Month: July 2019

Fife AC athlete selected for Global Games

The news we have all been waiting and hoping for is out on the street. The UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability (UKSA) has announced that Sam Fernando from Gateside and Fife Athletic Club has been selected for Team GB, and on this occasion he is not heading back to Europe but to Brisbane, Australia.

Only two GB athletes will travel to the 2019 Global Games. Multi medalist, Declan Manning (Bungay, Suffolk) and double European medalist Sam Fernando will wear the British colours.

The Inas Global Games are scheduled 11th to 20th October 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. Hosted by Sports Inclusion Australia over 1000 athletes are expected to compete in 10 official Inas sports. The Global Games are the world’s largest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments. The Games are held every four years and there are over 80 countries in membership of Inas.

Congratulations from all of us in Disability Sport Fife to Sam on his second international selection in a matter of a couple of years. Well done to coach Ron Morrison on producing yet another world class athlete and to everybody in Fife Athletic Club and at Bell Baxter HS who has played a part in Sam’s amazing sporting journey to date. http://www.uksportsassociation.org/…/uksa-announce-cycling…/

Richard Brickley OBE MBE, Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

PKDS Open Lawn Bowls Championships

On Saturday 29th June, bowlers from all over Scotland were welcomed to Blackford Bowling Club for the first ever Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Open Lawn Bowls Championships.

Blackford BC President Stuart McNaughton welcomed everyone to sunny Perthshire before the green was opened up for some fantastic competitive bowls across four categories:

  • Bowlers with a physical disability – wheelchair
  • Bowlers with a physical disability- ambulant
  • Bowlers with a learning disability
  • Bowlers with a visual impairment

The round robin format in each category meant each player got a minimum of three or four games before the top two in each group played off in the final to determine the champion.

Each final was played in great spirits with some brilliant shots determining our champions.

Elizabeth Jackson from Clackmannanshire won the wheelchair section after a great performance against Jim Eadie from Perth & Kinross. Stuart Chesby from Fife won the physical disability – ambulant section defeating Robert McCrackan from Perth & Kinross in the final. Graeme Panton from Perth and Kinross won the learning disability section after a very close final with Ryan Flynn from Forth Valley. Sylvia Johnston from Dundee won the visual impairment section with some great bowls against Lynn Barr from Lanarkshire.

Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Branch Coordinator, Graeme Doig, said: “Thank you to everyone who came along to play and support our first ever disability bowls Championships.

“This event has been a big success with some very competitive bowls and we hope to establish this on the bowling calendar in years to come.

“Thank you to everyone at Blackford Bowling Vlub for their support in organising this event and for the officials, volunteers and sponsors whose contribution helped make this an enjoyable experience for all.”

Ron Anderson, Bowls Development Officer at Blackford added: “We started this journey into supporting people with a disability to get involved in bowls three years with the help of Ron McArthur. We are delighted with the progress made with our coaching sessions and the success of a number of our bowlers at national competitions last year.

“Thank you to everyone who took part and we hope to see everyone again next year.”

Para Bowlers take on Australia at Birmingham 2022 Venue

Bowls Scotland has selected their B2/B3 Mixed Pair and B6/7/8 Open Triple ahead of a test event against Australia. The event will be held at Royal Leamington Spa – which is the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games venue – between Friday 12th July and Sunday 14th July 2019.

The Scottish players will be tested to the full as the Australians are the reigning Commonwealth Champions in both disciplines. Nevertheless, this will provide a great benchmarking opportunity for the Scottish players and coaching staff against arguably the best Para Bowls Nation in the world.

High Performance Para Bowls Co-ordinator, Bob Christie, said: “I’m delighted that our squad have been asked to compete in this test series alongside the mainstream bowlers. It’s a great opportunity for the players to play on the greens that will be hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games against top class opposition. This will assist all the players to continue to develop and gain experience.”

High Performance Coach, David Gourlay MBE, said: “I’m delighted that para-bowls will also be competing in the test series and this is a great opportunity for everyone involved to compete on the greens that will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

The Scotland team is as follows:

B2/B3 Mixed Pair
B3: Robert Barr (Jordanhill BC)
B3: Melanie Inness (Coltbridge BC)

Directors
Sarah Jane Ewing (Abbeyview BC)
Chris Morrow (Willowbank BC)

B6/B7/B8 Triple
B6: George Guthrie (Maryhill BC)
B7: Glen Livingston (Cowdenbeath BC)
B7: Pauline Wilson (Willowbank BC)

SPFA Award for Forth Valley Athlete

The curtain was brought down on Riverside FC Powerchair team’s superb first season on Saturday at the Scottish Powerchair Football Association (SPFA) Annual Awards night at Hampden when Scott McIntyre was awarded the SPFA Breakthrough Player of the Year Award. Well done to Scott – a thoroughly well deserved award.

The team was formed last August when one player turned up at the first training session at Wallace HS. Numbers expanded rapidly and the team now has 10 players who attend training sessions at The Peak on a Monday night at 7.30 – 9pm.

The team plays in the MDUK National Championship and has won a number of matches. This is particularly impressive as the team all use NHS powerchairs and very often they played against teams using top of the range sports powerchairs.  It can seem like trying to run against Usain Bolt at times as the sports chairs are so much faster, but the commitment and will to win and compete are second to none.

The team also got a mention in the Scottish Parliament recently when Bruce Crawford MSP gave them a namecheck on a discussion about powerchair football.

The team would like express their thanks the support and help it has received from Scottish Disability Sport, Active Stirling, Scottish Football Association and everyone at the SPFA. It really is very much appreciated  and without it there is no doubt the team would not be thriving the way that it is.

If you or anyone you know is interested in taking up the sport please contact Ian Anderson on 0779 230 7175.

Grampian Parasport Festival Sees Surge in Attendance

The Grampian region was delighted to welcome 51 participants to this year’s annual Parasport Festival for school-aged pupils with physical & sensory impairments.

The event, held at Aberdeen Sports Village, saw a 71% increase in attendance compared to the 2018 Festival and was the best-attended Festival in Grampian since the shift to focus on participants with physical, visual and hearing impairments from mainstream education who are often greatly underrepresented in sport.

This year’s Festival focused on 8 sports – specially chosen to enable ongoing participation in community sessions in Grampian and to suit the abilities and disability types of those attending: Football; Athletics; Boccia; Table Tennis; Wheelchair Basketball; Bowls; Swimming; and Badminton.

Additionally, this year marked the first Grampian event to feature both a coordinated VIP presentation & tour for key stakeholders and a workshop for parents and teachers to learn more about the athlete journey and the work of SDS. The parent/teacher workshop also featured an inspirational talk by Gary Clow, parent of Grampian Commonwealth Games para athlete, Lewis.

The event would not have been possible for the 50+ amazing volunteers & helpers from Active Schools Aberdeenshire, Active Schools Aberdeen, Live Life Aberdeenshire, Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club, Grampian Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Club, Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club, Aberdeen & District Table Tennis Association, Scottish Swimming, Scottish Disability Sport, Scottish Student Sport, BasketballScotland, regional athlete ambassadors, and the wider sports development network. We’re also really thankful for the parents & teachers who took the time to bring along the children they care for.

Initial feedback from the event suggests that the children and adults thoroughly enjoyed & benefitted from the event, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2020 event, which is set to take place in early September.

If you live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray (or know someone who does) and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Photo courtesy of Marie Gilbert

Growing Numbers for Grampian Bowls Event

The sun was shining at Albury Outdoor Sports Centre, the hospitality was second to none, and the competition was fierce (albeit friendly & with copious amounts of banter) at this year’s Grampian Regional Lawn Bowls Championships.

The qualifying event for Grampian’s bowlers to reach the SDS National Lawn Bowls Championships was highly anticipated amongst the bowls community and saw bowlers with physical, visual and learning disabilities aged 20 – 88 from across Aberdeen City & Shire compete for the top spots on the day & a place at Nationals. The event also saw a tremendous 50% increase in entries compared to the 2018 event.

Thanks to the organisation skills of Grampian’s bowls lead, Kevin Duncan, participants were split into 3 pools for the day (seated bowlers & those using wheelchairs, ambulant bowlers with physical and learning disabilities, and bowlers with visual impairments) and competed in round robin matches against the others in their pool.

Following the event, the players, carers, parents and umpires retired to the club house where local hero & Albury Outdoor Sports Centre volunteer, Agnes MacDonald, ensured that everyone was suitably fed & watered with an afternoon tea. In turn, diners donated over £80 towards the Centre’s funds. The Centre is entirely run by volunteers & managed by Albury Community Sports Hub. SDS, Grampian Disability Sport & the players are eternally grateful to Agnes & her team for continuing to make sure everyone is looked after, both at our annual event & at the weekly Grampian Bowls Squad sessions, which take place on Saturdays from 13:00 – 15:00 at the Centre and are suitable for all ages.

Special mentions from the day go to first-time competitors Reggie Craig & Zoe Kane who performed incredibly well amongst our veteran entrants.

A huge thank you also goes to the team of umpires & markers, without whom the event wouldn’t be possible.

Congratulations to all of the competitors.

Results:

Section A (Seated bowlers & those bowling from wheelchairs)
Gold: Kevin Duncan
Silver: Reggie Craig
Bronze: Kerry Mathers

Section B (Ambulant bowlers)
Gold: Zoe Kane
Silver: Martin Morrison
Bronze: Kelly McDonald

Section C (Visually impaired bowlers)
Gold: Ali Burt
Silver: David Cox
Bronze: Jim Lamb

If you live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray (or know someone who does) and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Team Fife Bowlers Retain SDS Inter Area Trophy

Congratulations to the bowlers from the Fife team who surpassed all expectations and retained the SDS Trophy at the 7th Inter Area Bowls championship held at Fisherrow Links Bowling Green, Mountjoy Street, Musselburgh, on Friday 28th June.

Lothian Disability Sport was the host SDS branch and on the day Jack Brodie, Neil Herbert and Ron McArthur ran the event with exceptional support from members from the host club. Thanks to SDS Events Manager Mark Gaffney who worked hard to increase the number of participating branches after a number had fallen off in recent years. Tayside and Forth Valley joined the event for the first time and Fife, Glasgow and Lothian continued their involvement.

The format was changed this year to include teams of 6 (3m3F) instead of 12 bowlers (6M6F). Disability Sport Fife entered the maximum permissible number of bowlers (6M6F) selected from results recorded by bowlers at the Fife Championships held at the Beveridge Park Bowling Club earlier in the month.

John Collins was the Fife team manager ably assisted by staff from East Fife CSS, Central Fife CSS, parents, carers and DSF volunteers.

Team Fife A

Men: Craig Donaldson; Steven Anderson; Gary Handyside;

Ladies: Pamela Mitchell; Wendy Thomson; Julie Allan

Team Fife B

Men: Darryl Stewart; Lloyd Simpson; Willie Christie;

Ladies: Mandy Robertson; Tanis Murphy; Michelle Wallace (Danielle Osborne replaced Michelle in the afternoon because of injury)

Team Fife A men progressed through their qualifying section of singles, pairs and triples, losing only one match and scoring 14 points. Team Fife B men followed a similar programme undefeated with one team less and scored 12 points. The two Fife teams met in the final with the Fife B team winning gold and Team Fife A silver.

Team Fife Ladies A team similarly were in great form winning most of their matches and lifting the gold medals. Team Fife B ladies played steadily throughout but were outside the medals. Two first timers competed this year in the Fife B team which indicates continued progress in development.

Lawn bowls, indoor bowls and carpet bowls for players with learning disabilities are strong in Fife at the moment thanks to DSF engagement with inclusive bowling clubs like Headwell, Dovecot, Lumphinnans, Abbeyview, Beveridge Park, East Fife Indoor, Windygates, Cowdenbeath etc. Junior numbers are also on the increase and DSF is proud that it had three first time selected players in the team of 2019.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE – Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

 

Award for Young Fife Athlete

Congratulations to Callum Sloan from Dunfermline and Queen Anne HS who was presented with the Derek Frew Inspiration Award following his impressive performances at the recent Disability Sport Fife Track and Field Championships, supported by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust at Pitreavie Athletics Centre.

The trophy was donated to DSF by Rachel Edgar from Fife AC who at one time was coach to the late Derek Frew.

Callum is coached by DSF Pamela Robson and is enjoying his best season to date on the track and roads.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE – Chairman DSF Board of Charity Trustees

Title for Fife Bowler in New Branch Event

Congratulations to our colleagues in nearby Perth and Kinross Branch on successfully adding a new open bowls event to the national calendar. The championships were held at Blackford Bowling Club, a club that has developed a reputation for promoting inclusive bowls.

Congratulations to our own Stuart Chesby from Dunfermline Northern BC on winning the open section for ambulant physically disabled bowlers. Stuart is enjoying his most successful season to date and later in the summer he will compete for the first time in the Bowls Scotland championships in Ayr.

Yet another talented physically disabled Fife bowler making his way along the performance pathway and following in the footsteps of Michael Simpson, Martin Hunter, Billy Allan, Maria Spencer, Barbara McMillan and others.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE – Chairman DSF Board of Charity Trustees