What a night of celebration for SDS at the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2019, held in the splendid surroundings of Glasgow City Chambers.

SDS won the Transforming Coaching Award for it leadership and mentoring programme, Young Start, which supports young athletes in their coaching journey. 80% of the young people taking part in the programme have gained qualifications. Exciting news is that SDS is now a finalist at the UK Coaching Awards on 5 December in London – #ukcoachingawards. Well done to all the young people who are now coaching sessions.

It is wonderful to note that the Disability Coach of the Year has been named the Janice Eaglesham Disability Coach of the Year and was won by Majella Kerr for her multi-sport work with participants on the autism spectrum.

And last but not least, Jack Calder (swimming) posthumously won the Lifetime Achievement Award – Volunteering.

Many thanks to sportscotland for an outstanding evening recognising so many volunteers, officials and coaches.

The World Para Athletics World Championships in took place in Dubai from the 7-15 November 2019.  Scotland had seven athletes #represent Great Britain in the event, producing a host of memorable performances.

There was a tremendous double gold and two new World Records for Scottish RaceRunners Kayleigh Haggo and Gavin Drysdale.  This was the first time RaceRunning has been incorporated into an IPC World Championships

Gavin dedicated his achievement to his late coach Janice Eaglesham MBE: “Wow, I cannot believe it. I knew I would probably have to break the world record to win it. I want to dedicate this gold medal to my late coach, Janice Eaglesham. She would have been so proud.”

Earlier on in the competition, Sammi Kinghorn delivered a bronze medal in the T53 100m and Maria Lyle claimed double gold in the 100m and 200m T35 events.  In addition, Paralympic Champion, Jo Butterfield, won silver in the F51 Club Throw.  Libby Clegg competed in her first major competition since giving birth and her preparations towards Tokyo finished with a semi-final place in the T11 100m.

Owen Miller made his debut at this level and finished in a credible 6^th place in the T20 1500m.

A full list of results can be seen below.

 

Gavin Drysdale	Gold – 100m RR3 in World Record
Kayleigh Haggo	Gold – 100m RR3 in World Record
Maria Lyle	Gold – T35 100m Gold – T35 200m
Jo Butterfield	Silver – Club
Sammi Kinghorn	Bronze – 100m
Owen Miller	6th – T20 1500m
Libby Clegg	Semi-final – T11 100m

 

The 2019 Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association National Pairs was played over the weekend at Kinross curling rink.  16 pairs of curlers from as far as Preston to the South and Elgin to the North competed in 4 sections of round robin on Saturday to determine the ‘High’ road and ‘Low’ road plays–offs on Sunday.

After a highly competitive Sunday it is Congratulations to Paralympians Jim Gault & Gregor Ewan from Elgin who were the class pair of the field winning the ‘High’ road and the title of National Pairs Champions 2019.  In the final they defeated local favourites Ross Hatten & Leslie Barr who beat some very strong pairs along their route to the final.  Ross & Leslie also deservedly won the umpires award for outstanding contribution to the tournament.

The ‘Low’ road was also a very keenly contested competition with the Lockerbie pair of Daniel Cowan and Alison Cloudsley deservedley coming out on top.  Congratulations to both players.

Our thanks go to Kinross Ice Rink for allowing us to use their facilities, the addition of the new lift and increased space allowed the competition to run very smoothly, grateful thanks to the ice staff, umpire Harry Brodie and all the catering as well as our army of volunteers who we just cannot do without.

Our next tournament is the SWCA British Open at Hamilton Ice Rink, 9^th to the 11^th February. Please see the new SWCA Facebook page ‘Scottish Wheelchair Curling Assoction – SWCA” for info on this great sport.

