Month: October 2017

Blind Bowlers Draw Success at UK Championships

The Scottish Association for Blind Bowlers (SABB) hosted the UK Indoor Singles Home International at Glasgow Indoor Bowls Club from 6 -8 October 2017.

SABB, led by Team Manager David Thomas, were keen to put in a performance in order to defend their unbeaten record of winning the UK Indoor Friendship Team Trophy, which they have held since 2007!

The selectors made a number of changes to the team. There are a number of promising layers coming through at the moment and Robert Barr, Melanie Inness and Ian Graham made their first appearance at a UK Visually Impaired Bowls (UK V.I.B) Home International.

86 ties would be played over 11 sessions in all sight categories: B1, B2, B3 and B4

Day 1:
After a disappointing start to the tournament all players rallied to produce some excellent results to draw level with England on points 22-22.

Day 2:
This was an exceptionally good day for Scotland with all players supporting each other to produce a massive turnaround with Scotland gaining 30 points to lead England 52-43.

By the end of Day 2, Scotland were certainly in contention to win some medals but the player still had to produce some big results against some very good opposition.

Day 3: 
Scotland produced some exceptional wins over England and Wales and produced some medal winning performances, claiming five golds, one silver and three bronze medals.

Final Team Standings
Scotland: 67 points
England: 60 Points
Wales: 43 Points

As well as some great individual performances, the retention of the Team Trophy for the sixth time in a row was particularly pleasing for everyone involved in SABB.

Medal Winners

B1 Ladies
Eleanor Clark (Doreen Strachan) – Gold

B2 Ladies
Elizabeth Morrison (Ann Moss) – Bronze

B3 Ladies
Mary Stevenson (John Stevenson) – Gold

B4 Ladies
Melanie Inness (Grace Whitton) – Gold

B2 Gents
Ian Graham (Marday Vyapooree) – Gold
Billy Edgar (Gerry Blasby) – Bronze

B3 Gents
Robert Barr (Chris Morrow) – Gold
William Caulfield (Moira Thomson) – Silver

B4 Gents
Robert Rodgers – Bronze

Kinghorn Delivers CG Time in Chicago

Scotland’s Sammi Kinghorn continued her amazing 2017 with a superb debut at the distance in the wheelchair race at the Chicago Marathon.

Kinghorn, Double World champion at 100m and 200m during the summer, finished in fifth place in 1.43.52 and that’s well inside the standard required for the Commonwealth Games.

It was a Scottish Record for wheelchair racing for the marathon. Sammi had been nursing a wrist injury in recent weeks following the Great North Run but recovered in time to finish second at the Great Scottish Run wheelchair race to set her up for the trip to the United States.

Yesterday, after her first gruelling experience of the 26.2 miles distance, she tweeted: ‘Marathon debut completed in a time I didn’t think possible and couldn’t do it without my coach, Ian Mirfin’.

Last month, the 21-year-old from the Borders was named Scottish Sportsperson of the year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards and Sammi has also been short-listed for our own FPSG Annual Awards on Saturday 4 November.

 

The Chicago Marathon performance will secure Sammi a slot for the Gold Coast 2018 and she already looks like a medal contender at Commonwealth level for that event, while also being expected to compete on the track in Australia over 1500m.

60 Seconds with a Tayside Athlete: Ciara Roulston

Name: Ciara Roulston

Branch: Angus Disability Sport

Sport: Paratriathlon

Squads: GB Paratriathlon Development Squad & Triathlon Scotland Academy Squad

How did you get involved in your sport? Discover Your Para Potential campaign after watching the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

How long have you been playing your sport for? Almost a year, I attended the Tri4Tokyo ID in November 2016 and made the development squad shortly afterwards.

Biggest Strength (as an athlete): I am a fast learner and take on advice and tips from my coaches quickly.

What’s the best thing about your sport? I enjoy the variation in training and competition. With three disciplines to master, there’s always something different to do!

What equipment do you need to take part in your sport? Wetsuit, trisuit, goggles, swimming cap, road bike, cycle helmet, cycle prosthesis, tri/cycle shoes, running shoes and hopefully, if the sun’s out my sunglasses.

Greatest sporting achievement: Making the squad.

Favourite Para-athlete: Claire Cunningham, she gives me lots of help and advice.

Favourite athlete to compete against: I would love to compete against Lauren Steadman who is the current top GB paratriathlete in my classification (PTS5). Although I’m always happy for a bit of friendly competition with anyone.

Any advice for someone interested in your sport? The water is always colder than it looks!

Artistic Gymnastics British Championships 2017

Orianne Slater of City of Aberdeen Gymnastics Club (COAG) competed in the Disability Artistic Gymnastics 2017 British Championships at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Telford on Sunday 1st October and retained her national title for the third year in a row!

The gymnast has Perthes’ disease, which has caused deterioration of her hip joint. This didn’t deter her from joining COAG at the age of 10 and head coach, Lorna Presly, accommodated her in the mainstream beginners’ class, continually monitoring Orianne’s progress whilst being considerate of her disability. Orianne was keen to progress and learn more complex skills but as a result of her hip deterioration, she was unable to master the split (essential in mainstream gymnastics) and this is when Lorna suggested moving on to participate in disability gymnastics. Since summer 2015, Orianne has trained monthly with the disability gymnasts of the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club as well as maintaining her weekly training with COAG.

Orianne is now 2017 British Disability Junior Overall Champion, but she didn’t stop there: she surpassed any of her previous year’s performances and achieved Gold on each apparatus (Floor, Vault, Uneven Bars and Balance Beam).

2017 is Orianne’s last year in the Junior category. All her scores were comparable to competitors in the Senior category and her performance should stand her in good stead for her progression to Senior level.

Many thanks to Lorna for coaching and supporting her all through the Junior years, to City of Glasgow Gymnastics for sharing their specialist training expertise and facilities, and to the organisations, including Grampian Disability Sport, who have provided funding to help Orianne on her sporting journey!

 

Well done to all of the competitors and congratulations to Orianne!

Scottish RDA Dressage Championships 2017

The weather forecast was horrible but regardless 36 brave riders came out for the Scottish RDA Championships, at Glasgow RDA, on 1st October.  Although most of us got very wet, and the ground was rather soggy, it was not as bad as we had anticipated.  Conditions worsened once we were all safely on our way home!

 We welcomed riders from as far afield as Gordon, the Borders and for the first time East Fife & Scooniehill RDA from Fife. They told me how much they had really enjoyed seeing just what other groups and riders are achieving.  We saw excellent displays of riding all round but especially from those whose ponies really did not want to be performing out in the rain – a total of 9 groups were represented.  For the first time we had a Gran and Granddaughter both getting 1st rosettes.

 The Championship sashes were awarded to Janette Lightbody from Carrick and Lauren Dempsey from Glasgow.

 Huge thanks to Nancy Peters for organising the whole event, Lynda and everyone from Glasgow RDA, Helen and Anne, the judges, their writers, Gillie, at the shop, Mary, for being the photographer, and Isabelle, for taking care of everything else.  Most of all thank you to every rider, and their support teams for making the whole day a really great, fun day.

 

Stephen McGuire and Michaela Rihackova with medal

Medals Won in Kansas

Scottish Boccia had three representatives competing for Great Britain at the BISFed World Open in Kansas.  Stephen McGuire (BC4), Jamie McCowan (BC3) and Patrick Wilson (BC3)

Current World Champion, McGuire won individual Gold, whilst Jamie McCowan clinched individual Silver.

The UK Boccia team finished with three medals at the event, with David Smith MBE also adding Gold to the Paralympic Gold he won in Rio last year.

McGuire who cruised through his pool with three wins from three matches before dispatching Colombia’s Duban Cely in the quarter final and Canada’s Alison Levine in the semi-final.  Colombia’s Euclides Grisales was waiting in the final but McGuire started strongly and was 3-0 up after two ends. A tied third end took the score to 4-1 and McGuire eventually sealed the victory 4-2.

McCowan was also in sensational form during the pool stages and racked up three wins before seeing off Canada’s Eric Bussiere 6-1 and Jamie and Linda McCowan with medalGreece’s Grigoris Polychronidis in the semi.  Unfortunately he was unable to win the final as he was overturned by Australia’s Daniel Michel.  Nevertheless, an impressive performance by the man from Ayrshire!

Patrick Wilson went through second in his pool after edging out Jesus Romero in a tie-break. He then came up against Polychronidis in the quarter final but this time lost out in a tie break.

Earlier in the week BC3 pair Wilson and McCowan suffered a semi-final defeat against Canada before missing out on third place to Japan.  In the BC4 section, McGuire was paired with England’s Louis Saunders (who was making his first UK Boccia appearance)  failed to make it out of the pool after narrow 3-2 losses to Canada and Colombia.

 

The next competition for the players is the Scottish Boccia International being held from the 13 – 15 October at the Inverclyde Sports Centre in Largs.

Norma Buist Schools’ Swimming Gala

The Grampian Disability Sport Norma Buist Swimming Gala took place at Aberdeen Sports Village on the 28th September and saw school pupils across Aberdeen City and Shire get off to a great start in sport in this first event in the school calendar.

55 swimmers with physical, sensory and learning disabilities from a mixture of mainstream schools, ASN bases and ASN schools, gave it their all to produce a whole host of PB’s and to battle it out for the top spots in each of the 43 events.

The event was also a qualifier for the SDS National Junior Swimming Championships for Swimmers with a Learning Disability and an opportunity for swimmers with sensory and physical disabilities to gain updated times for their National Junior Championships, so all competitors were keen to put on their best performances.

The first event on the schedule was the 100m Individual Medley, which Matthew Scott flew through in an impressive 1:18.53.

Next up were the Backstroke events (both 25m & 50m), which saw no fewer than 29 swimmers promoted up the time classes, and two swimmers promoted to the 50m events from the 25m events.

In the next series of events, 25m & 50m Breaststroke, a number of swimmers were disqualified due to ineligible kicks and single-handed touches to finish. However, Matthew Scott & Jason Cobb swam perfect strokes in an exciting race that saw them finish only 0.16 seconds apart, with Matthew just pipping Jason to the post!

Butterfly was next on the list with just two events – one 25m and one 50m race, which thoroughly tested the endurance of all six swimmers who entered!

Last up were the 18 Freestyle events where 15 swimmers pulled out impressive PB’s to secure promotion up the time classes, and five swimmers achieved times to promote them from the 25m to the 50m race.

The event culminated in thrilling 100m Freestyle race between five of our fastest young swimmers, where Matthew Scott took home gold, Jason Cobb claimed silver and Rhys Gill secured bronze.

Accompanying teachers, parents and fellow pupils provided an admirable level of support to the swimmers by cheering each competitor throughout their races.

The event is operated by a partnership of volunteers from Grampian Disability Sport, members of the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Active Schools teams, Aquatics Aberdeen Staff & Scottish Disability Sport. A special thanks goes to Marie Cheyne & Pauline Stirling who prepared the competition schedule, coordinated all helpers on the day and started all of the races.

Well done to all and good luck to all of the swimmers selected for the National Junior Swimming Championships!

 

If you or anyone you know would like to become involved in disability sport in the Grampian area, please contact Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07782 874 4848.

Young Fife Racer Continues to Make Steady Progress

Well done to Callum Sloan from Dunfermline who recorded a personal best time of 15. 33 for the 2.5Km course at the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run.

The young Disability Sport Fife wheelchair racer competed on Saturday and found progression through the ambulant athletes very challenging. Callum conceded it was all part of his learning. Both he and coach Pamela Robson were pleased with his performance and of course his time.

Callum was delighted to receive his race reward from GB International athlete Eilidh Doyle.

Well done Callum another fine push in difficult conditions.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

60 seconds with a Tayside athlete: Taylor Mackenzie

Name: Taylor Mackenzie

Branch: Dundee City Disability Sport

Sport: Swimming

Club: Menzieshill Whitehall Swimming & Water Polo Club

How did you get involved in your sport? My mum and dad took me to the Olympia Pool when I was in nursery

How long have you been playing your sport for? Since I was 4 years old. I love the water and don’t feel different from others when I’m swimming.

Biggest Strength (as an athlete): My biggest strength is my love of swimming and my determination to improve my strokes

What’s the best thing about your sport? Swimming is fun and a great workout, it also gives you confidence to push yourself

What equipment do you need to take part in your sport? Other than the obvious things, I would never be without my water bottle, kick-board and fins.

Greatest sporting achievement: Competing in the Scottish Disability Sport National Junior Championships at Tollcross and the Special Olympics in 2017.

Favourite Para-athlete: Bethany Firth, S14 swimmer. I watched every race she was in during the Paralympics in Rio

Favourite athlete to compete against: Another S14 swimmer, Reagan Doig, proud that she is Scottish

Any advice for someone interested in your sport? Always warm up and warm down, show up early for training and have fun.

Fife Athlete Sets a Half Marathon PB

Derek Rae from Fife AC has successfully reached another milestone in his preparations for his next full marathon with a personal best of 70.06 at the 2017 Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Half Marathon in Glasgow.

The Kirkcaldy man is coached by Ron Morrison from St Andrews. The GB number one in the T46 class for athletes with an upper arm impairment finished in 15th position overall and lowered his half marathon time by an amazing 1 minute and 53 seconds. Last year in the same event Derek finished 27th overall.

Derek ran a personal best at the Virgin London Marathon in April this year of 2:33.24 and followed up with a PB of 32.32 at the City of Stirling 10K in September. To date coach and athlete are pleased with the continued progress as Derek builds up to his next full marathon and an attack on his 2017 London best performance.

Derek is a very committed full time athlete and if industry and commitment make champions then he is destined for the podium. Away from training Derek has become a peer mentor with Disability Sport Fife and last week he attended his first Coach UK workshop. Derek hopes one day to become a Scottish Athletics coach and inspire the next generation of young distance runners. Fife AC and Disability Sport Fife are already convinced he is inspiring many up and coming athletes of all ages and abilities.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife