Brits Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid booked their places in the men’s wheelchair singles semi-finals on Wednesday at the Australian Open as Andy Lapthorne also earned his first match win as world No.1 in quad singles.

Meanwhile, on a largely good day for players on the LTA’s GB Wheelchair Tennis World Class Performance Programme, with three wins from four matches, Jordanne Whiley put up a fine effort in defeat against women’s world No.2 Yui Kamiji.

Reid ended the Australian Open title defence of Argentina’s world No.2 Gustavo Fernandez 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2 to set up a semi-final against Belgium’s world No.4 Joachim Gerard, the same player Reid beat in the 2016 Australian Open final as the Brit won his first career Grand Slam singles title.

With Hewett and Reid in opposite semi-finals, there is the potential for an all-Brit men’s singles final later this week. After his quarter-final victory, Reid said: “I’m very pleased with the performance and result today. I served and returned well for the majority of the match and managed to impose my style, which is important against Gustavo. I’m looking forward to another opportunity tomorrow against Gerard.”

World No.3 Hewett sealed his first ever singles win at the Australian Open as the two-time US Open champion beat world No.5 Stephane Houdet of France 6-3, 6-4. Playing in the first wheelchair match of this year’s Australian Open to be staged on a show court, Hewett earned breaks at either end of the first set and took the last two games of the match on  Margaret Court Arena to secure a semi-final on Thursday against world No. 1 Shingo Kunieda of Japan.

Hewett, who came into the Australian Open having already reached back-to-back singles finals this
season, said: “I’m very happy with that outcome. I thought I came out serving strong and returned well the whole match. I enjoyed being out on a show court, with such prestige to its name. It’s great to see wheelchair tennis getting the recognition and to be competing on those sorts of arenas. I loved every second being out there and I’m excited to head into tomorrow’s match against Shingo.”

Three-time Wimbledon and US Open champions Hewett and Reid also begin their men’s doubles title bid on Thursday when they face Fernandez and Kunieda. Lapthorne’s first match as world No.1 in the quad singles rankings saw the 29-year-old US Open champion beat world No.3 David Wagner 6-3, 7-6(6) in the first of his three round-robin matches at Melbourne Park.

Lapthorne succeeded Australian Dylan Alcott as world No.1 on Monday and will now play Alcott in his second round-robin match at Melbourne Park on Thursday. Lapthorne and Wagner also team up on Thursday as they take on the Australian duo of Alcott and Heath Davidson for the quad doubles title, with the Anglo-American partnership going in search of a fourth Australian Open title together. The final is the last contest scheduled on Margaret Court Arena.

Whiley produced her best performance against world No.2 Kamiji since launching her comeback to international wheelchair tennis last February after maternity leave. The British No.1 and world No.5 battled back from 5-3 down in the second set to force a tiebreak and saved four match points, including two at 6-3 down in the tiebreak, before Kamiji sealed a 6-2, 7-6(5) win.

Whiley, who partners Kamiji in the women’s doubles semi-finals on Thursday as the duo begin their quest for a tenth Grand Slam title together, said: “I played some really good tennis today, but that’s the frustrating part. I had so many missed opportunities.”

For news and updates from the Australian Open wheelchair tennis draws and the fortunes of the Brits follow on Twitter @the_LTA and @WChairTennisGB and on the LTA website at www.lta.org.uk.

To find out more about the LTA’s work with disability tennis, head to www.lta.org.uk/play or email disabilitytennis@lta.org.uk.

Come along and check out our Wheelchair Curling Try Session where we will be joined by world silver wheelchair, Bronze Paralympic medalist Aileen Neilson. The session will take place at Dewars Centre, Perth on Sunday 19th January 2019 from 10:00 – 11:00.

If you are interested or would like some more information please contact AnnMareeDavidson@liveactive.co.uk or call 01738 454700 to book your space.

The session lasts 1 hour and cost £5.10.

For more information see the Live Active website here: https://www.liveactive.co.uk/Events/try-wheelchair-curling

SDS is looking to recruit a new Young Person’s Sport Panel (YPSP) in 2020. This will be the second cohort of the YPSP since its inception in 2015.

This is a great opportunity for young people with a disability aged 16-24 to get involved a committee in order to make a positive difference in disability sport.

The benefits of being on the panel include:

• Personal development
• Enhance curriculum vitae
• Support other young people with a disability
• Opportunity to network
• Social opportunities with like-minded people

Who are we looking for?

• People living in Scotland
• Young people with a disability aged between 16-24
• Committed and enthusiastic about disability sport?
• People with up to 4 hours a month to commit
• Ability to attend quarterly meetings (in person or online)
• Who want to make a difference in disability sport
• Ability to commit to a 3-year term from 2020-2023

If you would like to apply, please see the information and application form below, or contact us on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com if you would like this in a different format. Please note that alternatively you can submit a video to answer the application questions using the form below.

Please read the application information before completing the application.

The closing date is 14 February 2020 with interview on 17 March between 1600 and 1900 in Edinburgh.

Application information 2020

Application form 2020

Please find the Scottish Powerchair Football Association newsletter marking the end of the year and the decade as we look forward to 2020.

Thank you for all your support and dedication to the sport.

SPFA newsletter edition 7 December 2019

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the recognised governing body for the sport of boccia in Scotland and is tasked with developing players capable of domestic and international success.  We are also responsible for progressing the best Scottish talent to a UK Boccia World Class Programme where players represent Great Britain at European, World and Paralympic level.  In order to achieve this, a competitive national squad is a vital element.

Scotland has a rich history in the sport, and we have produced no less than 10 players (and three ramp assistants) who have progressed to a Great Britain programme over the past two Paralympic cycles.

The players selected for the national squad will be focussed on the 2020 events calendar via both SDS and Boccia UK, not to mention the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.  It is sure to be another very busy year!

There has been a lot of development work going on within the sport, which has seen a growth in the numbers of players accessing clubs.  Last year, we appointed our first National Boccia Development Officer, as well as introducing a new website and social media platforms for the re-branded ‘Scottish Boccia’.  Furthermore, we have seen several new players with performance potential progress regionally, which has been reflected in this years’ selection.

Scottish Boccia is extremely grateful to retain the services of our experienced coaching staff, including Claire Morrison, Andrinne Craig and Jennifer Barsby.  Moreover, we will welcome two new faces to the coaching team in 2020.  Peter McGuire will make the transition from player to coach and the 2012 Paralympian will add a real mix of experience and enthusiasm to our sessions.  Michaela Řiháčková has vast coaching experience from her time leading the sport in the Czech Republic.  She has coached players to a high level, delivered international events and is also a member of the BISFed Development Committee.

Commenting on the Scottish Boccia selection, SDS Performance Manager, Gary Fraser said:

“It is an exciting time within the sport as the programme within Scotland and the UK continues to develop. We have selected a squad with lots of quality, and we are excited about the potential of the new players who will now be able train and play alongside the very best players in Scotland, Great Britain and the World. We are lucky to have a group of skilled coaches, who will be working to improve player performances ahead of a very busy year in the sport.”

For more information please visit:

Website:              https://boccia.scottishdisabilitysport.com/

Facebook:           https://www.facebook.com/SDSboccia/

Twitter:                https://twitter.com/SDS_boccia

Players
Name	Classification	Local Authority
Reegan Stevenson	BC1	Glasgow
Lewis McConnell	BC2	East Renfrewshire
Hannah Craig	BC3	Dundee
Ross MacNeil	BC3	North Lanarkshire
Jamie McCowan	BC3	South Ayrshire
Scott McCowan	BC3	South Ayrshire
Patrick Wilson	BC3	City of Edinburgh
Tyler McLelland	BC4	Fife
Fiona Muirhead	BC4	South Lanarkshire
Paul McIntyre	BC4	Stirling
Scott McIntyre	BC4	Stirling
Stephen McGuire	BC4	South Lanarkshire
Ross Munro	BC4	East Renfrewshire
Kieran Steer	BC4	Fife
Carole Craig	Ramp Assistant	Dundee
Stewart MacNeil	Ramp Assistant	North Lanarkshire
Gary McCowan	Ramp Assistant	South Ayrshire
Linda McCowan	Ramp Assistant	South Ayrshire
William Wilson	Ramp Assistant	City of Edinburgh
Coaches
Name	Local Authority
Claire Morrison	Fife
Andrinne Craig	Aberdeenshire
Jennifer Barsby	City of Edinburgh
Peter McGuire	South Lanarkshire
Michaela Řiháčková	South Lanarkshire

Everyone involved with Scottish Disability Sport would like to take this opportunity to wish all our athletes, coaches, volunteers, partners and key stakeholders a very merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. We thank you all most sincerely for your commitment, achievements and support during the last 12 months. We all look forward to working with you during what promises to be an exciting 2020.

Scottish is Disability is looking forward to hosting an inaugural Boccia Conference which will take place on Sunday 23 February 2020 at the sportscotland National Training Centre, Inverclyde.  We have an exciting selection of workshops on offer and all information can be found in the programme. This conference is open to all members of the boccia community and there is no cost to attend.

If you would like to register, please do so via the link below:

https://boccia.scottishdisabilitysport.com/2020-boccia-conference/

As part of the SDS Young Start review process I met up recently with DSF member Craig Smith at the DSF office. As always Craig was incredibly upbeat. Our meeting was scheduled just before his teaching/coaching session withGlenrothes Amateur Swimming Club.

Since embarking on his coach education journey Craig has developed into a confident and popular teacher. During his early days with the club Craig benefited greatly from working alongside fellow DSF member Lara Ferguson.

Craig recently travelled to the Tower Hotel in London to represent the Young Start programme at the UK Coaching Awards. As Scottish area winners of the transforming coaching section, the SDS Young Start programme was up against GB hockey and archery submissions with GB Hockey taking the honours.

All of us in Scotland associated with the Young Start programme were of course delighted with the Scottish win and pleased that Craig was selected as the Young Start ambassador. Last week Craig also represented the Young Start programme at a meeting of potential sponsors. When we met Craig explained the role he and others have played in shaping the future of the programme and the importance of raising awareness of mental health issues going forward.

Since successfully completing two Scottish Swimming qualifications Craig has flown. He is now a respected Glenrothes Amateur Swimming Club teacher and the impact that he and Lara Ferguson have had on the club is impressive. Craig is a very special young man and those of us who know him are confident that he will carve out a successful career in swim teaching.

Craig was a successful Para swimmer when he was a pupil at Glenrothes HS. Perhaps he will return to swimming one day and maybe even become involved in Masters Swimming. He certainly has the potential to excel in the sport. Currently his weekly schedule is challenging and he is running up an amazing number of miles driving between Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow for his job, leisure and studies.

Craig has charisma in abundance and no shortage of intelligence and sparkle. DSF is proud to have Craig as a member and delighted that he is now a volunteer giving lots back to the sport that meant so much to him when he was a teenager. Craig got so much from the Young Start programme and now contributes so much to the development of the programme as well as benefiting from it. DSF is very proud of Craig Smith and believes that he will excel in whatever he decides to do in life.

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

Scottish Boccia were represented at the Boccia England Team and Pairs event at the David Ross Sports Village at Nottingham University on the 14 and 15 December 2019.

The competition afforded the opportunity to take seven players to compete, five of whom, were making their first appearance for Scotland.  The squad were ably led by experience players, Kieran Steer and Ross Munro.

BC3 Pairs
Ross MacNeil (alongside the Vipers English Academy)

BC4
A. Kieran Steer & Scott McIntyre
B. Ross Munro & Tyler McClelland
C. Fiona Muirhead & Paul McIntyre

Remarkably, Ross MacNeil and his father, Stewart (ramp assistant), struck up a formidable partnership with Lewis Fisher and Azhad Fauzi in which they managed one training session prior to the competition.  They pushed England B in their first match, losing narrowly 3-5 in the end.  However, this performance set their tone for the rest of the competition.  The Vipers reached the semi-final, losing to 1-7 to England A.  This set up a bronze medal play-off with Wales, in which they triumphed 6-2.

In the BC4 Pairs competition Scotland had three strong pairs involved in a five team round robin, which inevitably saw the teammates competing against one another, and it is these results that would have a big impact in the overall league standings.  Scotland A (Kieran & Scott) won an engaging contest 13-0 against Scotland B (Ross & Tyler) and followed this up with an 8-0 victory against Scotland C (Fiona & Paul).  Whilst Scotland C beat the Gladiators 3-1 they had to withdraw from the competition due to illness, which meant the finished bottom of the group.  However, Scotland A and Scotland B ensured that we would record a 1-2 finish as gold and silver would come north of the border.

The competition provided an excellent competitive outlet for Scotland’s next generation of performance players and each will have taken lots of learning, as we look ahead to a positive 2020 for Boccia in Scotland.  Scottish Disability Sport would like to thank Boccia England for hosting the event and inviting Scotland to be part of it.

A full list of results can be seen via the link below:

https://www.bocciaengland.org.uk/teams-and-pairs-2019

The Scottish Disability National Badminton Championships will be run by Badminton Scotland at Dalkeith Campus on Saturday 25^th January.

Entries close on 10^th January and all the information you need should be found on the link below. This event started as a partnership event between Lothian Disability Badminton Club (LDBC) and Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) in 2017. Badminton Scotland came on board this year to operate it as their disability badminton championships with input from LDBC & SDS. Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested in entering.

Scottish Disability Badminton Championships 2020