The Board and staff of Scottish Disability Sport would like to wish all our athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents, supporters and partners a very Merry Christmas and prosperous and successful New Year.
We thank you all most sincerely for your commitment, achievements and support during the last 12 months. We wish you all a happy and relaxing festive break and look forward to an exciting year ahead in 2019.
As part of its commitment to education and training, GOGA in Fife organised its second UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children course of 2018 late in December at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre. In attendance were GOGA in Fife volunteers, peer mentor volunteers, coaches and parents who have now turned to coaching. Half the 15 delegates are involved with GOGA in Fife activities and the other half are associated with mainstream boxing, football, golf and swimming clubs. The safety of all learners is a priority for Disability Sport Fife and GOGA in Fife.
The tutor for this excellent inclusive learning opportunity was Heather Lowden of Scottish Disability Sport who had as always the skills and knowledge to present this very challenging subject matter to a diverse group of learners in a thought provoking manner. GOGA in Fife administrator Pamela Robson was present to support the GOGA in Fife peer mentor volunteers. GOGA in Fife is indebted to Heather for her continued support of the Fife programme. All Disability Sport Fife and GOGA in Fife coaches and leading volunteers have attended a Safeguarding and Protecting Children course within the last few months.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
The UCI Track Cycling World Cup took place in London at Lee Valley VeloPark from 14-16 December. The event had a strong presence of Scottish Para riders, which provided the opportunity to earn qualifying points for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
This was the first time para-cycling events were included within the main schedule of a World Cup, and has been viewed as a major step forward.
There were some exceptionally strong performances form the Great Britain team and Kadeena Cox showed her class in the C4/5 500m, finishing ahead of Paralympic champion, Sarah Storey, to win gold on the opening day.
From a Scottish perspective, double Commonwealth Games Gold medallist, Neil Fachie and his pilot Matt Rotherham won gold in the mixed B sprint event.
Inverness rider, Fin Graham, delivered a bronze medal in the C1-C3 1km. The former SDS Archie Cameron Bursary recipient was also recently named on British Cycling’s World Class Podium Potential programme.
Neil McMurdo was presented with the Disability Award at the recent Clubsports Berwickshire Annual Awards, which took place at the beginning of November. Neil, who currently plays boccia, has tasted success as a player both locally and nationally in the sport while also leading coaching sessions to other Borders players in his home town of Eyemouth. In addition to this work, Neil also acts as treasurer for the Borders Boccia Club ensuring the smooth running of the club matters for session across the local authority.
Another Borders boccia coach was also recognised for his considerable input within the region, leading session in Galashiels on a weekly basis and acting as a ‘true inspiration’ and ‘role model’ for all aspiring athletes and coaches across the Scottish Borders. Hawick based Evans, was awarded the Disability Award at the recent ClubSport Roxburgh, highlighting the hard work and enthusiasm that he brings to each boccia session. Like fellow coach McMurdo, Ryan has also tasted success as a boccia player having claimed one of the podium places at the Scottish Disability Sport Boccia Championships in 2017.
The Clubsport Awards recognise the significant achievements and contributions made by individuals from the specific regions across the Scottish Borders and previous recent winners include World Champion para athlete Sammi Kinghorn and para bowler Mike Nicoll who was part of Team Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Part of the charitable organisation Live Borders, ClubSport represents and supports local member clubs, organisations and individuals to help everyone to achieve their sporting goals. To find out more about ClubSport across the Borders please contact Greig Shortreed on gshortreed@liveborders.org.uk.
As we come to the end of another year at Gareloch RDA, it is time to take a moment to look back at everything that was accomplished by our team in 2018. Everything we do is made possible by our volunteers, riders and of course, the horses that make up Gareloch Riding for the Disabled group.
In the summer, the future of the group changed, with the completion of the refurbished outdoor arena ready for Carriage Driving. Following months of fundraising, spearheaded by Ian, our primary fundraiser, and of course, our local community, as well as extensive training with our Carriage team and Bobbie, the pony, we look forward to opening up the new activity to volunteers and riders alike in 2019. The team have already proven themselves in October taking part in a Scottish Carriage Driving Association Competition.
Our riders continued to achieve incredible things throughout the year. From Scottish competitions to the Riding for the Disabled Association National Competition in Hartpury, we continued to have riders qualifying and riding to the best of their abilities. Well done to all of you that competed in 2018. For those that didn’t compete, the accomplishments kept on coming, with many riders earning certificates in their horse care and riding proficiency levels.
It was not just our riders that achieved over and above in the past year. Our Volunteers continued to grow and learn throughout the year, which cumulated in being awarded the Argyll and Bute TSI Volunteer of the Year Organisation of the Year award. Numerous members of our volunteer community have taken on new challenges for 2018, including Carriage Driving exams as well as undertaking Coaching qualifications.
None of the above could ever happen without the local community that support us through funding and attending our fundraising events, throughout the year. So as a group we would like to take this opportunity to thank every person and organisation that made our year possible.
Finally, our team of horses are the foundation to the group. We have met new characters this year, including Bosun, Harris and Brodie. But have also had to say goodbye to a few familiar faces. Holly has taken her retirement from the group. Most notably, our favourite small pony, Freddie, retired from RDA service in December, after 18 years supporting our riders.
After such a wonderful year, we are very excited about 2019 and intend to make it even more successful! We will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Riding for the Disabled Association throughout the year, as well as introducing Carriage Driving and continuing to develop both our riders and volunteers. If you would like to be involved in 2019, please contact the group on the details below. No horse experience is necessary, just an enthusiasm to learn and get involved with the team!
If you are interested in volunteering with Gareloch RDA or learning more about our group, contact: Louise Worrall 07716 543734.
Following requests from attendees of the BISFed Development Workshop held during the BISFed World Championships in Liverpool, BISFed, the Boccia International Sports Federation, has produced an informative terminology video.
Scottish Disability Sport is absolutely delighted to congratulate Kirsty Ewen, Highlands & Islands Regional Manager, on a very well-deserved BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award.
Kirsty was one of fifteen winners from throughout the UK who were recognised for their volunteering contribution. She is truly an inspirational role model and contributes so much to local and national sport through her volunteering.
The video of Kirsty’s win can be seen here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/get-inspired/46587170
17 year old Cara Smyth from Dalgety Bay is part of the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Young Start programme that aims to encourage, support and help transition young para sports participants into teaching and coaching.
Cara recently completed a UKCC Level 1 swimming teaching qualification and is on poolside as a swimming teacher with Carnegie Swimming Club for around three hours per week. Cara also supports DSF swim coach/teacher Kay Maxwell at the Carnegie Leisure Centre during the weekly Get Out Get Active (GOGA in Fife) supported session for swimmers with additional support needs. Cara has become a most valued young Fife swimming volunteer.
Earlier this month SDS arranged a get together for the Year 2 members of the Young Start programme. Cara was invited along because she had missed out on this event in Year 1. I am reliably informed she made a very positive contribution to the session. Cara is well known in Fife for her bubbly, upbeat personality and not surprisingly her humour and relaxed demeanour went down very well on the night. So valuable was Cara’s contribution that she has been invited to attend the residential event that she missed in Year 1 of the programme because of hospitalisation.
Cara is a Fife College student and is out on placement two days per week. Cara enjoys her studies and apart from volunteering remains a very committed performance Para swimmer with aspirations of reaching as high a standard as possible in the year ahead. Cara is currently in the Carnegie ASC performance development white squad and training 10 hours per week under coach Barry McMillan. In addition this very committed young Disability Sport Fife member is learning to drive.
DSF is proud of its peer mentor volunteers and none more so than Cara Smyth. Cara is also a highly respected loyal Fife performance swimmer who will be heading to the east of Scotland at the start of the year with her Fife team mates for the SDS performance gala. Cara has achieved so much already in Para swimming but there is undoubtedly much more to come.
Photo: Cara Smyth centre; Caroline Baird MBE GB Paralympian left; Oonagh Aitken CEO Volunteering Matters
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
Followers of the career of para swimmer Ollie Carter from Cupar will be pleased to learn that he has settled in to his new life at Stirling University and has finished all of his first term exams. The ex Bell Baxter HS pupil and Carnegie Swimming Club member has completed his course work for the semester. Ollie has settled brilliantly into the university way of life.
Ollie is Fife’s most successful Para swimmer of the past few years. He started his competitive career at Cupar and District SC before moving to Carnegie ASC where he came under the influence of head coach Morag Mitchell. As a member of Carnegie ASC, and with strength and conditioning support from Stuart Bizzarri of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, Ollie developed into one of the leading Para swimmers in the UK. In his final two years in Fife, Ollie successfully secured lifeguarding and swim teaching qualifications as part of the Young Start programme for coaches and teachers.
Ollie acknowledges his excellent training experiences in Fife but believes he has already made significant progress working under the university coaching team. He believes that his training is a lot less intensive and much more technical and controlled. The structure involves weekly, monthly and quarterly planners with specific distances, sets and goals to achieve throughout. Ollie has always enjoyed training and is thriving on the challenges set by the university team.
Ollie’s strength and conditioning is delivered twice per week through the sportscotland Institute staff team who work very closely with the university swim team. This means that Ollie has the opportunity to carry out his gym work alongside great Scottish and GB internationals like Ross Murdoch and Duncan Scott. Ollie is quick to emphasise that he has felt fully included as a Para sportsman from the moment he set foot in the university.
Ollie’s gym programme is headed by Neil Shanks who liaised with Stuart Bizzarri to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibility and programme content between Fife and the university. Ollie is training with the high performance 2 squad, the second highest squad, and is coached by Josh Williamson. Ollie is delighted to be working with Josh and they have established an excellent relationship. The top high performance 1 squad is coached by Steven Tigg and Brad Hay but the squads and coaching team work very closely and swimmers often end up joining squads and sets. Ollie believes that technically he is already experiencing amazing improvements and his strokes are feeling considerably smoother and more efficient.
