Club for climbers with disabilities gets boost from Everesteer

 For many, the loss of a limb might seem to rule out the sport of climbing.

But the Scottish Paraclimbing Club is giving the lie to that notion with an increasing number of people with additional support needs and disabilities taking up and excelling on climbing routes up vertical and overhanging walls.

Every Thursday evening paraclimbers – climbers who have a disability or additional support needs – gather at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho and take on daunting challenges on the indoor climbing walls there.

Now leading adventure cameraman Keith Partridge, an Everest summiteer and veteran of many extreme climbing expeditions, has come together with the club to produce a video for them, showing the opportunities and achievements members enjoy.

The Scottish Paraclimbing Club is the first of its kind in the UK providing opportunities for those who may be blind, or be without one or more limbs to get involved in climbing and progress in the sport.

The club was developed by GB Paraclimber Keith Lynch to create a paraclimbing community based out of Edinburgh International Climbing Arena. It is supported by Mountaineering Scotland and Lothian Disability Sports, and recently received a specialist equipment grant of £2000 from the Scottish Mountaineering Trust.

The club meets on a Thursday evening from 7pm and is supported by a network of volunteers and qualified climbing coaches who are on hand to provide assistance to its members in and around the climbing activities.

The club runs a free ‘Come and Try Paraclimbing’ session for those interested in joining.

Keith said: “We welcome new members. If you are interested in coming along, then contact us first to ensure that we are able to cater for your needs and that there are volunteers available to support your participation.”

The club will also speak with any parents, guardians or carers to advise on how the club operates and discuss any requirements for them to support or be involved in the sessions if interested in joining.

The Scottish Paraclimbing Club video can be viewed here:

The Scottish Paraclimbing Club webpage can be seen at http://www.climbscotland.net/club-spot/club-spot-near-you/scottish-paraclimbing-club and the club can be contacted by email at scottishparaclimbingclub@gmail.com.

In Volunteers Week 2019, SDS was deeply saddened to hear that Jack Calder had died this week.  Jack was an amazing volunteer who gave generously of his time to make sport happen for participants with a disability in Lothian and beyond.

He was one of the founder members of Lothian Waves Swimming Club and chaired the club for many years. No challenge was ever insurmountable for Jack, he always found a resolve.  He raised funds, wrote constitutions and policies and so much more if it meant that participants could access sporting opportunities.  Jack was instrumental in many clubs being created and/or developed because he was a man of action and wanted to get things done properly and was meticulous in his record keeping.

Latterly, Jack held the position of chairperson at Musselburgh ASC, which has become one of the most inclusive swimming clubs in the region.  Over the past few years many of Lothian’s emerging para swimmers have transitioned to the East Lothian club to increase training and improve performance.  Jack’s values and beliefs are embedded within the club and its coaching infrastructure.

Jack was one of those remarkable gentlemen who had time for everyone and made everyone feel welcome – a smile, a joke, a caring comment, a thank you and always with a twinkle in his eye.  He made you feel included.

Jack not only gave his time, energy and commitment to sport but several other organisations.

SDS’s thoughts are with his family.

 

Congratulations to Richard Brickley on being awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to disability sport.

Passionate and committed, his influence spans every facet of disability sport.  Richard was awarded an MBE in 1999 for services to disability sport, however his impact since this time has remained significant as evidenced by his recognition as Volunteer of the Year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in 2017. It is universally agreed amongst national, UK and international governing bodies that few, if any, people have done more for the development of disability sport internationally over the last 40 years.

Richard was on the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Management Board from 1975 until 2006, and between 1998-06 he led Scottish Disability Sport as chair.  Richard took the organisation from one that employed a sole administrator as their entire staff base to one that employed a CEO and a number of dedicated staff.  He was the key driver in launching SDS’s first website in 2000.  This vastly improved communication with members, local authorities and governing bodies. He has been a driver in strategically planning and implementing SDS’s last five strategic plans which has overseen growth exponentially of inclusive practice and opportunities. He implemented the widely-respected events programme for 33 years as the voluntary events-lead, and has ensured that the programme remains one of the flagship programmes of SDS which currently runs over 20 events across 7 sports and caters for over 3000 athletes with a disability at every level of the pathway.

After he stepped down as chair in 2006, he was asked to become the inaugural chair of the UK Coaching, Learning and Leadership Group, which was formed in 2007.  The group was established to advise the UK Coaching Framework on disability sport and the inclusion of children, athletes and players with a disability.  He produced policy papers and implemented positive projects and programmes within coaching at a UK level.  He only stood down as chair to allow him time to set up a similar organisation in relation to Scotland, and in 2010 the Disability Sport Coaching and Education Group: Scotland was established.  The impact of the groups has been to corral leading experts in coaching and disability to set the vision for coaching and learning within Scotland and contributing the SDS dimension to key documents.  He was a key contributor to the development of the Sports Inclusion Model which is a cornerstone of the SDS Strategic Plan 2017 – 21 and it being adopted at a UK level through SDS’s sister organisations in the home nations.

Internationally he has attended seven successive Paralympic Games as coach or classifier.  In the late 1980s he recognised that his passion for coaching and classification could not co-exist at an international level and therefore made a huge commitment to follow the pathway of an International Classifier, a complicated yet critical aspect of disability sport.  In Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 he was a lead classifier, which culminated in becoming the Chief Classifier at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympics.  He was also head of classification for athletics at the International Paralympic Committee.  In the 1980s and 1990s he voluntarily worked with a small group of classifiers for the Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association to improve and keep current the classification system.  He was made an international classifier for the International Bowls for the Disabled (IBD), following his services at the Eight Nations international bowling competition held at Kelvingrove, Glasgow in 2013.   This ensured all bowlers were classified for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.  He was instrumental in refining the British Athletics classification system and chaired the British Athletics classification panel following Beijing, and he also produced the initial British classification paper for GB Boccia allowing the sport to grow internationally.  He and a fellow ex-Chair of SDS, Bob Mitchell,  created a simple and robust system for classification within various sports in Scotland.  This revolutionised disability sport in Scotland and ensures sport is inclusive and accessible for all people with a disability in Scotland. This is still used 20 years on.

This award was strongly supported by Scottish Disability Sport, the other home nation disability federations and both the Lord Lieutentant and the Lord Provost of Fife.

Nominations are invited from those connected with SDS for awards that will be presented at the AGM on 15th September 2019. It is important that there is a clear indication why the individual is being nominated. A list of former award winners can be seen here: www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds-award-winners

All nominations should be returned in confidence, before Monday 19th August 2019, to:

Gavin Macleod, CEO, Scottish Disability Sport, Caledonia House, South Gyle, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ

Alternatively the nominations can be completed online here.

The award categories are:

• SDS Glasgow Trophy for Service to Sport: This award recognises individuals who have played an active role in the development of SDS in any capacity whatsoever. Length of service as an SDS volunteer is an aspect that has been taken into consideration in determining appropriate recipients in the past.
• SDS Fife Trophy for Coach of the Year: This award recognises coaches who have played a significant role in supporting SDS members to achieve their full potential.
• Russell Hogg Trophy (Development Coach of the Year): This award recognises emerging coaches who have committed to supporting Scottish athletes and players with a disability.
• Findlay Calder Trophy (Athlete of the Year): Awarded to the athlete who has contributed most to disability athletics in the past year.
• Brian Dolan Memorial Trophy (Swimmer of the Year): This award is specifically for the swimmer who has contributed most to disability swimming in the past year.
• Angus Trophy: Awarded to the Sportsperson of the Year (excluding athletics and swimming).
• Elspeth Watson Trophy: Awarded to an individual outwith SDS who has contributed significantly to disability sport.
• Special Awards: This section was introduced at the AGM of 2002 to recognise individuals who have made a significant contribution in raising the profile of disability sport in Scotland.
• John de Courcy Trophy (formerly the Capability Scotland Silver Salver): This award is specifically for a talented newcomer.
• Gordon Brown Trophy – Athletes’ Athlete Trophy

The Scottish National Cerebral Palsy Football team returned home as the winners of the International Trophy CP Football Ciutat de Barcelona organised by the Catalan Sports Federation of Cerebral Palsy (FECPC).

Scotland faced a tough competition schedule in Barcelona, playing four matches in four days against Italy, Northern Ireland, Catalonia and English club side, CP United.

The Scots got off to a flying start with an 8-0 victory over CP United. Jonathan Paterson netted four times with Mark Robertson scoring a double and Connor Pollock and Ian Paton bagging a goal each.

On day two of the competition Scotland faced a tricky tie against an Italian side who had only lost by a single goal to Northern Ireland on the opening day. However, Scottish experience told in the end with Greig Taylor’s team running out winners by 7-0. Scottish goal scorers were Martin Hickman and Ian Paton with two each and singles for Stephen Young, Mark Robertson and an own goal. Scotland’s 15 year old goalkeeper, Chris Moore, also made his international debut for this match, keeping a clean sheet.

Day three saw the Scots face the local Catalonia side and the team were on top form winning by 12-0. Scotland’s scorers were Sean Millership (4), Jonathan Paterson (3), Stephen Young (2) and single goals for Martin Hickman, Mark Robertson and Lewis McIntyre.

With tree victories under their belt, Scotland now faced a Northern Ireland team in their final match who were themselves also unbeaten. With Northern Ireland ahead of Scotland in the IFCPF World Rankings, this was always going to be a difficult tie. However, the Scots flew out of the blocks and were 2-0 ahead at half time thanks to a brace of goals from Jonathan Paterson. The pressure was maintained in the second half and goals from Lewis McIntyre and Ian Paton secured the title.

The jubilant Scottish players collected the International CP Football Ciutat de Barcelona Trophy and to add to the occasion, Scotland’s Jamie Mitchell was named player of the tournament. This was an excellent result for the Scottish National Cerebral Palsy Football team who will now hope to build on this success ahead of next year’s World Championships Qualifying Competition which will hopefully see Scotland back competing on the World and European stage.

The following players represented Scotland in Barcelona;

Chris Moore, Stirling

Scott Martin, London

Jamie Mitchell, Livingston

Lewis McIntyre, Johnstone

Blair Glynn, Tranent

Johnathan Paterson, Motherwell

Stephen Young, Dunfermline

Ross Russell, Glasgow

Matthew Wynn, Eaglesham

Martin Hickman, Glasgow

Cameron Pollock, Lanark

Mark Robertson, Roslin

Sean Millership, Epson

Ian Paton, Kilmarnock

Head Coach Greig Taylor led the team to Barcelona along with coaches Graeme Robertson, William Hoggan and physiotherapist Jack Selby.

Our sincere thanks go to the Scottish FA, NorDan UK Ltd, The Blue Eyes Sports Foundation, The Hot Tub Super Centre and Fresh Interior Solutions for their generous support of the Scottish National Cerebral Palsy Football team.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Scottish National Cerebral Palsy Football team or providing much needed funding to help the team achieve their goal of World and European competition, please contact Gavin Macleod on 0131 3171150 or at gavin.macleod@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Britain’s Gordon Reid is looking ahead to an exciting summer of wheelchair tennis after the 11-time Grand Slam champion and Saturday’s French Open runner-up contested his first men’s singles final at one of the four majors since The Championships, Wimbledon in 2016.

World No.8 Reid lost to world No.2 Gustavo Fernandez 6-1, 6-3 as he met the Argentinian in the final in Paris for the second time since 2016 – a year in which the Brit also won his first two Grand Slam singles titles and became Britain’s first Paralympic men’s singles gold medallist.

But despite missing out on a third Grand Slam singles title, the former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion is now focussed on a string of major events this summer. At the end of an encouraging week that saw Reid beat world No.1 Shingo Kunieda in the semi-finals, he said:

“There are a lot more positives to take away than negatives this week. Obviously, you come into every tournament trying to win it and when you don’t do that it’s disappointing. Today I played some good tennis, I just didn’t do it consistently enough to win the title.

“These are the kind of matches you want to be involved in. That’s what you train for and work hard for. So it’s good motivation and inspiration for what’s to come. It’s given me a lot of confidence this week and hopefully I can take that on to the grass now.”

Reid and fellow Roland Garros semi-finalist Alfie Hewett are among a field of eight players for the wheelchair tennis event at the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen’s Club (21-23 June). Reid added:

“It’s the first time we’ve had an official world ranking tournament at Queen’s this year and that’s really exciting. Last year’s exhibition singles and doubles tournament was great, but it’s exciting to have a ranked tournament this year.

“Of course, Wimbledon is the highlight of the year for us British players, so I can’t wait to be back there, hopefully. And then we’re back on hard courts in Nottingham for our home Super Series, the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships.”

Reid will need a wildcard for Wimbledon before he can aim for more Grand Slam success and he and Hewett can target a fourth men’s doubles title. But in the more immediate future the focus for Reid and some of the other leading Brits on the LTA’s GB Wheelchair Tennis World Class Performance Programme is the BNP Paribas Open de France, the fourth wheelchair tennis Super Series event of the year.

The tournament begins on Tuesday in the Parisian suburb of Antony, some 20 minutes by car from Roland Garros. Daily updates throughout the Open de France Super Series will be available via lta.org.uk or keep up to date with all the action on Twitter @WChairTennisGB.

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation