#TeamScot2018

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to continue to provide an overview of the sports that Scottish Para athletes will compete in as members of Team Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Today we are highlighting the sport of Para Lawn Bowls and our magnificent seven: Irene Edgar, Robert Barr, David Thomas (Director), Sarah Jane Ewing (Director), Garry Brown, Mike Nicoll and Michael Simpson.

Bowls is a game of skill, precision and tactical awareness, appropriate for players of all ages and abilities. Bowls inspires teamwork and quality communication between participants. Bowls encourages community engagement and has clearly defined pathways to performance and excellence.

Up to and including the 1996 Games in Atlanta, bowls was part of the Paralympic programme. Stricter qualifying criteria and a reduction in the number of nations and players resulted in a change of status for the sport within the Paralympic family.

Scotland has progressed from finishing third at the IBD World Championships in Australia to second in 2011 in South Africa and 2015 in New Zealand.

The highest level for any international para bowler is the Commonwealth Games and Scotland won triples gold for physically disabled para sport bowlers at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and pairs silver for visually impaired bowlers at the Games in Glasgow in 2014.

Irene Edgar (B2: Lead)

With multiple World and Commonwealth Games appearances and medals, Irene is the most experienced international bowler within the team. She will be making her second Team Scotland appearance at a Commonwealth Games and will be aiming to go one step further by winning gold in Gold Coast.

Key achievements

• Silver in in the B2/3 Mixed Pairs at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
• Silver in the singles of the 2017 IBBA World Championships
• Silver in the  B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
• Gold in the B2 Singles and B2/B3 Mixed Pairs at the IBD World Championships

Irene’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Robert Barr (B3: Skip)

Robert is a relative newcomer to Para Lawn Bowls after attending a talent development day in 2015. From this moment he has gone from strength to strength.

He is accomplished in the mainstream setting and has taking this skill level into the para game. Robert has competed in several Home Nations events and was part of the successful B2/B3 Mixed pair that won silver in the 8 Nations Para Sport Event at BroadBeach in 2017.

Robert will be making his Commonwealth Games debut.

Key achievements

• Silver in the  B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
• Gold in the 2017 UK Visually Impaired Indoor Championships
• Gold in the 2017 Bowls Scotland Visually Impaired Outdoor Championships

Robert’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

David Thomas (Director)

One of Scotland most accomplished directors and has built up a formidable partnership with Irene Edgar. The duo have been successful over many years delivering medals for Scotland.

This will be David’s second appearance at a Commonwealth Games.

Key achievements

• Silver in in the B2/3 Mixed Pairs at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
• Silver in the singles of the 2017 IBBA World Championships
• Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
• Gold in the B2 Singles and B2/B3 Mixed Pairs at the IBD World Championships

David’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Sarah Jane Ewing (Director)

At 32, Sarah is the youngest member of the team but has a considerable international record as a bowler. She won the British Isles under 25 singles championships and has several international caps to her name. She has successfully transferred this knowledge to para bowls coaching and has excelled over the years in her capacity as a director.

She has won many British and World medals as a director and this will be her first appearance at a Commonwealth Games.

Key achievements

• Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed pair at the 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event
• Gold in the B3 Singles at the 2015 IBD World Championships
• Silver in the B2/B3 Mixed Pairs at the 2015 IBD World Championships

Sarah Jane’s profile can be viewed here.

Garry Brown (B7: Lead)

One of Scotland’s most improved bowlers Garry has won numerous club and national titles and has represented Scotland at two IBD World Championships in 2011 and 2015. In his younger days he represented Scotland in both Cerebral Palsy football and para swimming.

As a swimmer he narrowly missed out on the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

All this experience will stand him in good stead as he prepares for his first Commonwealth Games.

Key achievements

• Gold in the B/7/8 2016 & 2017 Scottish Indoor Championships:
• Gold in the 2017 able bodied Scottish Team Championships:
• Fifth place in the B6/B7/B8 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event

Garry’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Mike Nicoll (B6: Second)

Mike is an accomplished bowler and has several honours as mainstream player. Since discovering Para Lawn Bowls in 2016 he has taking this considerable experience into the Scottish national programme and has added real strength.

Mike has competed in two Home Nation events and performed well at Broadbeach in the 8 Nations test event in 2017. This will be Mike’s first appearance at a Commonwealth Games.

• Gold in the B6 singles at the 2016 Bowls Scotland Championships
• Fifth place in the B6/B7/B8 2017 Eight Nations Broadbeach Test Event

Mikes athlete profile can be viewed here.

Michael Simpson (B7: Skip)

At only 32 Michael can be considered one of the most experienced players within Scottish Para bowls. He has represented Scotland at two IBD World Championships (2011 & 2015) and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

He is extremely competent within mainstream bowls and has won numerous club and county events.

Michael is heading into these Games with determination to improve on the 4^th place he achieved in Glasgow four years earlier.

Key achievements

• Gold at in the B6/B7/B8 Open Triples at the 2013 Eight Nations Championships
• Silver in the Mixed pairs at the 2015 IBD World Championships
• 4^th in the B6/B7/B8 Open Triples at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Michael’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

For a schedule of para lawn bowls events please follow the link below:

https://www.gc2018.com/sport/lawn-bowls

Scottish Disability Sport has produced a factsheet on para lawn bowls for people with a disability which can be downloaded here.

And a video fact file can be viewed here.

 #TeamScot2018

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to continue to provide an overview of the sports that Scottish Para cyclists will compete in as members of Team Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Today we are highlighting the sport of Para Cycling, Tandem pairing Aileen McGlynn and pilot, Louise Haston take to the boards once again, after double silver in Glasgow 2014 while Neil Fachie, double gold medallist four years ago, teams up with Matt Rotherham in the Men’s Tandem events, looking to defend both titles.

Cycling is a sport that offers many positive features. Healthy, sociable and fun, the sport is open to all ages and abilities. At performance level speed, fitness and endurance are all characteristics needed for cycling.   A sport that has been included in the Paralympic Games programme since Seoul 1988, with Track Cycling – included on the Para-Sport programme for the first time at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games with a total of four events

Neil Fachie

Neil’s hometown is Aberdeen and now lives in Altrincham.  He is coached by Mehdi Kordi and competes in the Cycling Track – 1000m Time Trial and the Cycling Track – B Sprint

Key achievements

• 2017 World Track Championships: 1000m Time Trial silver, Sprint silver
• 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio: 1000m Time Trial silver
• 2016 World Track Championships: 1000m Time Trial gold, Sprint gold
• 2015 World Track Championships: 1000m Time Trial gold, Sprint gold
• 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow: 1000m Time Trial gold, Sprint gold

Neil’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Matt Rotherham

Matt’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Aileen McGlynn

Aileen’s hometown is Glasgow and now lives in Manchester.  She is coached by David Daniell and competes in the Cycling Track – 1000m Time Trial and the Cycling Track – B Sprint

Key achievements

• 2017 World Championships: B Tandem 1000m Time Trial silver, B Tandem Sprint bronze
• 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow: B Tandem Sprint silver, B Tandem 1000m Time Trial silver

Aileen’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Louise Haston

Louise’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

 

Scottish Disability Sport has produced a factsheet on para cycling for people with a disability which can be downloaded here.

And a video fact file can be viewed here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW_YtILplUs

Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018 – Cycling Schedule  April 5 -7  April 2018

 

DAY 1- 5 APRIL 2018
Local time	GMT	Sport	Event	Round	Athlete/s
1900-2200	0900-1200	Cycling – Track	B 1000m Time Trial	Final	Neil Fachie MBE Matthew Rotherham
1900-2200	0900-1200	Cycling – Track	B Sprint	Final	Aileen McGlynn OBE Louise Haston
DAY 3 – 7 APRIL 2018
1330-1630	0330-0630	Cycling – Track	B Sprint	Preliminary and Semi Final	Neil Fachie MBE Matthew Rotherham
1830-2230	0830-1230	Cycling – Track	B Sprint	Final	Neil Fachie MBE Matthew Rotherham
1830-2230	0830-1230	Cycling – Track	B 1000m Time Trial	Final	Aileen McGlynn OBE Louise Haston

 

#TeamScot2018

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to continue to provide an overview of the sports that Scottish Para athletes will compete in as members of Team Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Today we are highlighting the sport of Para-Athletics and Sammi Kinghorn, Maria Lyle and Amy Carr.

Athletics is a sport that provides an exciting range of opportunities for disabled people. It provides a mixture of events and sports classes for everyone to enjoy, develop and learn new skills, whether participating, volunteering or coaching.  Often considered the showcase of the Paralympic Games, people are drawn to athletics to witness the speed of the sprinter, the strength of the thrower and the endurance of the distance athlete.

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia will have several para athletics events included and Scotland will have three young athletes to look out for.

Samantha Kinghorn (T53)

Paralympian and World double gold medallist will make her second Games appearance after she featured in the 1500m at the Glasgow 2014 Games.  This time she will be hoping to earn a place on the podium as she will compete in both the 1500m and the marathon.  At the age of 21 Sammi has a considerable performance record and she is one of the most recognisable para athletes in British sport.

