Month: October 2019

Multiple Medals at the Inas Global Games

The Inas Global Games 2019 took place in Brisbane, Australia and the event was the most successful in its history, with more than 1000 high performance competitors with an intellectual impairment taking part. The competition takes place every four years and the sports contested were athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis and cycling.

Scotland had athletes represent Great Britain in athletics and tennis, whilst we also had coaches involved in athletics, tennis and cycling.

Athletics: Sam Fernando (Cupar, Fife) and Tommy Patterson (Team Manager/Head Coach)

Cycling: Tom A Hara (Team Manager/Head Coach)

Tennis: Dominic Iannotti (Ayrshire, Scotland), Anna McBride (Dunfermline, Fife but now living in Nottingham), Karen Ross (Team Manager/Head Coach)

In athletics, Fife AC competitor, Sam Fernando, delivered a personal best in the 3000m Steeplechase to clinch a silver medal, whilst he also finished fourth in the 50000m. The experienced Tommy Patterson led the athletes throughout the competition.

In Dominic Iannotti and Anna McBride, we have two of the most successful II1 tennis players in the World and both continued their fine form from the 2018 World Championships. Between them they amassed three gold medals in the men’s singles, ladies’ singles and the mixed doubles where the partnered each other. Iannotti also secured Mens Doubles silver, as well as gold in the men’s team event! The tennis players were ably led by our very own Karen Ross, who is now the Head of Performance at Tennis Scotland.

Whilst we never had any cyclists in the Great Britain team, West based coach, Tom A Hara led the cycling team throughout the games and coached the very successful duo Lauren Booth and Kiera Byland. The pair delivered multiple medals in both the road and track events.

Scottish Disability Sport would like to thank UKSA for selecting and preparing the team for the Games.

16th Jed Renilson Wheelchair and Handcycle 10k Race

The sun shone on athletes for the annual Jed Renilson Wheelchair & Handcycle Race, welcoming 11 individuals to the Scottish Borders to take on the 10km course.

The event, organised by Borders Disability Sport and supported by scottishathletics and Scottish Disability Sport, took place on Sunday 27th October.

Claiming another victory at the event, Ben Rowlings (Red Star AC) was the first wheelchair athlete to cross the finish line in 23 minutes 40 seconds – around 30 seconds slower than his 2018 time. As in previous years, the headwind back towards the finish line proved challenging with GB athlete Rowlings recognising this, stating ‘conditions were good on the whole, however the headwind back into the finish was tough’.

The first two Scottish Male athletes across the line were Luke Deighan (27.22) and Kyle Brotherton (28.00).

First across the line in the woman’s race was another GB athlete, Borders very own Sammi Kinghorn (Red Star AC) who clocked a time of 25.38 to finish around 2 seconds faster than 2nd placed female Mel Woods. Sammi stated after the event, ‘Always so nice to race locally at the Jedburgh 10k and better when friends and family can come and support’.

Both Ben and Sammi, along with coach Ian Mirfin, will be heading to Dubai next month to compete at the World Para Athletics Championships.

The event also hosts the annual 10k Handcycle Race, won this year by Edinburgh based athlete Ken Talbot who recorded a time of 17.56. This time was enough to claim top spot on the day, however was outside of the current course record. Talbot held of the challenges from Mike Thomas (21.26) and Dave Wise (21.30) who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

There were debuts at the event for a number of athletes including Fife’s Callum Sloan (3rd Scottish Male) and Mel Woods (2nd Scottish Female) in the wheelchair race while Stuart McMillan and Andrew Eastcroft tasted competitive action for the first time in the Handcycling race.

The event continues to run in the honour of late founder Jed Renilson and is now organised and driven by Graham Cook and Borders Disability Sport. The event is also heavily supported by the local community including Kelso Wheelers, Jedburgh Rugby Club and local officials.

Full results can be found below.

Position Name Time
1 Ben Rowlings 23.40
2 Sammi Kinghorn 25.38
3 Luke Deighan 27.22
4 Mel Woods 27.23
5 Kyle Brotherton 28.00
6 Callum Sloan 41.47

 

Position Name Time
1 Ken Talbot 17.56
2 Mike Thomas 21.26
3 Dave Wise 21.30
4 Stuart McMillan 27.45
5 Andrew Eastcroft 30.27

 

Central Parasport Festival 2019 – A Huge Success

Wednesday 23rd October saw the success of the 2019 Central Parasport Festival seeing children and young people with physical, visual and hearing impairments taking part at the event held at The Peak, Stirling. Pupils from P1 – S6 in mainstream schools travelled from across Central Scotland to take part in a variety of sports such as boccia, badminton, swimming, athletics, football, curling, and new sports of climbing and sailing, all delivered by local sports clubs, Trust/ SGB representatives, regional/national coaches and GB athletes.

The event was a great triumph, kindly hosted by Active Stirling and supported by the Celtic FC Foundation, it offered new and exciting sports on the day. Strong partnerships from Forth Valley Disability Sport, Falkirk Community Trust, Active Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council supported the identification of pupils attending this years event and future pathway opportunities.

We were delighted to welcome esteemed VIP representatives from the 3 local Councils, Trusts, FVDS Branch, sportscotland, Celtic FC Foundation sponsorships and local Councillors to showcase the impact and support of the event. Inspirational speeches closed the event from two-time GB Wheelchair Curling Paralympian Bob MacPherson and 2014 Scotland Commonwealth Games athlete Meggan Dawson Farrell, both sharing their personal experience through disability sport and coaching the pupils on the day.

Cheryl Lappin (SDS Regional Development Manager for Central Scotland) said: “The event was a fantastic success and a worthwhile experience for not only many pupils engaging in sports they may never have tried before, but also their parents and teachers alike. The message is certainly getting out there that there is opportunities and pathways in place for all pupils with a disability within Central, from a local level to an international level. Most of all, it has been great to see so many pupils with a physical and sensory disability in mainstream schools engage in sports, have fun, and potentially move up the pathway”.

A special thank you to the Celtic FC Foundation for supporting this years event, as well as hosts Active Stirling, Forth Valley Disability Sport, Falkirk Community Trust, Clackmannanshire Council, Scottish Swimming, Badminton Scotland, Scottish Boccia, Scottish Curling, British Curling, Forth Valley Flyers, Central Athletics, Riverside Powerchair Football club, Falkirk Football Foundation, Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club, Sailing representatives, Arion Swimming Club, Denny High School senior pupils, Stirling University volunteers, sportscotland and the Active Stirling and the Peak staff for all their support

To find out more about this event or disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact: Cheryl Lappin – cheryl.lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360.

Visually Impaired Football Opportunity – West Lothian

The Royal National Institution for Blind People (RNIB) are hosting a football session for individuals with a visual impairment. The aim is to build on the huge success of the previous session held in Glasgow in April and introduce people to the sport of football.

This session will welcome individuals of all ages and will be delivered by coaches from the Scottish FA and Rangers FC at Whitburn Community Education Centre, West Lothian on Sunday 17th November (1pm – 3pm). No previous experience of playing the sport is needed.

To register a place at the event, please contact Daniel Meikle on Daniel.Meikle@rnib.org.uk or 0131 652 3140.

Student Alexander on Track to International Athletics Career

NEW College Lanarkshire student Alexander Thomson is on track to a career in athletics after impressing at a Scottish Student Sport event at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.

The 18-year-old from Hamilton, who studies NQ Level 4 Access to Sport and Fitness, competed in the first Scottish Student Athletics Opening Match.

Scores of student athletes competed in the Scottish Athletics-licensed event in a range of track and field events, including sprint and middle distance running, pole vault, long jump, shot putt, high jump and triple jump.

Alex was one of only two students to represent a college at the event, with the majority drawn from Scottish universities.

He competed in both the Men’s 200m and 400m distances, winning his first heat in the 200m and finishing in fifth place in the 200m final.

As a sprinter, Alex is making a name for himself in both mainstream and disability athletics.

The ex-Hamilton Grammar pupil combines his studies at the College’s Motherwell Campus with participating in national and international athletics events.

Alexander was the only athlete at the Emirates student event to have a disability classification. He is categorised T38, which is a classification for athletes with cerebral palsy.

In March, he won a silver medal in 400m at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, where he also finished in fifth place in the 800m final and fourth in 4x100m relay.

He represented Great Britain at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland in August, finishing in fourth place in both 100m and 200m.

He is currently training for two BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) Athletics events: the Indoor Championships in Sheffield in February, and the Outdoor Championships in Bedford in May.

Furthermore, a good performance from Alexander at the European Championships in Poland in June could lead to selection for the GB Paralympic team for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Alexander trains several times a week with Whitemoss Amateur Athletics Club, which is based at John Wright Sports Centre in East Kilbride.

He said: “I used to play rugby when I was younger, and I decided to take up running when I was about 13 or 14. It was hard at the start, but it’s got easier as I’ve kept at it.

“My dad, who’s also called Alexander, encouraged me. I think he saw something in me – he used to run long distances, but I’m a sprinter.

“My long-term goal is to become a professional runner, and if not that, then I want to be a personal trainer or an athletics coach.”

Alexander was supported in competing by the College’s Learner Engagement team and Students’ Association, who covered the cost of his entry fees. He was also cheered on at the day-long event by Student President Calum Smith.

His lecturer Chris Wilson said: “Alexander is a conscientious, diligent student who is a pleasure to have in the class.

“We try to prepare students like Alexander as best we can so they can balance their academic and sporting interests, often by giving them coursework in advance to allow them to attend international competitions and meetings.

“We also try to build in study skills they will need while they are away, and they can always communicate with us by email.

“We have a lot of students who are involved at a high level in their chosen sport and as a college we are keen to support them wherever we can.”

To find out more about the range of Sport courses on offer at New College Lanarkshire, please visit www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk/courses/sport or call 0300 555 8080.

Young Scots Victorious in Belgium

basketballscotland’s Wheelchair National Academy claimed victory at the recent Leuven Bears International Youth Tournament, held in Blankenberge, Belgium from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October.

The tournament saw a squad of 10 players from across Scotland compete against other youth players from Belgium and Germany, looking to build on the success achieved at this summer’s National Junior Championships held in Worcester.  The tournament was seen as a great opportunity for the young Scots, basketballscotland’s Tina Gordon highlighting ‘the tournament will not only greatly enhance players on court basketball skills by playing against players from Belgium and Germany, but also personal development and teamwork’.

The competition was aimed at players under 17 and included youngsters from Lothian Phoenix, Dundee Dragons, Glasgow Rollin Rocks and Grampian Flyers.

Scotland moved through the first day of competition unscathed claiming victories against Belgium’s BC Ostende (70 – 18) and Leuven Bears (58 – 21) with some impressive individual performances including an incredible 28 points for Lothian Phoenix player Logan Kidd (versus BC Ostende).  The victory over Leuven Bears was a tremendous result considering the young Belgians had won their own National Cup back in May.

Day saw two matches against German opposition in the form of BG Baskets Hamburg, with both head to heads proving very close indeed.  The first game saw the Scottish Wheelchair National Academy edge a close encounter 34 v 30 with Captain Ben Leitch recording a game high 19 points.  Later that day saw the top two teams from the group stage face off – the young Scots to take on the young Germans for a second time.  However, the outcome was to remain the same as the Scottish side claimed a 48 v 44 victory to finish the competition as winners.

 

Competition Results

Final

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 48 v 44 BG Baskets Hamburg (Germany)

Pool Matches

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 34 v BG Baskets Hamburg (Germany)

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 70 v 18 BC Ostende (Belgium)

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 58 v 21 Leuven Bears (Belgium) – tournament hosts and winners of a recent

 

Squad List

Name Club Classification
Ben Leitch Glasgow Rollin Rocks 4.5
Cameron Watson Lothian Phoenix 4.5
Logan Kidd Lothian Phoenix 4.0
Ronnie Cassels Glasgow Rollin Rocks 3.0
Blair Marshall Dundee Dragons 3.0
Jack Caird Grampian Flyers 3.0
Jason Gillies Lothian Phoenix 2.5
Daniel McLaughlin Lothian Phoenix 2.5
David McLaughlin Lothian Phoenix 1.0
Rhys Colliar Dundee Dragons 1.0
 
Jen Scally Head Coach

 

 

 

 

 

Sweden undefeated in 2019 Stirling Wheelchair Curling Tournament

The 2019 Stirling Wheelchair Curling International was won by Sweden who went undefeated for the week winning all seven of their round robin games.  The Swedes secured victory with one match to spare when they won a tight match against England on Thursday and then rounded off their week with a win against title contenders Norway on Friday. Many thanks to Stirling Council baillie Douglas Dodds who was on hand to present the trophy.

The 8 team international event was a great success with some fantastic curling on show over four days at the Peak.  Scotland finished strongly, winning their last two games to end 4th in the standings.  We look forward to welcoming the best wheelchair curlers back to Stirling in 2020.

All details of our event including the draw are on our website.

http://stirlingwheelchaircurling.btck.co.uk/

Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club hold wheelchair curling sessions weekly every Wednesday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.  Please contact Jacky McLaren if you would like to try out the sport jackymclaren@talktalk.net

Chair SWCII 2018

Andy Hemming

MOB: 07971 769851

Fernando wins Silver at INAS Global Games

The news we have all been waiting for arrived from Brisbane this morning that Sam Fernando had won silver in 3,000 metres steeplechase at the INAS Global Games. Sam ran a personal best time and was in contention for gold down the final straight. Earlier in the week Sam finished 7th in 10,000 metres and we all knew he was in an excellent form going into his strongest event, the steeplechase. Congratulations Sam we are all so proud of you.

1 Foratier T20, Quentin 97 France 9:57.24
2 Fernando, Sam Ruwan 98 United Kingdom 9:58.82
3 Gomez Lucas, Manuel 97 Spain 10:36.50
4 Martinez Morote T20, Jos 84 Spain 10:48.19
5 McIntosh T20, Kyle 94 Australia 10:53.10
6 Mengual, Sebastien 93 France 11:19.70

Quentin Foratier from France and Sam finished well ahead of the remainder of the field in this most demanding of events for T20 athletes with intellectual impairments. Sam has enjoyed considerable success in steeplechase over the past couple of years but this was the first occasion he has run under 10 minutes. Sam travelled to Australia with a PB of 10:04.25 and to day he lowered his personal best time by almost five seconds. There will be lots of excited Fife Athletic Club members and coaches thrilled but not surprised by this performance.

Sam as we all know has enormous family support. Congratulations to the Fernando family and all relatives and friends who have contributed so much to this special moment.

The INAS Global Games are the world’s biggest sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment. More than 1,000 athletes from all around the globe gather every four years to compete for medals and titles. The sports contested are athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis and cycling. Demonstration events are also included at every Games. These reflect the most popular sports of the host nation not already on the INAS programme. The Global Games are also an important event in the build-up to the Paralympic Games. Many athletes who have made their major international debut at the Global Games have gone on to win Paralympic titles.

The first multi-sport event for athletes with an intellectual impairment were held in Harnosand, Sweden, in 1989. Named ‘the 1st World Games for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability’, they took place three years after INAS was formed. Over the following years the focus shifted to getting on to the Paralympic programme, adding sports and countries. More information about this can be found on the history of INAS page. Then after more than a decade of continued development of sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment, the Global Games returned to their roots in Sweden.

The 2019 INAS Global Games are expected to be the most successful to date. The Games are being hosted by Sport Inclusion Australia – INAS member organisation in Australia. The organisers are working with many national and international sporting bodies. More than 1,000 athletes were expected to travel to Brisbane just under one year ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

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

Fife Para Athlete Plays Part in Distance Running Success

Disability Sport Fife owes so much to the late outstanding volunteer John de Courcy plus Shona Malcolm OBE from Scottish Athletics. These two individuals played a very significant role in establishing the very successful East Series Cross Country programme that now plays such an important part in the DSF calendar of events.

The 2019/2020 programme is now about to get under way over the winter with three events in Lothian and one in Fife early next year at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy. Dates have been widely publicised and appear on this Facebook page. Entry forms have been circulated. These events are organised by SDS and Scottish Athletics along with the National Championships at Bellahouston Park next year.

Fife athletes will hopefully access in significant numbers the leg of the East Series and the Fife Championships organised by DSF and Fife Athletic Club. Both of these events are held at the Beveridge Park.

Over the years the number of athletes involved in cross country has risen significantly. The increase in interest has had a major impact on the strength of the Fife track and field squad. There are more Fife athletes training for distance events or longer sprints in 2019 than ever before and this has had a major effect on our ability to contest a wider range of events at the National Junior and Senior Championships. The two most successful Fife AC athletes who have come through this system are Owen Miller and Sam Fernando from Woodmill High School and Bell Baxter High Schoolrespectively. Each of these athletes has been inspired by GB Paralympian Derek Rae.

There is now a fourth Fife AC athlete who is making his mark in distance running, having already achieved considerable success in swimming, cycling and in particular water skiing. Carter Taylor from Dunfermline is enjoying his most successful season to date and last weekend at theLochore 10k he finished 6th overall and 2nd senior athlete. Carter’s time was 00:37:24, just over a minute behind the winner. Fantastic progress for the west Fife athlete who goes from strength to strength with every event and cannot wait for the cross country season to get under way.

Carter is a relative newcomer to distance running but he is improving with every competition and following in the footsteps of Owen who is one of the world’s leading 1500m runners and Sam who excels in 3Km steeplechase. Derek of course won silver in T46 marathon at the IPC World Championships held during the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.

Hopefully this season’s cross country programme will highlight some new distance athletes with potential and perhaps some girls to strengthen team Fife. The DSF partnership with Fife AC and the role played by coaches Ron Morrison and Steve Doig in particular has contributed considerably to this very unique athletics story.

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