The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) today announced that RaceRunning is to be introduced as a World Para Athletics event.

World Para Athletics and the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) have been in discussions for some time about increasing the participation of athletes with more profound physical impairments in World Para Athletics track events. The move will occupy the current T31 and T32 classes which have had no representation in recent years.

For the full announcement please click here.

Well done to Para Trap shooter Mike Drever from Leven who responded immediately to a last minute call up from British Shooting Talent Pathway Coach Christian Schofield to compete in the British Shooting Grand Final at the Faux Deglas Shooting Ground in Wrexham Wales. It took no time at all for the proud Orcadian to accept the invitation and head south to compete alongside the leading GB Olympic Trap and Skeet performers plus six of the country’s top Para Trap shooters. Many of these performers are among the best in the world in their respective disciplines.

Practice went really well for Mike, achieving a new Personal Best in a round of 23 from 25 with a high hit percentage of 77%.  Although he started slowly, Mike carried his good form into day one of competition and in the end was pleased with his overall consistency in such a prestigious event. On Day 2 Mike started well with a 19 and signed off with another PB of 23 from 25 in competition, and an overall score of 95 from 125.  Although this was not good enough for a podium finish Mike was delighted with his performance.  Had he achieved this score at the Para Trap World Cup in Italy earlier in the year he would have qualified for the final.  Mike also finished the competition 8 targets ahead of the current ranked British no. 1 in class PT3 Para trap. 

Wrexham was a great confidence booster ahead of next year’s World Cup competitions that are scheduled for France and the United Arab Emirates. Most importantly Mike is now confident that he can compete with the best at the highest level in the sport. He has only been shooting the discipline for 6 months but his scores are improving with every competition. Understandably Mike cannot wait for the 2018 season and the challenges that lie ahead for him if he is to gain a place in the British Shooting Team for the World Championships in Italy.  

Mike supports the fore end of the gun with his impaired left arm. Because he has no hand he does not have the ability to grip the gun and this of course makes gun control more difficult. Mike is coached by Iain Macgregor, one of the world’s leading coaches in his shooting discipline. Mike shoots 2 to 3 times a week depending on his weekend competitions programme and has a midweek practice at Auchterhouse Country Sports. For the past three years Mike has been employed as Project Manager in the Estates Department at the University of St Andrews

In 2015 Mike set himself a goal of representing Scotland in Olympic Skeet. After only 12 months of shooting competitively Mike was selected to represent Scotland at the 2016 Home Countries International Tournament, in Lispopple, Ireland. Later in the same year he was also invited to the CSF (ED) in Wales. It was there he became aware of Para Trap and he shot his first trap competition in March 2017. Mike has now set his sights on becoming successful internationally in Para trap and perhaps one day competing at a Paralympic Games.

Mike is the first Para athlete based in Fife to excel in international shooting. He is indebted to the Association of Fife Rotary Clubs and the Fife and Scottish Disabled Sports Trusts for financial assistance with his competition programme to date.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Derek Rae from Fife AC has rounded off his most successful season to date with an excellent run on his first visit to Amsterdam for the Mizuno Half Marathon.

Derek represented Team GB at the Paralympic Games in Rio in the T46 class and in the Netherlands clocked 71.59 and 7th position overall, running from within the pack. An amazing end to a brilliant season where Derek has set personal best performances for 3K (9:19.98), 5K (15:46.04), 10K (32:32), 5 miles (26:09) and 10 miles (53.38), half marathon (70.06) and marathon (2:33.34).

Most athletes would be looking forward to a relaxing time after such a tough race but not the highly committed Fife marathon runner who has his short term sights on the 2018 London Marathon and longer term on gaining GB selection for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

The run in Amsterdam was yet another experience of competing overseas in a completely new environment. Coach and athlete now turn their attention to a winter of heavy weights, high mileage and cross country races all across the nation. In the words of the very talented Fife AC athlete “exciting times ahead.”

Derek’s wife Susan was in Amsterdam providing her usual exceptional support and even captured a brilliant image of Derek at the start of the Amsterdam race. Brilliant season Derek and best wishes over the winter from all your fans in Fife and beyond.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

The Scottish Association for Blind Bowlers (SABB) hosted the UK Indoor Singles Home International at Glasgow Indoor Bowls Club from 6 -8 October 2017.

SABB, led by Team Manager David Thomas, were keen to put in a performance in order to defend their unbeaten record of winning the UK Indoor Friendship Team Trophy, which they have held since 2007!

The selectors made a number of changes to the team. There are a number of promising layers coming through at the moment and Robert Barr, Melanie Inness and Ian Graham made their first appearance at a UK Visually Impaired Bowls (UK V.I.B) Home International.

86 ties would be played over 11 sessions in all sight categories: B1, B2, B3 and B4

Day 1:
After a disappointing start to the tournament all players rallied to produce some excellent results to draw level with England on points 22-22.

Day 2:
This was an exceptionally good day for Scotland with all players supporting each other to produce a massive turnaround with Scotland gaining 30 points to lead England 52-43.

By the end of Day 2, Scotland were certainly in contention to win some medals but the player still had to produce some big results against some very good opposition.

Day 3: 
Scotland produced some exceptional wins over England and Wales and produced some medal winning performances, claiming five golds, one silver and three bronze medals.

Final Team Standings
Scotland: 67 points
England: 60 Points
Wales: 43 Points

As well as some great individual performances, the retention of the Team Trophy for the sixth time in a row was particularly pleasing for everyone involved in SABB.

Medal Winners

B1 Ladies
Eleanor Clark (Doreen Strachan) – Gold

B2 Ladies
Elizabeth Morrison (Ann Moss) – Bronze

B3 Ladies
Mary Stevenson (John Stevenson) – Gold

B4 Ladies
Melanie Inness (Grace Whitton) – Gold

B2 Gents
Ian Graham (Marday Vyapooree) – Gold
Billy Edgar (Gerry Blasby) – Bronze

B3 Gents
Robert Barr (Chris Morrow) – Gold
William Caulfield (Moira Thomson) – Silver

B4 Gents
Robert Rodgers – Bronze

Scotland’s Sammi Kinghorn continued her amazing 2017 with a superb debut at the distance in the wheelchair race at the Chicago Marathon.

Kinghorn, Double World champion at 100m and 200m during the summer, finished in fifth place in 1.43.52 and that’s well inside the standard required for the Commonwealth Games.

It was a Scottish Record for wheelchair racing for the marathon. Sammi had been nursing a wrist injury in recent weeks following the Great North Run but recovered in time to finish second at the Great Scottish Run wheelchair race to set her up for the trip to the United States.

Yesterday, after her first gruelling experience of the 26.2 miles distance, she tweeted: ‘Marathon debut completed in a time I didn’t think possible and couldn’t do it without my coach, Ian Mirfin’.

Last month, the 21-year-old from the Borders was named Scottish Sportsperson of the year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards and Sammi has also been short-listed for our own FPSG Annual Awards on Saturday 4 November.

 

The Chicago Marathon performance will secure Sammi a slot for the Gold Coast 2018 and she already looks like a medal contender at Commonwealth level for that event, while also being expected to compete on the track in Australia over 1500m.

The weather forecast was horrible but regardless 36 brave riders came out for the Scottish RDA Championships, at Glasgow RDA, on 1st October.  Although most of us got very wet, and the ground was rather soggy, it was not as bad as we had anticipated.  Conditions worsened once we were all safely on our way home!

 We welcomed riders from as far afield as Gordon, the Borders and for the first time East Fife & Scooniehill RDA from Fife. They told me how much they had really enjoyed seeing just what other groups and riders are achieving.  We saw excellent displays of riding all round but especially from those whose ponies really did not want to be performing out in the rain – a total of 9 groups were represented.  For the first time we had a Gran and Granddaughter both getting 1st rosettes.

 The Championship sashes were awarded to Janette Lightbody from Carrick and Lauren Dempsey from Glasgow.

 Huge thanks to Nancy Peters for organising the whole event, Lynda and everyone from Glasgow RDA, Helen and Anne, the judges, their writers, Gillie, at the shop, Mary, for being the photographer, and Isabelle, for taking care of everything else.  Most of all thank you to every rider, and their support teams for making the whole day a really great, fun day.

 

Scottish Boccia had three representatives competing for Great Britain at the BISFed World Open in Kansas.  Stephen McGuire (BC4), Jamie McCowan (BC3) and Patrick Wilson (BC3)

Current World Champion, McGuire won individual Gold, whilst Jamie McCowan clinched individual Silver.

The UK Boccia team finished with three medals at the event, with David Smith MBE also adding Gold to the Paralympic Gold he won in Rio last year.

McGuire who cruised through his pool with three wins from three matches before dispatching Colombia’s Duban Cely in the quarter final and Canada’s Alison Levine in the semi-final.  Colombia’s Euclides Grisales was waiting in the final but McGuire started strongly and was 3-0 up after two ends. A tied third end took the score to 4-1 and McGuire eventually sealed the victory 4-2.

McCowan was also in sensational form during the pool stages and racked up three wins before seeing off Canada’s Eric Bussiere 6-1 and Greece’s Grigoris Polychronidis in the semi.  Unfortunately he was unable to win the final as he was overturned by Australia’s Daniel Michel.  Nevertheless, an impressive performance by the man from Ayrshire!

Patrick Wilson went through second in his pool after edging out Jesus Romero in a tie-break. He then came up against Polychronidis in the quarter final but this time lost out in a tie break.

Earlier in the week BC3 pair Wilson and McCowan suffered a semi-final defeat against Canada before missing out on third place to Japan.  In the BC4 section, McGuire was paired with England’s Louis Saunders (who was making his first UK Boccia appearance)  failed to make it out of the pool after narrow 3-2 losses to Canada and Colombia.

 

The next competition for the players is the Scottish Boccia International being held from the 13 – 15 October at the Inverclyde Sports Centre in Largs.

We are delighted to provide an opportunity for people across Scotland with visual impairments to try a variety of sports. This fantastic opportunity is open to everyone over 10 years old and will take place at Scotstoun Leisure Centre, Glasgow on Saturday 11th November 2017 in partnership with RNIB, British Blind Sport, Haggeye, Guide Dogs Scotland, FABB Scotland, Visibility, the Scottish FA, JudoScotland, Scottish Swimming and scottishathletics.

This event provides anyone living with a visual impairment with the opportunity to try a wide range of sports, and there is no cost to attend.

Scottish Disability Sport Regional Managers will be on hand on the day to raise awareness and support participants to get involved in their chosen sport in their local area. If you would like to have a chat about the event please do not hesitate to contact us.

All participants will have the opportunity to try the following sports: athletics, bowls, cycling, football, goalball, judo, swimming and tennis.

If you have a visual impairment or know someone with a visual impairment that would like to get involved in sport and would like to attend, please register by completing the form (download below), telephoning Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130, email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or book online here. If you have any questions or concerns at all please get in touch.

Visual Impairment Sports Day Registration Pack

Following an outstanding season that saw her break World and European records, triple World Para-Athletics Championships medallist Sammi Kinghorn added to her accolades as she lifted the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy as 2017 Scottish Sportsperson of the Year, at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards in Edinburgh on Thursday.

With a host of sporting stars, including medallists from the recent Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in attendance, the evening was an inspirational celebration of their outstanding achievements, as well as the success of individuals, schools, clubs and teams across the whole of Scottish sport.

The first para-sport athlete to take the top award of Scottish Sportsperson of the Year in its 15 year history, Sammi’s name joins past winners such as Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Andy Murray and Dame Katherine Grainger on the trophy. After missing the podium at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the past year has seen Sammi on a phenomenal rise to the top of her sport, securing her first global titles. An inspiring culmination of her journey since the accident which left her paralysed at the age of 14, she broke her own World record to take gold over 200m at the World Para-Athletics Championships in London, going on to take a second gold in the 100m and bronze in the 400m. Since then her focus has turned to the road, coming second in her debut half marathon at the Great North Run, in a bid to gain selection for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the marathon as well as the T53/54 1500m on the track.

Sammi said: “When you see yourself up against great athletes like Danii Joyce and Gordon Reid, you don’t expect to win. It’s amazing to even be thought of as one of the best para-sport athletes in Scotland but to actually win is incredible and then to win Scottish Sportsperson of the Year as well, that’s something I never thought of. To hold the trophy and Andy Murray’s name is on it and all the greats of Scottish sport, knowing that your name is going to be there too is really special.

“I don’t think there’s been a para athlete that’s won it in the past, so be to be the first is pretty cool. It means the world to me to have my family and friends here tonight. To have the people there who have stood by you through all the hard times and all the good times, and to know that they’ll always be there for you, that’s really special.”

There was additional success for Scottish Disability Sport on the evening with Richard Brickley MBE named as Volunteer of the Year for his work in disability sport at a local and national level. Richard received his award from rugby legend Gavin Hastings OBE and commenting on his award said; “Thank you to SDS and of course to everybody in Disability Sport Fife and our partners whom I have the privilege of working with throughout the year. We have a very special organisation populated by very special people and supported by many great agencies”.

Sammi’s success came on a superb night for Athletics with double European Indoor Champion Laura Muir named Female Athlete of the Year and her coach Andy Young lifting the Coach of the Year award. Scottish Athletics also took the award for Sport Governing Body of the Year for the second year in succession, with record numbers selected for the World Championships, 120,000 athletes competing in permit events and great strides made in inclusion, propelling them to the title.

Duncan Scott’s gold and silver medal winning performances in the relays at the World Swimming Championships, along with magnificent swims for fourth and fifth place in his individual freestyle events, gave him the nod for Male Athlete of the Year over a strong shortlist which included 2016 winner Sir Andy Murray.

The Murray family did have an award winner however, with Judy Murray OBE named Team Scot of the Year in recognition of her relentless drive for equality in sport and an active lifestyle for all children. Behind the successful ‘Miss Hits’ and ‘She Rallies’ programmes to encourage female participation and leadership in Tennis, she is a powerful advocate for sport at all levels and the continuing need for investment.

There was a huge reception for boxer Josh Taylor, a popular winner of Sporting Moment of the Year, whose stunning win over the previously unbeaten Ohara Davies to defend his Commonwealth Title belt, was the moment that captured the heart of the nation and majority of the public vote.

Scotland’s leading points scorer of his generation, Rugby legend Gavin Hastings OBE was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of an outstanding playing career which saw him win 61 caps, including 20 as captain, and a wealth of charity and fundraising work since retirement from the international game. In contrast, just beginning his own career at 18 years old, World and European Junior Canoe Sprint champion Leuan James was the winner of the Sir Peter Heatly Trophy as Young Athlete of the Year.

The Scotland Women’s Football national side took Team of the Year reflecting their successful Euro 2017 qualifying campaign which saw them win seven of their eight games and take their place at their first ever major international championship. There was also a Special Recognition Award for Celtic Football Club following their historic season which saw them unbeaten in domestic competition, winning the fourth treble in their history and becoming the first team to go an entire Scottish top-flight league season without a defeat since 1899. Drumchapel Community Sports Hub and Active East’s Scottish Sports Futures took the Community Hub, Club or School and Games Legacy awards respectively.

There was also big news for golf fans, as Catriona Matthew MBE was announced as the European Team captain for the 2019 Solheim Cup.

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “Following the launch of these awards in their new format last year, tonight’s event has raised the bar once again, as we celebrate what has been a truly outstanding year for Scottish sport.

“A huge thank you to our partners and sponsors, whose support has made this fantastic event possible and enables us to properly recognise the achievements of the individuals, teams and organisations that help to put Scotland on the sporting map.

“Looking forward, the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games are now just five months away, where many of these athletes will be aiming for medals. I wish them all the best with their final preparations and I am quite sure we will be celebrating their achievements this time next year.”

Over 500 people joined the celebrations at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, where the evening was hosted by award winning TV presenter Hazel Irvine and comedian Fred MacAulay, with funds raised for the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth Trust.

2017 AWARD WINNERS

• Scottish Sportsperson of the Year – Emirates Lonsdale Trophy: Sammi Kinghorn, Para-Athletics
• Male Athlete of the Year – sponsored by Brand Oath: Duncan Scott, Swimming
• Female Athlete of the Year – sponsored by The Scottish Sun: Laura Muir, Athletics
• Para-Sport Athlete of the Year – sponsored by CGI: Sammi Kinghorn, Para-Athletics
• Team of the Year – sponsored by PSL / Canterbury: Scotland Women’s Football
• Coach of the Year – sponsored by University of Stirling: Andy Young, Athletics
• Sporting Moment of the Year – sponsored by Glasgow 2018 European Championships: Josh Taylor defends his Commonwealth Title belt against England’s Ohara Davies
• Young Athlete of the Year – Sir Peter Heatly Trophy, sponsored by City Legacy Homes: Ieuan James, Canoe Sprint
• Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by Eden Mill: Richard Brickley MBE, Disability Sport
• Governing Body of the Year – sponsored by Edinburgh International Conference Centre: Scottish Athletics
• Community Hub, Club or School of the Year – sponsored by sportscotland: Drumchapel Community Sports Hub
• Games Legacy Award –sponsored by Legacy 2014 / City Legacy Homes: Active East – Scottish Sports Futures
• Lifetime Achievement – sponsored by Commonwealth Games Scotland: Gavin Hastings OBE, Rugby
• Team Scot of the Year – sponsored by Aberdeen Standard Investments: Judy Murray OBE, Tennis
• Special Recognition Award – sponsored by Commonwealth Games Scotland: Celtic Football Club

Paratriathlon made its Paralympic debut at the Rio Games in 2016, with the British team winning a whopping four medals.  British Triathlon are looking to build on that success at the Tokyo 2020 Games, and to do this are looking to find new and exciting Paralympic talent.

The Tri4Tokyo Talent Identification programme is on the hunt for athletes who will be able to challenge the best in Britain and, in time, the best in the World. Paratriathlon is a dynamic and demanding sport, with the successful athletes needing to be dedicated and hard working.

Full information can be found on the British Triathlon website here.