Tag: Fife

13/12/2023

From the Pool to Politics

Stefan Hoggan-Radu speaks about his journey in sport and life, as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Laces Campaign.

Stefan Hoggan-Radu has represented the LGBTQ+ community on many occasions as an elite Para athlete. Since his retirement from competitive sport he has continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the political world, currently holding the position as Councillor for North East Fife.

A now proud spokesperson for disability and LGBTQ+ rights, his personal journey of self-love and acceptance was filled with challenges. Bullied throughout school for having a disability, Hoggan-Radu was apprehensive to share his sexual orientation.

At 23 years-old he was training as a British triathlete and was worried about the reaction that he would get from his fellow athletes and the triathlon community after coming out. However, when he came out he had nothing but acceptance from his peers and surrounding community.

When asked how this impacted his performance in sport, Hoggan-Radu explained that this emotional strain didn’t impact his results when competing. However, he recognises the impact that it had on his long term mental health, with him appreciating that this would have ultimately effected his training performance and routine.

Before triathlon, swimming was his first sport which saw him compete on the international stage. After missing out on the 2014 Common Wealth Games by 0.02 seconds, he took the tough decision to retire from swimming.

His involvement with Para swimming paved the way for his political career. After becoming a member of the Young Person’s Sport Panel, he embarked on a trip to America, through an exchange with Blaze sport. This trip was incredibly insightful, getting to analyse policy and procedures along with attending the British Embassy in Washington as a representative. This partly influenced his decision to enter the field of politics.

His personal experience of being bullied at school highlighted the, “real injustice around how disabled individuals are treated. They aren’t represented.” This was something that he wanted to change.

When asked what inclusivity means to him, not only as a former athlete but also a member of the SNP, he shared a memorable moment that took place following the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

When he was going to training, a child saw him and their first reaction was, “Mum, that is really cool. That man only has one arm. He could be in the Paralympics!”

Hoggan-Radu credits UK broadcasters for striving to be more inclusive and have better visual representation on screen. As a result of broadcasting the Paralympics, this child saw a disability and a future for them competing in sport.

He finds this memory very heartwarming and he believes that if more people see a disability, we can create a more accepting and inclusive society, which ultimately, will make the world a better place.

The Rainbow Laces Campaign concluded on Sunday (10^th) and leads the way on supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, fitness and physical activity. Scottish Disability Sport are proud to support the Rainbow Laces Campaign and will continue to promote and encourage a fully inclusive society.

24/02/2017

Outstanding Performances by Fife Athletes in Edinburgh

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) considers the East Series Cross Country programme organised by scottishathletics and Scottish Disability Sport as one of the major successes in the development of athletics in the east of Scotland. DSF member organisation schools entered over 90 athletes for Round 3 of the East Series at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy and for round 4 at Peffermill in Edinburgh on 21^st February, around 50 athletes from Bell Baxter HS, Woodmill HS, Balwearie HS and Lochgelly HS made the journey across the Forth. Athletes are awarded points over the four rounds of the East Series to determine the overall year group champions. In round 4 there were once again many fine Fife athlete performances.

The introduction of the 500 metres race has encouraged a number of novice performers to take up the sport. Eilidh Lennox (S2) and Richy Stacey (S2) from Bell Baxter HS fell in to this category and they recorded winning performances in the girls and boys S2 races.

In the girls 1K, Fife schools produced all but one of the fastest year group times. Sophie Coughlin Bell Baxter HS S1 – 5:58; Amy Dignan Lochgelly HS S2 – 7:39; Megan Wilson Woodmill HS S3 – 6:45; Kerry Kotlewski Bell Baxter HS S4 – 7:23; Taylor McDowall Balwearie HS S6 – 8.58. Sophie is only a first year pupil yet she ran the fastest time of all the year group winners.

Once again in the boys 1K races it was a similar story. There were year group winners from Fife schools from first year through to sixth year. Nathan Smith Woodmill HS S1 – 7:21; Edwin Barron Woodmill HS S2 – 4:58; Owen Handley Woodmill HS S3 – 5:55; Arran Howe Bell Baxter HS S4 – 4:41; Reece Dickson Balwearie HS S5 – 5:08; Cameron Healy Balwearie HS S6 – 6:22. Connor Brown S3 Woodmill HS recorded the fastest time of the day for an athlete with a physical impairment and the seventh fastest overall time of any 1K athlete – 5:18. Well done to Arran Howe S4 who recorded the fastest 1K time of the day.

Twins Louise and Michelle Harley from Lochgelly HS S4 finished first and second in the girls 2K race with Louise crossing the line first in 14:56. In the equivalent event for boys Mathew Blair Woodmill HS S5 ran the fastest overall 2K time of 10:32 and Alex Evans from Balwearie HS the fastest S4 time.