Scottish Disability Sport are delighted to support the upcoming Special Olympics Basketball Development Day, celebrating the Special Olympics European Basketball Week which is running between 23^rd November to 1^st December.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.  More information can be found here – https://www.specialolympics.org/

The Scottish event will take place at Holyrood Sports Centre, Glasgow on Sunday 24^th November and welcome individuals with a learning disability to come along and try the sport of basketball in a fun and friendly environment!  The format will see participants hone their skills under the guidance of experienced coaches in the morning before having the opportunity to play some friendly games in the afternoon.

This partnership event is being led by basketballscotland, Special Olympics Scotland West & local clubs Glasgow City Basketball Club & Glasgow Eagles Sports Club and supported by Glasgow Sport, Scottish Disability Sport and Glasgow Active Schools.  The aim of the event is to provide a platform for individuals with an intellectual impairment to try the sport of basketball and support anyone interested post event into local inclusive opportunities.  The day will welcome people of all abilities and no previous basketball experience is required.

For further information surrounding the event, please contact basketballscotland’s Disability Talent and Pathways Manager Tina Gordon on tina.gordon@basketball-scotland.com or 07734 845 950.

This year’s para sport festival series has come to an end with festivals happening in five regions in Scotland. This year alone 345 pupils from 193 schools in 28 local authority areas have benefitted from attending the events.

The festivals are designed to encourage pupils with physical, visual and hearing impairments in primary and secondary mainstream education, to experience a range of sports with the aim of being supported to engage in ongoing regular activity/sport. The specific target group for the event is identified in the SDS Equality Action Plan.

These bespoke events are very much a partnership driven by SDS Regional Managers with Active Schools Co-ordinators and Sports Development Officers from Local Authorities, Trusts, governing bodies of sport and local sports clubs and students from local tertiary institutions bringing crucial expertise to the event to make them happen.

Feedback from parents and carers demonstrates the value that the festivals bring to the young people attending. Ian Dryburgh, Grandparent:

“My grandson is visually impaired, he has attended the festival for the last five years, he we never knew the number of sports that were available for people with disabilities. It is fantastic. He has been able to try sports that he never would have the opportunity to try at the festival. He is a changed person. After attending the festival, he has gone on to attend a swimming transition squad and judo sessions.”

The impact of the hugely successful events is outlined in the Celebrating 10 Years video but some facts and figures at a glance are listed below.

Scottish Disability Sport CEO Gavin Macleod said: “The Parasport Festivals have grown over the last 10 years to become a focus point for introducing young people with physical and sensory impairments to a wide variety of sports and providing opportunities into regular participation. We would like to thank the numerous governing body and Local Authority partners across Scotland who have provided vital support to enable these Festivals to evolve.”

Facts and figures at a glance:

• In 2019 SDS is celebrating 10 years of Parasport Festivals
• 1963 pupils from over 250 schools in 28 local authority areas have benefitted from the event
• After attending the multi-sport festivals 15% of participants have been supported to engage in weekly sessions or clubs
• The male to female ratio has moved to from 80/20 to 60/40
• In 2018 50% of participants attended the festival for the first time, providing evidence that the festival should be continued to be provided
• 68% of participants have a physical disability, 21% have a visual impairment and 11% have a hearing impairment

Participants of the festival were invited to feed back on the impact of sport on their lives in a survey. The results demonstrated that: 

• 98% felt better by participating in sport
• 98% felt more confident in their physical ability
• 93% got out more and were less socially isolated
• 95% felt more competent in their physical ability
• 91% felt more able to cope with life
• 90% made more friends through sport

In 2020 the Paralympics in Tokyo will once again shine the spotlight on performance athletes competing in disability sport. Why not come along and start your journey just as they did? If you or any one you know has a disability and would like to get involved in disability sport please telephone 0131 317 1130 or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com. #Getinvolved #SDSInclusivesport 

Para Sport Festivals 2020

West of Scotland: Monday 2^nd March

Tayside: Wednesday 4^th March

East of Scotland: Friday 27^th March

Grampian: Friday 18^th September

Highland: Saturday 26^th September

Central Para Sport Festival: Tuesday 27^th October