Scotland’s Wheelchair Curlers competed at the World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship in Lohja, Finland this week, with the top two teams gaining automatic qualification to the World Wheelchair Curling Championships in 2017, which is the final qualification event for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Aileen Neilson skipped the Scotland team, alongside team-mates Gregor Ewan (third), Hugh Nibloe (second), Robert McPherson (lead) and Angie Malone (alternate) in Finland.

The Scottish team finished top of an extremely difficult group to meet Finland in the final and gain automatic qualification to the World Championships next year.  Unfortunately they lost 4-6 to claim a Silver medal but ultimately their goal was reached.

World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship Standings

1. Finland
2. Scotland
3. Slovakia

Scotland have now all but booked their qualification for the Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea between 9-18 March 2018. The teams comprting at the 2017 World Wheelchair Championships and the Paralympic Winter Games will be Russia, China, Norway, USA, Canada, Slovakia, Finland, hosts Korea, Switzerland, Germany, Scotland (as Great Britain at the Paralympic Games) and Sweden.

For more information visit the World Curling Federation website on http://www.worldcurling.org/home

#WWhCC2017 #Roadto2018 #curling

Edinburgh’s Josh Manson was awarded the Young Sportsperson of the Year (Male) award at the prestigious Lord’s Taverners Sporting Chance Awards, held at Guildhall, London, on Friday 21^st October 2016.

The Lord Taverners, the UK’s leading disability sports charity, facilitate the Sporting Chance Awards which recognise the sporting achievements of young people under the age of 19 years old and the young wheelchair basketball player was recognised for his considerable development over the last 12 – 18 months by receiving the much coveted Young Sportsperson of the Year (Male).  The award criteria include sporting excellence, being a role model for others and raising the profile of their sport.

The Lothian Phoenix player, who is also the current Lothian Disability Sport Young Sports Person of the Year, met all the award criteria through his rapid development on the court, becoming an integral player in the U19 Junior League squad.  This has been recognised and Manson is now part of the senior Phoenix side, competing in the National League division 3 and division 1 squads, while also being invited to attend GB U23 training camps providing the platform to test his undoubted ability against players older players.

In addition to his achievements on court, the former Currie High School pupil is also excelling and becoming a genuine ambassador for the sport of wheelchair basketball, regularly assisting with coaching the upcoming players at the club, while relishing the leadership role he plays to the youngsters.  He has shown a wider commitment towards the sport, helping to raise the profile of the sport in Scotland through a number of presentations to teachers, young people and sporting organisations while also supporting Scottish Disability Sport to convey the important message of including young people with a disability in all aspects of PE.

Furthermore, Josh has immersed himself in the coaching aspect of the sport through attendance at the level 1 coaching course and Positive Coaching Scotland workshops.

Colin Leslie (Dalkeith), Fiona Christie (South Queensferry) and Bobby Laing (Livingston) brought home bronze medals from the European Para-Badminton Championships in the Dutch town of Beek.

Leslie’s winning run in the SL3 men’s singles came to an end in the semi-finals but he still claimed bronze.

The 3/4 seed defeated Belgium’s 5/6 seed Bob Biesmans 12-21 21-19 21-18 to reach the last four but missed out on a place in the final after falling to Germany’s Pascal Wolter 21-12 21-8.

Team-mate Alan Oliver, the other 3/4 seed, had his medal hopes dashed when he went down 21-17 13-21 22-20 against France’s Mathieu Giles Thomas in the quarters.

Oliver also reached the last eight of the SL3-SL4 doubles before he and England’s Antony Forster went down 21-8 21-12 against Germany’s Marcel Adam and Spain’s Simon Cruz Mondejar.

Oliver and Leslie also reached the knockout stages of the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles before each went down in three close games with their respective Danish partners Julie Thrane and Astrid Lihav Riis.

Christie also struck bronze in the women’s singles WH2 category thanks to a fine win over third seed Liliia Prokofeva of Russia in the quarter-finals. She booked her semi-final place with a 23-21 19-21 21-16 victory only to fall in the semi-finals to Turkey’s second seed Narin Uluc 21-13 21-9.

Laing and English partner Isaak Dalglish also picked up a bronze in the SS6 men’s doubles. They reached the semi-finals but went down to top seeds Krysten Coombs and Jack Shephard 21-9 21-18. The Anglo-Scottish pair had reached the knockout stage with two group wins out of three before falling to the England duo. Shephard had also beaten Laing in the group stage of the singles.

Scotland squad: Alan Oliver, Colin Leslie, Niall Jarvie, David Purdie, Bobby Laing, Deidre Nagel, Fiona Christie.

For all the final results go to www.tournamentsoftware.com

The thirty-ninth Junior Championships for sensory impaired and physically disabled swimmers organised by Scottish Disability Sport took place at Grangemouth Sports Complex – the venue for these championships for over twenty years now.

The Junior Championships have witnessed memorable contests over the years between emerging and established Scottish swimmers and this year was no different. Twelve Championship Records were broken on the day by four different swimmers and the quality of swims throughout the day was of a very high level.

Academy athlete Oliver Carter (Fife) impressed hugely in attaining five golds and three CRs in 100m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly & 100m IM, ahead of Kyle Hughes (West of Scotland).

Fellow Academy Athletes Beth Johnston (Borders) enjoyed some fine battles with Cara Smyth (Fife) yet proved to be the dominant swimmer of the day by claiming four new CRs – many of them twenty year old records – with only the 50m Butterfly CR eluding her this year. This was enough to ensure that Beth was awarded the “Best Girl” trophy for 2016.

The continued progress from the West of Scotland’s McCulloch brothers is evident as the improved times from both each year demonstrates the strides they have made. Indeed, Fraser McCulloch won the “Best Boy” title in 2015 and it was even more keenly contested this year with his brother Lewis and Ollie Carter all in contention for the award right up until the final race of the day. Ultimately though, Lewis McCulloch – with four CRs to his name – secured the title thanks to a storming 100m Freestyle victory.

SDS, its member Branches and Regional Networks are focused on encouraging more children and young people with a physical, sensory or learning disability to learn to swim, join a club or session and potentially follow in the footsteps of Scotland’s great Para-sports swimmers. Scotland has a wonderful track record of producing outstanding international swimmers and long may this continue. It was hugely encouraging to see 18 new swimmers competing at this championships. There is however still scope to increase the number of participants so our branches and regional team will continue to work hard to identify and develop swimmers along the pathway and attendance at events such as this provides impetus for further progression.

We now begin to look forward to the 40^th edition of these championships in 2017.

Mark Gaffney
SDS Opportunities & Events Manager

The Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships were held on Saturday 29^th October, Bellahouston, Glasgow.  The championships are an annual event that attracts competitors from rowing and non-rowing backgrounds from across the UK and Europe.

The rowing championships offers inclusive competition opportunities for para rowers who also compete within the mainstream championships.

Individual competitors raced in the male and female adapted 1kilometre event in the quickest possible time. It provides a stage for indoor rowing enthusiasts to test themselves on a national level and assess their own performance and progress.

Pictured above with John Blair from Scottish Rowing are members of the Phoenix Rowing Club who competed at the event, some for the first time, some to beat their Personal Best and row for selection for Scottish Squads and Invictus Games 2017.

For further information please have a look at the fact file and the video fact file.

If you or anyone you know has a disability and would like to get involved in rowing telephone Scottish Disability Sport or alternatively email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Results listed below for the male and female adapted 1km event.

Race 23 – M & W Adaptive 1k

Stuart Bowler – Scottish Rowing Centre – M Adapt LTA 1k:  03:52.6, 1000, 01:56.3
James Hamilton – Help4Heroes – M Adapt AS 1k: 04:29.9, 1000, 02:14.9
Mark Telford – Redneck Racing: 04:47.1, 1000, 02:23.5
Dave Rhoney – Help4Heroes – M Adapt AS 1k: 05:21.7, 1000, 02:40.9
Pauline Gallagher – Greenock Crossfit – W Adapt LTA 1k: 05:06.7, 1000, 02:33.3
Sarah Baillie –  – W Adapt AS 1k: 05:42.6, 1000, 02:51.3
Joanna Martin – Help4Heroes – W Adapt AS 1k: 06:45.7, 1000, 03:22.8

Scottish Rowing’s video of the event can be seen here.

Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games bronze medalist Aileen Neilson will skip the Scotland team as they take to the ice at the World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship (WWhBCC) in Lohja, Finland this weekend. Aileen will play alongside team-mates Gregor Ewan (third), Hugh Nibloe (second), Robert McPherson (lead) and Angie Malone (alternate) in Finland.

The  WWhBCC will be held from 4-10 November at the Kisakallio Sports Institute with a record 16 international teams taking part. The teams will battle for the final two remaining spots at the 2017 World Wheelchair Curling Championship (WWhCC) which will be held in Pyeong Chang, South Korea.

The teams taking part are split into two groups with Scotland featuring in Group A:

Group A: England, Israel, Italy, Scotland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey.

Group B: Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Latvia, Poland, Chinese Taipei.