Key achievements

• Gold medal in both the T53 100m and 200m at the IPC World Championships in 2017
• Bronze medal in the T53 400m at the IPC World Championships in 2017
• Triple gold in the 100mm, 400m and 00m at the IPC European Championships in 2914
• Representing Team Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

Samantha’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Maria Lyle (T35)

At the age of 18 Maria has already had a distinguished career in para athletics, with European, World and Paralympic medals to her name.  This will be her Commonwealth Games debut and she will be hoping to add a Team Scotland medal to her collection as she competes in the T35 100m.

Key achievements

• Gold in the 4 x 100m relay at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio
• Double bronze in the 100m and 200m at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio
• Gold in the 4 x 100m relay at the 2017 IPC World Championships
• Double silver in the 100m and 200m at the 2017 IPC World Championships
• Double gold in the 100m and 200m at the IPC European Championships

Maria’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Amy Carr (T37)

This will be Amy’s debut in a major international Games and is a relative new-comer to high performance para athletics.  However, the 18 year old has made her mark on international scene in both the 2017 IPC World Junior Championships and the 2015 CPISRA World Games when several gold, silver and bronze medals in sprint and long jump events.  She will be looking to add her first major title in the T38 100m and Long Jump.

Key achievements

• Double gold in the 200m and Long Jump at the 2017 IPC World Junior Championships
• Double silver in the 100m and long jump at the 2015 CPISRA World Games

For a schedule of para athletics events please follow the link below:

https://www.gc2018.com/sport/athletics

Amy’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Scottish Disability Sport has produced a factsheet on para athletics for people with a disability which can be downloaded here.

And a video fact file can be viewed here:

Tomorrow

The next 2018 Commonwealth Games Para sport we will feature will be Para Cycling.  Aileen McGlynn, Neil Fachie and Louise Haston (plot) will make their second Commonwealth Games appearance after all three represented Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014.  Neil Fachie will be piloted by English rider, Mark Rotherham.  Come back tomorrow to find out more.

#TeamScot2018

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to continue to provide an overview of the sports that Scottish Para Swimmers will compete in as members of Team Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Today we are highlighting the sport of Para-Swimming and Swimmers Toni Shaw and Beth Johnston.

Swimming has been identified as one of the best activities for total body fitness whether you compete at elite level or just for fun. It really is a fully inclusive sport with many positive opportunities for health and fitness.

Disability swimming is one of the core sports involved in the Paralympic Games and has been present since the inaugural games in Rome in 1960. The Paralympic swimming programme is one of the biggest both in terms of competitor numbers and medal events including all four strokes with distances from 50m up to 400m. The swimming events have increased in the Commonwealth Games programme from six medal events in Glasgow 2014 to 12 in the Gold Coast 2018.

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia will have several para swimmer events included and Scotland will have two young swimmers to look out for.

Beth Johnston

16 year old Beth from Galashiels who swims with Galashiels ASC and Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) will compete in the SM 10 200m Individual Medley.

Key achievements

• 2017 World Para-Swimming Series, Indianapolis: S10 100m Backstroke gold, S10 50m Freestyle gold, S10 100m Freestyle silver
• 2017 Scottish National & Open Swimming Championships, Aberdeen: MC 100m backstroke gold, MC 200m IM silver, MC 50m Freestyle silver, MC 400m Freestyle silver
• 2017 National Para Swimming Championships (25m), Manchester: MC 100m backstroke bronze

Beth’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

Toni Shaw

As one of the youngest members of Team Scotland, Aberdonian Cult Otters swimmer Toni will be swimming in four events; SM10 200m Individual Medley, S9 100m Backstroke, S9 100M Freestyle and SB9 100M Breaststroke

Key achievements

• Selected to represent GBR at World Para Swimming Championships 2017 in Mexico
• 2017 World Para Swimming World Series, Berlin: Bronze MC 100m Butterfly
• 2017 World Para Swimming World Series, Indianapolis: Gold (S9) 200m IM, Gold (S9) 100m Butterfly, Silver (S9) 400m Freestyle, Bronze (S9) 100m Backstroke
• 2017 British Para Swimming International Meet, Sheffield: MC 100m Freestyle, 11th; MC 200m IM 14th; MC 50m Freestyle 13th; MC 100m Butterfly 7th; MC 400m Freestyle 5th.

Toni’s athlete profile can be viewed here.

For a schedule of para swimming events please follow the link below:

https://www.gc2018.com/sport/swimming 

Scottish Disability Sport has produced a factsheet on para swimming for people with a disability which can be downloaded here.

And a video fact file can be viewed here:

 

 

Tomorrow

The next 2018 Commonwealth Games Para sport we will feature will be Para athletics and athletes Maria Lyle who won two bronze medals and a silver in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Sammi Kinghorn, Paralympian and World double gold medallist who will make her second Games appearance after she featured in the 1500m at the Glasgow 2014 Games and last but not least Amy Carr IPC World Championships 2017 Gold Medallist who will make her debut in the Gold Coast 2018.