GB Para Snowsport are searching for female athletes with the potential to become Para Snowboard Champions – no previous snowboard experience necessary!

For more information follow this link:

https://gbsnowsport.typeform.com/to/idRBCO

The 2019 BISFed European Boccia Championships concluded over the weekend and it was a hugely successful event for Boccia UK and an important milestone in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games qualification.

The British team of 10 players, included four members of the Scottish programme, including: Reegan Stevenson (BC1), Patrick Wilson (BC3), Jamie McCowan (BC3) and Stephen McGuire (BC4).  These players were supported by a further three Scots in lead coach, Claire Morrison and ramp assistants, Linda McCowan and William Wilson.

Individual Competition

The competition began with the individual event and there were some tough matches for all players.  McCowan and McGuire managed to progress to the quarter finals whilst Stevenson and Wilson bowed out in the group stages.  McCowan reached the Semi final following a very good performance, whilst McGuire’s individual competition ended with a 3-4 defeat.  Sadly, McCowan had to settle for 3 / 4 play-off following defeat in his match.  McCowan won the European Championships in 2017 and he used all his experience in the bronze medal match to ensure that the he reached the podium.

Team & Pairs Competition

The European Championships ended with the Team & Pairs competition and it was this event that delivered a huge amount of success for the Scottish players.

Stevenson was making his debut at this level and is the most recent Scot to progress through our programme to represent Boccia UK.  He formed a Team with David Smith (BC1), Will Hipwell (BC2) and Claire Taggart (BC2). The Team battled through the competition to deliver a bronze medal and much needed ranking points ahead of Tokyo 2020.

In the BC3 Pair competition Wilson and McCowan teamed up with Jess Hunter, in a now very experienced trio.  They developed through the group stages and finally bowed out at the semi final stages.  However, they delivered a bronze medal in the 3 / 4 playoff.

The BC4 Pair, led by Stephen McCowan, included the ever improving Evie Edwards and Louis Saunders cruised through the group stages, won their quarter-final and their semi-final.  However, the final proved a bridge too far and they had to settle for a silver medal.

Boccia UK will be delighted with the outcome of their latest major championships as the players and the coaching team continue their preparations for next years Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Full Boccia UK Results

Individual
BC1: David Smith (Gold)
BC2: Claire Taggart (Silver)
BC3: Jamie McCowan (Bronze)

Team and Pairs
BC1/2: Reegan Stevenson, David Smith, Will Hipwell, Claire Taggart (Bronze)
BC3: Jamie McCowan, Patrick Wilson & Jess Hunter (Bronze)
BC4: Stephen McGuire, Louis Saunders & Evie Edwards (Silver)

Disability Curling at The PEAK

Our disability inclusion classes offer two distinct curling sessions at The PEAK tailored to support those living with a disability. Our sessions are a great introduction to the sport of curling consisting of 1 hour of coaching with a qualified Active Stirling or Scottish Curling instructor. Get involved in this great sport, meet new friends and have fun on the ice. Carers are welcome to attend for free and would be encouraged to take part on the ice.

Learn to Curl – Disability

Curling Stick Coaching

Stick curling sessions are for existing stick curlers and also for those who are new to the stick delivery on the ice If you are an existing curler, thinking about switching, or just want to increase your current stick skills – this class is for you! Each session is coached by Scottish Curling qualified coaches. For new and experienced stick curlers.

Learn to Curl – Stick Curling

SDS is saddened to hear of the passing of Davie Lawrie.

Davie volunteered with the Scottish Disability Sport National Cerebral Palsy Football Squad in the early years of the squad. Davie was a coach within the national programme which coached footballers of all levels once a month in Stirling, and he would accompany the national squad players to international competitions. One such competition was in Denmark, and it was at this event that Davie was remembered for waking up the whole squad early in the morning by ringing a huge school bell.

He also accompanied Special Olympics teams to international competitions. Forth Valley Disability Sport captured the heart of Davie who volunteered over a period of 18 years in many roles. He was chairperson, vice chairperson, committee member, coach, mentor and fundraiser.

Davie was well known to parents, athletes, schools and local authorities. He was known as “one man and a bag of footballs” when he would tour schools and day centres to coach young people and adults with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. Notably, all players hung on every word that Davie said as he made every session fun and very enjoyable, and he always had the players’ best interests at heart.

He was the key driver in developing the Football For All event which became the first disability football event in Scotland to offer competition opportunities for mainstream pupils.

Davie was delighted when his service to FVDS was recognised and he was awarded the Service to Sport award. Shortly afterwards this very award became known as the Davie Lawrie Service to Sport Award.

Outwith disability sport, Davie refereed boys’, girls’, women’s and men’s football games where he wouldn’t be afraid to use yellow and red cards in a gentlemanly manner. Davie also gave his time to local care homes, performing old classic sing-alongs to residents who looked forward to his weekly visits.

Davie was one of a kind, well respected by everyone who was fortunate enough to make contact with him. He was a kind, helpful and generous individual who will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by Scottish Disability Sport, Special Olympics Scotland and Forth Valley Disability Sport.

Funeral service on Monday 2nd September 2019 at Co-op Funeral Parlour, Alloa at 1:15pm, thereafter to Sunnyside Cemetery at 2:00pm. There will be a retiral collection in aid of Strathcarron Hospice.

West Lothian’s Bobby Laing marked his attendance at last week’s BWF Para Badminton World Championships with a sliver medal in the mixed doubles, alongside partner Rebecca Bedford (England). The Championships saw several East of Scotland players travel to Basel, Switzerland to compete in singles and doubles action from 20th – 25th August. The players, who all have a strong association with Lothian Disability Badminton Club (LDBC), were supported throughout by coach Sarah Bok.

Laing and Bedford, who were unseeded in the Short Stature (SS)6 class, were unbeaten in their group recording victories against parings from the USA and the number two seeds from South America. This saw the British duo through to the semi final stage where they matched up against Goncalves Tavares (Brazil) and Fernadez Vargas (Peru), claiming the victory in a pulsating match 21-11, 23-25, 23-21 and setting up an all British final against Andrew Martin and Rachel Choong (England). The match eventually went in favour of the all England partnership and triple mixed World Champions with a 21-15, 21-13 victory, meaning that Scotland’s Laing went home with a sliver medal.

Laing also competed in the singles, recording two group victories before losing out 21-9, 21-12 to an American player in the round of last 16.

Midlothian based athletes Alan Oliver and Colin Leslie both competed in the Standing Lower (SL) 3 class with some varying fortunes. Oliver performed well over the course of his group matches, claiming two victories and one loss to set up a last 16 clash with top 10 seed Indian player Umesh Vikram Kumar eventually losing out 21-16. 21-12. Leslie, found the competition at the tournament tough as he lost all three group matches including a close fought match with Chinese player Faxin Wu.

Both players were also entered into the SL3 men’s doubles with Oliver and Swedish partner Rickard Nilsson particularly unlucky not to progress further after two group victories (including one walkover).

The only female player to represent Scotland was Edinburgh based player, Mary Wilson. Wilson, who is relatively new to the sport and competing in the SL 4 category, was unlucky not to progress from her group after recording one victory (v Ugandan player Khadja Khamuka) and two defeats. Wilson was then paired with Englishman Antony Forster in the mixed doubles, unfortunately coming up slightly short and losing both group matches.

ParalympicsGB has launched a new campaign to make disabled people Impossible to Ignore to mark one year to go to the start of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The initiative has been developed after recent research showed Paralympic athletes are key to challenging perceptions of disability in the UK.

With a year to go to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, preparations are ramping up to take the best prepared team to make the nation proud once again by recreating the incredible success of Rio 2016 where the team won 147 medals.

While many qualification events are still to take place, an estimated 250 athletes are tipped to compete for ParalympicsGB in Tokyo including competitors in the new sports of Taekwondo and Badminton.

Research from ComRes* suggests that the success of these athletes may have a direct impact on breaking down barriers, shifting perceptions and increasing opportunities for all disabled people.

· 84% of UK adults say the achievements of ParalympicsGB athletes have a positive impact on society overall

· 74% of UK adults perceive ParalympicsGB to be an inspirational sports team – more than any of the other teams listed

· 82% of disabled UK adults believe the Paralympic Games provides positive media coverage of disabled people

Nick Webborn, Chair of the British Paralympic Association, said: “This research is the strongest proof yet of the direct link between the success of our talented Paralympic athletes and its wider social benefit.”

“We believe that the success our Paralympic stars achieve on the field of play can be turned into meaningful, long-term action – turning the nation’s cheers into change and those medals into a movement.”

“With the great British public’s support, we can help to ensure disabled people are represented throughout society and, like our Paralympic heroes, become Impossible to Ignore.”

The research follows a poll carried out last year by Scope, the disability and equality charity, which revealed that nearly half of disabled people felt excluded from society.

Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive at Scope, said: ““We know the huge power the Paralympic Games has to shift attitudes and change perceptions towards disability.

“But life is still too tough for disabled people. There are 13.9 million disabled people in Britain and the disability employment gap has been stuck at about thirty percentage points behind for more than a decade.

“The challenge now is for charities like Scope to work with the British Paralympic Association to maintain this momentum and progress between Games so that all disabled people have everyday equality.”

The ParalympicsGB team at next year’s Games in the Japanese capital can play a pivotal role in helping to challenge those attitudes.

Helene Raynsford, Chair of the Athletes’ Commission at the BPA and a gold medallist at Beijing 2008, said: “This research highlights just how important our athletes are when it comes to changing perceptions towards disability around the UK.”

“While I am delighted to know that the efforts and exploits of British Para athletes has such a positive impact on those around us, I am also aware that there is still work to be done to improve the lives of disabled people across the country. I believe ParalympicsGB can be key to that drive for change.”

In an age where opinions can often be divided, ParalympicsGB also creates one of the highest levels of positive sentiment in conversations about sport on social media, according to analysis from Nielsen Sports.

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.”