The annual Jed Renilson Wheelchair & Hand Cycle 10k race took place on Sunday 29^th October, attracting a small but quality field to the roads of the Scottish Borders.  The event has been renamed in honour of its late founder, Jed Renilson, and is now organised by the Scottish Borders Disability Sport Group (SBDSG) and supported by Scottish Athletics and Scottish Disability Sport.  The race was started by Finlay Calder and timing recorded by representatives from Scottish Athletics.

The weather conditions on the day were kind to the athletes with blue skies and only a slight headwind on the journey back into the finish line after the turn – however athletes were unable to better the any of the current course records.

Fresh from winning the Great North Run, Simon Lawson was first over the line in the wheelchair race – clocking a time of 21.15 and recording a remarkable 9^th victory at the Borders race.  Lawson was followed under the finishers arch by Ben Rowlings and Sean Frame with only 8 seconds between 2^nd and 3^rd places.  Rowlings (23.27), who has recently moved north of the border from his home Coventry club to study at Stirling University pipped the first Scottish athlete, Frame, in a tight race with both athletes recording personal best times.  The personal best times kept coming as Red Star youngster Kyle Brotherton bettered last years’ time by over a minute and cap a solid season to record a finishing time of 25.58.  The first female under the arch was Paralympic Triathlete (PT1 Woman) Lizzie Tench, completing the course in 32.32.  The final athlete over the line was Gateshead’s Gareth Brown, coming back from injury to record a respectable time of 51.08 after a long layoff from regular training.

The Hand Cycle Race also attracted athletes from over the United Kingdom with two athletes a piece from North and South of the Border.  It was multiple event winner Alastair Corps-Bell who claimed the victory (17.36) to record an impressive 7^th win at Jedburgh and continue his impressive form at the event.  The next two athletes to finish were training buddies, Mike Thomas (19.06) and Ken Talbot (19.16).  The two Edinburgh based athletes continued their recent tussles but it was Thomas who went home with the bragging rights on this occasion.  Fourth place finish went to David wise in a time of 21.23.

The event also acted as the final event of the three 10k race series which included races in Kilmarnock and Glasgow.  The overall results of the series were also announced during the prize giving, with Sean Frame (1^st), Kyle Brotherton (2^nd) and Luke Deighan (3^rd) making up the male medallists with Sammi Kinghorn took gold in the female section.

Borders born athlete Sammi Kinghorn was unable to defend her title from last year having been ruled out with tendonitis of the wrist.  The recently crowned world champion, however, was on hand to present the medals to the winners.

Graham Cook, event organiser, stated, “I’m delighted by the high quality of the racing and the continuing support from volunteers and locals who turn out year after year to support the race.  The support provided by partners is key to the success of the event, with sponsors Randolph Hill Nursing Homes Group, Jedforest RFC and Border Merangue all playing an important role in its continued success”.

Full results can be found below –

Wheelchair Results

Pos	Time	Name	Club	Region
1	21.15	Simon Lawson (T53)	Carlisle Tri	–
2	23.27	Ben Rowlings (T34)	Red Star	Central
3	23.35	Sean Frame (T54)	Red Star	West of Scotland
4	25.58	Kyle Brotherton (T54)	Red Star	West of Scotland
5	27.23	Luke Deighan (T54)	Red Star	West of Scotland
6	32.32	Lizzie Tench	Unattached	–
7	51.08	Gareth Brown (T34)	Gateshead	–

Hand Cycle Results

Pos	Time	Name	Region
1	17.36	Alastair Corps-Bell	–
2	19.06	Mike Thomas	East of Scotland
3	19.16	Ken Talbot	East of Scotland
4	21.23	David Wise	–

Tweedbank Sports Complex played host to the first Scottish Borders Para Athletics Development Day, attracting 24 participants on Saturday 28^th October.  Scottish Borders Disability Sports Group (SBDSG) teamed up with key partners to plan and coordinate the event, inviting local coaches to lead on the delivery during the session.

The Development Day was facilitated to introduce individuals with an interest in athletics and provide an opportunity to try all disciplines involved in the sport.  The day welcomed participants from across the local authority – ranging in age, disability and previous experience in the sport.  The two hour introductory session was supported by local coaches who provided their knowledge and expertise, delivering enjoyable mini run, jump and throw sessions.  The link with local coaches is key, as this supports the transition to regular club activity for any athletes interested in taking the sport further.

Another exciting aspect of the day was the inclusion of a wheelchair racing opportunity.  The event was fortunate to enough to welcome Wheelchair Racing / Race Running Coach Russ Watson along from the Dumfries & Galloway Track Athletics Club, who was on hand to impart his knowledge on the day.  This proved a popular addition to the Development Day with a large number of individuals given the opportunity to try the sport for the first time, aiming to make the transition into more regular local activity.  This opportunity can be made possible as the SBDSG have recently purchased two wheelchair racing chairs through support from Borders Athletics Development Group and ClubSport Borders – chairs are housed at Tweedbank Sports Complex.

The Development Day was preceded by an Inclusive Athletics Workshop, providing an ideal opportunity for coaches to gain a valuable insight into Para Athletics – with 8 enthusiastic participants actively engaged throughout.  The course was delivered by experienced Scottish Athletics tutor, John De Courcy, and provides a theoretical background in the sport while allowing the attendees to also work in a practical setting, putting this information into practice.  All course attendees were then able to work alongside more experienced coaches during the afternoon’s Development session.

This theoretical and practical experience is crucial in supporting local coaches to become competent and confident when working with individuals with a disability.  This will lay the foundations of the skills required to support athletes and help the club on its way to becoming fully inclusive.

Alan Oliver, SBDSG Development Officer, highlighted the success of the day, stating “to have 24 new participants trying a variety of athletic disciplines for the first time is a testament to how highly regarded athletics in a sporting capacity. To have a come and try session combined with a coaches workshop creates a perfect exit strategy for those participants wishing to continue their athletics development. It was wonderful to have expertise present in wheelchair racing and 2 genuine local athletics coaches emphasises the enthusiasm for disability sport.”

 

If you are interested in hearing more about athletics opportunities in the Scottish Borders, please contact Alan Oliver on aoliver@liveborders.org.uk or 07887 471 137.

After generous funding from Spirit of 2012, the Grampian region is now delighted to offer inclusive cycling opportunities to people with disabilities along with their families and friends.

A partnership programme between Grampian Disability Sport and Garioch Sports Centre in Inverurie, the Adapted Cycling Hub provides a fleet of accessible bikes to suit the needs of almost anyone with a physical, sensory and/or learning disability and includes hand cycles, tandem bikes, adult-sized balance bikes, trikes and even a power-assisted, wheelchair-accessible bike!

As well as housing the bikes, the Centre currently offers coach-led sessions to nearby schools, a local service for young people with disabilities, and a home schooling group. Additionally, public sessions have just been launched and separate sessions are on offer for school children and adults.

At present, all sessions take place in the Centre’s sports hall, but it is hoped that a planned renovation of part of an existing path will enable further sessions to take place outdoors on a safe, contained loop around the building. The Centre also aims to offer private hire of the bikes in the near future so that families can take them out and about out with session times.

Thanks go to Grampian Disability Sport and Garioch Sports Centre for all their hard work in getting the programme set up.

More information on the sessions available can be found on Garioch Sports Centre’s Facebook page.

Contact: Garioch Sports Centre – 01467 626 141

 

It was a special training session for athlete Cameron Herring and his guide runner Euan Sloan when Alison Patrick and her fiancé Jack Peasgood dropped into Pitreavie Athletics Centre to say hello and offer some sprinting advice at the request of Disability Sport Fife.

Alison won silver in Para triathlon in Rio when the sport was introduced for the first time to the Paralympic Games. Alison has World and European titles to her name and is an established member of Team GB. Before committing to Para triathlon she was a hugely successful runner but now excels on the world stage in three disciplines.

Alison is based and trains south of the border but on a recent visit to her home town of Dunfermline she was delighted to offer some tips to Cameron and Euan. The Fife athletes who attend the session and coaches Pamela Robson and Gayle Sloan, were delighted to handle a Paralympic medal.
Jack is also a world class triathlete and he willingly offered advice to Euan about guide running. Alison shared some of her sprinting technical knowledge as a visually impaired athlete and even offered Cameron a short a 60m sprint challenge. There is complete silence within Fife about the outcome of that first race of many to come. Alison is already a very special role model for Fife’s very promising young blind sprinter.
Thank you Alison and Jack for your support and all the very best to you in 2018 when hopefully Commonwealth Games involvement is a consideration?

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife