more as she swam just outside these tines today. Nonetheless, it was more than enough to take the title of Best Female Swimmer. Tayside’s Taylor McKenzie and Grampian’s Lucy Thomas also had an excellent Championships and had several podium appearances.

This event attracts upwards of 300 swimmers consistently and provides a fitting end to the competition calendar for SDS. SDS are hugely grateful to all swimmers, coaches, parents and Team Managers for their efforts in getting to these Championships. It is a full day in a warm pool, however, is a real celebration of the depth of swimming talent throughout the country. Continuing to attract swimmers into the competition structure locally is of paramount importance to strengthen the competition structure and pathway to these national competitions to ensure the sport continues in rude health.

Congratulations to all competitors for their efforts and well done to those who travelled back to their respective areas with medals. SDS look forward to seeing everyone in 2019 at the next Championships.

Para Athletes Show Plenty of Promise

Scottish Para athletes have been making their mark at global level in recent years – and that was reflected in six inclusions on the British Athletics World Class Programme for the next 12 months.

Now there is further confirmation that the future is bright in terms of the next generation of athletes hoping to follow the likes of Stef Reid and Libby Clegg by competing at the top level.

Two Scots have been named on the Paralympic Futures Academy list issued by British Athletics on Tuesday which featured an overall 24 names.

Sprinter Ross Paterson, who competed at the WPA Europeans in Berlin last summer, was included alongside Fife AC endurance athlete Owen Miller.

With a further 11 athletes named on a Paralympics Development list there are now no fewer than 19 Scottish Para athletes overall accessing British Athletics programmes at various levels and being identified as having the ability to win medals or having good potential in future years.

‘It’s very encouraging to have our best ever Para representation on British Athletics programmes in terms of numbers – with 19 in total,’ said Ian Mirfin MBE,  the scottishathletics National Lead Paralympic Sport.

‘The challenge going forward is to convert some of these places into more athletes on the World Class Programme and ultimately more global medals.

‘The fact that most of the athletes on the programmes underneath WCP are  under the age of 23 is significant as the age profile of the athletes we have on WCP is higher and we would hope to see some of the athletes recognised by these programmes take a step-up to be our future stars of Para athletics.

‘Congratulations to everyone who has worked to get our athletes on to these programmes; not least the coaches and clubs but also friends and family who play a significant role in supporting athlete development.’

Scots on the Paralympics Futures Academy:

Ross Paterson (John Kinder) Red Star AC 400 T38

Owen Miller (Steve Doig) Fife AC 1500 T20

Scots on the Paralympics Development Academy:

Hannah Dines, Gavin Drysdale, Kayleigh Haggo (Janice Eaglesham) Red Star AC 100 RR

Alexander Thomson (Thomas Graham) Whitemoss AC 100 T/F20

Abbie McNally (Charlie Forbes) Inverness Harriers LJ T/F20

Kirsty Soutar (Bill Condie) Red Star AC Club F32

Nathan Blackie (Martin Cook) Poole AC 100-800 T34

Sean Frame, Luke Deighan, Kyle Brotherton (Ian Mirfin) Red Star AC 100-Mar T54

Steven Bryce (Tommy Boyle) VP-Glasgow 1500 T/F20

 

Largest ever indoor “walk in the park”

GOGA in Fife scheduled the 7th Fife Walk in the Park for Thursday 22nd November around 11 15 at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre. Sadly the weather was awful and it was bitterly cold.

Plan B was swiftly brought into action. The Walk in the Park became an Indoor Walk in the Park with around 60 adults with severe and complex needs, plus 30 – 40 support staff, coaches, volunteers and peer mentor volunteers taking part. Instead of a distance leisure walk we changed to a 20 minute walk around the perimeter of the 8 court games hall. Around 11 45, Plan B was judged an outstanding success.

Pamela and I signed off dozens of participation certificates and issued new certificates to first timers. The GOGA in Fife Walk in the Park initiative has been an outstanding success to date and walks 8 ad 9 are planned for early in 2019. In between organised mass walks participants are engaged in local walks with their friends and significant others. Walking, adapted cycling and recreational swimming are core activities of GOGA in Fife. Paths for All and Bums off Seats are key GOGA in Fife partners in the promotion of walking.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Fife’s Owen Miller has a year like no other

Owen Miller from Dunfermline and Fife AC has been an outstanding Disability Sport Fife ambassador for several years. The ex Woodmill HS pupil was identified early on at school as an athlete with potential and not surprisingly Owen joined his local athletics club. Owen then went on to excel in INAS international events and the period leading up to London 2012 demonstrated that he could possibly go all the way and earn full GB selection.

Unfortunately this did not happen. Owen then lost form, picked up a series of injuries and athletics took on a whole new meaning for Fife and Scotland’s leading T20 middle distance athlete. A change of club and coach has completely reversed everything and Owen has just experienced and enjoyed his best season to date by a long way.

Under the guidance of coach Steve Doig at Fife AC, Owen ran 3.57.35 at the Grangemouth meet on 4th July. This was an incredible breakthrough. The run was a staggering 5 second personal best and the first time Owen had broken the elusive 4 minute barrier. Steve is first to acknowledge the role played by Pitreavie AAC athlete Ben Potrykus in that race who paced Owen for 1300m. Without his assistance this very special performance would not have been achieved.

Owen’s run in the Miler Meet 5000m on 27th July was his first ever track race over this distance and he recorded the fastest time ever by a British T20 athlete. This race was memorable because the time was quicker than coach and athlete had predicted and because Owen ran such a well judged tactical race. Running successful tactical races is always a challenge for T20 athletes.

Owen then ran two 1500m events on successive days at the Scottish Championships on the weekend of 11th/12th August. Owen ran a very relaxed time of 4.01.21 in the heat to qualify for the final. This was his second fastest time ever, at that stage of the weekend. It was almost 1.5 seconds quicker than his personal best at the start of the season. In the final the following day, Owen ran even better and managed to break the 4 minute barrier once again with a time of 3.58.97. This was arguably Owen’s best ever run at the Scottish Championship and it was wonderful to observe him being so competitive. Owen’s new belief in his ability was there for all to see.

Coach Steve Doig believes that Owen has always been an athlete who has been prepared to give his best in training and this of course has enabled him to run at a high level in mainstream and Para athletics for a number of years. The 2018 track season however has been his most successful to date and his performances have improved significantly. The difference this year Steve believes is down to one key critical factor:

The athletes within Owen’s training group, many of whom compete at a high level themselves, have made a massive contribution to support Owen during sessions. Many have gone out of their way to provide assist by offering lifts to and from events and to and from training sessions at different venues in Fife. Athletes have also altered their training plans to help Owen during

sessions and their assistance has helped to push his performances to a higher level. His results are a great testament to the support his training partners provide.

That last paragraph sums perfectly the importance and power of quality inclusive training to Para athletes with Owen’s considerable ability. It also emphasises the unique character of Fife AC athletes, coaches, volunteers and committee members who always go that extra mile for all club members. Owen is a great family man but he also has a second family that always looks out for him.

Thank you Fife AC and well done Owen on your very special year. Best wishes with winter training and cross country. 2019 is a special year with major challenges on the horizon. Thanks also to Fife Sports and Leisure Trust for local support and Scottish Athletics personnel for always being there to advise and support when required.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

No Limits Andrew Slack Memorial Boccia Competition

Bathgate Academy in West Lothian played host to the annual No Limits Multi Sport Club Boccia Competition on Saturday 17th November, welcoming 67 players from across Scotland and the North of England.

The competition, named in memory of the former No Limits member Andrew Slack, is delivered by a band of dedicated club volunteers including event organiser Elaine McCallum and offers the last competition of the year in Scotland.

The competition was played in great spirits throughout, highlighted through the friendly yet competitive nature of the games.  The competition was split into numerous sections, aiming to provide the best experience for all participants while maintaining fair competition throughout.  The event offered players with a learning and physical impairment the opportunity to play against their peers from clubs across the country, including Right on Target (Forth Valley), Lothian Special Olympics, Dumfries & Galloway Disability Sport, Borders Boccia Club and of course No Limits Boccia Club.

The club also attracted several established and developing players with Scotland squad member, Callum Glasgow narrowly losing out to emerging Fife talent Tyler Mclelland in the Physical Disability section.

To find out more about boccia across the East of Scotland, please contact Regional Manager Neal Herbert on 0131 625 4414 or neal.herbert@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Please find the winners and runners up from each section below –

Players with a Physical Disability
1st Tyler McLelland (Fife)
2nd Callum Glasgow (Forth Valley)
3rd Fiona Muirhead (West of Scotland)

Players with a Learning Disability –

Female Section
1st Phillipa Robertson (Lothian)
2nd Kim Burnett (Lothian)
3rd Lindsay Aitken (Lothian)
3rd Helen McAllister (Dumfries & Galloway)

Male Section
1st Darren Rooney (Forth Valley)
2nd Daniel Strang (Lothian)
3rd Michael Gillooly (West of Scotland)
3rd Christian Mason (Dumfries & Galloway)

Beginner
1st Ryan Flynn (Forth Valley)
2nd Millie Smith (Forth Valley)
3rd Scott McIntyre (Forth Valley)
3rd Eleanor Little (Dumfries & Galloway)

Fife Carpet Bowls Championships 2018

The 2018 Fife Carpet Bowls Championships organised by Disability Sport Fife(DSF) and supported by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust were held at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre on Wednesday 21st November. The championships bring to an end the DSF calendar of events for the year and involved 54 adults with a physical, sensory or learning disability in 83 ties for one of nine singles titles.

16 local volunteer markers from bowling clubs in central Fife, coordinated by Math Thomson from Beveridge Park BC, officiated for four hours plus to determine the 2018 Fife champions. DSF will select the Fife team for the Scottish Championships, organised by Scottish Disability Sport Saturday 2nd February, from the results at the Fife championships.
The section for wheelchair users resulted in an all Central Fife CSS final with Jim Donaldson defeating Willie Harrison 8-6. The open men’s final for bowlers with a physical impairment brought together two members of the Scottish Para bowls squad and Billy Allan (Cowdenbeath BC) defeated Glen Livingston (Abbeyview BC) 6 -2 to lift the title. Central Fife CSS friends and rivals Kenny Dow and Neil Laughlin met in the final of the restricted section with Neil ending out on top by 9 shots to 6.

Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS is a past Scottish champion and a regular winner of the Fife title. This year he met newcomer Steven Anderson from Dovecot BC in the final and was a convincing winner. Craig Houston from East Fife CSS similarly was a convincing winner of the B section over Wayne Sammut from West Fife CSS. George Goodsir from East Fife CSS won the men’s C section with a victory over Fergus Wilson from West Fife CSS by 7 shots to 3. Newcomer

Connor Mitchell from West Fife CSS won the D section title by defeating Craig Hunter from East Fife CSS 8 – 1.
Tanis Murphy from East Fife CSS won her first ladies open title for bowlers with a learning disability by defeating past Scottish champion Michelle Wallace from Central Fife CSS 6-2. On route to the final she defeated the 2017 champion Julie Allan and promising newcomer Nikki Baxter. Newcomer Carrie Ann Smith from West Fife CSS won the ladies B section title by defeating Roberta Buchan from Central Fife CSS .

DSF is happy to report an increased adult entry for this year’s championships and a definite improvement in the standard of play. DSF is confident it will field a strong team for the Scottish Championships in February. Team Fife will be announced shortly and best wishes to all Fife representatives.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

East Athlete Selected for Inaugural Powerchair Football Squad

Lothian Wolves powerchair football player Chris Jacquin has been selected for the first ever Scotland squad in powerchair football. Thirteen players have been called up to the national squad to face Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club (PFC) at sportscotland’s Inverclyde National Sports Training Centre in Largs on Saturday 15th December (3pm kick off). The day will commence at 12pm with some development games culminating in the main fixture.

The rise to the top of the game in Scotland has been rapid for Edinburgh based player Jacquin, having only began playing the sport regularly in November 2016 and selection is testament to the ambition, hard work and talent he has displayed during that time.

Jacquin was instrumental is setting up Edinburgh based side Lothian Wolves and has been a pivotal part of the team during matchdays and training sessions. Lothian Wolves, the East of Scotland’s only powerchair football team was established by Lothian Disability Sport (LDS) in 2016 and has been developed by a team of dedicated players and volunteers.

PowerChair football is a unique sport that provides opportunities for people with a high level of impairment to access the game of football. The game is for anyone who uses a powered wheelchair or those who have limited movement in a manual wheelchair. The sport is fast-paced and dynamic and allows all ages, disabilities and both genders to compete alongside together.

For more information surrounding powerchair football and local opportunities relating to the sport, please visit the Scottish PowerChair Football Association website – https://thespfa.org/

National Award for Grampian’s Toni

Up-and-coming Grampian para swimming sensation, Toni Shaw, ended an incredible week on a high after scooping up a national award.

Toni, an S9 para swimmer from Aberdeen, took home the ‘Emerging Athlete of the Year: Para Swimming’ title at the 2018 British Swimming Awards.

It follows an incredible season where Toni was selected as the youngest member of Team Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Games, and where she won 6 medals at the World Para Swimming European Championships in Dublin.

Additionally, at the start of the week, Toni was confirmed as an Ambassador for Scottish Swimming’s Learn to Swim Framework. Later in the week, her coach, Gregor McMillan, earned the ‘Disability Coach of the Year’ award at the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards.

It’s been an exciting week for para swimming in Grampian! Congratulations to Toni and Gregor!

If you or anyone you know lives in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability and is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.

HRH Princess Anne Chairs 49th RDA AGM

The 49th RDA AGM took place in Glasgow under the Chairmanship of the charity’s President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. Held within the splendour of Trades Hall, Glasgow, the AGM brought together delegates from RDA groups all over the UK – many of whom enjoyed a traditional Scottish welcome at the previous evening’s Ceilidh.

In her President’s address, The Princess acknowledged that next year’s 50th anniversary would be the time for reflections, but she took time to recognise the experience and expertise within the RDA family, made up of many years dedicated service by RDA’s volunteers and coaches.

Delegates were treated to talks from RDA riders Max Stainton, who recently became the first person with Cerebral Palsy to trek to Everest Basecamp on a horse, and Anne Brown, whose dedication to RDA extends to having the charity moto tattooed on her behind!

The AGM also offered the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of outgoing RDA Chairman, Sam Orde, whose time in office officially ends in April 2019. Sam was presented with an Honorary Life Vice Presidency by The Princess Royal, who thanked her for the nine years she has given to the role.

The lively programme also included a welcome from The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Eva Bolander and presentations from Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of Sport Scotland, Occupational Therapist Rhona Harkness and Hazel Johnstone of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Director of Operations for RDA UK, Claire Milican presented her ‘Top of the Ops’ – a run down of the top ten innovations, improvements and activities delivered by the operations team at RDA National Office during this year.

Communications Manager, Caroline Ward, offered a taster of the proposed celebrations for RDA’s 50th anniversary throughout 2019.

“Thank you to our regional team in West & Central Scotland for hosting this year’s AGM,” said RDA Chief Executive Ed Bracher. “I am also grateful to Her Royal Highness, not just for chairing the business of the day, but for taking the time to meet so many of our participants and volunteers during her visit. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our 50th AGM next year!”

Awards

  • Honorary Life Vice Presidents – RDA UK Chairman Sam Orde and Deputy Chairman Sheila Saner
  • President’s Award – Patricia Wilding of Clytha RDA
  • Dudley Smith Award – Joan Jack and Alison Mackintosh – Brae RDA
  • Loriners Education Award – Moray RDA
  • Birt Spooner Cup – Max Stainton