Ollie has been active in competitions since arriving at university. In his two representative meets for Stirling university he has performed very well, particularly in relation to the technical changes that have been introduced to his swimming programme. Ollie swam at the British Universities (BUCS) short course meet at Ponds Forge in Sheffield where he competed in 7 events. Ollie swam as a para swimmer and was placed from 3rd to 5th, racking up loads of BUCS points for the team. Ollie swam 50m 100m 400m free, 100m back, 100m breast and 200 IM and managed to PB in a couple of events, outstanding for so early in the season. Ollie’s most notable achievements were recording 64 seconds for 100m fly, for a personal best by 3 seconds and 57.2 for 100m free and a one second PB. Ollie is particularly pleased that this was the first occasion ever that the Stirling men’s team had defeated Loughborough Universities men’s team – the perennial BUCS champions. Ollie was proud to be part of this great Stirling performance.
The second major competition for Ollie was the National Para Championships (long course), where he swam under the Scottish banner, but represented Stirling University. Once again Ollie was pleased in particular with the number of technically strong races he completed. He contested five events: 50m 100m 400m free, 200m IM and 100m fly. Ollie recorded small PBs in 50m free 200m IM but in 100m fly he recorded 66 secs for a two second PB. Ollie was also pleased with his 400m performance where he swam almost the same time as the British Championships last year but with far fewer strokes and a much more efficient technique. Ollie won gold medals in all but 100m fly, missing out on a clean sweep of five golds by 0.3 seconds. As always Ollie was delighted to be part of a strong Scottish team.
Ollie occasionally returns to Fife because he has no training on Saturdays. As an additional leisure activity Ollie has joined the Muay Thai Boxing Club where he has again made lots of new friends. He finds the sport very enjoyable and a pleasant contrast to swimming. So far he has been unable to pursue his lifeguarding and swim teaching skills in Stirling but hopefully next year there may be another chance. Ollie is also pursuing level 2 fitness instructor training and may even achieve the qualification by Christmas. Thereafter Ollie hopes to progress to the Level 3 personal trainer qualification next year.
Ollie’s training finishes for the year on 21st December and then he is back into hard training on 3rd January. Ollie is over the moon that he has recently received news that he has been selected to swim in Geneva along with other outstanding young Scottish Para swimmers Jack Milne, Abby Kane and Toni Shaw. Ollie is also going away with the Stirling swim squad to Holland at some point and he has a four day British Swimming Academy Camp in Manchester in February. In addition Ollie has the World Championship trials in April and the final British meet in the summer.
The young Fife swimmer has an action packed 2019 programme ahead and we admire how far he has progressed from his days with Cupar and District Swimming Club. Tribute is paid to Carnegie ASC for the role played in Ollie’s performance development and to Scottish Swimming for being present throughout his impressive journey to date. Disability Sport Fife pays tribute to the organisations and individuals who have contributed financially to Ollie’s development during the formative years in particular. Scottish Disability Sportrecognised Ollie with a bursary earlier in the year as Scotland’s emerging Para junior. Ollie has been a great servant to Fife as a junior Para swimmer and has achieved an enormous amount at UK level but in his new base at Stirling University he has every chance of stepping up to a higher level in international Para swimming.
Like so many successful young sports people, the role played by parents can never be underestimated. DSF has had the pleasure of working closely with Ollie’s mum over many years. Her contribution to Ollie’s development has been quite exceptional and we congratulate Cath on her critical role in Ollie’s journey to date.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
Among the squad of junior para sports participants in Fife who have enjoyed a successful year, Cameron Adam from Dunfermline is up there with the best. Since moving to Fife AC and teaming up with coach Steve Doig, Cameron has gone from strength to strength. Cameron has a very positive approach to training and has slotted in perfectly to his Fife Athletic Club training group. Steve is pleased with Cameron’s progress in his first year as a Fife AC member and believes he has the essential qualities to develop as a sprinter and thrower. Cameron’s sense of humour and determination are worthy of special mention.
This past season Cameron has produced a series of personal bests and added 200 metres to his list of favoured events. Cameron is working hard on his winter programme with Steve and continuing to inspire and support the younger members of the DSF Thursday run, jump and throws session at Pitreavie Athletics Centre.
Cameron competes in the T37 class and may even consider following in the footsteps of his Fife team mate Connor Brown and compete in cross country. Cameron and Connor are members of the Fife Sportshall Athletics team that won the National Team title earlier in the year.
Disability Sport Fife has an ever increasing group of young Para sports participants with physical, sensory or learning disabilities who have demonstrated they have the qualities to follow in the footsteps of great Fife Paralympians and Hall of Fame members of the past.
Cameron is fully aware that success only comes to those who commit totally to training and make the appropriate sacrifices associated with performance sport. Cameron has a very supportive family, a very positive attitude, a supportive inclusive coach and membership of an excellent athletics club. The basics are all in place now watch this space….
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
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