All the Fife athletes then waited anxiously to find out the overall results for the 2017 East Series Cross Country. Team Fife headed back to the kingdom reflecting on another successful east Series and looking forward to the Fife cross Country Championships at the Beveridge Park and the Scottish Championships at Bellahouston Park later in the year.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

22/02/2017

Another Successful DIT Workshop in Fife

Evening two of the 2017 Fife Disability Inclusion Training (DIT) Workshop was successfully concluded at Auchmuty High School in Glenrothes. Set up by the Physical Education Lead officer Blair Duncan, in conjunction with Scottish Disability Sport and Disability Sport Fife (DSF), the workshop has become a popular annual feature of the Education Services INSET calendar. SDS tutors Heather Lowden and Richard Brickley led the two twilight sessions of interactive theory and practice and introduced the delegates to a wide range of subject matter relating to disability sport and inclusive practice.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

10/02/2017

Inspirational Fife Wheelchair Racer

Susanne McGrath from Glenrothes has only been wheelchair racing for a couple of years but in that time she has made a very positive impression on Disability Sport Fife (DSF) coaches and fellow athletes. With incredible support from her father Eddie in particular, Susanne has demonstrated regular commitment to training and continuous improvement in her performance.

In 2015 Susanne turned in a few impressive pushes in track racing meets but it was last year that she joined the small band of GB female wheelchair athletes who have completed a marathon. The occasion was the Edinburgh Marathon in May and she completed the course in 3:58:14. Susanne also competed in the 2016 Great Scottish Run. Susanne however is confident that she can improve her 2016 times and she is preparing accordingly.

Susanne will head to the scottishathletics wheelchair racing workshop on Saturday 11th Feb at Grangemouth to pick up some tips from Great Britain’s leading wheelchair racing coaches and fellow athletes. This will supplement the excellent advice she already receives weekly from DSF lead coach Pamela Robson who will also be in attendance with other Fife athletes and coaches.

Susanne came into wheelchair racing late in her career with the aim of completing a marathon before she turned a certain age. Wheelchair racing means much more to her now and this inspirational mum of two has set a challenging schedule for 2017. In addition to her track racing, Susanne plans to compete once again in the Edinburgh Marathon in May and the Dublin Marathon for the first time in October. Father Eddie will never be too far away and trying of course to improve his own marathon and half marathon times.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

07/02/2017

Over 20 years of Working Together in Fife

The members of the Order of St John Fife have been passionate supporters of Disability Sport Fife (DSF) for over 20 years. Successive fund raising committees have supported individual Fife athletes and teams to achieve their full potential in sport. By far the largest project was the provision of a mini bus but for many DSF members it was the training bursaries or equipment purchases that made all the difference when they were starting out in performance sport.

Traditionally the Order cheque is handed over at the annual Carol Service but this year Committee Members travelled to the DSF Office at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre to make the presentation to three generations of DSF athlete members.

Three times Paralympian Adam Morley, 2016 Rio Paralympian Derek Rae and 11 year old Tyler McLelland gratefully accepted a cheque for £500 on behalf of the DSF Chairman and President. Adam and Derek are fully committed DSF sporting ambassadors and young Tyler, who has only been a DSF member for three months, was representing the talented youth contingent that is a feature of DSF in 2017. Already Tyler has shown promise in boccia, swimming and athletics.

DSF President Richard Brickley thanked the Order Chair, Stuart Morris of Balgonie, for many years of generous financial support and friendship. Successive generations of Committee members have demonstrated commitment to individual Fife athletes and they have responded by being successful in competitive sport.

Also in attendance were Order Treasurer Lesley Macdonald, Secretary Findlay Macrae and Committee members Mary Gilmour, Elizabeth Laing and Ewen Macdonald.

Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife

06/02/2017

Fife Bowls Team Maintains Record at Scottish Championships

Fife sections were contested at the 37th Scottish Carpet Bowls Championships organised by Scottish Disability Sport at the Dundee International Sports Centre on Saturday 4th February. Ten players contested the five section finals and 50% of the finalists were representatives of Disability Sport Fife. Last year Team Fife won four titles and the Team of 2017 maintained the impressive Fife record with one title and four runners up medals. Fife Bowls Team Manager John Collins was pleased with the all round performances of the squad of 16 players.

Theresa Wyse from Central Fife CSS lost out in the final of the mixed section for wheelchair bowlers to Evan MacKintosh from Highland by 11 shots to 4. In the all Fife final for restricted bowlers with a physical or visual impairment, Neil Laughlin from Central Fife CSS defeated Eleanor Clark from Kirkcaldy by 10 shots to 8 in a closely contested final. In the mixed non restricted final for physically visually impaired bowlers, Billy Allan from Cowdenbeath lost out to Jimmy Restorick from Lothian by 5-21. Billy was the defending champion and has won the title on four occasions in the past. Jimmy won the title in 2007 and 2009.

Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC won the title for bowlers with a learning disability in 1998, 2006 and 2014. Only one other Fife bowler has won the title in 34 years and this was John Kennedy in 1984 and 1985. Craig came up against Andrew Harrison from South Lanarkshire in the final of the 2017 Championships and lost narrowly 19 – 21. This was Andrew’s third title having won it in 2002 and 2008. However this was another outstanding performance by Fife’s leading bowler with a learning disability who has an excellent record outdoors, indoors and on the short carpet.

The SDS National Carpet Bowls Championships were first held in 1981 at the Lochgelly Centre in Fife as part of Fife Regional Council’s contribution to the International Year of Disabled People. The 2017 Championships were the 37th occasion that SDS has held the event in venues throughout Scotland. The Dundee International Sports Centre (DISC) has been the venue for six of the last nine years. All bowlers qualified to compete at DISC by reaching the final stages of their local area Championships. The Fife Championships are supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and held at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes in November.

Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife