Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is delighted to see so many Scots selected for the Paralympics GB team for the Rio de Janeiro Summer Paralympic Games. This will be the most Scots at a Paralympic Games since 1996 and we wish all 33 athletes and players, along with their coaches and support staff, every success in Rio. This level of representation would not be possible without the hard work and inclusive approach of SDS’s key partners across Scotland and we would like to thank Scotland’s Governing Bodies of Sport in particular for all they have done to make this happen.

SDS is committed to supporting the full inclusion of children, athletes and players within Scottish Sport and supporting those with potential to progress in their chosen sport. If you have been inspired by the success of Scottish athletes and players during the Rio Games and want to get involved, then why not contact us at SDS and we can support you to find your sport.

Quick Facts

• Scottish athletes and players make up 12.5% of the ParalympicsGB team (compared to 9% at London 2012).
• The 33 Scottish athletes are competing in 12 sports (compared to 11 sports at London 2012).
• 18% increase of Scottish athletes/players at Rio 2016 compared to London 2012.
• 60% of Scottish athletes/players competing at the Paralympic Games for the first time.
• 36% of the athletes/players are women.
• 42% of the athletes/players were supported by the SDS Academy.
• 72% of the Scottish athletes/players competing in Rio 2016 have received support from SDS.
• 82% are supported by sportscotland’s Institute of Sport.
• 18% of the athletes/players are blind or visually impaired.
• 40% of the athletes/players use a wheelchair for sports.
• 27% of the Athletes and players are ambulant and have a physical disability.
• 3% of the athletes and players have a learning disability.
• 12% of the athletes and players are non-disabled.

Schedule

About the Sports

Profiles

Classification

The UK School Games took place from Thursday 1^st September – Sunday 4^th September at Loughborough University in England.

The West of Scotland had a huge representation in the team and this is credit to the many coaches and volunteers who are making such a difference to the progress of the up and coming athletes in the West.

All but one of the Athletics team were from clubs in the West and the athletes competed very well across the board.

Nathan Fleetwood from Whitemoss AC, secured gold in the 100m in a time of 11.70, and bronze in the long jump, with a distance of 4.32m.

The wheelchair racers were also in top form as Luke Deighan from Red Star AC, finished with a bronze in the 100m in a personal best time of 17.35s.  Multi record holder, Shelby Watson, Nithsdale, finished with two golds in the 100m and 800m in 21.52s and 2.40.30m respectively.  Red Star’s Kyle Brotherton finished 4^th in the 800m with a time of 2.17.83m.

Ross Paterson, Red Star AC, finished a credible fourth in both the 200m, 26.37 and the 400m, 59.27.

Margaret Newell, Law & District, jumped 3.45m to secure a bronze medal in the long jump and held her nerve in the 400m to finish in bronze medal position in a time of 73.42s.

Connaire McAlindon, Red Star AC, won a silver medal in the Shot Putt, 8.63m and had a fourth place finish in the Discus with a throw of 19.54m.

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60% of the Scotland Wheelchair Basketball team were players from the West of Scotland: David Beattie, James Beattie, David Hird, Craig Brown and Tom McCaffrey. All played a part in gaining Scotland a 5^th place finish after some hard fought battles with their English and Welsh rivals.  There was some very exciting play from the Scottish team, in which they displayed great team spirit and resilience.

Wheelchair Tennis has grown in the West of Scotland due to the support from Glasgow Disability Tennis, the Tennis Foundation and Tennisscotland.  Three out of the four Scottish players competing this year were from the West and for two, it was their first experience of the games.

Ellie Robertson and Jade McGoldrick played well in both their singles and doubles games, and gained some valuable experience from their first appearance at the Games. Leo McLeod from Glasgow competed well in the singles and with doubles partner Ruairi Logan from Edinburgh, won silver in the boys doubles competition.

In Table Tennis, Andrew Berry, Declan Tobin and David Morrison represented Scotland both in singles and in the Team competition.  Both Andrew and Declan were up against some tough competition from the English regions and displayed some promise in their group matches.

David Morrison progressed well in the group stages and reached the semi-finals, where he  eventually came away with a bronze medal.  In the team competition the boys were placed 6^th. Much credit goes to Drumchapel TT Club and Joe Wilson TT club, where the boys are coached.

The swimming event is based on the British Disability Points system. West representatives Adam Donnachie, Kyle Hughes and Lewis Beagrie all performed well against strong opposition.

Adam, East Kilbride SC, finished with two 5^th place and one 6^th place in the 100m Breaststroke, 1.53.98m, 100m Backstroke, 1.29.58, and 100m Freestyle, 1.15.87 events, while Kyle placed 4^th in the 50m Freestyle event in a time of 30.91s.

Lewis placed 5^th and 7^th in the 200m IM, 2.50.62 and 100m Butterfly, 1.31.39,events.

A huge thanks to all the coaches and support staff who supported the athletes, and the parents who made their way from Scotland to cheer the team on.

Beth Potter, Team GB 10,000m runner, stopped off at Scotstoun Stadium last week to visit Victoria Park AC Disability Group. The group is currently coached by Beth’s sister Sarah Potter along with coaches Becky Dunphy, Peter MacGregor and Linda Innes.

There was much excitement at the prospect of a visit from a member of Team GB and ex-VP athlete, Beth.

Seven of the group have been selected for the Special Olympics in Sheffield in 2017 and they were very impressed and inspired by their new role model.

Beth has just returned from the Olympics in Rio and she kindly donated some of her GB training gear and her vest number to the club.

The U11’s, U13’s and U15’s were also very excited by her presence and insisted on autographs and selfies before they allowed Beth to go home.

Beth spent 90 minutes at the trackside and made lots of new fans. She’ll be returning to training very soon to prepare for her next target, which will be the World Championships in London.

For the second successive year Fife bowlers with a physical, sensory or learning disability played magnificently at the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Lawn Bowls Championships at the Westburn Park in Aberdeen. Expectations on this occasion were lower than usual because of the absence from the team of world championships medalists Martin Hunter, Michael Simpson and Maria Simpson plus Barbara McMillan and Pamela Mitchell. All were unavailable for selection because of injury, illness, family weddings etc. However, Fife team Manager John Collins led the team north with Team Fife’s usual upbeat attitude that because training and preparations had gone well there was every chance of a few high placings.

Once again Team Fife excelled in the sections for bowlers with a learning disability. Wendy Thomson and Julie Allan from East Fife CSS contested the women’s final with Wendy winning the title for the second time. Wendy plays her bowls at the St Andrews Bowling Club and Julie plays at Windygates BC. This was by Julie’s best performance in a national championships. Tanis Murphy, also from East Fife CSS and Windygates Bowling Club, reached the semi finals.

In the equivalent section for male bowlers with a learning disability Darryl Stewart from Cowdenbeath Bowling Club repeated his 2015 performance and finished runner up, losing out in the final by only one shot (8-9) after leading up until the final end. Defending champion Craig Donaldson from Kinghorn BC lost out in the third round.

Yet again Scottish International Billy Allan from Cowdenbeath BC led from the front. Billy’s record in SDS Championships is exceptional. Last year he was runner up to world champion and Fife team mate Martin Hunter but this year he won the section for non restricted ambulant physically and visually impaired bowlers. Yet another national title for one of Scotland’s most experienced internationals.

Mary Wilson is relatively new to Disability Sport Fife but within a few years she has made a significant impact in the sports of swimming and athletics in particular. Mary was encouraged to take up bowls this year and within a matter of a few months she has progressed up the rankings. In Aberdeen she finished runner up in her third major tournament of the year. Mary is coached by Sarah Jane Ewing at Abbeyview Bowling Club but because she now lives in Edinburgh she plays her club bowls in the capital.

Six sections were contested and Fife bowlers won two national titles and three runners up medals. Another great performance by Team Fife. Attention now turns to the Annual Fife Indoor Championships for bowlers with a learning disability at the East Fife Indoor BC at Methil on Thursday 8th September.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Disability Sport Fife’s three swimmers who competed in the 2016 Sainsbury’s UK School Games returned with many happy memories, several personal best times and three medals.

Ollie Carter lives outside Cupar, swims for Carnegie SC and is recognised as one of the emerging physically disabled juniors in Scottish swimming. Ollie won silver in 100 metres freestyle and finished 6^th in 100 metres butterfly.

Cara Smyth from Dalgety Bay and INCAS is having a great season with personal bests almost every time she competes. Cara won double bronze for 100 metres breaststroke and 100 metres butterfly and was 4^th in 200 metres Individual Medley.

Steven McCormick from Kirkcaldy and FINS was 6^th in 100 metres backstroke and 7^th in 50 metres freestyle and had two PBs.

Well done the Fife junior swimmers.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Mike and Joan Mowat from Dovecot Bowling Club attended a Sports Coach UK, How to Coach Disabled People in Sport (DSF) workshop organised by Disability Sport Fife at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre, Glenrothes. Within a few days of the workshop, DSF was negotiating with the Dovecot club to provide some last minute coaching for Briony Clark who had been called up by DSF for the Fife women’s Inter Area Bowls squad. The club provided quality coaching for Briony and she went on to contribute significantly to the Team Fife retention of the Inter Area Trophy at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy.

Briony is now one of several young bowlers with additional support needs who are attending the club and receiving excellent coaching from club members. Thanks to a bursary from the Fife Association of Fife Rotary clubs it has been possible to buy bowling shoes for the young players. Second hand bowls have been donated to DSF by mainstream club members from within the Central Fife area. Briony has been joined by Adam Faulds and Stephen and Robert Anderson and more learners are expected to join this excellent example of an inclusive sports/bowls club in the period ahead.

As well as Bob and Joan Mowat, DSF is indebted to Barbara Robertson who has been helping Briony and Marshall McIntyre and Alistair Pringle who have been helping Robert and Stephen. For some time DSF has been trying to establish an inclusive bowls session within the Glenrothes area and Dovecot BC have come to the rescue. Watch this space for further developments within Central Fife.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Tennis is great fun, which means it’s a great way for children and adults to get fit and healthy.

This taster will introduce people with a learning, physical or sensory disability to the game of tennis. Hosted at Elgin Academy, this is a partnership project between the Tennisfoundation, TennisScotland, Moray Council and Elgin TC.

Sessions are split by age and groups to cater for all needs. Equipment and information on on-going sessions will be provided. Participants with complex needs should bring a buddy who is prepared to join in.

For further information and to book please clink on this link: http://goo.gl/sNEKBB