Month: September 2017

Sensational Saturday for Brits with Wins at US Open Wheelchair Tennis

Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett, Gordon Reid and Andy Lapthorne all added doubles titles to their growing collections of Grand Slam wins on a sensational day of wheelchair tennis action at the US Open in New York that also saw both Hewett and Lapthorne reach their respective singles finals.

Hewett and Reid were looking to follow up their doubles success at Wimbledon against the pair they had defeated at SW19, top seeds Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer of France.  The quartet have developed quite a rivalry within the game, with the Brits having won both of their last two Wimbledon final encounters, but the French prevailing at both Roland Garros this year and the Rio Paralympics final last year.

In the event however, a performance featuring lots of energy and creative play from the British pair proved too much for the French on this occasion, with Hewett and Reid claiming a straight sets 7-5, 6-4 victory in less than two hours.  It is a title Reid was defending from 2015 and is the Paralympic gold medallist’s ninth career Grand Slam crown, while it is a fourth for US Open debutant Hewett.

Speaking after the match, Scotland’s Reid said “I felt like we played a really composed match and we deserved to win today”, with Hewett adding thanks to Reid and saying “It’s my first US Open and I’m loving every minute of it!”

What makes the win even more remarkable is what had come before it.  The day had started with world No.3 Hewett and world No.2 Reid battling it out in a truly epic all-British men’s singles semi-final that enthralled the watching crowd for over three hours.  It was an encounter full of drama and momentum swings with 19 year old Hewett racing into a 3-0 lead in the first set, before Reid hit back to lead 5-3 with Hewett serving to stay in the set.  Hewett then reeled off four games in a row to take the first set.  He looked to be on course to claim a place in Sunday’s final as he led throughout the second, but he failed to convert three match points at 5-3 and Reid bounced back to force a decider.

It then looked to be Reid who would claim a place in his first US Open singles final as he led 4-0 in the third set and had two match points when leading 5-3, but he too failed to convert the opportunity and the marathon match went to a tiebreak.

In the breaker, Hewett saved three match points, starting at 6-4, before failing to take two of his own at 7-6 and 8-7.  The classic match came to an end as Norfolk’s Hewett took the win 10-8 to set up a final against Houdet, who defeated Argentina’s world No.1 Gustavo Fernandez in the other singles semi-final.

Watching courtside at Flushing Meadow, Tennis Foundation Executive Director Geoff Newton emphasised the outstanding quality that had been on display, commenting “This was one of the finest tennis matches I have seen –a great credit to both players and to our sport. Well done to both Alfie and Gordon”.

Following on from New York, the world’s best tennis players will be showcasing their skills in the UK at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters at Loughborough University from 29 November – 3 December in what is the culmination of the 2017 season. To find out more and secure your tickets to see the drama unfold live visitwww.wheelchairtennismasters.com.

All of the British players in action in the wheelchair tennis at Flushing Meadow are part of the Tennis Foundation’s world class performance programme.  The Tennis Foundation is Great Britain’s leading tennis charity with a vision to make tennis a sport which is inclusive and accessible to all. It works to open up tennis to its priority audiences of disabled people, young people in education and in lower socio-economic communities – making it possible for them to enjoy the many health and social benefits of the sport whilst maximising their personal potential.

There is already a record number of disabled people playing tennis across the Tennis Foundation’s network of venues, but the success of the likes of Hewett, Reid and Lapthorne on the world stage is used by the Tennis Foundation as a platform to both raise the profile of tennis as a sport for disabled people and encourage even more disabled people to pick up racket and give tennis a go.

To find out more about disability tennis and find your neatest session visit www.tennisfoundation.org.uk, or get in touch via info@tennisfoundation.org.uk.

All photos courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

 

Grampian Para Come and Tri

As part of Triathlon Scotland’s ‘Scottish Para Come and Tri Series 2017’ in conjunction with Scottish Disability Sport & local partners, people from Grampian of all ages with a range of physical, sensory and learning disabilities took up the opportunity to swim, run and bike at Banff Academy on the 26th August.

The 14 participants were tasked with completing one of two distances: A 300m swim, 4km cycle and 1200m run; or a 100m swim, 1000m cycle and 400m run. The cycle was completed as loops round the playing fields and the run took place on the fantastic new Deveron Community and Sports Centre 400m tartan track.

Participants were invited to bring their own bikes. However, for those without their own bike, the Triathlon Scotland team was on hand with a fleet of bikes, acquired through generous funding from the CashBack for Communities Facilities Fund.

Craig Dillon in Action

Andy Redman, the North of Scotland Regional Development Officer for Triathlon Scotland, praised everyone that took part & noted that “all performances were outstanding”. He also commended the fantastic support that the parents, carers and others accompanying the athletes offered on the day. An enjoyable time was had by all.

One of the participants was Craig Dillon (pictured in action on his RaceRunning bike), who took on all three disciplines with gusto and thoroughly impressed the Triathlon Scotland team. When asked what he thought of the day, Craig said “yeah, good”. Craig is very keen to take part in more triathlon events in the future & particularly enjoyed the swimming element of the event.

Thanks go to Andy & Calum from Triathlon Scotland, the Enable Group in Banff, Charles (the Duty Manager at the facility), and Andrea McIntosh who volunteered on the day.

Photos by Andy Redman

East Athletes Shine at 2017 School Games

The annual School Games was held over the weekend 31st August to 3rd September at Loughborough University, attracting many of the most talented school aged athletes from across the United Kingdom.  The School Games (formerly known as the UK School Games) is an integrated multi-sport event and seeks to create an inspirational and motivational setting which encourages more young people to take part and succeed in sport.  The competition reinforces the experience of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and has provided a platform for many future International stars to showcase their talents as young athletes.

There were three athletes from the East of Scotland who travelled south of the border to participate in their chosen sports – Beth Johnston & Dylan Bleakley (Swimming) and Josh Manson (Wheelchair Basketball) – with all individuals experiencing a great level of success.

Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) youngster Beth Johnston (Galashiels, Scottish Borders) continued her excellent progress in the pool securing an impressive two gold and one silver medal on her return to the School Games.  The current Gala Academy Sports Personality of the Year recorded excellent times on her way to first place finishes in the 100m Back (1.18.22) and 200m Individual Medley (2.53.58), while securing second place in the 100m Free (1.10.96).  The S10 swimmer has had an excellent year, competing around the world including the World Para Swimming Series in Indianapolis, USA.

East Lothian Swim Team (ELST) youngster Dylan Bleakley (East Lothian) revelled in his first appearance at the Games, recording a third place finish and bronze medal in the 200m IM (2.59.20).  The S14 swimmer who recently only turned 14 will be hoping to build on the success and carry the form into the forthcoming season with ELST.

An athlete who has experienced the School Games a number of occasions is 17 year old Josh Manson (Edinburgh).  However, it was a first for the former Currie HS pupil, and Scotland as a team, as they achieved their most notable result since the inception of the School Games in 2009 – claiming the bronze medal after a nail biting match which finished 58 – 56 against England South.  The Edinburgh based wheelchair basketball player was instrumental in helping the Young Scots reach the heights of 3rd place and record the best result by a Celtic Nation at the Games.  Manson, who has recently moved from Lothian Phoenix to Tees Valley Titans will be hoping this success continues as he moves into the new season with his new club south of the border.

Full results from all sports at the 2017 School Games can be found here – http://results.schoolgamesfinals.org/results

For more information on disability sport opportunities in the East of Scotland, please contact Neal Herbert on 0131 625 4414 or neal.herbert@scottishdisabilitysport.com

Photo credit – Dylan Bleakley displaying his bronze medal from the School Games.

2017 National Lawn Bowls Championships

The sun was shining for bowlers in Aberdeen for the 2017 National Lawn Bowls Championships.  SDS returned to Westburn Park, Aberdeen for another successful Championships. The picturesque park in the heart of the Granite City has been the home of the Championships for almost thirty years now and as ever Sport Aberdeen proved to be excellent hosts. SDS were delighted to welcome the Depute Lord Provost of Aberdeen Allan Donnelly to present the trophies to the winners and the Chair of Sport Aberdeen Colin Taylor who attended to support the bowlers. Sport Aberdeen have been ideal partners over the years for this event and their commitment to disability sport in the area is clear with their unstinting support of this event.

Conditions were ideal as players from all over Scotland descended on the three-green club. Particularly pleasing was the presence of new bowlers at the Championships from the Scottish Borders, Angus and Perth & Kinross. Steve Key – a bowls player from Perth & Kinross – made his first appearance a memorable one by securing the title for players in a wheelchair. Steve defeated the highly decorated former champion Rosemary Lenton (Dumfries & Galloway) in the final by 9 points to 6. Four-time champion Billy Allan from Fife and his fellow Commonwealth Games squad member Mike Nicoll (Scottish Borders) in the final of Section 4 by 11 points to 5 to claim the Dewars trophy for the fifth time and may have the peerless David Heddle’s eight-title records in his cross-hairs.

Sections 1 & 7 were combined and four bowler competed for this title with the experienced Carole Martin from Lothian emerging victorious on this occasion defeating Grampian’s Katherine Hardie in the final to the loss of no points and claim her first national title in the competition.

The Thomas Taylor trophy was contested by bowlers from three branches with 2016 winner Tracy Black from Forth Valley, Fife’s Mary Wilson, Barbara McMillan, Maria Spencer and Sam Smeaton expected to be all competing strongly for the 2017 edition. In an extraordinarily close group Sam Smeaton qualified for the final on shot difference as the players all secured one win apiece. Mary Wilson repeated her 2016 performance by finishing runner-up to her stable-mate Sam by 7 points to 4.

The closest section of all proved to be Section 6 where local bowler Ali Burt and Lothian’s Richard Morrison were the clear group winners who then faced off in the final. Last year’s champion Fraser Mathieson had to withdraw prior to the vent with an injured back and this meant a new name was destined for the trophy. IN an intensely competitive match Ali Burt sent the local home happy with a 6-5 win over the Lothian bowler.

Fife’s strength in the bowlers with a learning disability section came to the fore again with both titles heading back down the coast to the kingdom. Craig Donaldson added to his 4 titles with against Phillip Hendry from Highland in a comfortable 14-6 win. Wendy Thomson joined Billy Allan as the only bowlers to defend their titles in 2017 by beating Lothian’s Amanda Craig in the Section 9 final and lift the Jessie Buchan cup.

SDS congratulates all winners on their achievements and are already looking forward to next year’s championships.

SDS is indebted once again to the support offered in staging the championships by Aberdeen City Council and Sport Aberdeen.

Fife Bowlers Achieve Something Very Special

The achievements of Craig Donaldson (Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC) and Wendy Thomson (East Fife CSS and St Andrews Bowling Club) cannot be underestimated. Craig has won the Turnbull Shield at the Scottish Lawn Bowls Championships organised by Scottish Disability Sport on seven occasions and four times in the last seven years. Wendy has just completed a treble of wins in successive years and won the Jessie Buchan Cup for the fourth time in five years. Both bowlers entered the championships as defending champions and successfully defended their titles. Rarely do the two national titles for bowlers with a learning disability return to the one Branch at the SDS.

Craig was inspired by his late father Bob to become involved in bowls and they played together often at the Kinghorn club. Both have been very committed club members for many years. Bob became a very enthusiastic supporter of DSF and regularly signed up for indoor, outdoor and carpet bowls events in Fife as a volunteer. Craig is a very successful all round sportsman and over the years has excelled in swimming, football, table tennis, badminton, track and field etc.

Wendy is a past winner of the Kilrymont St Andrews Athlete of the Year award and with that award comes a sports bursary. Wendy used her bursary to assist with her fees when she joined St Andrews Bowling Club and the rest is history. Playing at the St Andrews club and with support from staff at East Fife CSS her bowls has improved enormously over the last five years. Before this she travelled from St Andrews to Kirkcaldy weekly to access coaching support from Math Thomson at the Beveridge Park Club. Wendy is also an excellent indoor, carpet and ten pin bowler.

Bowls in Fife for players with physical, sensory or learning disabilities has been stronger. There are many inclusive bowling clubs across Fife and Disability Sport Fife members take full advantage of all that is on offer. Standards and number of participating players have improved accordingly.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Fife Indoor Bowls Championships Aberhill

The hospitality extended to Disability Sport Fife (DSF) bowlers and support staff at the 2017 DSF Indoor Bowls Championships was as always exceptional. For almost thirty years East Fife Indoor Members have handed over their facilities to DSF to host their annual indoor championships. The 2017 event was arguably the most successful to date. Over five hours of continuous play, almost 50 ties and five singles titles contested for the leading Fife bowlers with a learning disability. A significant number of Fife bowlers are now members of mainstream clubs and this was reflected in the quality of the play.

The men’s open singles involved two of Scotland’s leading bowlers Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC and Darryl Stewart from Cowdenbeath BC. As always they produced a closely contested tie with Darryl coming out on top on this occasion by only three shots. The third/fourth place play off involved Robert Anderson from Dovecot BC playing in the open section for the first time and the experienced Gary Handyside from Lumphinnans BC and West Fife CSS. Gary was a convincing winner but there is no doubt Robert’s day will come.

Pamela Mitchell from Headwell BC was in outstanding form in the Ladies open and went on to win every game on her way to the final where she met Wendy Thomson from East Fife CSS and St Andrews BC. In the final she improved still further and ran out a very worthy winner. Wendy was happy with her runner up trophy and Tanis Murphy from East Fife CSS and Windygates BC finished in third place. DSF is keen to attract women bowlers to the programme because the majority of players at the moment are male.

Willie Christie from East Fife CSS and Windygates BC was a worthy winner of the “B” competition with an unbeaten run straight through to the final. Robert McMahon from Central Fife CSS was runner up. Kevin Mustard from Central Fife CSS had a convincing win over Craig Houston from East Fife CSS in the final of the “C” section. Ryan Peterson from East Fife CSS and St Andrews BC defeated David Scott from East Fife CSS to win the “D” category event. This was Ryan’s first indoor title, rounding off an excellent day for the East Fife CSS bowlers.

The team of volunteer markers from bowling clubs in Central Fife worked exceptionally hard all day to deliver a top quality competition. Attention will focus on the month of November when the Fife Carpet Bowls Championships will be held at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes.

Photos: Finalists in all five categories plus the markers for the finals.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

60 Seconds with a Tayside athlete: Sarah Ellis

Name: Sarah Ellis

Branch: Angus Disability Sport

Sport: Boccia

Club: Dundee Boccia Club & Tayside Boccia Squad

How did you get involved in your sport? I went to the para-sport festival in Aberdeen in 2016 and really loved the sport so I joined my clubs.

How long have you been playing your sport for? Around 10 months

Biggest Strength (as an athlete): I’m willing to recognise when I’ve made mistakes and learn from them

What’s the best thing about your sport? There is always something new to learn no matter if you’re at training or at competitions. I also love the atmosphere at competitions, the buzz that I feel is amazing!

What equipment do you need to take part in your sport? A set of boccia balls

Greatest sporting achievement: Silver in the junior section at the Lothian Open Boccia Championships

Favourite Para-athlete: Stephen Maguire, boccia player

Favourite athlete to compete against: Dan Bentley. He’s got Paralympic medals in boccia and I’ve learned so much from him.

Any advice for someone interested in your sport? Don’t be scared to come and give it a go! Boccia is a great way to improve your hand/ eye coordination and improve your confidence.

 

Martin Perry

Playing our Part: Martin Perry

23-year-old Martin Perry from Paisley attended mainstream school and was fully included within mainstream PE lessons. He was signposted by an Active Schools co-ordinator to Scottish Disability Sport’s summer sports camp, where he was introduced to the world of disability sport. The rest is history for Martin.

Since then, Martin has achieved in many areas of his life, including coaching qualifications, university, and is training with a focus on selection for Tokyo 2020.

Watch the sportscotland video below to get more information on Martin’s story, and if you would like to find out about disability sport opportunities in your area contact us on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

First All-Brit Grand Slam Wheelchair Tennis Semi at US Open

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett added to their growing list of historic achievements on Friday at the US Open when they set up the first all-Brit men’s singles wheelchair tennis semi-final at a Grand Slam.
Reid and Hewett will go head-to-head in Saturday’s semi-final, with a British player from the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme guaranteed a place in the men’s singles final in New York for the first time. Later in the day Reid and Hewett will be on the same side of the net when they contest the men’s doubles final.
One year and one week on from meeting in the Rio Paralympic men’s singles gold medal match, the two Brits both won three-set quarter-finals in New York as world No. 2 Reid reached his second US Open singles semi-final since 2013 and world No.3 Hewett booked his place in the last four on his debut at the final Grand Slam of the year.
Reid made his US Open debut in 2013 with a quarter-final victory over Belgium’s Joachim Gerard and Gerard was on the other side of the net again on Friday as Reid earned a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Despite earning an immediate break of serve Reid narrowly dropped the first set tie-break, but he came from behind to serve out the second set to love. Thereafter he dominated the deciding set to seal victory after two hours and 15 minutes.
“I’m very happy to come through a tough match against Jo today. Sometimes, to get the win it’s more about the desire rather than the quality of the tennis and that was the case in the final set today,” said Reid.
“There were definitely positives to take forward from the match into the semi tomorrow against Alfie, which will be a great occasion and one that I can’t wait for.”
Hewett came from 3-1 down to level both of the first two sets of his quarter-final against former world No.1 and six-time US Open champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan at 4-4. Hewett saved four set points in the opening set before going on to serve out the second set and force the decider.
The 19-year-old Roland Garros champion then forged into a 5-2 lead in the deciding set before wrapping up a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
“I’m really happy to be in my first US Open singles semi. Shingo played well and it was hard to break him down. He’s a great competitor and athlete, so it was always going to be a tough match,” said Hewett.
“I found a way to get back into the match after losing the first and being 3-1 down. I’m happy how I fought, I didn’t feel like it was one of my best matches, but I dug deep so I’m very pleased with that.”
Reid and Hewett also meet top seeds Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer in Saturday’s men’s doubles final as they bid to follow up their victories over the French duo in the last two Wimbledon finals.
Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

World Champion Coaches in Fife

Sammi Kinghorn from the Scottish Borders is a double gold medallist from the recent World Para Athletics Championships in London. Sammi and coach Ian Mirfin MBE came across to Fife on Wednesday 6th September to lead a technical and training workshop for the Disability Sport Fife (DSF) wheelchair racing squad.

Sammi is a natural teacher and the Fife squad members are enthusiastic learners. Topics covered included wheelchair set up, positioning, pushing action, starts and bends etc. DSF coaches Pamela Robson, Gayle Sloan and David Brown had many questions and received many valuable responses. The Fife squad is currently preparing for the Scottish Track and Field Championships at Grangemouth in mid September.

Sammi brought along her three World Championships medals and passed them around the athletes and support personnel. The youngest member of the group, Niamh Currie, brought along her photo album that included a photo of Sammi. Not surprisingly the addition of Sammi’s signature added so much to the importance of that album.

Fife wheelchair racing squad members are Susanne McGrath, Callum Sloan, Jonny Brown, Niamh Currie and Graham McIntyre.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife