Home Town: Alloway, Ayr
Occupation: Student
Sport: Discus, Shot Put
Classification: T37
Club: Red Star Athletic Club
Coach: John Scott
When and how did you get involved in your sport?
2015
Sporting Highlights
Gold at UK Championships in Loughborough 2017.
Do you have one piece of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Keep focused.
Home Town: Poole
Residence: Southampton / Wareham
Occupation: Student
Sport: Athletics
Classification: T34
Events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m
Club: Poole AC / Southampton Solent University
Coach: Ian Mirfin MBE
Twitter: @NathanB_T34
Facebook: NathanBlackieWheelchairRacer
Instagram: @nathanblackie27
When and how did you get involved in your sport?
I started doing athletics in 2010 when I met my first at a multi sport day at Victoria School in Poole while I was recovering from major surgery.
Sporting Highlights
Sporting Aspirations
Continue to improve and qualify for a world championships and a Paralympic Games.
Do you have one piece of advice for an aspiring athlete?
No matter how difficult things are, don’t give up. The hard work will be worth it in the end.
A summer opportunity for school aged young people from the East of Scotland has so far proved a resounding success, with 12 participants accessing the session during the first two weeks of delivery.
The session, aimed at young people with a physical disability, provides an opportunity to try a range of sports using a sports wheelchair – although participants are not required to use a wheelchair on a regular basis to access the session.
The summer session has been developed by Scottish Disability Sport with significant input from key partner’s basketballscotland, Advantage Tennis, Lothian Disability Sport, Edinburgh Active Schools & Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland and is delivered at Oriam, Scotland’s National Performance Centre for Sport on a Monday afternoon 1pm – 3pm. The session has also welcomed some of the participants’ siblings along to the session, providing an opportunity for non-disabled young people to try sport from a wheelchair. This caveat also lowers potential barriers to participation by inviting families as a whole to access the session, also providing some rest bite for parents during the 2 hour session.
The delivery and participant engagement has been excellent, with current wheelchair athletes and Level 2 coaches Luke Pearce and Josh Manson (both wheelchair basketball) and Lewis McConnell (boccia) acting as superb role models for the stars of the future. This has been supplemented by experienced coaches Michael Millar (tennis) and Tina Gordon (basketball), providing the ideal environment for learning a range of sporting and social skills.
Feedback from parents has been very positive highlighting the need for a more regular opportunity across the region, something that Scottish Disability Sport and partners are currently looking into establishing. The session also provides a direct pathway into existing sports sessions across the region – tennis, boccia, basketball, badminton, athletics and more are already delivering regular sessions across the East of Scotland.
If you are interested in this opportunity, applications can be accessed by following the link below –
https://www.cognitoforms.com/ScottishDisabilitySport/WheelchairSportSummerCamp
For further information, please contact Scottish Disability Sport Regional Manager (East), Neal Herbert, on neal.herbert@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 0131 317 1130.
Great Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid thrilled a near-capacity crowd on Court Three on Saturday to become the first three-time champions of the Wimbledon men’s doubles wheelchair tennis title after a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Belgium’s Joachim Gerard and Stefan Olsson of Sweden.
Second seeds Hewett and Reid could do little wrong in the first set, stringing together six games in a row to take the opener in just 25 minutes as Hewett fired a forehand winner on set point.
The defending champions earnt the first break of the second set for a 3-1 lead as Olsson sent a forehand long over the Brits’ baseline. However, their record of successive service holds came to an end in the very next game and Gerard and Olsson went on to level the set at 3-3.
The seventh game had everything for the appreciative crowd, with Olsson tipping out his tennis chair mid-rally before regaining his equilibrium and he and Gerard won the point and then the game to lead for the first time.
However, Hewett and Reid regrouped to move to within a game of another SW19 title and Olsson missed a volley at the net to bring up Championship point. With Gerard serving to stay in the match, Reid sent a looping forehand return back at him, the shot catching the line to secure the trophy for the Brits.
Speaking after the match, a delighted Reid emphasised how important it had been for the British duo to impose themselves from the start, saying “They’ve got a dangerous game. They’re both big servers. They like to get forward, put us under pressure, and rush us. It was important to come out firing, try to stay on top of the points early. I felt we did that really well in the first set.”
The win gives Hewett and Reid a hat-trick of Wimbledon doubles titles and sees the pair remain unbeaten as a partnership at Wimbledon. It’s also their fourth Grand Slam title together after they also won the 2017 US Open crown.
Asked how this win measures up against their other titles, Hewett said: “I think they’re all special. Every year to come back and win it, it’s tougher each year. People kind of expect you just to win it. We know that’s not the case. There’re a lot of strong guys out there. Yesterday’s match and even today’s match kind of proved how strong the field is.
Hewett and Reid’s success to date has played a key role inspiring more disabled people than ever before to pick up a racket and play tennis across the Tennis Foundation’s network of venues, something they are both well aware of and keen to drive further. The final was broadcast live by the BBC, and speaking to presenter Clare Balding on court after receiving the trophy, Reid talked about their desire to act as an inspiration for others, saying “It’s a really exciting time for the sport and a really exciting time to a part of it. When we get the opportunity to showcase it to a wider audience it means we hopefully can inspire young kids who have a disability or aren’t active to pick up a sport, that’s why it means so much to us”.
The new three-time Wimbledon champions, along with the rest of the world’s best wheelchair tennis players, now travel up to Nottingham for next week’s British Open ‘Super Series’ event, and Hewett says the pair will head there full of confidence, saying: “Moments like yesterday and moments like today really build us as a team. We’ll go into next week, you know, with that confidence, just try and enjoy it, to be honest. There’s a lot of pressure, a little bit of a stressful situation the last couple of days. Next week is a chance to get back on the court and just enjoy it.”
With the profile of the sport continuing to grow, a record crowd is expected at Nottingham Tennis Centre next week. Tickets for the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships are being made available free of charge via , with the event running from 17 – 22 July.
www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/BritishOpen
All photos copyright Getty Images for the Tennis Foundation
Ben Leitch, a wheelchair basketballer from Perth, thrived in his first international tournament for the Great Britain Junior Men’s Team.
Ben was part of a 12 man squad that attended the XXV Trofeu International Barcelona Tournament which returned home undefeated. The tournament was a warm up for the U23 European Championships which will be taking place in September, with selection of the final squad still to take place.
Ben’s passion for wheelchair basketball is clear and his dedication to development has seen him shine in the sport. Ben recently signed for the highest level wheelchair basketball team in the country; the Glasgow Rocks Wheelchair Basketball squad. He is a great representative for Tayside and still supports his local team, Dundee Dragons.
SDS would like to congratulate Ben on his first call up to Great Britain.
British Athletics has announced a 53 strong team for the World Para Athletics European Championships and there will be eight Scottish athletes within the team to compete in Berlin from 20-26 August 2018.
T35 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Maria Lyle, is joined by Paralympic gold medal winning F51 thrower Jo Butterfield MBE, double gold medal winning T11 sprinter Libby Clegg MBE and T64 silver medalist long jumper Stef Reid MBE. T38 sprinter Ross Paterson is also selected and race runners Gavin Drysdale, Kayleigh Haggo and Hannah Dines also make the team.
As well as these eight Scottish athletes, Ben Rowlings who is coached by Ian Mirfin MBE and currently lives and trains in Scotland with Red Star Athletics Club, also makes the team.
This will be the first time that Race Running, which has its roots in Scotland, has been included in the programme at this level of international event. As a result, this is a very special moment for the trio of Kayleigh, Gavin and Hannah, and their coach Janice Eaglesham MBE, as they win selections for Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the very first time.
These selections represent another ‘high water mark’ for Para athletics in Scotland with Red Star Athletics Club very much to the fore, as well as other clubs and coaches across Scotland who have embraced disability athletes and sections.
Everyone at SDS wishes the athletes and their coaches every success in Berlin.
The selected athletes and events for the World Para Athletics European Championships are as follows;
Jo Butterfield MBE (Philip Peat; Forth Valley) – F51 Club Throw
Libby Clegg MBE (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) – T11 100m and 200m
Hannah Dines (Janice Eaglesham) – RR3 100m
Gavin Drysdale (Janice Eaglesham; Red Star) – RR3 100m
Kayleigh Haggo (Janice Eaglesham; Ayr Seaforth) – RR3 100M
Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie; Team East Lothian) – T35 100m & 200m
Ross Paterson (John Kinder; Red Star) – T38 200m & 400m
Stef Reid MBE (Aston Moore; Charnwood) – T64 Long Jump and 200m* (200m subject to confirmation)
SDS was delighted to learn that Gordon Robertson was recognised with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to disability athletics due to his work as a volunteer coach and after playing a key role at Red Star Athletics Club.
Gordon has been president of the club for a number of years and one of the clubs longest serving coaches having been involved for more than 25 years. The former World 400m Champion is also a five-time Paralympic medallist, winning medals at the 1984, 1988 and 1996 Games; two silver and three bronze medals.
The fifteenth Jed Renilson Wheelchair and Hand Cycle 10k is just around the corner, scheduled for Sunday 28th October 2018. This event is organised by the Scottish Borders Disability Sport & Leisure Group and is an excellent opportunity for experienced and aspiring wheelchair / handcycling athletes to test themselves at a well-established event.
The race will commence prior to the 10k and half marathon and will be part of the Jedburgh Running Festival. The race route is basically an out-and-back. Starting at Bonjedward Garage the race heads down a steep hill before turning right onto the A698. The route then heads east along this road for 5km before turning and heading back west towards Jedburgh .The finish line is on the A698 at the banner approximately 70 metres after the turning for the car park at the Caddyman Restaurant at Mounthooly.
A map of the route can be found here – https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4633949.html
All riders must provide their previous or best 10k race time, this safety constraint allows us to confirm riders can compete the course in under 45 minutes.
Anyone who hasn’t raced this distance before must contact the organiser prior to entry.
Entry to the event can be completed by following this link – https://www.entrycentral.com/event/108652.
GB gathered four medals at the BISFed 2018 World Boccia Open Povoa, Portugal. With only a month until the World Championships in Liverpool, three Scottish players contributed to 75% of Boccia UK’s medal haul.
World Number 2 Jamie McCowan was up against Greg Polychronidis of Greece but his winning run came to an end when he succumbed 0-5, to take the silver medal. Polychronidis was also responsible for Patrick Wilson’s defeat in the semi-final but he bounced back to take the bronze medal from another Greek, Anna Ntenta.
In the Individual BC4 World Number 1 Stephen McGuire rallied after a surprise loss in his first match to make it to the semi-finals, where he was beaten by old rival Samuel Andrecijk of Slovakia. He was unable to claim the bronze losing a tight match 3-4 to Pornchok Larpyen of Thailand.
Stephen did leave Portugal with a medal though as he teamed up with Evie Edwards and Louis Saunders to clinch BC4 Pairs bronze. The Slovakians again accounted for GB at the semi final stage but Canada were vanquished in the playoff to bring GB’s medal tally to four.
Neither the BC3 Pair nor BC1/BC2 Team were able to advance through the pool stages.
Full results are available from the BISFed website: http://www.bisfed.com/latest-results/
Beach Wheelchairs is a Scottish Charity which believes that everyone has the right to enjoy our beautiful beaches.
Since we started in July 2015 in North Berwick, we have helped over 250 individuals to get on the beach and spend special time with friends and families. In 2017, friends in Portobello followed our lead, and opened a site on the promenade beside their beach.
Beach wheelchairs can also be used to allow children to take part in educational trips, individuals to attend beach weddings and may be used at other beaches or off road sites by prior arrangement.
‘Can’t thank you guys enough for today! For the first time since her accident Sarah could go down to the beach with her husband, kids and dog and have an amazing time. She even dipped her toe in the sea!’
All of the wheelchairs have been specially designed to enable individuals with disabilities to get back on the beach. Unlike a standard manual wheelchair they have large, rubber wheels which move easily over the sand. We hire out beach wheelchairs free of charge from each of our seaside locations using local volunteers.
At North Berwick we have a child’s and two adult beach wheelchairs and a beach walker for free hire. We also now have a hoist.
To book please phone 0300 111 2112.
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