Slovakia and Finland, who were both relegated from the 2016 WWhCC in Lucerne, Switzerland, will be amongst the favourites in Finland and there will be international debuts for the teams from Chinese Taipei and Turkey.

Both groups will play a round-robin stage beginning on Friday 4 November, with the top three teams from each group proceeding to the play-off stages. If required, teams will play one round of tie-breakers at 14.00 on Wednesday 9 November, to determine the final rankings. The top ranked team from each group will progress directly to the semi-finals taking place at 09.30 on Thursday 10 November. The second and third placed teams will play a qualification round at 18.30 on Wednesday 9 November for the remaining semi-final places.

The semi-final winners will qualify for the WWhCC 2017 and play for the gold and silver medals, while the semi-final losers will compete for bronze medals. Both medal games take place at 14.30 on Thursday 10 November.

The WWhCC 2017 is the last qualification event for the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, to be held in PyeongChang, Korea from 9-18 March.

To keep up-to-date with all the action from Finland follow the World Curling Federation on Twitter, Instagram (@worldcurling) and Facebook (/WorldCurlingFederation) and use the hashtags: #WWhCC2017 #Roadto2018 #curling.

With the Paralympic Games in Rio now over individual sports seek to identify the athletes that will receive high performance funding as we head into the next Paralympic cycle.  British Athletics have announced the athletes that will receive this funding, which is provided by the National Lottery through UK Sport, with emphasis based on winning medals at a Paralympic Games.  Consideration will have also been given to those athletes with the potential to medal at the IPC World Championships being held in London 2017.

SDS wish to congratulate Jo Butterfield, Libby Clegg, Maria Lyle, Stef Reid, Sammi Kinghorn and Derek Rae who have been announced on the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP).  This is split into two levels: Podium (for athletes with the potential to win medals at Tokyo 2020) and Podium Potential (for athletes developing towards Tokyo 2020 and the Paralympics in 2024).

Podium

Libby Clegg
Jo Butterfield
Stef Reid
Maria Lyle

Podium Potential

Sammi Kinghorn
Derek Rae

A full report can be found on the British athletics website:

http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2016-news-page/november-2016/02-11-16-wcpp-2016-17/

 

The National Deaf Children’s Society and North Lanarkshire Leisure are teaming up to hold a deaf-friendly swimming gala in Airdrie.

Swimmers will have the opportunity to meet deaf role models, take part in a swimming ‘master class’ and put their skills into action in the deaf-friendly swimming gala!

This is an exciting opportunity for deaf swimmers to meet, have fun and compete together in a friendly and supportive environment. Young people must be able to swim 25 metres+. No previous competitive experience necessary.

• John Smith Pool, Airdrie, ML6 0AH
• Saturday 19 November 2016
• 1:30pm – 5:00pm
• Communication support provided by NDCS
• Parents/carers must be present throughout
• Free!

The recommended age for this event is 8-18 but younger swimmers are welcome to take part if they can confidently swim 25 metres+. Hearing siblings welcome.

To find out more or to book a place, please contact:

Eleanor Connelly, Swimming Development Officer
0141 354 7850
http://bit.ly/DFSgala
swimming@ndcs.org.uk

Deaf-Friendly Swimming Gala Entry Form Download

On 2 October 2016, at the Scottish Disability Sport AGM, the Scottish launch of the Get Out Get Active programme took place.

This is an exciting new UK programme funded by Spirit of 2012 with three Scottish localities, Grampian, Fife and Forth Valley, taking part.

For full information please download the GOGA leaflet.

 

It’s official. The international Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed that four British players, including Paralympic gold medallist and Wimbledon men’s singles champion Gordon Reid,, will compete at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters 2016 in London (30 Nov-4 Dec).

Tournament success throughout the year has ensured Reid (world No.2), Andy Lapthorne (quad world No.4), Jordanne Whiley (world No.5), and Lucy Shuker (world No.8) will all fly the flag for Britain at the ITF’s year-end wheelchair tennis singles championship at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Reid, from Helensburgh in Scotland, said: “I know you are only as good as your last match and that the competition will be really intense at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. I’m just going to knuckle down and work hard to give myself every opportunity to win this title. That would be a dream finale to my year.”

Competition will be tough in all of the disciplines, with Joachim Gerard (Belgium), Jiske Griffioen (Netherlands) and David Wagner (USA), the respective reigning men’s, women’s and quad champions, all returning to defend their titles.

The top eight ranked men’s and women’s players and top six quad players at the ITF ranking list cut-off of 10 October qualify for the Masters making it one of the most prestigious events on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation.