The Para Bowls Home Nations Championships took place at Glasgow Indoor Bowling Club, from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th March. The event had teams from Scotland, England and Wales competing.

The format was a mixture of singles, pairs and triples matches, and the event was covered with Real Time Scoring throughout, provided by the Scottish Indoor Bowling Association.  This allowed the event to be followed live worldwide.

The Scottish Team – Physically Disabled
Billy Allan, Garry Brown, George Guthrie, Glen Livingston, Michael Simpson and John Wardrope

The Scottish Team – Visually Impaired
Robert Barr, Sandy McIntosh, Maria Spencer and Mary Stevenson

Directors
Sarah Jane Ewing, George Miller, Chris Morrow and David Thomas

Coaches and Support for the Scottish Team
Bob Christie, Chris McGready and Eric McMillan

Team Manager
Bob Dick

Janice Eaglesham MBE, Chair of Scottish Disability Sport, started off the proceedings by welcoming the Nations to Glasgow and the event. Les Shields, President of Glasgow Indoor Bowling Club, handed the facilities over to Scotland Team Manager Bob Dick. Gordon Woods, Indoor International Bowls Council President, gave a rousing and encouraging speech to all participants. The event was officially opened by World Indoor Bowls Singles Champion Stewart Anderson, who then spent time with all of the players with many photographs taken with the World Indoor Singles trophy.

6	SESSION RESULTS		Points	Shots
7	Session One	SCOTLAND	10	99
8	Friday 3pm	WALES	2	63
9
10	Session Two	ENGLAND	10	107
11	Friday 6.30pm	WALES	2	88
12
13	Session Three	SCOTLAND	6	91
14	Saturday 9.15am	ENGLAND	6	89
15
16	Session Four	ENGLAND	12	106
17	Saturday 12.45pm	WALES	0	37
18
19	Session Five	SCOTLAND	8	97
20	Saturday 3.30pm	WALES	4	70
21
22	Session Six	SCOTLAND	6	90
23	Sunday 10.00am	ENGLAND	6	88

Scotland came up just short in their bid to win the Championship. Needing to win on four of the six matches played on the last day, they managed three wins with England also winning three matches and Scotland edging ahead on shots by 90-88.

Mary Stevenson and Sandy McIntosh beat Sarah Marshall and Ron Homer 20-7 to win their Visually Impaired Pairs match. Maria Spencer and Robert Barr came back from 8-7 down to Alison Yearling and Darren Moon to win their match 17-10 in the other Visually Impaired Pairs match played this morning. Billy Allan and Glen Livingston moved through from 7 shots all to win their match against Mark Cooper and Mike Robertson by 20 shots to 8.

Bob Love maintained his dominant singles form for England against John Wardrope when he won 21-5. The other singles match saw Keiran Rollings convert his 11-1 early lead against Michael Simpson into a 21-15 win for England. Craig Bowler and Helen Wood won eight of the last nine ends of the match to end the unbeaten run of George Guthrie and Garry Brown.

The final standings were:

• 1st England 34 points +84 shots
• 2nd Scotland 30 points +67 shots
• 3rd Wales 8 points -151 shots

Keiran Rollings was the only player for England to win all four matches played and this was a feat matched for Scotland by Robert Barr.

Caroline Brown, the number one ranking female bowler in Scotland, was the guest of honour at the Closing Ceremony and presented the trophy to England Team Manager Mo Monkton and Captain Bob Love.

Caroline continued by presenting certificates to the umpires. Alan Brown, Denise Connell, Janice Grant, Doreen Strachan, Colin Stuart, Mary Watt and Grace Whitton.

Team Manager Bob Dick returned the facilities to Glasgow IBC President Les Shields.

First Scottish Disability Championships
Sunday 23rd June 2019, start time 10.00am

TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS

1. The current laws of Table Tennis and the Rules & Regulations of the ITTF and TTS will apply.
2. Qualification rounds for singles events will be by groups, except at the discretion of the Organising Committee.
3. All ties shall be the best of 5 games and 11 points.
4. Completed entry forms and fees to be sent to Kay Solaja C/O Dumfries Table Tennis Club Shakespeare St Dumfries DG1 2JE.
5. If it is necessary to restrict entries, this will be done based on “last in first out”.
6. The Tournament Committee will make the draw on a convenient date.
7. The tournament organisers will supply umpires if possible but competitors may be asked to umpire.
8. Play shall be on regulation sized tables with ITTF approved nets and posts. 40mm white plastic balls will be used.
9. When called to the table, players will have 2 minutes to appear knock-up and start the match.
10. Completion and submission of this entry form signifies agreement by the entrant to ALL conditions of the tournament.
11. ITTF dress and racquet regulations will apply. Replica football kit is not permitted, all clothing should be dark in colour (no white shirts or shorts)
12. Play will commence at 10.00 a.m.
13. Changing rooms are available; car-parking facilities are available at the rear of centre.

Scottish Open Disability Championships

Scottish Disability Sport is pleased to announce that 20 of Scotland’s leading para athletes have been financially supported by SportsAid Scotland.  The Robertson Trust, SportsAid London and Perth Kinnoull Rotary are the main sponsors and have allocated funds based on performance levels and sports specific commitments this year.

The following athletes will be supported in 2019;

Cameron Radigan (Archery)

Steven Bryce (Athletics)

Gavin Drysdale (Athletics)

Sam Fernando (Athletics)

Nathan Fleetwood (Athletics)

Alexander Thomson (Athletics)

Kieran Steer (Boccia)

Reegan Stevenson (Boccia)

Laura Cluxton (Cycling)

Hannah Dines (Cycling)

Michael Drever (Shooting)

Allan Ritchie (Shooting)

Callum Deboys (Nordic Skiing)

Michael Kear (Alpine Skiing)

Ryan Henry (Table Tennis)

David Beattie (Wheelchair Basketball)

David Hird (Wheelchair Basketball)

Ben Leitch (Wheelchair Basketball)

Josh Manson (Wheelchair Basketball)

Gemma Lumsdaine (Wheelchair Rugby)

The financial support offered to athletes at this level is invaluable and Scottish Disability Sport wishes to thank SportsAid Scotland.

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) has organised a BC3 Boccia Workshop on Tuesday 30 April between 1800 -2100 at Movement Park, Glasgow, aimed at all boccia coaches and ramp assistants.

This workshop has been developed in response to requests from clubs, coaches and ramp assistants.

We are delighted that Glynn Tromans, UK Boccia Performance Coach (BC3), and the McCowan family (international players and ramp assistants) will be delivering the workshops.

For further details please see the flyer below and to reserve a place on the workshop register online here.

BC3 Boccia Workshop

The development of lawn bowls for players with a disability has progressed significantly in recent years and success at international events and Commonwealth Games has seen the profile of the sport greater than ever before.

The para bowls programme has been delivered and lead by Scottish Disability Sport since the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester where Scotland took the gold medal in the para triples. There has been continuing success at World Championship level and a medal at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in the visually impaired pairs. Building on this and the achievements of the team prepared by Bowls Scotland, the programme will now be fully inclusive before and during the Birmingham 2022 Games.

It has been agreed that the responsibility for the B6/B7/B8 triples and B2/B3 pairs for the Birmingham 2022 Games will be fully included within the Bowls Scotland high performance programme.

Speaking about this exciting move, Alan McMillan, CEO of Bowls Scotland, said: “Both SDS and Bowls Scotland have integrated teams fully during the Commonwealth Games. However, we wanted to extend this integrated programme to the preparation phase leading up to the 2022 Games to further benefit all players and support staff. I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes of this integration in terms of continued successes on the green in 2022.”

Gavin Macleod, CEO of SDS, commented: “Scottish Disability Sport has worked closely with Bowls Scotland for many years to develop an inclusive environment for disabled bowlers. The profile of the high performance element has never been higher and with the full inclusion of para bowlers within the Bowls Scotland high performance programme, we look forward to continued success for Scotland’s para bowlers at Birmingham 2022.”

Amputee Football Association Scotland (AFAS) is a Scottish charity established in April 2017 following a successful pilot project during 2016.  Ashley Reid set up the charity when she realised there was interest in amputee football and potential for such an organisation when she was working with the charity Finding your Feet.

With a career in public relations and experience of Third Sector fundraising, Ashley approached Paul Kelly, manager of Partick Thistle Community Trust.  Ashley shared her vision for amputee football because she recognised the successful work of Partick Thistle’s charitable arm in embracing the disciplines of Para football. Paul was keen to share his experiences of working with the Trust and his role as team manager of Petershill Junior Football Club.

AFAS operates under the guidance, endorsement and support of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) in its mission to offer any player or potential player with an amputation or limb difference the opportunity to play inclusive football.

When preparing for international matches players are offered the opportunity to attend training weekends at the National Sports Centre at Inverclyde in Largs. When preparing or playing international matches, players experience wearing the official Scotland Team kit and leisure wear, indicative of the professionalism and support that the team and AFAS enjoy as a partner of the Scottish FA.

In year one, Partick Thistle Amputee Team entered a team into the English Amputee League which has been running for more than thirty years. South of the Border, amputee football teams are affiliated to some of the top professional teams including Everton, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Brighton and Portsmouth.

Following a promising first year of playing in the English league, it was agreed that Scotland would set up its own national league when a new team had been established in the East at Dundee United. This led to the inaugural Scottish amputee football cup with Partick Thistle winning the title in the first year.

In 2017, the first amputee Scotland team played in a tri-nation tournament against Holland and Germany in Breda, Holland.  The results for Scotland were not as hoped for but the experiences gained proved invaluable to the squad.  Since that first international, Scotland has played against Holland, England and the Republic of Ireland at Largs and travelled overseas to play Italy in Verona.

AFAS has a lot of talented players and volunteers within the organisation who share the passion for developing the players and growing the game for players with amputations.  The patron of the charity is the current Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill MBE. Michael not only champions the sport but has appeared at training and put the players through their paces when his busy schedule allows.

2019 is already shaping up to be a busy year for AFAS with increased game time for the Partick Thistle senior team. Matches have been arranged against English opposition in the England Amputee Football Association League Cup in April, near Birmingham.  Internationally, Scotland is hoping to head to Italy in September to take part in a six nation tournament with potential matches against Greece, Germany, Holland, Italy and Belgium.

Amputee Football Association Scotland AFAS) not only has a senior team but also an ever increasing junior squad. Children as young as four attend regular training session but AFAS is constantly campaigning to raise awareness and increase numbers. Over the last two years AFAS has been instrumental in sending three juniors to Warsaw and Rome for junior training camps. This year AFAS will fund three players to attend a 5-day junior camp in Hoffenheim, Germany.

All European and World competitions come under the umbrella of UEFA and FIFA.  AFAS is very proud that its youngest female player, Keeley Cerretti, has been chosen to be the face of UEFA’s marketing game #EQUALGAME.

In matches, all players are encouraged to play on crutches and without their prosthetic limbs in line with international amputee football rules. All goalkeepers must be arm amputees or have an arm deficiency. Within the English league however, the rules have been modified at the request of the players.  Outfield players are permitted to play with their prosthetics but as with the international rules, goalkeepers must be arm amputees. The format is seven a side with two halves of twenty-five minutes and roll on substitutions.

Geographically in the Scottish senior team there are players from Cumbria to Tayside and all have competed at different levels within football. The players are not only passionate about football but some compete regularly in wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball or rock wall climbing. Iain Matthew from Fife for example was a Paralympic gold medallist in swimming in Barcelona in 1992.  Players’ ages range from 22 to 50 years in this fast growing inclusive sport.

The Amputee Football Association in Scotland aims to promote inclusive football and improve access to playing and training opportunities for players of all ages and abilities who have an amputation or similar absent limb condition. AFAS also plans to facilitate opportunities for competitive play at local, National, European and World level.

The greatest challenges for AFAS are spreading the word about current and planned opportunities and how to encourage new players to sign up for junior and senior squads. AFAS players and volunteers have witnessed firsthand the health and well being, social and psychological benefits that result from being involved with the AFAS family and the Scottish FA movement in general. There is something very special about the navy blue shirt and being involved in the “beautiful game”.

Interested or wanting to find out more? Please contact Ashley Reid for an informal chat:

ashley@amputeefootballscotland.co.uk, visit www.amputeefootballscotland.co.uk or visit the Amputee Football Scotland facebook page.

A fantastic day of athletics was had as the Grangemouth Sports Complex saw 10 teams from around Scotland descend on it to participate in multiple athletic-disciplines.

This event is run in partnership with Scottish Athletics each year and is designed to be an introductory competitive outlet for those athletes at the first stages of enjoying the sport, many of who have qualified for this event by participating in local and regional events and have been selected to represent their branch area.

Teams are asked to select athletes from all disability disciplines to be eligible for the trophy which is awarded to the team who collect the most points throughout the day. SDS were delighted with the attendance and it is heartening to see that strong development is being encouraged in such an important sport.

Team Fife once again took home the trophy with the team ably marshalled by their coaches Gayle Sloan and Pamela Robson who lead regular run, jump and throw sessions in the region. All this practice clearly makes an impact as the youngsters excelled on the day with Dumfries and Galloway and Forth Valley in hot pursuit but just finishing short.

However, all participants and team support should be applauded as they all contributed to a special atmosphere at the event as the sport proved to be the real winner.

A presentation was made to Shona Malcolm OBE from Scottish Athletics to thank her for her contribution to this event for multiple years. Shona has worked tirelessly to ensure these events are the success they undoubtedly her and she will be missed as her job within the organisation changes. Nonetheless, the event will continue thanks to the structure put in place by Shona. The event is scheduled to move one week earlier next year as it falls in line with the National Sportshall Events run in Scotland by the Eveque Sportshall Team. A big thanks to Active Stirling for the use of their equipment.

The excellent partnership continues with Barclays and West Lothian College with both organisations providing tremendous voluntary support to this event. Daryll Buchanan from Barclays has produced yet another range of excellent photos for our use. Please give his page at Daryll Buchanan Photography a like. The album can be found at this link:

SDS National Sportshall Athletics Photos 2019

Don’t forget the National Cross Country Event at Bellahouston on Thursday 21st March. If you would still like to participate in this event please let us know at mark.gaffney@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

A presentation was made at the National Sportshall Athletics Event last week to Shona Malcolm OBE from scottishathletics to recognise her years of dedication to disability athletics. Shona has contributed so much to every aspect of disability athletics in her tenure, both as an officer and a volunteer and has supported a comprehensive competition pathway that offers people at every level of the sport a competitive outlet. Although her athletics role has changed and has resulted in her not directly working with us in the same capacity, everyone at SDS and in the networks very much hopes that she won’t be a stranger. Shona is someone who easily deserves to carry the ‘legend’ tag.

Shona was presented with her flowers by Caitlyn Ross, a Forth Valley Flyer and a member of our Young Person’s Sports Panel. Shona has overseen Caitlyn flourishing over the years as a very capable athlete and has brought a huge amount of expertise to Caitlyn’s development, especially in the throwing events.

SDS wish Shona all the very best and look forward to welcoming her to future events as a valued partner, volunteer – or even – spectator (though knowing Shona this would be a difficult role for her as she would always want to help!).

 

The WCF World Wheelchair Curling Championships returned for Scotland for the first time since 2005, when the event was hosted at Braehead Ice Rink. On that occasion, Scotland emerged as World Champions and as the Scots prepared to face China in the 2019 final, it looked like history was about to repeat itself. In an exciting climax to the 2019 Championships at the Peak in Stirling, Team Scotland secured the silver medal after losing out 5-2 in a hard fought final against the reigning Paralympic Champions.

Silver, however, represented a huge achievement for the host nation, who qualified from the round-robin stages with a last-gasp win over Canada before beating the defending champions, Norway, 7-2 in the semi-final. For Scottish skip Aileen Neilson and her team mates David Melrose, Robert McPherson, Hugh Nibloe and alternate Gary Logan it was an impressive finish after a faltering start to the week which saw them lose their first two matches. However, Scots regrouped magnificently and victories against Germany, Norway, Korea, USA, Russia, Estonia and Canada led to a third place finish on the table and a play-off place secured.

Scotland had lost to Slovakia in the round robin stage but they took their revenge in the play-off with a 7-6 victory after an extra end. A 7-3 semi-final victory over reigning World Champions, Norway lined up a place in the final for the Scots against the Paralympic Champions.

In the final, the Chinese had been the top qualifiers from the round-robin stages of the tournament and took the lead early, when they registered a single at the 2nd end followed up with a steal at the next. The Scots fought hard to reduce the deficit but the Chinese rink skipped by Wang Haitao established a 5-2 lead going into the last of the eight ends, where they were able to run the Scots out of stones to lift their first world title.

After the final, Scotland skip, Aieen Neilson said: “We had really high hopes ahead of this final of coming away with that gold medal. However after our start to the week if I had been offered a silver medal I would have been happy with that. Obviously finishing on a loss isn’t easy, but getting on the podium on home ice in front of all our supporters is fantastic.

“If there had been key shots made, when I had a chance for a two or if I had put a better guard on at the seventh it might have been different, we had chances, however we did make it a close final,” she said.

“They were worthy winners and they were probably the best team here this week, however we became more consistent as the week progressed and we did manage to make sure we were peaking in our performances at the end of the tournament.

“Overall, to have that gold medal experience and to have my second silver at a world champs and this time on home ice with lots of Scottish supporters, it doesn’t get much better than that. This silver medal is all the more special because of that and it is something that I will never forget.”

British Curling Head Wheelchair Coach Sheila Swan, who had previously coached the Scottish team at World Championships in 2011 where they won the silver medal said: “It is a game of small margins and we maybe weren’t as sharp as we were in our last few games. China didn’t give us many chances and when we did get them, we didn’t quite manage to capitalise on them. The shot their skip made at the 7th, when he feathered past the guard to make his two, that epitomised how tight that game was.

“They were the form team this week and reigning Paralympic Champions and a team we don’t see on tour much, so difficult to judge how they are playing. But you know coming into this week that you are playing the best eleven teams in the world and you have to expect tough games. There is a tinge of disappointment, but overall it is great to have won silver and we just have to build on this week and come back and get that illustrious gold medal next time,” Swan added.

In the bronze medal game, Korea beat defending World Champions Norway 10-3 to take their place on the podium in Stirling.

 

Scotland results after the round robin: 7W 4L

Scotland v Switzerland 4-5

Scotland v Latvia 7-8

Scotland v Germany 9-7 (EE)

Scotland v Norway 7-4

Scotland v Korea 7-6

Scotland v China 3-7

Scotland v USA 7-6

Scotland v Slovakia 5-9

Scotland v Russia 5-4

Scotland v Estonia 9-3

Scotland v Canada 5-3

 

Play-off result:

Scotland v Slovakia 7-6 (EE)

 

Semi-final result:

Scotland v Norway 7-3

 

Gold medal match:

Scotland v China 2-5

 

 

SCOTLAND TEAM:

Aileen Neilson (skip) – 47yrs, born East Kilbride, lives Strathaven

David Melrose – 52yrs, born Haddington, lives Duns

Robert McPherson – 50yrs, born Motherwell, lives Bellshill

Hugh Nibloe – 37yrs, born Stranraer, lives Stranraer

Gary Logan – 47yrs, born Berwick-upon-Tweed, lives Cornhil on Tweed, Northumberland

Photo courtesy of Scottish Curling

Three members of the SDS Young Persons Sport Panel – Lewis McConnell, Caitlyn Ross and Colette Martin – attended the World Wheelchair Curling Championships at the PEAK on Wednesday 6 March 2019. The group attended to support panel ambassador Aileen Neilson and team Gary Logan, Robert McPherson, Hugh Nibloe and David Melrose, as they played against the USA in the number 10 draw of the round robin matches of the tournament.

It was a very exciting and tense game of curling to watch as the Scottish team got off to a strong start winning the first end 2-0. After some close shots in the ends to follow, Scotland were still leading at the half way point 4-3. The YPSP kept waving their flags of support as the USA went on to equalise in the 5th end before they went into take the lead by 1 point in end 6. As the teams went into their last end of the match Scotland were 6-4 down but Aileen skipped the team to victory as they won the end by 3 points and to a final result of 7-6 to Scotland. This win moved Scotland up to joint 5th position in the table with Canada and Switzerland. The team will play their next round of matches against Slovakia and Russia on Thursday.

Panel member Colette Martin said: “It was great to see a world championships in your home country and to see Wheelchair Curling played at the highest level. It was great to see our panel ambassador, Ailien in action as well!”

Good luck to Aileen and the rest of the Scottish team in the rest of the competition!