Month: May 2018

Players selected for UK Boccia Championships 2018

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the recognised governing body for boccia in Scotland and is responsible for leading and developing the sport at all levels.  The UK Boccia Championships is the key singles event on the calendar for our players.  Following the Scottish Championships, a team of nine players have been selected to represent Scotland at the event which will be held on the 9 and 10 June at the sportscotland National Sports Centre, Inverclyde.

The following players and coaches will represent Scotland:

BC1
Reegan Stevenson

BC2
Callum Glasgow

BC3
Scott McCowan (2017 Champion)
Jamie McCowan
Patrick Wilson
Sean McCann

BC4
Stephen McGuire (2017 Champion)
Peter McGuire
Ross Munro

Coaching Staff
Andrinne Craig
Jennifer Livingstone
Lewis McConnell

Reid Retains Japan Title after Doubles Victory

Gordon Reid made it back-to-back Japan Open Super Series men’s singles wheelchair tennis titles on Saturday when the Rio Paralympic champion defeated world No.3 Shingo Kunieda of Japan 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in Iizuka.

Reid ends the tournament as singles and doubles champion in the same year in Iizuka for the first time after partnering fellow Brit Alfie Hewett to win Friday’s men’s doubles final, when Kunieda was again on the opposite side of the net. Reid also leaves Asia with three titles in three events in two weeks after winning the men’s singles at last week’s Korea Open ITF 1 Series.

As well as marking another successful tournament for players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme, Saturday’s victory means Reid has now won three career singles titles at Super Series level, the highest tier of standalone wheelchair tennis tournaments outside of the four Grand Slams.

“It means a lot to me to win the Japan Open for a second year running. Shingo is always a tough opponent and somebody I enjoy sharing the court with, so it was a great moment for me today in front of a fantastic crowd. Taking the title is the perfect end to this tour for me and I’m looking forward to taking this confidence into the rest of the tournaments over the summer.,” said Reid, who reached Saturday’s final after four straight sets wins, including a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Hewett in the second all-Brit Super Series singles semi-final between the two players this season.

Reid and Hewett claimed their third Super Series men’s doubles title together on Friday without having dropped a set in Iizuka. The top seeds beat the second seeds, Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez and Kunieda, 7-6(5), 6-4 in the final. Reid is now a two-time Japan Open men’s doubles champion after winning the 2015 title partnering Kunieda.

Former Australian Open and Wimbledon men’s singles champion Reid and reigning Roland Garros singles champion Hewett will now look forward to returning to Paris for the second Grand Slam of 2018 in early June. However, before then they will lead the Great Britain men’s challenge at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, which takes place in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, from 28 May – 3 June.

Photo courtesy of Gordon Reid

Second Fife Walk in the Park

As part of Get Out Get Active (GOGA in Fife) supported by Spirit of 2012, the second GOGA in Fife walk in the park was held prior to the first race of the 2018 Fife cross country championships.

28 walkers and 23 “buddies” walked the 500m course in a non competitive leisurely manner. All had prepared appropriately for the walk and at the conclusion everybody had their GOGA participation certificates duly signed. Each time an athlete participates in a GOGA walk in the park their certificates are signed and dated.

Most participants had severe and complex needs and all are planning to complete four GOGA walks and lots of training every three months.

GOGA in Fife partners in the promotion of walking are Active Fife Bums Off Seats locally and Paths For All nationally.

Photos; some of the many walkers who took part

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Record Entry for Fife Cross Country Champs

187 athletes registered for the 2018 Disability Sport Fife (DSF) cross country championships at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy on Thursday 17th May. The Championships are organised by DSF in conjunction with Fife Athletic Club and with support from Kirkcaldy Rugby Club and the Kirkcaldy & District Lions Club. The Championships followed immediately after the Fife Primary Schools Cross Country Championships.

Athletes with additional support needs competed over 500m, 1K, 2K or 3K for individual Fife titles and points towards the Russel Hogg Team Trophy. Balwearie HS won the title with 24 points and Woodmill HS finished runners up with 15 points. Joint third were the pupils from Madras College and Bell Baxter HS with 13 points each. Lochgelly HS, Levenmouth Academy and Glenrothes HS finished in 5th, 6th and 7th positions.

Individual race winners winner were as follows:

500m
Teigon Munro – Rimbleton Primary
Noah Herkes – Pitreavie Primary
Aaliyah Black – Bell Baxter HS
Karen Munro – Balwearie HS
Kerian Cranna – Levenmouth Academy
Christopher Trowel – Glenrothes HS
David King – Balwearie HS

1K
Jenna Richardson – Madras College
Chloe Hutchison – Madras College
Jennifer Grist – Balwearie HS
Nikki Baxter – West Fife CSS
John Simpson – Madras College
Mark Salmond – Woodmill HS
Connor Brown – Woodmill HS
Arran Howe – Bell Baxter HS
Keri McNicol – Burntisland Primary
Leah Ford – Lochgelly HS
Sophie Coughlin – Bell Baxter HS
Garry Patrick – Rimbleton Primary
Luke McGurk – Rimbleton Primary
Ryan Baird – Lochgelly HS

2K
Shantel Cooper – Levenmouth Academy
Louise Ferrier – Levenmouth Academy
Louise Harley – Lochgelly HS
Emma Mason – West Fife CSS
Cieran Dunn – Levenmouth Academy
Edwin Barron – Woodmill HS
Nathan Lee – Madras College
Alex Evans – Balwearie HS
Ryan Spearman – Fife AC

3K
Boys – 1st Josh Gibson Madras Coll 2nd Kieran Beaton Madras Coll 3rd Nathan Orr Madras Coll

Seniors – 1st Owen Miller Fife AC 2nd Sam Fernando Fife AC 3rd Carter Taylor Fife AC

Owen Miller was awarded the Spurs Cup as the outstanding athlete of the championships.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

Grampian Schoolkids Have a Ball at Boccia Festival

Children from across Grampian came together to compete in the last of this year’s School Boccia Festivals organised by Active Schools Aberdeen & Active Schools Aberdeenshire.

Anna Ritchie School, Westfield School & Riverbank Primary turned out for the event, played at Sheddocksley Sports Centre, where they took part in a series of fun drills before competing in a round robin event against the other teams.

The Festival was enjoyed by both pupils and staff alike, and pupils will be able to continue to improve their skills at one of the many regular boccia sessions available throughout Grampian.

A massive thank you to Marna and Cath, two of our fantastic volunteer boccia coaches, who played a huge part in running the event!

If you, or anyone you know, lives in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability and is keen to get involved in Para Sport, please contact Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or on 07828 744 848

No shortage of talent at 2018 Grampian Games

Grampian Disability Sport was pleased to welcome home players from all across the region, and visiting players from far and wide to this year’s Grampian Games!

The three day event, comprising indoor bowls, 10-pin bowling, table tennis and boccia, received over 50 entries this year (including a handful of first-time boccia entrants in the Junior category who performed fantastically on the day), and all events were closely contested – especially in the final few matches!

The results are as follows:

Indoor Bowls (played 11th May):

  • Gold: Kevin Duncan
  • Silver: Shona Fraser
  • Bronze: Kerry Mathers

10-pin Bowling (played 12th May):

  • Gold: Craig Barrie
  • Silver: Heather Thomson
  • Bronze: Kerry Mathers

Table Tennis (played 13th May):

  • Open Male Class A
    • Gold: George Keith
    • Silver: Alexander Rae
    • Bronze: Stephen Welsh
  • Open Male Class B
    • Gold: Bryan McKenzie
    • Silver: Michael Finnie
    • Bronze: John Clark
  • Female Class
    • Gold: Kara Rae
    • Silver: Eveline Johnston
    • Bronze: Joanne Morrison
  • Open Doubles
    • Gold: George Keith & Terry Sowah
    • Silver: Joanne Morrison & Stephen Welsh
    • Bronze: Joint (Andy Drummond & John Clark, and Kara Rae & Alexander Rae

Boccia (played 13th May)

  • Class A (adult players with a physical disability)
    • Gold: Mike Lyon (Grampian)
    • Silver: Kerry Mathers (Grampian)
    • Bronze: Fiona Muirhead (West of Scotland)
  • Class B (adult players with a learning disability)
    • Gold: Stephen Brodie
    • Silver: Natalie Morrice
    • Bronze: Grace Adamson
  • Class C (adult players who use assistive devices)
    • Gold: Hannah Craig (Tayside)
  • Class D (junior players)
    • Gold: Daniel Strong (Grampian)
    • Silver: Cameron Millar (Tayside)
    • Bronze: Tyler McLelland (Fife)

Thanks goes to all of the partners and volunteers who made this year’s Grampian Games possible: the GDS committee; Ric Young and his team from Garioch Indoor Bowling Centre; Andrinne Craig; George Keith; Marna McDonald; and Cath Robertson.

If you, or anyone you know, lives in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability and is keen to get involved in Para Sport, please contact Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or on 07828 744 848.

Second GOGA in Fife Adapted Cycling Training

As part of the GOGA in Fife programme, Disability Sport Fife and local partner Outdoor Education Fife provided a one-day adapted cycling training course on Wednesday 16th May at Lochore Meadows Country Park. Only eight places were available for the full day Cycling Scotland nationally recognised adaptive cycle leadership qualification that enables delegates to lead pre risk assessed rides/sessions at an introductory level. GOGA in Fife believes that a high quality education and learning programme will open up increased active recreation opportunities for potential participants with severe and complex needs in particular.

The day ran from 9.30-4.30 at the Outdoor Centre, Lochore Meadows Country Park, and included practical and discussion/ theory sessions. The tutor was Alan Dunlop from Outdoor Education Fife and the delegates came from Levenmouth Academy, Kilmaron School in Cupar, West Fife Community Support Services and Central Fife Community Support Services. All delegates plan to engage those they work with in cycling programmes at the Meadows and other locations across Fife. This is the second of three courses being run during the three year GOGA in Fife project. Thanks to GOGA investment in Fife supported by Spirit of 2012, the course was free to delegates.

On Friday 18th May between 9.30 and 12.30 at Lochore Meadows Country Park, Outdoor Education Fife is offering one half day session primarily for families (but not exclusively) who require an introduction to adapted cycling and would like to experience the range of bikes available at the Park. The session is free to interested parties.

Later in the month and throughout June, July and August, GOGA in Fife will be providing coach support on Saturday mornings to families wishing to engage in inclusive active recreation cycling opportunities at Lochore Meadows Country Park.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Para Bowls Squads Home Nations Championships 2018

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the recognised governing body for para lawn bowls in Scotland and is tasked with selecting players that are capable of delivering medals at the highest levels of international competition, including the Home Nations Championships, IBD World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

From the 8 to the 10 June Scotland will compete in singles, pairs, triples and four bowl formats against England and Wales at Clarence Park Bowls Club in Weston-super-Mare.  This is the first international since the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and all players now have the opportunity to impress.

Commenting on the team selection, SDS Performance Manager, Gary Fraser said:

“Following the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games we have re-selected our national squad and we have included several new players.  The coaches are looking forward to this test series and we are delighted to announce a strong field of players, some of whom will be making their first appearance.  This presents the ideal opportunity for all players to stake their claim as we look ahead to the IBD World Championships in 2020.”

Scottish Para Lawn Bowls Squad

Player Classification Town Local Authority
Ian Graham B2 Dunfermline Fife
Mary Stevenson B2 Barrhead Renfrewshire
Melanie Inness (R) B3 Balerno Edinburgh
Maria Spencer B3 Dunfermline Fife
Robert Barr B3 Glasgow Glasgow
Sandy McIntosh B3 Inverness Highland
Billy Allan B6 Cowdenbeath Fife
Fraser Mathieson B6 St Ninians Stirling
George Guthrie B6 Glasgow Glasgow
Ian Donaldson (R) B6 Dumfries Dumfries & Galloway
Barbara McMillan B7 Cowdenbeath Fife
Derek Hartley B7 Tullibody Clackmannanshire
John Hughes B7 Stewarton East Ayrshire
John Wardrope B7 Ayr South Ayrshire
Garry Brown B7 Kirkmuirhill South Lanarkshire
Rosemary Lenton B7 Dumfries Dumfries & Galloway
Brendon Handling B8 Stranraer Dumfries & Galloway
 Coach Town Local Authority 
Bob Dick (Head Coach) Cupar Fife
Christine Morrow Dalmuir Clydebank
Sarah-Jane Ewing Dunfermline Fife
Bob Christie Brechin Angus
Chris McGready Grangemouth Falkirk
Eric McMillan Cowdenbeath Fife

(R) Reserve

Will play a minimum of three matches

FVDS Junior Athletics Championships

Grangemouth Stadium played host to the annual Forth Valley Disability Sport Junior Athletics Championships on Wednesday 9th May 2018. This year seen FVDS largest ever entry of 267 children and young people from 19 schools in the Forth Valley Area competed in the running, jumping and throwing competitions.

The standard of the competitors was very high as the athletes were not only competing for medals they were also competing to qualify at the Scottish Disability Sport National Junior Athletics Championships to be held at the Grangemouth Stadium on Wednesday 6th June 2018.

All athletes received certificates and Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were presented to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Well done to all the medal winners for their performances. With many spectators in the stand the event had a fantastic atmosphere for all.

Event Winners were presented with medals by Forth Valley Disability Sport Branch Coordinator Graham Harvey and Scottish Disability Sport Cheryl Lappin

Carrongrange School retained the overall schools trophy with many excellent individual performances and a score of 682, Alva Academy School winning the 2nd place team trophy with 161 points. With Grangemouth High School winning the 3rd place team trophy with 117 points.

Thanks must go to all the Perth University Students. Scottish Athletics officials, Active Stirling, Falkirk Community Trust and Clackmannanshire and Scottish Disability Sport members that helped on the day.

For further information on athletics classes and clubs on offer in your area for children or adults with physical, sensory and learning disabilities please telephone Forth Valley Disability Sport on 01786 466486 or drop us an email.

Fundraising with the People of Crieff

The Co-op in Crieff has been cutting back on the amount of days it allocates for charity bag packs, but fortunately they did allow our local Strathearn Riding for the Disabled Group known as Rideaway, to do one on the 28th April.

Nine of our volunteers split themselves into morning and afternoon shifts and managed to raise £698 from the wonderful generosity of the people of Crieff and had lots of fun while they did it.

It was not only a good day financially, but also we heard stories from people who had volunteered in the past, heard about progress of people who had ridden with the Group and generally raised the profile of RDA in general.   It also gave us a chance to show off our new gilets with our Rideaway logo on! For further information on the Group’s activities please contact: jane.gourley@hotmail.com.