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

 

The first of two SDS junior swimming Championships were held last Wednesday at Grangemouth SC. These championships were for swimmers with a physical or sensory disability. It was heartening to see a new wave of younger swimmers from all of our regions competing against each other in the pool. This event has witnessed some thrilling swims over the years and one glance at the Championship Records (CRs) gives you an idea of the calibre of swimmers who have competed throughout the 42 year history of this event. Although no swimmer managed to break any CRs at this event, personal best times were set in abundance. SDS hugely appreciate the efforts out in by our member branches and regions in running qualifying galas and time-trial prior to this competition alongside the many weekly sessions to ensure swimmers are well-prepared to swim to their full capabilities on the day.

Inclusive Skating are currently implementing our development plan and there are several exciting activities currently taking place.

The Scottish Inclusive Skating International Championships 2020 are being held at Coatbridge on 17th April 2020, and more information can be found here: https://inclusiveskating.org/events

A quiet session is available every week at Braehead Arena with an online booking system (link below), held every Wednesday from 5pm to 6.30pm. This session is suitable for those who would like to skate but need a quiet session and a bit more help. Inclusive Skating volunteers are available but more are always welcome. The online price is £7.50 per skater and carer saving £1.00.
https://www.braehead-arena.co.uk/shop/public-skating/inclusive-skating

The Inclusive Skating Safety Accredited Advisor on line course is available free for members of Inclusive Skating as part of our volunteer development program.
https://inclusiveskating.org/memberships

We are particularly interested in expanding the number of volunteers taking the safety course because we hope to make inclusive skating activities available throughout Scotland. Our courses are online and activities in the future will include ice skating and in line skating that does not require an ice pad.

An Inclusive Skating Team will be travelling to Finland shortly to take part in the Santa Claus competition from Saturday 23 to 24th November.

Last, but by no means least, a team of four skaters, including Scots Jennifer Gibson and Jonathan Higgins (pictured), are competing in the Special Olympics Invitational Games in Sweden from 28th January to 5th February 2020.

A wave of 20 more finalists from five categories have been announced for next month’s prestigious UK Coaching Awards at The Tower Hotel London on 5 December 2019.

It follows the reveal of four category finalists on the 22 October and now means that two-thirds of the award categories have been made public, with finalists announced for Children and Young People’s Coach of the Year, Community Coach of the Year, High Performance Coach of the Year, Young Coach of the Year and Coaching for an Active Life Award.

With over three million people coaching regularly in the UK, the Awards will celebrate the outstanding work a diverse array of coaches do in their community every day, enriching the lives of those around them and contributing to healthy and happy lifestyles.

The finalists so far are:

Children and Young People’s Coach of the Year – supported by sportscotland

• Elliot Donald (football)
• Jonathan Reid (bmx)
• Mhairi Guthrie (basketball)
• Sasha Moore (athletics)

Community Coach of the Year – supported by Spond

• Andrew Beech (multi-sport)
• Anne Glass (cycling)
• Joanne McElkerney (netball)
• Siân Ponting (netball)

High Performance Coach of the Year – supported by UK Sport

• Melanie Marshall (swimming)
• Nelson Lindsay (swimming)
• Shelia Swan (wheelchair curling)
• Zak Jones (hockey)

Young Coach of the Year – supported by Sport Wales

• Emma McCay (multi-sport)
• James Galt (football/futsal)
• Jonathon Dawes (tennis)
• Kieran McMaster (boxing)

Coaching for an Active Life Award

• Care About Walking (walking)
• Disability Sports Coach (multi-sport)
• Red Belt Challenge (judo)
• The Bulldogs (boxing)

Changing Lives Award – supported by Sport England

• Ben Lampert (football)
• Cathy Fox (cycling)
• Joe Lockley (boxing)

Talent Development Coach of the Year – supported by UK PCA

• Danielle Brayson (swimming)
• Matthew Handley (martial arts)
• Michael Maguire (boxing)

Coach Developer of the Year

• Nick Ruddock (gymnastics)
• Rhodri Lloyd (multi-sport)
• Sue Ringrose (horseracing)

Transforming Coaching Award

• Archery GB Coach Development Team
• Great Britain Hockey Coach Development Offer
• Scottish Disability Sport

Mark Gannon, CEO of UK Coaching, said:

“The standard of nominations we received this year has been phenomenal and truly demonstrates the diverse coaching talent we have in the UK.

“These awards are a chance for us to celebrate the work our coaches do every day of the week, and the role they play in making people around them healthier and happier.

“We believe Great Coaching has a positive impact on society and builds connections in the community. The power of coaching goes further than sport itself – it enriches life skills and gives people confidence to be the best they can be.

“Congratulations to all those who were nominated, and of course our finalists. The UK Coaching Awards is always a special occasion and we cannot wait to shine a light on the exceptional work of our coaches.”

For this year’s Awards, UK Coaching reviewed and redesigned its nominations process to ensure all coaches, from grassroots to the global stage, had the greatest chance of being recognised. This included:

• consulting with key partners to redevelop award categories and criteria to recognise the wide-ranging work that coaches do at all levels and in all communities
• providing extra online guidance to support people when writing their nominations
• engaging with more organisations than ever before to promote the value of nominating coaches for the Awards.

This proactive work led to a record number of nominations being submitted after the process was opened in July. These then went through a rigorous, independent and impartial judging process.

Still to be announced are the winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award, The Coaching Chain and finalists for the Great Coaching Moment of the Year prize, which will be selected by the Sports Journalists’ Association and put to a public vote – details will be announced very soon.

The UK Coaching Awards recognise and celebrate the work of people and organisations who are making a significant impact on Great Coaching. They shine a light on the role coaches play in transforming lives and inspiring an active nation.

The ceremony takes place on Thursday 5 December 2019 at The Tower Hotel London. Secure your place at a truly inspirational evening of great conversation and humbling stories that are guaranteed to touch the soul, visit: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/book/event?embed&eid=8328

Best wishes to Owen Miller from Dunfermline and Fife AC who will face the greatest challenge in his illustrious career to date as a T20 athlete with an intellectual impairment, when he arrives in Dubai for the World Para AthleticsWorld Championships from 7th – 15th November.

The former Woodmill HS pupil is coached by Steve Doig at Fife AC and has flourished since the two came together two years ago. Owen is now second on the all time British T20 1500m list with a personal best of 3:56.32. This has opened up this opportunity to compete at the very highest level of world Para athletics and earn him his very first full Great Britain vest.

Owen has had a very successful career as an international athlete competing in INAS European and World Championships but being part of a WPA event has so far eluded him. He is a proud custodian of INAS medals of different colours won indoors and out over 800m and 1500m but he has never given up hope of one day wearing a full GB vest.

Inclusion on the British Athletics Paralympic Futures Academy Programme for the 2018/2019 season came at exactly the right time for athlete and coach and they have taken full advantage. Owen was disappointed when he missed out on selection for the Paralympic Games in London in 2012 but he has never given up hope of one day achieving his dream. Similarly Fife Athletic Club, Scottish Athletics and Disability Sport Fife have always believed in Owen and thank you British Athletics for providing Owen with the opportunity to realise his dream.

Owen has a very supportive family and club colleagues who have been assisting with pacing in the lead up to departure date of November 2nd. Mum and Gran have been there for Owen at all times along with his brothers and sister. Fife Sports and Leisure Trust supports Owen along with all other high performance Fife Para athletes and Fife AC is nationally recognised for its commitment to inclusive practice and coaching over many years. Previously great Fife AC athletes like Caroline Baird MBE, Colin Keay and more recently Derek Rae have worn the GB vest with pride and no shortage of success at Paralympic and World level.

Owen is scheduled to run on Thursday 14th November around 20 00 Dubai time. DSF will make every effort to keep Owen’s followers and supporters informed about how he is coping with this chance of a lifetime opportunity to compete against the best T20 athletes in the world.

Owen has been a massive influence on the Disability Sport Fife cross country and middle distance programme and he has always been a superb role model for emerging young athletes. Owen has dominated Scottish T20 middle distance running for a decade and Dubai will be an opportunity for him to bring his learning of the past two years and before to the international stage of Para athletics. All of us in Fife and beyond congratulate Owen on his selection and wish him well.

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

Parasport powered by Toyota, an online hub to empower disabled people to become more active, has launched a new £250,000 UK fund. An element of the funding has been allocated to provide disability inclusion training for club coaches and volunteers across Scotland.

The new Toyota Parasport fund opens today and will be delivered in partnership with the British Paralympic Association, Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Disability Sport Wales and Scottish Disability Sport.

This exciting new opportunity means training will be rolled out through SDS Branches to support coaches and volunteers to improve the quality and quantity of activities available to disabled people.

The new UK-wide funding programme has the backing of ParalympicsGB athletes including multiple Paralympic swimming gold medallist Bethany Firth from Northern Ireland. Prior to starting swimming lessons as a pupil at Longstone Special School, Bethany had a fear of water, having fallen into a pool as a four-year-old on holiday in Australia.

Bethany said: ““The new Toyota Parasport Fund will help more people run inclusive activities so more disabled people can benefit from getting active in the way I have.”

“Learning to swim and trying something new really gave me confidence and it helped me make new friends. Swimming has broadened my horizons, allowing me to travel and it has basically changed who I am.

“You don’t have to want to be a Paralympian there are huge benefits to becoming more active whether its physical and mental wellbeing, building confidence or making new friends.”

Parasport was launched in March 2019 and already has more than 1,600 activity providers offering disabled people the opportunities to become more active through Parasport.org.uk, which creates a vibrant community for people to share their experiences and become advocates for the benefits of being more active.

Parasport empowers disabled people and their networks by providing the information, inspiration and confidence they need to become active.

Andrew Cullis, Toyota GB Marketing Director said: “We are extremely proud to launch the Toyota Parasport Fund as the next step in our support of inclusive sport and activity in the UK.

“Alongside our partners from Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Disability Sport Wales and Scottish Disability Sport, we have a fantastic opportunity to improve the options available to disabled people to get active and make a lasting impact on the grassroots landscape.”

Mike Sharrock, Chief Executive at the British Paralympic Association said: “Thanks to the launch of the Toyota Parasport Fund we are delighted to offer training to coaches and volunteers to further improve the opportunities to disabled people.

“Parasport is a crucial part of helping us to deliver our vision: through sport, inspire a better world for disabled people. It enables us to highlight the wide range of opportunities available for disabled people and will help improve the experience of disabled people taking part in physical activity across the country and will be a welcome boost to the array of activity providers registered with Parasport.”

The training aims to improve the quality and quantity of sport and activities available to disabled people. To register interest in attending a workshop, please complete the form below.

The Inas Global Games 2019 took place in Brisbane, Australia and the event was the most successful in its history, with more than 1000 high performance competitors with an intellectual impairment taking part. The competition takes place every four years and the sports contested were athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis and cycling.

Scotland had athletes represent Great Britain in athletics and tennis, whilst we also had coaches involved in athletics, tennis and cycling.

Athletics: Sam Fernando (Cupar, Fife) and Tommy Patterson (Team Manager/Head Coach)

Cycling: Tom A Hara (Team Manager/Head Coach)

Tennis: Dominic Iannotti (Ayrshire, Scotland), Anna McBride (Dunfermline, Fife but now living in Nottingham), Karen Ross (Team Manager/Head Coach)

In athletics, Fife AC competitor, Sam Fernando, delivered a personal best in the 3000m Steeplechase to clinch a silver medal, whilst he also finished fourth in the 50000m. The experienced Tommy Patterson led the athletes throughout the competition.

In Dominic Iannotti and Anna McBride, we have two of the most successful II1 tennis players in the World and both continued their fine form from the 2018 World Championships. Between them they amassed three gold medals in the men’s singles, ladies’ singles and the mixed doubles where the partnered each other. Iannotti also secured Mens Doubles silver, as well as gold in the men’s team event! The tennis players were ably led by our very own Karen Ross, who is now the Head of Performance at Tennis Scotland.

Whilst we never had any cyclists in the Great Britain team, West based coach, Tom A Hara led the cycling team throughout the games and coached the very successful duo Lauren Booth and Kiera Byland. The pair delivered multiple medals in both the road and track events.

Scottish Disability Sport would like to thank UKSA for selecting and preparing the team for the Games.

basketballscotland’s Wheelchair National Academy claimed victory at the recent Leuven Bears International Youth Tournament, held in Blankenberge, Belgium from Friday 18^th to Sunday 20^th October.

The tournament saw a squad of 10 players from across Scotland compete against other youth players from Belgium and Germany, looking to build on the success achieved at this summer’s National Junior Championships held in Worcester.  The tournament was seen as a great opportunity for the young Scots, basketballscotland’s Tina Gordon highlighting ‘the tournament will not only greatly enhance players on court basketball skills by playing against players from Belgium and Germany, but also personal development and teamwork’.

The competition was aimed at players under 17 and included youngsters from Lothian Phoenix, Dundee Dragons, Glasgow Rollin Rocks and Grampian Flyers.

Scotland moved through the first day of competition unscathed claiming victories against Belgium’s BC Ostende (70 – 18) and Leuven Bears (58 – 21) with some impressive individual performances including an incredible 28 points for Lothian Phoenix player Logan Kidd (versus BC Ostende).  The victory over Leuven Bears was a tremendous result considering the young Belgians had won their own National Cup back in May.

Day saw two matches against German opposition in the form of BG Baskets Hamburg, with both head to heads proving very close indeed.  The first game saw the Scottish Wheelchair National Academy edge a close encounter 34 v 30 with Captain Ben Leitch recording a game high 19 points.  Later that day saw the top two teams from the group stage face off – the young Scots to take on the young Germans for a second time.  However, the outcome was to remain the same as the Scottish side claimed a 48 v 44 victory to finish the competition as winners.

 

Competition Results

Final

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 48 v 44 BG Baskets Hamburg (Germany)

Pool Matches

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 34 v BG Baskets Hamburg (Germany)

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 70 v 18 BC Ostende (Belgium)

Scottish Wheelchair National Academy 58 v 21 Leuven Bears (Belgium) – tournament hosts and winners of a recent

 

Squad List

Name	Club	Classification
Ben Leitch	Glasgow Rollin Rocks	4.5
Cameron Watson	Lothian Phoenix	4.5
Logan Kidd	Lothian Phoenix	4.0
Ronnie Cassels	Glasgow Rollin Rocks	3.0
Blair Marshall	Dundee Dragons	3.0
Jack Caird	Grampian Flyers	3.0
Jason Gillies	Lothian Phoenix	2.5
Daniel McLaughlin	Lothian Phoenix	2.5
David McLaughlin	Lothian Phoenix	1.0
Rhys Colliar	Dundee Dragons	1.0
Jen Scally	Head Coach

 

 

 

 

 

The 2019 Stirling Wheelchair Curling International was won by Sweden who went undefeated for the week winning all seven of their round robin games.  The Swedes secured victory with one match to spare when they won a tight match against England on Thursday and then rounded off their week with a win against title contenders Norway on Friday. Many thanks to Stirling Council baillie Douglas Dodds who was on hand to present the trophy.

The 8 team international event was a great success with some fantastic curling on show over four days at the Peak.  Scotland finished strongly, winning their last two games to end 4th in the standings.  We look forward to welcoming the best wheelchair curlers back to Stirling in 2020.

All details of our event including the draw are on our website.

http://stirlingwheelchaircurling.btck.co.uk/

Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club hold wheelchair curling sessions weekly every Wednesday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.  Please contact Jacky McLaren if you would like to try out the sport jackymclaren@talktalk.net

Chair SWCII 2018

Andy Hemming

MOB: 07971 769851

The news we have all been waiting for arrived from Brisbane this morning that Sam Fernando had won silver in 3,000 metres steeplechase at the INAS Global Games. Sam ran a personal best time and was in contention for gold down the final straight. Earlier in the week Sam finished 7th in 10,000 metres and we all knew he was in an excellent form going into his strongest event, the steeplechase. Congratulations Sam we are all so proud of you.

1 Foratier T20, Quentin 97 France 9:57.24
2 Fernando, Sam Ruwan 98 United Kingdom 9:58.82
3 Gomez Lucas, Manuel 97 Spain 10:36.50
4 Martinez Morote T20, Jos 84 Spain 10:48.19
5 McIntosh T20, Kyle 94 Australia 10:53.10
6 Mengual, Sebastien 93 France 11:19.70

Quentin Foratier from France and Sam finished well ahead of the remainder of the field in this most demanding of events for T20 athletes with intellectual impairments. Sam has enjoyed considerable success in steeplechase over the past couple of years but this was the first occasion he has run under 10 minutes. Sam travelled to Australia with a PB of 10:04.25 and to day he lowered his personal best time by almost five seconds. There will be lots of excited Fife Athletic Club members and coaches thrilled but not surprised by this performance.

Sam as we all know has enormous family support. Congratulations to the Fernando family and all relatives and friends who have contributed so much to this special moment.

The INAS Global Games are the world’s biggest sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment. More than 1,000 athletes from all around the globe gather every four years to compete for medals and titles. The sports contested are athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis and cycling. Demonstration events are also included at every Games. These reflect the most popular sports of the host nation not already on the INAS programme. The Global Games are also an important event in the build-up to the Paralympic Games. Many athletes who have made their major international debut at the Global Games have gone on to win Paralympic titles.

The first multi-sport event for athletes with an intellectual impairment were held in Harnosand, Sweden, in 1989. Named ‘the 1st World Games for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability’, they took place three years after INAS was formed. Over the following years the focus shifted to getting on to the Paralympic programme, adding sports and countries. More information about this can be found on the history of INAS page. Then after more than a decade of continued development of sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment, the Global Games returned to their roots in Sweden.

The 2019 INAS Global Games are expected to be the most successful to date. The Games are being hosted by Sport Inclusion Australia – INAS member organisation in Australia. The organisers are working with many national and international sporting bodies. More than 1,000 athletes were expected to travel to Brisbane just under one year ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

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