Ruairi Logan was in action recently at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Knokke Zoute Junior Roller Open in Belgium, claiming victory in the doubles section and falling just short in the singles and finishing in second place.

Logan, a former player at Edinburgh wheelchair tennis club Winning Wheels, was in impressive form throughout the singles competition recording three victories and falling to just one defeat against number one seed Jef Vandorpe from Belgium.  The 15 year old claimed victories against slightly more experienced players including number 2 seed Justin Peraux (Belgium), adding to the valuable experience gained in 2016.  Logan, a previous winner of the Lothian Disability Sport Junior Sports Person of the Year, was partnered with Dutch player Floor Van Stijn and the pair secured a first place finish with a win in the final against Fleur Gobes and Coen Van Werkhoven (both Netherlands).

Since securing a new Bromakin wheelchair, with support from Education Scotland through Scottish Disability Sport, Jonny Brown’s commitment to track and field training has taken off in a big way. Jonny from Coaltown of Wemyss has been committed to throwing for several years now and is excited about the forthcoming Throws Grand Prix Series organised by Scottish Athletics. Most importantly however Jonny has signed for his first ever 10K in Edinburgh on Saturday 27th May.

Jonny shares two coaches. His father David has taken on the role of throws coach and with support from Disability Sport Fife David is progressing along the coaching pathway. Jonny’s track coach is DSF’s lead athletics coach Pamela Robson who has decided to run with him in Edinburgh to help him through his first ever road racing experience. They are a formidable coaching team and Jonny is benefiting immensely from their support.

A standard week for Jonny now is a couple of sessions in the gym at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre plus one or two track sessions at Pitreavie or Glenrothes. Because of his additional interest in road racing, a session on the Kirkcaldy prom or Beveridge Park has been added to the weekly schedule. The progress this young Fife athlete has made in the last couple of years is significant. Jonny has managed to combine training with work and hopes one day to fit in volunteering and perhaps even coaching.

All the very best Jonny as you prepare for the Edinburgh 10K at the end of May. Jonny has decided to seek sponsors for his Edinburgh adventure to raise funds for DSF.

Many thanks indeed Jonny for your support and good luck.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Glasgow Triathlon Club is a welcoming and inclusive club open to all ages and abilities (disabled or non-disabled athletes). Triathlon consists of swimming, cycling and running, however some events are swimming and running (aquathlon) or running and cycling (duathlon) so you don’t need to do all three to join us. Many of our members just do one of the sports but like the ethos of the club. Our current athletes range from have-a-go participants  to leading amateurs at European and world age group level. Our team of enthusiastic, knowledgeable and qualified coaches work with each athlete to find what works for them and support them to achieve their goals. The club offers coached sessions in swimming, cycling and running all-year-round.

More information about paratriathlon (http://www.glasgowtriathlonclub.co.uk/paratriathlon/

More information about Glasgow Triathlon Club (http://www.glasgowtriathlonclub.co.uk/)

Back in 1976 the Annual Disability Sport Fife Sports Festival was run over one single Saturday afternoon in March at the Fife Sports Institute. For the first part of the session activities were held in the games hall and then everybody headed through to the swimming pool for the swimming event that lasted just over an hour. Apart from an enjoyable day of physical activity the purpose of the Festival was to raise awareness of disability issues and services available to disabled people in Fife. Education and Social Work Services cooperated to organise the Festival but there was no Disability Sport Fife.

Fast forward to 2017 and the Festival is now run over three weeks. It starts with the Fife Swimming Championships which this year had 175 individual entries and was run over five hours. The Fife Badminton Championships are now held at Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre and this year entries exceeded 60 for the first time. Around the same number participated in Basketball/Netball and Tug of War and the Football/Unihoc 5s and 6s exceeded 130. Archery moved to the new venue of Queen Anne HS and during the Festival period there was also a leg of the 7s Football Series at Kirkcaldy High School. Approximately 566 participants took part in the 2017 Sports Festival in 11 sports in four venues in central and west Fife. Around 200 support personnel and volunteers were engaged over the three week period. This was by far the most successful Festival to date.

Many thanks to Fife Council for grant aid to support the Festival and to the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust for the provision of facilities as part of the Service Level agreement. Many thanks in particular to the young sports leaders from Kirkcaldy High School who make such a significant contribution as Festival officials. DSF members are already asking about dates for 2018 for the longest running event in the DSF calendar.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife