The 2017 Disability Sport Fife (DSF) Track and Field Championships supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust were held at Pitreavie Athletics Centre in pleasant rain free conditions. The 230 participant entry was up on previous years with noticeable increases in athlete numbers with a physical or sensory impairment and juniors overall.
Owen Miller from Fife AC was voted the outstanding male athlete of the Championships and presented with the Ben Mills Trophy. Owen was dominant in the middle distance races. Teenager Rosalind Penman from Balwearie HS won the equivalent award for women and was presented with the Lita Allan Memorial Trophy.
The Ian Watson Memorial Trophy for Endeavour was presented to newcomer Dale Lynch from Glenrothes. The Gilbert Trophy for juniors was presented to Mathew Blair from Woodmill HS and the new Derek Frew junior Inspiration Award donated by coach Rachel Edgar was awarded to Cameron Adam from Dunfermline Track and Field.
The Inter Community Support Services Cup was retained by West Fife CSS with 74 points, 19 points ahead of second placed East Fife CSS. Woodmill HS retained the Russell Hogg Memorial Trophy with Balwearie HS placed second and Lochgelly HS third. Balwearie HS won the girls relay and Woodmill HS the boys relay. West Fife CSS dominated the mens and womens relays.
Scottish Athletics officials and DSF volunteers were ably assisted by young sports leaders from Kirkcaldy High School throughout the five hour programme. The track schedule ran exactly to schedule largely due to the efficiency of the officials and long serving DSF volunteer Aileen Penny who was Track Marshall.
Disability Sport Fife (DSF) has enjoyed forty years of support from Rotary International. 2017 is the third of three years of support from the Association of Fife Rotary Clubs for emerging performance sports people with a disability. Rotarians Jim Slater (Dunfermline Carnegie), Derek Thomson (Burntisland), Anne Tait (St Andrews Kilrymont) and Alan Farquharson (West Fife) attended the 2017 DSF Championships and presented medals and trophies to successful participants.
Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife