Month: June 2018

Busy Week for St Andrews All-Rounder

Congratulations to Ryan Peterson from St Andrews who won three gold medals at the Scottish Down Syndrome Championships held in Dundee last weekend. This is the second successive year that Ryan has competed in this swimming gala and once again his performances were exceptional.

Ryan won 25m freestyle 19.84, 50m freestyle 44.82 and 50m backstroke in 1.01.60. I am reliably informed that he was in the top group for freestyle and second top group for backstroke. Ryan travels weekly from St Andrews to Glenrothes for the Disability Sport Fife swim training session led by DSF swim coach Kathy Bijak at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre. Ryan is one of the most conscientious and popular members of the swimming group.

It has been a very busy week for the East Fife CSS member. Apart from the swimming gala he competed very successfully at the Fife Track and Field Championships at Pitreavie Athletics Centre on Wednesday and then the Fife Lawn Bowls Championships at the Beveridge Park on Friday. Ryan is a wonderful all round sportsman and a role model for many emerging athletes. In addition he is an extremely pleasant young man and ambassador for Disability Sport Fife. Ryan bowls at St. Andrews Bowling Club.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

GB Paralympian wins Glenrothes 10K

Congratulations to Derek Rae from Fife AC for a fine run and an excellent win in the 10K at the Glenrothes Road Running Festival on Sunday 17th June.

Derek led from the start and finished in a time of 33.15. This was just reward for all the hard work he has put in with coach Ron Morrison since he returned from his spectacular performance in a GB vest at the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon. It is worth noting that the T46 Para athlete finished off his day with a nine mile cool down run back to his home in Kirkcaldy.

The Glenrothes Road Running Festival is organised by the Fife Olympiad Committee in conjunction with Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. The start and finish are at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre and the event incorporates a 4K, 2K and 300m a junior jog. There is something for everybody on the schedule and the programme is inclusive of all communities.

Derek was just outside his personal best of 32.32 for 10k, a time he set at the City of Stirling 10K in 2017. During the week he was involved as a volunteer at the Disability Sport Fife (DSF) Track and Field Championships at Pitreavie Athletics Centre. Following the 10K Derek made time for a photograph with DSF member Graham Law who once again completed the 4K race within the Road Running Festival. Derek is an ambassador and peer mentor volunteer for Disability Sport Fife.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

West & Central Regional Dressage 2018

On Tuesday 29th May, Glasgow RDA kindly hosted the West & Central Scotland Regional Dressage Competition.  On a dry sunny day, but thankfully not too hot, the riders, who had trained hard for weeks, were ready for their Dressage tests.  This year sadly, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances there were less competitors than in previous years but Glasgow, Equipower, Carrick, Forth Valley and Gareloch groups were represented.  The competition was no less keen.  Sadly, due to the small numbers of participants we had to cancel the Countryside Challenge and Tack and Turn out.  Hopefully all will be restored for next year.

Thanks to the fantastic input from their coaches, volunteers and the support of the horse owners, it was clear that all the effort had paid off as many riders were presented with rosettes and trophies too.

This year four competitors with be travelling down for the National Championships which will be held at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire in July.

It was a great pleasure to have four ladies representing two groups in our Region of the Trefoil Guild there to present the prizes.  The ladies told me how delighted they were to attend and how inspired they were with the skills and competitiveness of all our  riders.  The National Trefoil Guild have chosen the RDA as their Charity of the Year and are sponsoring the Countryside Challenge at the National Championships In addition, groups have been fund raising and donating to RDA groups throughout this year.  Mrs. Susan McNeil from the Glasgow Board also very kindly assisted with the prize giving.

West & Central Regional Committee would like to thank Glasgow RDA , our judges, writers, and all the organisers and helpers for a tremendous day.

WEST & CENTRAL REGIONAL RESULTS 2018: DRESSAGE QUALIFYING CLASSES

Lindsay Trophy Winner: Carys Marie Williams – Gareloch

DRESSAGE  NON- QUALIFYING CLASSES

Gardner Trophy Winner: Leah Syme – Equi-Power

If you are interested in volunteering or want to loan a pony to your local RDA contact: Gillie Drapper on 01360 860 243

Photograph information
Trefoil Guild Ladies: Winnie Patrick, Lena Ross of Bishopbriggs, Joy Thomson and Ann Young of NorLan
Lindsay Trophy – Carys Marie Williams Gareloch RDA
Gardner Trophy –  Leah Syme – Equi-Power RDA

Boccia Engagement Event tours to the North East

This month, the Grampian & Tayside regions will play host to the Boccia Engagement Day for the very first time.

A whole range of fun boccia activities, including the newly-developed ‘Boccia Bonanza’ circuit, will be on offer for people of all ages with physical & learning disabilities from all across the two regions.

Brechin Community Campus was chosen to host the event, which is being offered free of charge and will be led by SDS Regional Managers Jennifer Scally & Alison Shaw with the help of expert coach, Darren Thomson.

The Engagement Day hopes to attract new participants to the sport, who will then be signposted to existing, regular boccia sessions in their areas.

The event takes place on Sunday 24th June from 12:00 – 15:00 at Brechin Community Campus, Duke Street, Brechin, DD9 6JZ.

To register for the FREE event, please click here.

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

Love Selected for GB Women’s World Champs Squad

Robyn Love is among 12 players selected to represent GB at the 2018 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships which are scheduled for 16th-26th August in Hamburg, Germany.

The 27 year old, who represented GB at the 2016 Paralympics is the sole Scot selected for the Championships and will be hoping to make her mark in Germany.  Love, known for her fierce rebounding skills and consistent shooting will be an integral part of the GB side who will be hoping to continue their run of good form, after recently claiming victory at the Lyon Wheelchair Basketball Competition.

Love, originally from Ayr, is part of a squad which is an exciting blend of youth and experience with nine of the twelve selected players having represented Paralympics GB in Rio two years ago.  The former Lothian Phoenix star began her journey as a wheelchair basketball player only 5 years ago after making contact with current basketballscotland’s Disability Talent and Pathways Manager Tina Gordon who set her on the successful journey to the top of the sport.  The 3.5 point player currently plays for Oldham Owls and Angels of the North.

Great Britain have been drawn alongside reigning champions Canada as well as Spain, Brazil, Australia and Netherlands in Pool A with the top four teams from each pool qualifying for the quarter final stage.  The medal games will be played on Saturday 25th August.

A list of the GB Woman’s Pool A fixtures can be found below –

  • Thursday 16th August – Brazil (10.15am)
  • Friday 17th August – Canada (1.00pm)
  • Sunday 19th August – Spain (9.00am)
  • Monday 20th August – Australia (7.15pm)
  • Wednesday 22nd August – Netherlands (5pm)

More information on the slection for the World Championships can be found at www.britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk.

2018 Fife Track and Field Championships

The weather remained fair for the 2018 Disability Sport Fife Track and Field Championships held at Pitreavie Athletics Centre on Wednesday 13th June. The Championships are supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and this year attracted a record entry of over 270 athletes.

A strong volunteer force worked vigorously from 10 30 through till 15 40 to deliver the 167 event programme of track and field events plus relays. Thanks particularly to the Scottish Athletics officials who travelled from all over Scotland to assist at the meet.

West Fife CSS won the Inter Community Support Services team trophy with 72 points, 9 points ahead of East Fife CSS. Central Fife CSS finished in third place with 36 points.

The Russell Hogg Inter Schools Trophy was retained by Woodmill HS with a total of 127 points. Balwearie HS finished second with 56 points and Lochgelly HS finished third with 42 points. Queen Anne HS finished 4th, Bell Baxter HS 5th, and Glenrothes HS 6th.

Rosalind Penman from Balwearie HS won the Lita Allan Memorial Trophy as the outstanding female athlete. Robert Anderson from Glenrothes won the Ben Mills Trophy as the outstanding male athlete. Connor Brown from Woodmill HS won the Gilbert Trophy as the outstanding junior athlete. Cameron Herring from Touch Primary won the Derek Frew Inspirational Trophy. The Ian Watson Memorial Trophy was awarded to Liam Johnstone from Central Fife CSS for progress made over the year past in all athletics activities.

Some of the key performances on the day were:
Connor Brown T37 Woodmill HS – 800m 2.46.6 and 200m 32.9
Michael Mellon – winner of men’s standing shot 10.13 and javelin 37.95
Sam Fernando Fife AC winner of 800m 2:17 and 1500m 4.29.8
Graham McIntyre from Leven winner of senior 100m, 400m and 800m for senior wheelchair racers
Callum Sloan Queen Anne HS winner of 100m, 400m and 800m for junior wheelchair racers
Iain Strathearn Woodmill HS fastest junior over 100m 13.9 and 200m 28.9
Leading race runner – Cameron Urquhart Crossgates Primary 16.9 for 50m and 29.8 for 100m
Cameron Adam Fife AC – 17.9 for 100m and 37.30 for 200m and 5.30 for shot
Cameron Herring leading visually impaired athlete
Christina Murray leading hearing impaired athlete
Robert Anderson leading senior shot throw of 9.09
Ryan Spearman Fife AC fastest senior 200m 28.3

Thanks again to the wonderful team of volunteers and Sports Leaders from Kirkcaldy HS who contributed so much to the success of the 2018 Fife Track and Field Championships.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Watersports BSL and Deaf Awareness Course

The National Deaf Children’s Society are running a deaf awareness and basic BSL course for watersports / swimming / aquatics instructors at Dunmuir Hotel, Dunbar on 16th July, in advance of a surfing day for deaf young people held in conjunction with Coast to Coast surf school in August.

What: Deaf-Friendly Aquatics Workshop

Where: Dunmuir Hotel, Dunbar EH42 1LG

When: Monday 16th July 2018, 5.30pm – 9.00pm

Cost: FREE

Who: Swimming / aquatics teachers, instructors and coaches

Booking: www.aquaticsworkshopdunbar.eventbrite.co.uk

 

New Sports go down a treat in Grampian Festival

The sun wasn’t the only thing shining in the Granite City during the 2018 Parasport Festival.

Grampian’s Festival was hosted in an unusually sunny Aberdeen at the city’s Sports Village, and saw almost 40 children with physical and sensory impairments from all over the City, Aberdeenshire & Moray register for the opportunity to try a range of sports geared towards & adapted to suit their needs and abilities.

As well as the usual, popular offering of table tennis, basketball, boccia, athletics & swimming, the 2018 event also featured badminton & bowls for the first time, and these were very well received by the youngsters!

The Parasport Festival aims to enable children with physical & sensory impairments (who are more tricky to engage in sport & can be less confident about their sporting ability) to discover their sporting interests, uncover hidden talents & develop a thirst for sport. Following the event, we hope to see a number of the children getting involved regularly in sports that they’ve shown an interest or promise in. This will be achieved through the support of the Scottish Disability Sport Regional Manager, the clubs and partners involved in the Festival, and the Sports Governing Bodies who will work together to make sure that local, inclusive opportunities are available, that families are given relevant information, and that the quality of opportunities are high.

Susan, whose son, Dylan, attended the event for the first time said “It is nice to see him confident when participating in sports activities which’s he often shys away from in school”.

The Parasport Festival wouldn’t have been made possible without the help of our amazing partners, who we are eternally grateful & thankful for: Grampian Disability Sport; sportscotland; The Mary Salmond Trust; BP’s Coast 2 Coast team; Active Schools Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire & Moray; Bowls Scotland; Badminton Scotland, Basketball Scotland; Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust; Aberdeen Sports Village; ASV Table Tennis Academy; Triangle Table Tennis Club; Aberdeen Amateur Athletics Club; Scottish Athletics; Elgin Amateur Athletics Club; our community volunteers; our athlete mentors – Rhys Gill & Rachel Gilbert; and our wonderful photographer, Frazer Rennie.

We now look forward to next year’s event on 6th June 2019, which is set to be an even bigger event with more sports on offer for our region’s young people.

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

Fife swimmer completes another Great North Swim

Well done to Disability Sport Fife member Kirsty Brunton from Dalgety Bay who spent another wonderful weekend in the Lake District competing in the Great North Swim. This is an annual event for this excellent open water swimmer. This year the swim moved location to Brockhole which is a bit further up Windermere from Ambleside.

Kirsty has cerebral palsy and getting in and out the lake was not all that easy due to the very rocky and stony conditions, but the Great Swim support team and the RNLI volunteers were outstanding with the level of support they offered. The water temperature was 19.5degrees and Kirsty completed the mile swim in 42 mins. What a superb performance.

Kirsty is a member of InCas swimming club and is coached by Garrie Roberts. Kirsty is a wonderful all round sportswoman and recently turned her hand to wheelchair curling and indoor bowls. Disability Sport Fife views Kirsty as a real champion for woman’s sport who has helped to raise the profile of the Get Out Get active programme in Fife (GOGA in Fife).

In the photo is Cheryl Taylor, Kirsty’s open water training partner.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Young Fife Athlete Records Double PB

Well done to young Cameron Adam from Fife AC who continues to improve with every run. At the Red Star athletics meet on Saturday 9th June at Crownpoint Stadium, the young Disability Sport Fife sprinter recorded 16.9 for 100m and 36.3 for 200m.

The Dunfermline HS teenager is now coached by Steve Doig and like all Fife squad members is ready and well prepared for the Disability Sport Fife Track and Field Championships at Pitreavie Athletics Centre on Wednesday 13th June where he will contest the sprints and shot putt.

The Championships are supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife