The 47th Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) Championships for swimmers with a physical or sensory disability were held at Grangemouth Sports Complex on Saturday 13th April.
For almost 50 years swimmers with a physical and sensory disability have competed with distinction and the beauty of this event means that Paralympians can swim alongside those at the beginning of their swimming journeys in what could be their first competition. This event has featured a phenomenal list of swimmers through the years and has been developed and enhanced chiefly by Richard Brickley MBE in a volunteer capacity and SDS thanks him for his considerable input to this event for so long. Richard and Norma in the SDS Fife office continue to contribute so much to the SDS Events Calendar and the other three national swimming championships.
As the competition calendar has grown for swimmers with a disability, particularly at a performance level, it becomes relevant to offer those swimmers training regularly in specific and inclusive clubs and sessions opportunities to access ratified times to be used for further competitions and the experience of swimming at events that use electronic timing. The time was right to make amendments to the criteria for this event and allow swimmers aged 10 and over access to this competition. It was heartening to see a very healthy entry of over 60 competitors. The event aligns more with the Scottish Swimming entry and technology they use at their meets and SDS really appreciated the input from the individuals from Scottish Swimming and Grangemouth Swimming Club who assisted on the day and provided the technology and expertise required. Further changes include the addition of 100m events in all strokes which again replicates events available to developing swimmers on the competition pathway.
Previously, junior swimmers competed as guests and were not eligible for medals or team points. This year, all swimmers were eligible for medals and claimed points which were allocated to their representative teams in the Team Trophy competition.
Thanks to the addition of new events and the extension of the age criteria then new championship records were inevitable. Leading the way was surely going to be Abby Kane, the Paralympic silver medallist at the Rio Games. And so it proved as the West of Scotland swimmer proceeded in establishing a number of new CRs across events including her contribution to a very fast West of Scotland 4 x 50m relay time. Other swimmers to claim records on the day were Kyle Hughes also from the West of Scotland and Kate Bolan and Aaron McDowell from Team Lothian.
There were teams from all the SDS regions and all regions won medals throughout. Natalia Chociaj from Grampian hd some outstanding swims and would have claimed more golds if it wasn’t for the spectacular Abby Kane. Highland’s Li Kennedy was a one-mad band for the region and claimed a number of golds in his class. The team event was ultimately won by the very strong West team, however, the east of the country completed the podium positions with Lothian and Borders -with impressive swims from an ever growing band of swimmers – in silver and bronze respectively.
It was great to see Craig Smith returning to action for Fife, SDS always love seeing swimmers returning to action after a break from the sport. Other swimmers would be made very welcome back at this event as we approach its 50th birthday in the next few years.
SDS is as always indebted to all Scottish Swimming officials plus the many volunteers who turn out year after year – including many family members of the competing swimmers – in support of the Scottish disability swimming programme. Thanks to Jean King for co-ordinating the officials.
Best of luck to any of the swimmers competing in the British Para-Swimming International in Glasgow at the end of April.
Full results will follow soon.
Photo: The successful West of Scotland team with the Team Trophy.
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