Everyone should have the opportunity to get involved in sport and physical activity, and this is one of the principles that underpins the approach taken by sportscotland and its partners.

Collaboration is another essential principle, and the sporting connection established between the bodies responsible for student sport and disability sport in Scotland crystallises the impact that can be achieved by working together.

A cornerstone of the vibrant partnership between Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) has been the roll-out of the UK-wide Disability Inclusion Training (DIT) programme across the university and college landscape.

In the past two years, DIT has been embedded in all PE courses in Scotland, introduced to universities to enhance the trainee primary teaching curriculum and delivered to coaches in training across colleges and universities.

The full article can read on Sport First here:

https://sportfirst.sportscotland.org.uk/articles/partnership-in-action/

Derek Rae from Kirkcaldy and Fife AC continues to reap the benefits of his silver medal performance at the IPC World Marathon Championships that were held in London earlier this year as part of the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Derek was offered the opportunity to attend a training camp in Flagstaff Arizona with fellow Scots, Derek and Callum Hawkins, two of the leading mainstream marathon runners in the world.  This was Derek’s first attendance at this particular training camp but he had heard so many positive stories about it and not surprisingly he prepared well under the guidance of coach Ron Morrison.

Derek and his colleagues hit the ground running as soon as they touched base. The first run offered an insight on how the camp would unfold and what lay ahead. The location is amazing and every day the runs were challenging but the scenery spectacular.  As the days passed Derek began to feel that training at 7,000 ft was normal.  At the end of week one the hard work really started.

Derek grew in confidence and he believed his fitness was on a different level. Having previously only experienced altitude in Kenya it was very difficult to compare and contrast. Some running surfaces were similar but occasionally altitude likes to remind you who is boss and really in charge and Flagstaff was no different.

Experiencing and being in the position to soak up the sights of Route 66, Buffalo Park and the infamous Lake Mary Road added so much to the occasion and helped to make the sessions a little easier.  When he arrived back in Fife Derek was able to reflect on a hugely successful four week training camp and he loved every minute. It was a wonderful experience as a Paralympian training with two great Olympians.   Of course it filled him with enormous pride on how far he has come as a Para athlete and an ambassador for Para sport.

Derek is now in the best shape he has ever been and is looking forward to the next two months of racing ahead.  Not surprisingly he his is first to acknowledge the team that is behind him throughout the year at the sportscotland Institute of Sport plus of course Scottish Athletics and UK Athletics who continue to offer exceptional levels of support.  In addition Derek is immensely to coach and fellow athletes back at Fife AC who are behind him every day throughout the year.

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

LEAP Sport are launching an exciting project to share the experiences of young people in football.  The project is being run as part of LEAP Sport’s Youth Activist Academy in partnership with Football Vs Homophobia Youth Panel.

The project is the Football Vs Homophobia Coaches Toolkit. This will be a digital booklet which can be accessed by football coaches to allow them to gain extra knowledge of LGBTQI+ identities in youth sport. The booklet will consist of brief explanations of key terminology, case studies of the experiences of LGBTQI+ youth footballers and links to further resources so coaches can further explore and gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

In order to make the resource as valuable as possible, we would like to speak to as many people aged under 25 who identify as LGBTQI+ who: are interested in football; are currently involved in youth football; or have previously been involved in youth football.

We are looking for all sorts of experiences. Whether they be positive examples, negative examples or examples of how football could be a safer space, we want to share the voices of young people to make sure football can make necessary steps to become inclusive for all.

For those aged 16+, they can contact us directly at the email below. For anybody under the age of 16, we will require a trusted adult to be part of the email conversation.

Contact: coachestoolkit@leapsports.org

Garry Brown is a CP7 according to Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), and a right-side hemiplegic. But it is not something that has ever even remotely slowed him down. With two stellar sporting careers under his belt, Garry is just warming up.

He was only 9-years old when he entered his first swimming competition representing Scotland at the British Junior Championship.

What began as a form of exercise on advice from his doctor as a child, led Garry to win more than 1000 medals across the course of his international swimming career.

But in the year 2000, Garry swapped the pool for the lawn and is yet again taking the international stage by storm.

In 2018, Garry represented Scotland in lawn bowls at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“It’s the highest honour a bowler – able-bodied or disabled – can get and highest level at which we can compete,” he says.

What was his journey to playing lawn bowls at an international level?

Garry says his journey to competing on the international lawn bowls stage has been hard and full of long and countless hours of practice for many competitions.

While he was social bowling right alongside his competitive swimming career, it wasn’t until he retired his bathing cap that he took bowls more seriously.

“I was spotted at a talent identification day by Scottish Disability Sport and was asked to attend a squad session with coaches,” says Garry.

Once there, he was invited to be part of the Scottish team who would go on to compete at the British Championships.

“It all just spiralled from there,” he says.

“I’ve been a member of outdoor and indoor clubs since 2000, competing in many competitions alongside able-bodied bowlers.”

He’s achieved great things, but were there challenges?

“The main challenge to overcome being an athlete with CP is in building up stamina and muscle memory,” says Garry.

“I needed to train my body to do the same thing again and again.

“But I haven’t really had any challenges,” he says modestly.

“My club mates have been first class and are always there to help.”

How important are competitive sports for the CP community?

“It’s extremely important,” Garry says.

“Every athlete has got to have a goal and something to work towards and competitive to work towards.

“Competitive sport gives everyone that. It’s a great way to get notice, accepted and show that we are no different,” he says.

What about young people living with CP who are thinking about competitive sport?

Garry’s advice: Do it!

“There are so many sports and there’s one for everyone,” he says.

“It’s a great way to meet people and also to get exercise.”

His parting words,” Smash barriers and reach new highs while maybe winning awards and medals.”

Scotland under 14 and under 18 sides travelled south of the border at the weekend (3^rd / 4^th August) to compete in the British Wheelchair Basketball National Junior Championships, sponsored by the Lord’s Taverners.  The games were hosted at the University of Worcester and invited players from across the United Kingdom to showcase their skills and test themselves against their peers.

The Scotland under 14 side finished day one 2^nd in their group, winning four matches and losing one to set up a semi-final against their Wales counterparts on day 2.  The youngsters continued their good form, claiming a comprehensive 22-12 victory before falling just short in the gold medal match against the Midlands (22-13) to claim second spot and the silver medal.

In addition to the team achievement, Lothian Phoenix player Ben Flanigan was awarded the U14 most improved player to cap off a wonderful weekend for the young Scots.

Scotland under 14 head coach Conor Smart said post championships, ‘I couldn’t be prouder of the squad.  They gave everything they had in the face of tough opposition.  I’m really pleased to come home with a silver medal and looking forward to returning next year’.

The U18 squad went unbeaten on day 1, claiming 4 victories from a possible 4 including a 2 point match with East Midlands (28-26) to finish top of their pool.  On day 2, they were matched with the South East at the quarter final stage and went down 22-14, ending their journey in the competition.  However the under 18 side galvanised to defeat Northern Ireland 24-18 to set up a 5^th/6^th place play-off match against the East Midlands which they won 27-23 to finish in 5^th place overall.  This result meant that Scotland only lost one match from seven throughout the tournament.

Head coach Jen Scally reflected on the team’s performance, ‘We had a difficult start in the quarter-final.  Whilst tough at the time, it was fantastic to see how the team handles this.  They bounced ack well for the final games.  I’m proud of the character we displayed in adversity’.

Squad lists for both the under 14 and under 18 teams can be found below –

Scotland U14 Squad:

Scotland U18 Squad:

For the fifth consecutive year the Bowls Scotland National Championships included para bowls disciplines, and once again, we witnessed some highly competitive matches across the five physically disabled and visually impaired competitions.

Bowls is a hugely inclusive sport and Bowls Scotland have embraced the inclusion of para disciplines within their showpiece event that draws large crowds to Northfield every year.  The para bowls competitions always attract a lot of spectators and this year was no different.

Notably, Pauline Wilson (Willowbank BC) competed in the ladies over 55 singles competition, as well as the para competition.

Everyone involved in the sport is delighted to see Kevin Wallace back competing in the para game.  Kevin is the former World B7 Champion (2011) and formed part of the B6/7/8 triple that finished fourth at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The results were:

Gents B2/B3 (Director)
Winner: Sandy McIntosh (Nigel Walker)
Runner-up: Ian Graham (Kathleen Sweetland)

Ladies B2/B3 (Director)
Winner: Mary Stevenson (Chris Morrow)
Runner-up: Melanie Inness (Grace Whitton)

Gents B6
Winner: George Guthrie
Runner-up: Billy Allan

Gents B7/B8
Winner: Kevin Wallace
Runner-up: Garry Hood

Ladies B7/B8
Winner: Pauline Wilson
Runner-up: Barbara McMillan

Allan McDougall Solicitors has appointed Scottish Disability Sport as its charity partner for 2019 / 2020.

As part of its commitment to the charity, the firm will offer a five-figure funding package comprising both financial and practical support.

With plans to help fund its national events programme, offer hands-on volunteering support, and take part in various fundraising activities, Allan McDougall Solicitors is aiming to make a positive impact on the charity for the year ahead.

The firm has already hit the ground running, as four of its employees recently completed the 5K and 10K races in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival to raise funds for the cause.

Jackie Raitt, partner at Allan McDougall Solicitors, said: “We have been reviewing and consolidating our corporate social responsibility activities in order to truly make an impact to one charitable organisation. We selected Scottish Disability Sport due to our shared commitment to justice, inclusivity and opportunities for the ordinary person. In addition to financial support, many of our staff are also willing to roll up their sleeves and help with the charity’s annual events programme.”

Scottish Disability Sport encourages the development of sport and physical recreation for disabled people throughout Scotland. It promotes sport for athletes with a physical, sensory or learning disability of all ages and abilities.

The charity’s national events programme comprises a range of sporting activities, including swimming, athletics, football, bowls, cross country, archery and boccia.

Gavin Macleod, chief executive officer at Scottish Disability Sport, said: “Scottish Disability Sport would like to thank Allan McDougall Solicitors most sincerely for their support of our national events programme. These events attracted more than 1,800 participants last year and offer competition for all levels of athletes and players.”

Allan McDougall Solicitors is one of Scotland’s most highly regarded specialist litigation firms. It recently won the coveted Litigation Team of the Year award at the Scottish Legal Awards 2019, having been successful in the same category in the Law Awards of Scotland 2018.

Everyone at SDS is saddened and devastated to hear of the sudden death of Janice Eaglesham MBE. Janice was an amazing and inspirational person who did so much for so many. She was compassionate and caring person who supported athletes, coaches, volunteers and staff in her various roles as SDS chair, coach and tutor and our thoughts are with Ian her husband. Janice was motivational , enthusiastic, self effacing and funny. It is so difficult to put into words all her positive qualities and talents.  

Janice has been Chair of Scottish Disability Sport since 2014, leading the Association through the development and roll-out of the current Strategic Plan. Janice was also involved in all aspects of SDS life and was an active tutor delivering education and training courses across Scotland. Her leadership of the SDS Board was exemplary and her experience, knowledge, friendship and expertise will be greatly missed by all.

Janice was also one of Scotland’s most respected coaches of athletes with a disability who gave up a huge amount of her free time to help take her athletes from grassroots involvement all the way to Paralympic participation. 

Janice became involved in disability sport in 1983. Her involvement with Scottish Disability Sport commenced in 1985 and she was part of the organising committee for the Association’s Silver Jubilee celebration events in 1987. 

At a local level, Janice was one of the founder members of the Red Star Athletics Club, along with her husband Ian Mirfin, where she coached twice a week. Red Star is recognised as the leading athletics club in the UK for athletes with a disability. Originally based in Glasgow, Red Star Athletics Club offers track athletics for people with disabilities of all levels, from beginners right through to competitive athletes. Red Star has also produced a large number of athletes who have progressed to compete at all international and Paralympic level. High performance athletes such as Karen Lewis, Ritchie Collins and Allan Stuart have emerged from the club in recent years. The club has also received many honours over the years, including Glasgow Club of the Year, and Janice and Ian jointly won Scotland’s Unsung Heroes. 

At a national level, Janice acted as Athletics Co-ordinator for Scottish Disability Sport and was a Scottish Athletics national coach for athletes with a disability on the Bank of Scotland National Squad. She was also involved in the  organisation of the Scottish Disability Sport National Athletics Championships for athletes with a learning disability . She was responsible for opening up access to coaching and competition to hundreds of disabled athletes over the years and she was a major force in the development of athletics. 

Janice was also active at an international level, acting as team manager and head coach to numerous Scottish squads competing on the world and European stage. She was also heavily involved in the sport of racerunning, coaching many of the leading Scottish athletes. She also represented Scottish Disability Sport on the UK Sports Association for People with a Learning Disability, where more recently she held the position of Vice Chair, and was active on working groups with both Scottish and UK Athletics. 

In 2016 Janice and Ian were both awarded MBEs in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in recognition of their services to disability sport.

Janice was one of the most influential individuals involved in disability sport in Scotland. Her knowledge, expertise and kindness touched so many people and her influence will be missed.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday 31st July at 11.00am at South Lanarkshire Crematorium, G72 0TL. A reception will be held afterwards at the Parkville Hotel in Blantyre.

Exciting opportunity to enable newly

paralysed people to take part in and enjoy sport.