A fully inclusive training centre

One of the highlights of the year for Scottish Disability Sport was the 2^nd Scottish International Boccia Open held at the sportscotland National Sports Training Centre Inverclyde. The event is only possible given the nature of the centre and the significant level of inclusive accommodation it provides. There was representation from nine countries at the event and the field included World and Paralympic Champions. The centre would be a great fit for schools or clubs with participants with a disability looking for a venue to hold a residential camp. More information about the centre can be found below.

The centre is a first of its kind, designed with inclusivity in mind. The centre is an ideal retreat for training, development and competitions and has been utilised by a range of disability sport groups from across Scotland and beyond.

The facility is capable of accommodating 120 wheelchair users across 60 accessible twin bedrooms all with wet rooms. Eight bedrooms have adjoining doors with six of these containing hoists from bed to wet room.  Additionally, there is lip and step free transitions between spaces and all floors are accessible via four extra-large lifts. Facilities include:

• Sports hall, equivalent to 8 badminton courts and 8 boccia courts
• Gymnastics hall
• Fitness suite including adapted equipment
• Indoor and outdoor 3G pitches
• Grass pitches
• 2 studio spaces
• 4 x sand based tennis courts
• Flexible meeting rooms

Any clubs looking for more information should contact the centre on 01475 674666 or at inverclyde.enquiries@sportscotland.org.uk

Holyrood Sports Centre in Glasgow played host to the Special Olympics Basketball Event on Sunday 24th November, celebrating the Special Olympics (SO) European Basketball week which is running between 23rd November to 1st December.

The development event was open to all individuals with an intellectual impairment from across the country, aiming to engage and support players into local basketball opportunities. To find out more about the SO values, please visit www.specialolympics.org.

On the day itself, there was a large number from Glasgow based players including significant representation from Glasgow City Basketball Team and Sporting Aces, in addition to several individuals who are not currently involved with regular basketball activity. In the end, around 25 players were given the opportunity to participate and celebrate the SO European Basketball week together.

The day proved a great success with lost of positive feedback including ‘this is exactly what was needed, a chance to meet other players who are taking part in the same sport. Really appreciate the support.’

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.

There are initial plans to establish an inter-regional event, inviting local areas to play against their peers from across the country in a friendly and welcoming environment. If you’re interested in accessing this opportunity, please contact Disability Talent & Pathways Manager Tina Gordon on 0131 317 7260 or tina.gordon@basketball-scotland.com.

The scottishathletics Hall of Fame was established some years ago to recognise excellence in the sport of athletics. The initial inductees were great athletes like Eric Liddell, Liz McColgan and Alan Wells. Last year fifteen new athletes were added and this year the first four para athletes were inducted at the scottishathletics and jogscotland FPSG Annual Awards Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

In the 70s and early 80s, Barbara Howie from Lothian was Scotland’s first wheelchair athlete to excel on the world stage. Barbara was a multi medallist at the Paralympic Games in West Germany in 1972, Toronto in 1976 and the Netherlands in 1980. Barbara was a champion before the new technologies revolutionised racing wheelchairs. Barbara committed many years to athletics in Scotland as an official.

Colin Keay from Kirkcaldy was the first Disability Sport Fife member to be linked with the Fife AC coaching team. Colin has cerebral palsy and a significant number of secondary conditions but that did not deter him from becoming the outstanding T36 athlete of his generation. During the 80s Colin reigned supreme on the track and in cross country. At the Paralympic Games in New York in 1984 and Seoul in 1988 Colin won five gold and one silver medal.

Caroline Baird MBE from Cupar was a member of Disability Sport Fife and introduced to the Fife AC coaching team. Caroline has cerebral palsy, excelled under coach John Oulton and throughout the 90s was the world’s outstanding T36 sprinter. Caroline won five medals at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000. At the IPC World Championships in Birmingham and Berlin she won double gold. Caroline was awarded the George Dallas Trust Award in 2000.

Stephen Payton from West Lothian arrived on the international scene at the IPC World Championships in Berlin in 1994 and remained at the top until the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Stephen was a multi medallist at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and all European and World Championships in intervening years. Stephen has cerebral palsy and competed in T38 class.

These four athletes paved the way for all that has happened in para track and field up to and including the Paralympic Games in Rio. During their lifetimes they were the Scottish and British athletes to beat at every IPC or CPISRA major championships. I am certain that each one will feel massively honoured to be included in such an iconic Hall of Fame alongside so many world renowned athletes. On the night they certainly articulated their overwhelming appreciation.

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

An exciting coaching opportunity is coming to Edinburgh. Are you interested or currently active in coaching boccia? Well this coaching qualification is for you!

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) are the governing body for the sport of boccia and will be delivering a UKCC Level 1 course over the weekend of 25th and 26th January at Gracemount Leisure Centre, Edinburgh.

The course will provide the knowledge and expertise required to coach players of all ages and abilities in the sport. The workshop outcomes are listed below –

• Planning and preparation
• Effective communication and demonstration skills
• How to give appropriate and constructive feedback
• Evaluating activities
• Understanding of boccia and coaching principles

The cost of the course is £250, however a subsidy of £75 is available via sportscotland. Please get in touch for more details about this. Please find the flyer attached for the upcoming Boccia UKCC Level 1 course.

To register your interest / book a place on the course, please contact Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

UKCC Level 1 January 2020

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