Colette Martin and Lynsey Speirs are shining for Scotland at the Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Cup. The event is taking place from 1st – 6th May in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The tournament is being supported by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), with the aim of developing and growing Women’s Para Ice Hockey across the globe.

Martin and Speirs, who are typically wheelchair basketball players for Lothian Phoenix and West of Scotland Wheelchair Basketball Club, leaped at the opportunity to further participate in the sport. They were introduced to the sport by renowned Canada National Team member, Peggy Assinck, who now resides in Scotland.

Martin and Speirs are training with Great Britain and representing Scotland in a joint team with Australia. The team came away with a 2 – 0 victory against France in their first game of the cup. You can follow their progress on International Women’s Para Ice Hockey’s Facebook /womensparaicehockey and Twitter @WomensPIH.

Fresh off her success in Dubai Mary Wilson was back on the plane to Uganda’s second Para-Badminton International held from 24^th-29^th April. Playing in all three events Mary was hoping to build on her performances from a few weeks previous.

In the singles event seeded 2^nd and a predicated spot in the final Mary eased through her group booking her spot in the semi-finals versus Kenya’s Asha Kipwene Munene, which she won in straight sets 21-7, 21-7 solidifying her spot and 2^nd seeded rank in the final. The final proved her toughest game yet, coming out on top with a score of 21-14, 21-6 against Uganda’s Khadija Khamuka and picking up her first of 3 gold medals of this championships.

The doubles contest was decided in the pool stages with five couples competing in this class. Mary and SL3 partner Elizabeth Mwesigwa from Uganda outshined their opponents winning the gold medal in their final match 21-19, 21-5 against Khadija Khamuka and Rose Nansereko from Uganda.

Her third and final gold medal was won with France’s Guillame Gaily in the SL3- SU5 mixed doubles coming out on top of their group they breezed past their opponents to book a spot in the quarter finals. Here she would face Cameroons Isidore Kamgue and Cristance Moffouo, where they would win and move on to the semi-finals with a 21-8, 21-10 win. They came out on top once again over India and Ugandas Indrajit Pal and Lillian Namarome. Winning this match 21-9, 21-16 guaranteed them at least a silver medal, this was not good enough for the pair winning out in the end against Rafio Bello and Chinyere Okoro of Nigeria 21-10,21-12.

Sitting 6^th in the world at the moment Mary is in great form at the moment which has to give her hope for the qualification period starting next year for the 2020 Paralympics where Para-Badminton will make its debut.

Photo: Alan Spink

Are you highly motivated and up for a challenge?

Do you have an eligible impairment?

Are you over the age of 16?

Are you eager to try new sports?

Are you interested in transferring from one sport to another?

#DiscoverYourParaPotential is an athlete recruitment campaign looking to provide an opportunity for athletes with an impairment.

Scottish Disability Sport and the sportscotland Institute of Sport are working closely with UK Sport in order to deliver a profiling event on Sunday 10 June at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

The intention is to identify high potential individuals who, with the right support, have a realistic opportunity to achieve selection to represent Great Britain at future Paralympic Games, in all sports.  In addition, and due to the Scottish focus, we are really interested to hear from individuals keen to explore the options in Boccia, Nordic Sit Ski, Wheelchair Curling and Para Lawn Bowls.

Broadly, the #DiscoverYourParaPotential campaign is seeking individuals across all eligible impairment groups:

• Visual impairment
• Intellectual impairment
• Physical Impairment including but not exclusively: limb deficiency (inc. amputees), short stature, spinal cord injury, Spina Bifida, Polio, Cerebral Palsy, impaired passive range of movement, leg-length difference

More information can be found at https://www.paralympic.org/classification

REGISTRATION PROCESS

Website:       www.uksport.gov.uk/talent
Sign up:         https://henry216.typeform.com/to/Nx8PHC
Closes at midnight on Tuesday 15 May 2018

If you do not meet all the criteria listed above, but would still like to get involved, SDS would like to hear from you. Please contact us on 0131 317 1130 / admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

DYPP Fact Sheet 2018

41st AGM and Awards Evening of Disability Sport Fife (SCIO)

The final photograph taken by Rebecca Lee captured the atmosphere of the occasion and the significance of the Awards Evening to so many athletes, players, coaches and volunteers associated with Disability Sport Fife (DSF). The evening was supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust.

The Provost of Fife, Councillor Jim Leishman MBE, was the guest of honour at the 41st AGM and Awards Evening of DSF. The Provost was ably assisted by Janice Eaglesham MBE, Chair of Scottish Disability Sport Sport and Oonagh Aitken Chief Executive Officer of Volunteering Matters with the presentation of awards to successful recipients. Caroline Baird MBE and Kerry Hick also assisted with individual presentations.

Disability Sport Fife is indebted to the delegates who turned out in significant numbers to support the event. Over the next few weeks information will be shared about the evening but many thanks to Rebecca for producing such a quality photo within a few hours of the event finishing.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife