Sam Fernando is the Disability Sport Fife 2017 Junior Athlete of the Year past and he has started the 2017 season with a bang. Sam is coached by Ron Morrison and as well as representing Fife AC, he competes for Kingdom, a composite club made up of Fife AC, Dundee Hawkhill and Pitreavie athletes. Kingdom competes in the premier division of the youth development league and the club came second to Edinburgh in Hull recently, the highest finishing position they have recorded to date.

In Hull Sam ran 1500 metres and lowered his PB to 4:19.3. Sam also ran 3K and set a new personal best of 9:14.6, an improvement of around 5 seconds. Sam also ran a significant PB over 2000m s/c of 6:43.20, rounding off an excellent weekend with the Kingdom Club. Sam also competed in the Scottish 5Km championships in Edinburgh and was part of the team that won the Under 20 team race in another PB of 16.09 in very windy conditions.  600 athletes lined up for a very crowded start.

Also this month Sam won the Scottish Disability Sport 3K cross country title and heads to the Beveridge Park on Thursday 18th May to try to win the Fife title. It has been a very busy period for the young Fife AC athlete as he strives to improve on last year’s performances and advance his ambitions as one of the leading high performance T20 athletes in the UK.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Two Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented at the 2017 Disability Sport Fife (DSF) Awards Evening supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust on Monday 8th May. Jim Thomson, Past Chairman of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), supported by Ailien Pallot of Scottish Disability Sport, handed over the mementoes to two deserving recipients.

Maria Spencer from Dunfermline started playing bowls in 1995 and in 2017 she is one of the most highly respected visually impaired bowlers in the world. Maria’s major breakthrough came in 2011 when she was selected for Team Scotland for the IBD World Championships. Unable to gain a place in the team as a B3 bowler she competed in the B4 section and won the world singles title. Four years later she competed in the B3 class at the IBD World Championships in New Zealand and won her second world title and also a medal in pairs. Sarah Jane Ewing also from Dunfermline was her Director. Recognised as a determined competitor on the big occasion Maria recently won the Scottish Indoor title for visually impaired bowlers at Falkirk and is off to Australia in June with Team Scotland for the Test Match at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

In the 70s Andrew Brennan was brought to the attention of DSF by his PE teacher Bob Gauld. Andrew was a member of Cardenden Swimming Club and in the 40 year history of Disability Sport Fife he was the first Fife physically disabled swimmer to excel on the international stage. Andrew led the Scottish swim team to a succession of outstanding performances at the British Junior Championships at Stoke Mandeville and in 1981 he was the star male swimmer of an amazing Scottish Junior Team at the Children’s International Games in Darlington. Andrew was selected for Team GB for the Paralympic Games in New York and during the summer months he threw a mean discus. Fife produced outstanding Para swimmers during the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s but Andrew Brennan was the first to make an impact and one of three great Fife amputee swimmers who excelled on the national and international stage. (the others being Iain Matthew and Lara Ferguson).

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) recognised a significant number of performance Para athletes at the Annual Awards Evening supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. 2016/2017 has been a very successful period for Fife Para athletes with more successes in more sports locally and nationally. Nominations for individual awards have never been stronger across all sports.

Past Chairman of Scottish Disability Sport, Jim Thomson, and DSF lead athletics coach Pamela Robson, presented the Jack Rennie Cup to GB Paralympian Derek Rae the stand out candidate for the athlete of the year award. Selection for Rio and a third successive PB (2:33.24) in the Virgin Money London Marathon ensured the Cup was heading back again to the Rae household and deservedly so. The award is presented in the name of past Paralympian Colin Keay from Kirkcaldy who was a multi medalist at the Paralympic Games in 1984 and 1988 in USA and South Korea.

For the second successive year Ollie Carter from Cupar and Carnegie Swimming Club was awarded the Leslie Inglis Trophy as the Swimmer of the Year. Ollie was unable to attend the Awards Evening but the audience listened to a list of the young Fife swimmer’s achievements over the past 12 months. One S10 Scottish record after another has been broken with highlights being the lowering of the 100m freestyle record to 59.13 and being the first Scottish physically disabled swimmer to break one minute for 100 metres freestyle at the Scottish Championships.

Michael Simpson from Strathmiglo BC was also unable to attend but his award as Bowler of the Year was presented to his Scottish Team Mate Barbara McMillan who will also head out to Broadbeach in Australia for the Test Match prior to the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Michael captained the Scottish Para Bowls Team to success in Glasgow at the Home Nations in 2016 and Runners Up position in Wales in 2017. Michael is a member of the Scottish Para Bowls extended squad preparing for the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Footballer of the Year and winner of the Penman Family Award was Shakeel Ul Haq from Lochgelly HS. Shakeel was top scorer in the S3-S6 Division of the DSF 7s Football League and will lead the Lochgelly HS team at the Scottish Championships in Glasgow later in the year. Jim Thomson and Brian Sim from Lochgelly HS made the presentation to Shakeel, the first Lochgelly HS pupil to win the award.

Mark Gaffney from Scottish Disability Sport and Jim Thomson presented the Ian McNab Memorial Rosebowl to Callum Sloan from Dunfermline who was voted wheelchair athlete of the year. Callum set a three minute PB at the 2017 London mini marathon and has led the way in wheelchair racing in Fife for the past few years. The Thursday after school DSF run, jump, push and throw session at Pitreavie started out as an individual training session for Callum but now has 17 physically and visually impaired athletes attending. Callum has been the inspiration for this weekly session’s development.

Kerry Hick, wife of the late John Hick, and Jim Thomson presented for the first time the John Hick Cup to the badminton player of the year. The late Russell Hogg has had a major influence in the development of the sport in Fife along with DSF coaches Alex Bird, Euan Bell, Julie Hogg plus Jane Russell from Badminton Scotland. John Hick was the first Fife player to compete in the Home Nations Championships. The first recipient was Lloyd Simpson from Methil, winner of the men’s Open at the Fife Championships and also the internal DSF Badminton League. In addition Lloyd was a member of the Fife squad that successfully participated in the First Scottish Championships earlier in the year in Edinburgh.

Jim Thomson and Derek Rae presented the Aileen Harper Award to Sam Fernando from Fife AC who was voted the Junior Sports Person of the Year. Sam has established himself as the leading T20 under 20 athlete in the UK across a range of middle and long distances. Sam is an exciting talent following in the footsteps of his Fife AC team mate Owen Miller who has led the way in Scotland in the T20 class for many years and last year represented Team GB at the INAS European Championships in Turkey. Sam is coached by Ron Morrison and Owen by Steve Doig.

Cameron Hemphill from Ladybank was identified as the Most Improved Swimmer of the Year and received the Woodlands Parents Trophy, the day after the Awards Evening. This particular award is in the name of five times Paralympian Paul Noble from Glenrothes SC who medalled in every Games he contested. Cameron moved from Cupar and District SC last year to INCAS to be coached by Garrie Roberts and ever since he has made significant progress in all his events. Representative honours have come his way and his commitment to training has become even more intense. Most definitely a young swimmer to watch.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

 

 

Each year at the Annual Awards Evening supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, Disability Sport Fife (DSF) presents a junior and senior endeavour award to individual athletes nominated by member organisations. The awards are presented in the names of three DSF Hall of Fame graduates Caroline Baird MBE, Lara Ferguson and Andrew Lindsay. The presenters of the awards this year were Jim Thomson past chair of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), Heather Lowden Education and Coaching Manager with SDS and Claire Morrison an SDS Board Member and lead coach with GB Boccia.

Connor Brown is a pupil at Woodmill HS and a very committed all round sportsman. Connor excels in track and field, cross country, martial arts and swimming. Connor has cerebral palsy and within the past couple of months he has successfully represented Fife at the National Cross Country Championships in Glasgow and National Senior Swimming Championships in Grangemouth. Connor is one of few physically disabled athletes who compete in cross country and it was when he was representing his school in the East Series competition that he first came to the attention of DSF. The West Fife teenager has not looked back since and he hopes to rearrange his busy weekly schedule this term to enable him to attend the ever expanding DSF Thursday DSF Run, Jump and Throws session at Pitreavie Athletics Centre. Connor is an exceptionally active young man with a very promising future ahead and a very worthy Junior Endeavour Award winner.

Kirsty Brunton from Dalgety Bay came to the attention of DSF when she dropped into the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre for a swim shortly after it opened. Some may say she was “stalked” by the DSF President but the outcome is that she has become a very influential member of DSF within a short period. Kirsty has cerebral palsy and is a very accomplished sailor and a very active member of Dalgety Bay Swimming Club. Kirsty is also a very keen open water swimmer and hopes one day that Para Open Water swimming will become a popular option for Para swimmers. Kirsty has competed in exciting water spaces like Loch Lomond and Lake Windermere. Kirsty loves swimming and not long after she joined DSF she was offered the opportunity to compete for Scotland in the CPISRA World Games in England. Kirsty has recently joined INCAS and is now being coached by Garrie Roberts. She is thoroughly enjoying her new swimming regime but not surprisingly she is looking towards her next challenge which may involve something to do with hand cycling. Kirsty and her family love the outdoors and she is a very appropriate winner of the 2017 DSF Senior Endeavour Award.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

The Access Awards were first introduced to Disability Sport Fife (DSF) in 1985 by a member of Cupar Round Table who was impressed at the time by the work of DSF and its vision for the future. They are the oldest of the DSF Awards and have been presented on almost sixty occasions to individual athletes and teams who have made their mark within the Association. More recently those nominated and selected have made a significant contribution to the DSF family and are recognised for their personality, commitment to sport and attitude to others. The list of previous winners identifies over 30 years of DSF “personalities”.

The members of the Order of St John Fife have been passionate supporters of DSF for almost the same length of time as the Awards have been presented and have raised tens of thousands of pounds to support DSF individuals and teams. Present at the 2017 DSF Awards Evening were Order committee members Findlay McCrae and Elizabeth Laing who joined Jim Thomson, past Chairman of Scottish Disability Sport to present the 2017 Access Awards to Mark Walker from East Fife Community Support Services and Kenny Richards from West Fife Community Support Services. Widely regarded as two of the most popular, active and charismatic members of DSF, the decision to recognise these two fine athletes this year was very well received by attendees at the Awards Evening. Each has a history of representing their CSS in sports as wide ranging as football, bowls, athletics, swimming etc. Most importantly they are two of the Association’s longest serving and most popular members.

In recent years DSF has strengthened its links with the three Local Sports Councils and more DSF members that ever before receive recognition for their contribution to sport and/or their local community through one of the three Local Sports Councils Awards Ceremonies. Ken White and Greig Hopcroft from Kirkcaldy and Central Fife SC joined Jim Thomson past chair of Scottish Disability Sport and Carolyn Clunie DSF General Management Committee member, to present four special achievement awards in memory of the late Ian Cowper, a past staff member at St Clair Centre in Kirkcaldy. The four deserving recipients were:

Robert Anderson – all round sportsman excelling in swimming, athletics football, bowls and badminton. Now a DSF peer mentor and very committed volunteer.

Jaz McNeill – particularly interested in racquet sports excelling in table tennis and badminton. A key member of the DSF badminton squad.

Nicola Eccles – all round sportswoman and key member of the East Fife CSS sports team excelling in athletics and unihoc in particular. (unable to attend the presentation)

Matthew Blissett – all round sportsman excelling in bowls and swimming in particular. Key member of numerous DSF teams at national events.

All athletes are very committed DSF members and have made significant progress in their chosen sports in the last 12 months.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) is proud of the quality and quantity of coaches and volunteers it can call upon to support members of the Fife high performance, performance and development squads. At the 2017 DSF Awards Evening held at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre, many were recognised within different categories for the critical role they play throughout the year with DSF members. Past Chair of Scottish Disability Sport, Jim Thomson, led the presentations with support from DSF key personnel.

Ron Morrison from Fife AC was awarded the Coach of the Year Award and in his absence Paralympian Derek Rae accepted the award on his behalf. Derek is coached by Ron and under his influence and guidance he has improved his marathon times in three successive London Marathons. In London this year Derek won his first international medal when he was placed third in the T46 IPC Marathon World Championship. Ron also coaches young Sam Fernando from Fife AC who is now established as the leading Under 20 year old T20 middle distance and distance athlete. The award is presented in the name of Eddie Campbell who coached up to nine Paralympic swimmers when he was coach at Glenrothes Swimming Club.

Jim also presented awards to a group of inclusive coaches who have contributed significantly to many DSF members over the past 12 months and more. Jenn Mann is the Lead Coach at Enigma Gymnastics Club and with her support and leadership a successful development programme has been introduced within the club for gymnasts with Down Syndrome in particular. International badminton player and coach Julie Hogg from Dunfermline has joined the DSF coaching team and spearheaded a DSF badminton initiative at Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre. Nigel Walker, Eric McMillan and Bob Dick also received awards for their significant contribution to the development of Para Bowls at national level and in support of Fife Para Bowlers. This section of the awards acknowledges the sporting excellence of past Paralympian Ann Swann.

DSF values enormously its links with schools staff and volunteers. Jim Thomson and DSF secretary Maureen McSeveney presented awards to Gayle Sloan who has progressed from parent helper to Level 2 athletics coach within a very short period. Gayle is now one of the most fully committed DSF volunteers by supporting sessions and contributing to training sessions for teachers, athletes and leaders. The links DSF now enjoys with schools are very important and three Education Services staff were recognised for the role they play in encouraging and organising their pupils for DSF events, Festivals, Sports Academies and managing Fife teams at national events. Awards were presented to Jakki O’Neill (Woodmill HS), Fiona Stewart (Bell Baxter HS) and Brian Sim (Lochgelly HS) for their great contributions to junior sports.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Almost 90 athletes, players, coaches, volunteers and family members attended the 2017 Disability Sport Fife Annual Awards Evening at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre. The Awards Evening is supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and offers DSF the opportunity recognise and celebrate the many successes of the last 12 months.

The guest of honour was Jim Thomson, past Chair of Scottish Disability Sport. In introducing Jim, DSF President Richard Brickley acknowledged the immense amount of support Jim had offered DSF members throughout the 80s and 90s when he was a staff member with Capability Scotland. DSF developed an internationally recognised programme for athletes with cerebral palsy, head injury and stroke with guidance and support from the sports committee of Capability Scotland. Claire Morrison, Board Member with Scottish Disability Sport, provided an inspiring end of evening round up to what was described as one of the most successful Awards Evenings to date.

Scott Urquhart, Operations Manager with The Fife Sports and Leisure Trust accepted the Organisation of the Year Award from Kathleen Thomson and Jim Thomson. Kathleen is the wife of the late David Thomson, a Founder Member of DSF. The award acknowledges the influence David had on DSF for almost four decades. DSF currently recognises the FSLT as its major partner in the delivery of services for participants of all levels of ability with different impairments.

The Ambassador of the Year Award was presented to Anne Marie McMorrin, Principal Teacher in the Department for pupils with additional support needs at Balwearie HS. This major DSF award is in the name of the late Alec Thorburn who lost his life in a tragic kayaking accident a few years ago. Alec was the Treasurer of DSF and a very active volunteer. Anne Marie was introduced as a teacher who had greatly influenced the relationship between ASN schools in Fife and DSF through her role as a promoted staff member and Chair of PEPAS. The partnership between schools and DSF has never been stronger.

Jim Thomson and Scott Urquhart from the FSLT presented Garrie Roberts, Head Coach of the Incas swimming club, with the Service to Sport Award. This award carries the name of the late Steve Donnelly who offered DSF hours of voluntary and professional support while an employee of the FSLT. Garrie started coaching with Carnegie SC in 1988 and moved to Glenrothes SC in 1999 where he coached Paralympians Paul Noble, Lara Ferguson, Andrew Lindsay, Paul Johnston and Tracy Wiscombe. In 2002 he coached at Incas and following a two year spell in Dundee,returned to Incas in 2014 where has remained until now. Presently five members of the Fife Performance swim squad train with Incas. DSF recognises Incas as a truly inclusive community performance club and Garrie as an outstanding inclusive coach.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

 

Sunday 14th May 2017, 1.30-3.30pm
Stonehaven Bowling Club, Recreation Ground, Stonehaven AB39 2RD

Are you interested in starting a new sport or physical activity?

Are you interested in perhaps representing your country at international competition, up to and including the Commonwealth Games?

This may be the opportunity that you have been waiting for!

We are working in partnership with Stonehaven Bowling Club to deliver an outdoor para bowls taster session for all interested people with a physical, learning or sensory impairment.

We invite you to come along and meet and work with experienced para bowls coaches, and enjoy the opportunity to learn new skills. All abilities are welcome!

For more information or to register your interest in the day, please contact Claire McDonald on 07533 056 564 or claire.mcdonald@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

If your or anyone you know would like more information about para bowls in Scotland, contact Ron McArthur, National Performance Bowls Development Manager, on 07788 878 470 or ron.mcarthur@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

 

Following a great season, Tayside Dynamos clinched their third Scottish Powerchair Football Association League title on Sunday.

The Dynamos secured their position at the top of the table with two very tough victories and a showdown against Clyde Alba for the title. Despite a create performance from Alba, the Dynamos rear guards Kelsey Speed and Logan Mitchelson had the game of their lives. Kein Speed and Nicky Duncan proved they had taken in the last training drills and again proved to be a dynamic duo up front. Young Eythan Galloway was deployed as a secret weapon taking the pressure off the back two. A large amount of credit must also go to Liam Ritchie and Kristen Macmaster, who embodied the team ethos of “Respect, Determination, Teamwork”. Dynamos look forward to sharing their next season with teammate Alexander Johnstone.

Behind any great team is great coaching and support staff in the form of Garry, Gareth and Ryan. Many thanks to Head Coach Garry Johnstone who has led the Tayside Dynamos on an amazing journey and has helped raise the standard of powerchair football in Scotland.

Tayside Dynamos, an incredible squad based in Dundee and Forfar, are currently looking to recruit more players for a second squad. If you are interested in trying powerchair football in Tayside, please contact Jennifer Scally at jennifer.scally@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Young Tyler McLelland from Glenrothes has recently experienced boccia at the highest level in Scotland and he loved every minute. The weekend started with confirmation of his classification of BC4 on the Friday prior to the tournament proper and ended with a bounce pairs match with the outstanding GB international McGuire bothers from the West of Scotland. In between he competed in his first ever BC4 singles competition winning one match and losing another for a debut silver medal.

Tyler is being mentored and coached by GB Paralympian Kieran Steer. Overseeing the progress of the young Fife novice is GB Boccia lead coach Claire Morrison from Dalgety Bay. Tyler has only been playing a few months but his progress has been steady and is evident for all to see. Mum and Dad are very involved with Tyler’s new boccia career as well as being hugely supportive of his swimming ambitions. Tyler is an excellent young Disability Sport Fife sporting prospect and keen to follow in the footsteps of Kieran who represented Great Britain at the Paralympic Games in Rio.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife