British Wheelchair Basketball are looking to recruit 12 Lead Coaches/Court Managers for the new ‘Regional Skills Camps and Young Activators Course’. The Skills Camps will definitely help our up and coming young U16s players, and also help promote the sport to potential new players.
For more information see the British Wheelchair Basketball website:
Tweedbank Indoor Bowling Club are hosting an Inclusive Bowls Workshop on Sunday 3rd December open to coaches and volunteers who have an interest in developing their knowledge and understanding when working with individuals with a disability in the sport of bowls.
The 4 hour workshop will provide attendees with the knowledge and skills to become more confident when working with players with a physical, learning and sensory impairment. The tutor led session will involve a range of coaching practices which incorporate a variety of adapted equipment giving coaches / volunteers the opportunity to work with these on the day. Bowls is a truly inclusive sport and is played from participation level right through to International level and the Commonwealth Games.
The details of the workshop are listed below –
Date: Sunday 3rd December 2017
Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm (lunch will be provided)
Venue: Tweedbank Indoor Bowling Centre, Tweedbank, TD1 3RS
Cost: No Cost
Who: Open to anyone who has an interest in working with individuals with a disability in bowls
If you are interested in accessing this exciting opportunity, please contact Scottish Disability Sport Inclusive Bowls Performance Development Manager Ron McArthur on the details listed below –
Email: ron.mcarthur@scottishdisabilitysport.com
Phone: 0778 887 8470
To download the session flyer, please click here.
Two East of Scotland swimmers received well-earned rewards recently, recognising their individual achievements over the last 12 months.
Beth Johnston received the Junior Sports Personality of the Year Award at the ClubSport Ettrick and Lauderdale Awards last week to cap a fantastic 12 months which has seen performances across the world, including securing medals at the World Para Series in Indianapolis. This recent award also compliments the Sports Personality of the Year accolade which the BEST swimmer received from her peers at Galashiels Academy earlier on this year. The S10 swimmer has enjoyed her best season to date and this has been acknowledged by her fellow swimmers, coaches, and school mates.
Edinburgh based swimmer Neil Ferguson was also recognised for his incredible achievements over the last 2 years – presented with a ‘Stroke Association Life After Stroke Award’ by Paralympian Scott Quin and TV presenter Amanda Lamb at a glittering award ceremony in London on 1st November. Lothian Racers and Musselburgh ASC swimmer Ferguson is relatively new to Para Sport after having a stroke just prior to Christmas in 2013, resulting in injuries to the right side of his body and also severely affecting his speech. The 15 year old has worked tirelessly to regain strength and mobility in the muscles that were weakened, while also finding the energy and enthusiasm to become involved with Para Sport during this period. Neil is now once again excelling in the swimming pool – recently being invited onto the Scottish Swimming Para Squad for 2017 / 2018 after receiving his classification this summer. The George Watson’s pupil motivation and drive to achieve all he can is absolutely evident to anyone who has worked with him or seen him train or compete, with his coaches often claiming, ‘it’s difficult to get him out of the water’. Neil – who was also the joint recipient of the Lothian Disability Sport Young Sports Person of the Year in the summer – has also engaged with events facilitated by Scottish Disability Sport, including the Summer Camp and is still an active member of the Forth Canoe Club after attending the Wheels to Water Event in 2015. A genuinely inspirational story and congratulations to Neil on receiving the Children and Young People’s Courage Award, a UK award which received over 400 nominations.
Watch Neil’s story on the link below –
Four Scots formed part of the UK Boccia team, winning four out of the five medals to ensure they topped the medal table at the 2017 BISFed European Championships, held in Povoa de Varzim, Portugal.
Team & Pairs
In the team and pairs events, the BC4 Pair of Stephen McGuire, Evie Edwards and Louis Saunders were closest to a Gold medal. Their final against Portugal, who they had earlier beaten at the pool stage, went down to a tie break after finishing 3-3.
An all Scottish BC3 Pair of Patrick Wilson, Jamie McCowan and Scott McCowan also took Silver. They recovered from a 1-4 loss to France in their Pool to record three victories, 4-3 over Portugal, 6-3 over Spain and 7-0 over Denmark. They defeated Greece 5-2 in the Semi-Final before losing the final 0-11 to Russia, who claimed their first European title.
Individual
There was also Scottish success in the individual competition with Jamie McCowan (and ramp assistant, Linda McCowan) took the BC3 title, whilst Stephen McGuire grabbed top spot in BC4 event in what was an incredible last day of the competition.
McCowan ground out a 3-2 semi-final against Greg Polychronidis of Greece, before facing Damian Iskrzycki from Poland in the final. After losing the first end 0-6, he fought back to win 8-7 in a remarkable turnaround to win his first European title.
McGuire battled through a very challenging semi-final to win 5-3 over Micaela Balcova from Slovakia prior to facing Russia’s Sergey Safin. In the end McGuire’s experience shown through as he ran out 6-1 to add the European Individual title to the World crown he claimed in 2016.
An impressive UK Boccia finished the competition with five medals from seven events.
FULL RESULTS
GOLD Individual BC1 – David Smith MBE
GOLD Individual BC3 – Jamie McCowan (assistant Linda McCowan)
GOLD Individual BC4 – Stephen McGuire
SILVER Pairs BC3 – Jamie McCowan (assistant Linda McCowan), Scott McCowan (assistant Gary McCowan, Patrick Wilson (assistant Will Wilson)
SILVER Pairs BC4 – Stephen McGuire, Evie Edwards, Louis Saunders
Boccia is predominately a disability sport. But at Movement Park we believe it’s so much more. At Movement Park we believe it’s the perfect sport for everyone, especially those that wish to sit but still stay active. If this is you, why not come along to our “Come & Try “ open day and learn from the best!
The boccia session will be coached by former Paralympic boccia player, Peter McGuire, whose wealth of knowledge and experience will assist in coaching absolute beginners to those with some boccia experience already.
The session is aimed at getting participants out, active and playing the game recreationally.
Date: Tuesday 21st November 2017
Venue: Movement Park, Clydeway House, 813 South Street, Whiteinch, Glasgow G14 0BX
Time: 12- 2pm Cost: £1 (tea/ coffee and lovely biscuit will be served)
For more information or to book your place, contact movementparkinfo@gmail.co.uk or alternatively call 0141 434 0002.
Through funding from the Big Lottery, Scottish Disability Sport in partnership with Glasgow Sport, is delighted to announce the introduction of a new boccia session beginning on Tuesday 24th October.
The boccia session will be coached by former Paralympic Boccia player, Peter McGuire, whose wealth of knowledge and experience will assist in coaching absolute beginners to those with some boccia experience already.
The session is aimed at getting participants out and active and playing the game recreationally, and who knows, maybe there are some budding boccia players out there with potential to make it to the Paralympic stage!
If you are interested in this exciting new opportunity, please see the flyer below.
For other opportunities in the West of Scotland, please contact Lori Ure – lori.ure@scottishdisabilitysport.com 07806 815 591.
GB Paralympian Derek Rae and Disability Sport Fife President Richard Brickley visited the Esplanade at Kirkcaldy on Saturday 16th September to offer best wishes to the staff of Commscope Technologies from Lochgelly who were heading off on their annual charity fund raiser walk/cycle. Approximately 19 walkers covered 22 miles along the Fife Coastal Path and finished at South Queensferry. A separate group headed off around the same time to cycle 68 miles taking in Dunfermline, Stirling, Airth, Crossford and also end in South Queensferry.
Disability Sport Fife (DSF) had been selected by the staff to be the recipient charity from their efforts. Little did DSF realise at the time that staff were going to be so successful in their fund raising venture.
The DSF President visited Commscope Technologies offices on Thursday to accept almost £2,900 pounds from Matt Lewry, Director, Design Engineering. Monies were raised through the DSF My Donate page and sponsor forms circulated by the staff. This was a monumental effort by Commscope Technologies staff and the DSF President emphasised to staff present how much of a difference this would make to present and future DSF sports development projects.
Under the banner of GOGA in Fife, DSF is currently working with local partner Outdoor Education Fife plus national partners FABB and Scottish Disability Sport to encourage inactive individuals with additional support needs to be more active more often. The initiative has involved the production of an inspiring adapted cycling video filmed at Lochore Meadows Country Park and a leaders course organised in conjunction with Cycling Scotland and Outdoor Education Fife. 5K has been allocated from GOGA investment to enhance the adapted cycling stock at Lochore Meadows Country Park and a further 2K from the Commscope Technologies initiative will be added to add to the funding available. The remaining funds raised will assist with the development of inclusive bowls in Fife.
Thank you Commscope Technologies staff for considering DSF worthy of such generous support. Your efforts will make a significant difference to the ability of participants with additional support needs to participate in active recreation in the countryside and also engage in bowls, one of the most inclusive sports in Fife.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
Disability Sport Fife enjoys very special relationships with a significant number of mainstream sports clubs across Fife. Many of these clubs offer inclusive recreational opportunities to DSF members and others offer a pathway to athletes and players with performance potential in Para sports. DSF lists some of these clubs on the DSF registration form available from the NEW DSF website but understandably there are too many to list them all. DSF concentrates on clubs that offer specialist opportunities where DSF neither has the expertise or coaching workforce.
One of the mainstream clubs that DSF is proud to list as a partner is the St Andrews Coastal Rowing Club. Club contact Julie Hardisty reported that this summer David Leeson became the first physically disabled participant to utilise an adapted seat in the St. Andrews Coastal Rowing Club boat. The specially adapted seat allows him to row as part of a crew. Access by wheelchair is via pontoons in the local harbour installed courtesy of the St. Andrews Harbour Trust. The Trust will install a winch during the next phase of the planned upgrade and this will enable participants with severe mobility difficulties to access the boat more easily. The rowing club has members with amputations and committee members are keen to encourage more participants with different impairments into their rapidly growing sport.
The adapted seat, as far as club members are aware, is the only one of its kind in Scotland and was kindly donated by club member Andrew Rendle. David rows using a pair of lightweight sculling oars in the harbour and in East Sands bay. His determination and willingness to “try anything” is remarkable. The adaptive rowing programme in St Andrews will continue next season with the support of club members and St Andrews Harbour Trust.
Is there a finer setting than St Andrews to enjoy the pleasure of coastal rowing? Disability Sport Fife is proud to have the club as a partner and congratulates club members on their success to date in making their sport more inclusive. DSF is delighted to have the St Andrews Coastal Rowing club listed as a partner and encourages interested participants to express their interest on a DSF registration form and return it completed to the DSF administrator Norma Buchanan. There after Julie Hardisty will be in touch.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
Paul Richardson from Luncarty, outside Perth, dropped into the Disability Sport Fife (DSF) office to hand over a cheque to the DSF President for £615. Paul works at Brand Rex, a well established Glenrothes company located near the DSF office at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre. Paul was inspired to raise funds for DSF by Fife wheelchair athlete Susanne McGrath’s father Eddie who also works at Brand Rex.
Paul has worked exceptionally hard to raise the money by competing in the West Highland Way Challenge at the end of May. The proud Welshman was competing in the Challenge for the third time with a target time of 30 hours for the 96 miles course. By offering assistance to others over the final stretch he took a little longer than he had hoped for but still finished in the excellent time of 34hours. All of us who have looked at the West Highland Way as a “thing to do before…” or have completed the project with overnight stays will be very impressed with this performance.
Runners and walkers compete in the Challenge by day and night under strict conditions. Check points are located every 12 miles or so and participants have to compete with all kinds of Scottish weather and of course the Scottish midge. For sections of the Challenge specific safety equipment has to be carried and participants have to be comfortable with a map in their hand or their challenges become even greater. Paul reckons that night time negotiation of the early part of the race around Mugdock can be particularly demanding.
The DSF President willingly accepted the cheque from Paul and thanked him for considering DSF worthy of such generous support and effort. It was mutually agreed that the donation will be used to purchase bowls equipment for the Association to help encourage learners to take up the sport. Early engagement and appropriate coaching on the short mat will hopefully encourage participants to consider the more challenging indoor and outdoor versions of the game. DSF already has a strong commitment to bowls and considers most bowling clubs in Fife fully committed to inclusive sport and very welcoming to disabled bowlers.
Paul will be in attendance at the 2017 Fife Carpet Bowls Championships, supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, on Wednesday 22nd November at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre. Paul has been invited by Disability Sport Fife to present medals and trophies to successful participants.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife
The Midlothian Sports Awards were held on Friday 27th October at Lasswade Community High School, with athletes and coaches involved within disability sport recognised for their significant achievements over the previous 12 months.
Visually Impaired Alpine Skiier, Michael Kear picked up the Senior Sports Personality Award after a very impressive series of results earlier this year. The former Royal Blind School pupil recorded some notable performances, including 2nd place finish in a leg of the Europa Cup in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. The Loanhead sportsman also recorded a 1st place finish in January this year at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing Slalom Race, pipping athletes from Switzerland and China to claim gold in Rinn, Austria. Kear has achieved a remarkable amount over the two years since becoming involved with the sport and has been part of the British Parasnowsport Development team since 2015/2016 and has recently been selected onto the British Parasnowsport Foundation Squad for 2017/2018 – ultimately aiming for the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.
Further recognition surrounded the significant success achieved at this summer’s Special Olympics National Games with the Lothian Special Olympics team receiving the Senior Team of the Year Award and Lynne Sturgeon awarded with the Coach of the Year accolade.
Lynne Sturgeon led a successful Lothian team of over 100 athletes, coaches & volunteers as Head of Delegation (HOD) at the National event in Sheffield. This role involved managing a large team of individuals, working closely with a range of personalities and ensuring an environment was created for an enjoyable experience for all involved – all of this and more was achieved, meaning a hugely successful week in Sheffield. In addition to the significant undertaking as HOD, Lynne also leads the development of Beeslack All Stars – a multi-sport club for youngsters with a disability – acting as a coach and coach mentor on a weekly basis. This relationship has helped develop a number of coaches and benefited the local authority, providing the experience and confidence for individuals to go out and coach in the community.
The Lothian Special Olympics team received the Senior Team of the Year award after a hugely successful performance in August. The Summer Games, held every 4 years, invites athletes with intellectual disabilities of all sporting abilities to participate and compete in a wide range of sports including athletics, swimming, football and judo. In total, there were 69 athletes and 31 coaches & volunteers who represented Lothian across 10 of the 20 sports offered during this year’s games, with a third of the overall number coming from Midlothian. Athletes participated superbly throughout whilst claiming 25 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze medals and a host of 4th- 8th place ribbons. Head of Delegation and recently crowned Midlothian Coach of the Year, Lynne Sturgeon added “It was amazing, the attitude and respect the Lothian athletes showed throughput the games. The weekly dedication of the voluntary coaches and admin volunteers who create the training opportunities in the Lothians was repaid superbly by the athletes. Without these volunteers the athletes would not have these opportunities to excel on and off the sports field.”
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