Growing up my main sport was swimming and I competed in Lothian galas and National events at the Ponds Forge in Sheffield, however my key achievement was competing for Scotland in the World Cerebral Palsy Games at the age of 15. The games were held in Connecticut, the squad secured many medals and it was the last World CP Games to run until 2015 when the event was reinstated.

I participated in wheelchair basketball and have been a regular attender at disability sports days in Lothian, initially as a participant and latterly as an SDS volunteer. At the ripe old age of 29 I am now a regular gym goer, I swim for fitness, I follow a huge range of sports but my passion is being a member of the Tartan Army and I have travelled to Slovakia, Malta and Portugal supporting the Scottish football team.

I graduated from Stirling University in 2012 with a degree in sport and media and since 2013 I have been working on reception at Westwoods, a private gym in Edinburgh. I still volunteer with SDS and sit on their Young Persons Sports Panel and am an active member of the Lothian Disability Sport committee.

The Young Persons Sports Panel was formed from an exchange programme with BlazeSports in America. BlazeSports promotes how sport can be used as a vehicle to inclusion and I was one of a group of six disabled athletes who spent 10 days witnessing this motto in action and were tasked with bringing ideas back to the UK.

I passionately believe in this principle and I know that sport has offered and continues to offer me inclusion whether in my job or in my free time at the gym or in the pool. However I am always on the lookout for evidence of implementation; we know that the Paralympic movement is strengthening every year, however where else do we see inclusion through sport?

Let me share my thoughts on the 2018 Football World Cup as for me it was about so much more than the ‘football’’; it was a great example of the power of sport to bring people across the world together and celebrate identities and transcend prejudices, politics and disability.

Prior to the tournament there was criticism of Russia and Qatar being chosen as host countries and there was a focus on possible corruption and political interference. However as soon as the tournament started, we witnessed the power of sport at work. Locals welcomed foreigners with open arms: there was celebration and respect for individual nationalities; Mexican sombreros, the Swedish Viking hats and the Moroccan fez hats. The streets and stadiums were awash with colour.

There were key moments picked up by the media such as: Senegalese players singing in unison during the warm up routine; Japanese supporters staying behind after the game and tidying the stadium before they left; and the wonderful image of the Mexican and Colombian supporters holding aloft a man in a wheelchair so he could see and actively support his country, Morocco, in the fan park.

The BBC and Sky Sports included sign language interpreters for some of the matches and there has been a big increase in signing coverage in an extensive effort by the GAA in Ireland to make the sport of Gaelic Football more inclusive for the deaf community.

I hope this is just the start of a more inclusive sporting society which is narrowing the margins between disabled and able bodied both within sport and wider society.

We are delighted to announce details for the upcoming Central Parasport Festival 2018

Date:   Tuesday 23rd October 2018

Time:  10.00am – 3pm (9:30am arrival and registration)

Venue: Grangemouth Sports Complex, FK3 9JB

This festival is targeting pupils within a mainstream school setting in the Central area, with a physical, visual or hearing disability aged between P1 – S6. The key outcome of the event is to provide a multisport opportunity to these pupils, identify talented individuals within specific sports, alongside channelling pupils onto local, regional clubs/ programmes. With a wide range of new sports on offer we would like to welcome back all pupils who have attended in the past, alongside engaging new pupils to attend for their first experience. We will also have performance athletes attend on the day for an inspiring Q and A session.  Please see promotional video from East Parasport festival by clicking on the link   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AzP4sztaDY.

Booking information

Please see and complete the Central Parasport Application form attached or online at https://www.cognitoforms.com/ScottishDisabilitySport/CentralScotlandParaSportFestival2018  with a closing date of Tuesday 2^nd October 2018 (forms requested to be returned directly to Cheryl Lappin – Central SDS RDM).

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the event or disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact:

Cheryl Lappin SDS Regional Development Manager for Central Scotland on cheryl.lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577830360

Para Sport Festival 2018 – Event Information

The Scottish Junior Wheelchair Basketball side achieved a podium finish for the second year running at the 2018 School Games, held over the weekend Thursday 30^th August to Sunday 1^st September at Loughborough.  The Scotland under 19 side bettered last season’s result and claimed a second place finish.

The Young Scots came up against a strong England North side who were littered with experienced players which proved a reach too far and they ultimately lost 64 – 41 after leading going into the 2^nd quarter.  James Beattie (CWSC Panthers) top scored in the final, claiming more than half of Scotland’s overall points.  There were also notable performances from Josh Manson (Tees Valley Titans), who captained the junior side at his last School Games, and Rhys Colliar (Dundee Dragons) who was pivotal in ensuring a close run match.

The Scotland youngsters had made it through the tournament without defeat until the final and were part of, arguably, the game of the Championships – claiming a 2 point victory over Wales (48 – 46).  The young Scots also had previously defeated Northern Ireland (67 – 46) on day 1 and England Central (55 – 45) on day 2.

This year’s results created history as three Celtic Nations qualified for the semi-final stage of the competition.  This builds on the result achieved by Scotland last year who were the first Celtic Nation to achieve a podium finish at the School Games – this is testament to the development work being undertaken in the countries.

The School Games National Finals, supported by National Lottery Funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, is a major multi-sport event for the most talented young athletes across the UK.  More than 1400 young competed across 11 sports, five of which include disability competition, at venues across Loughborough University Campus.

Now in its 13^th year, the School Games provides a fun, competitive and safe environment for our sports stars of the future to gain experience at a large, multi-sport event.

The full squad list can be found below –

Name	Classification	Club	SDS Region
James Beattie	5 (able-bodied)	Carlisle Panthers	West
Ben Leitch	4.5	Glasgow Rocks	Tayside
Cameron Watson	4.5	Lothian Phoenix	West
Josh Manson	3.5	Tees Valley Titans	East
Adan Donnachie	3.5	Lothian Phoenix	West
Ronnie Cassels	2.5	Glasgow Rocks	West
Tom McCaffrey	2.0	Glasgow Rocks	West
David Beattie	2.0	Carlisle Panthers	West
David Hird	1.0	Glasgow Rocks	West
Rhys Colliar	1.0	Dundee Dragons	Tayside

If you are interested in accessing wheelchair basketball opportunities in Scotland, please contact basketballscotland’s Disability Talent and Pathways Manager, Tina Gordon on 0131 317 7260 or tina.gordon@basketball-scotland.com

Many of Scotland’s leading bowlers were present in Aberdeen on Saturday for the 2018 National Championships, an event run in partnership by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and Sport Aberdeen. Westburn Park has been the home of the Championships for over twenty years now, the picturesque park in the heart of the Granite City witnessing some magnificent contests through the years.

This year saw an increase in competitors from the National Squad as no fewer than 10 players competed across the sections to lay claim to the title of SDS National Lawn Bowls Champion. Six defending champions were also in the draw attempting to retain their titles today in what was an incredibly strong field.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast featured Scottish teams in the Mixed Pairs for bowlers with a visual impairment and in the Triples competition for bowlers with a physical disability. Garry Brown and Michael Simpson from the Gold Coast Triples team competed today and found themselves facing off in the Semi-Final of their section in what was arguably the toughest section ever seen in these championship. Michael had had a close call in progressing to the semis as he relied on shot difference following a defeat from Perth & Kinross’ Robert McCracken in the group stages. In the other semi-final the highly decorated Billy Allan from Fife was defeated by the newcomer Glen Livingstone, also from Fife. Glen made it an event to remember by defeating Michael in the final to take the trophy home to Abbeyview Bowling Club.

n the female section another all-Fife clash saw Maria Spencer and Barbara McMillan do battle as two of the most decorated and experienced bowlers in their fields put on a feast of bowls for the watching spectators. A feature of this event is of course the unique opportunity for bowlers with a visual impairment to compete against bowlers with a physical disability and on this occasion it was Barbara who emerged triumphant adding to our national title haul.

Perth & Kinross are relative newcomers to this event with a growing band of players, most notably from Blackford Bowling Club, and have made a considerable impact in this event in the last two years. Leading from the front was Steve Key from Inchture bowling club who retained his title in the wheelchair section as he progressed with ease from his group before defeating Fife’s Willie Harrison in the final 11-3.

A pleasing aspect of the event was the fact that the competition for totally blind bowlers was included this year. Dundee’s Kirsten Thomson faced off against Fife’s experienced Eleanor Clark. Eleanor emerged victorious in both clashes, negating the need for a deciding fixture however Kirsten remains one for the future.

Forth Valley’s Keith Gardner continues his progress in the sport by securing the title following a victory over the debutant from the Borders, James Dick.

The competitions for bowlers with a learning disability were keenly contested as ever and featured multiple national champions in the draw. Inevitably some excellent bowlers exited both the female and male sections early such was the strength in depth in the draw. Ultimately, Fiona Driver and Graeme Panton from Perth & Kinross were the winners, defeating Lothian’s Christina McSherry & South Lanarkshire’s Andrew Harrison respectively in the finals.

Bowls can besuch an inclusive sport with many of today’s entrants participating and competing at their respective local clubs thanks to the positive inclusive culture created by so many within the sport.

SDS thanks Sport Aberdeen for their continued significant support again this year and are very grateful to all the local officials and markers for their assistance with the preparations of the Championships.

It is very important for SDS to be a national body and events like this mean the national calendar is well-represented on a truly national basis. It is only in the positive partnerships fostered between SDS, Sport Aberdeen, local clubs and the volunteer sector that these events and experiences for our players become possible.

In 2007 The Scottish National CP Football Team achieved one of the highest ever world ranking positions achieved by a Scottish national football team. Over ten years later, the drive and determination remains to reach number six in the world once again, however, a lack of funding means the team are no longer able to compete on the international stage.

The Scottish National CP Football Team is Scotland’s National Football Team for athletes with cerebral palsy, stroke and acquired or traumatic brain injury. The squad currently consists of 18 players, which includes numerous Paralympians, and is open to any Scottish footballer who has cerebral palsy, stroke and acquired or traumatic brain injury.

Driven by a team manager, and supported by three professional coaches and a physiotherapist, the staff ensure the team is held together by organising regular training sessions and arranging matches against local teams to keep the players ready for competition. Giving up their time on a completely voluntary basis, the staff are motivated by the positive impact which this team has on the young men who attend. “Having been involved with the team for thirteen years, I have witnessed lads grow into positive role models for young people with cerebral palsy,” commented Greig Taylor, Manager of the Scottish National CP Football Team. “The confidence which the boys gain when representing their country gets carried over into their personal lives, whether that be at school or in the workplace, therefore the team plays a vital role in their development,” continued Taylor.

The team is seeking the support of businesses and organisations across Scotland to help them obtain the vital funds required to compete once again on an international level. Funds raised will be used to book pitches and facilities for training sessions, kit the team out with strips and training clothing, travel and accommodation when competing at international competitions as well as transport for national competitions.

The next big match for the team will be against one of England’s top CP football teams, CP United. The game takes place on Sunday the 9th of September at the team’s new home, Ochilview Stadium in Stenhousemuir. The game kicks off at 15.45 and everyone is welcome to come along to see the team in action. Entry is free, with donations welcome at the gate.

For more information please visit the new Scottish National CP Football  Team or call Greig Taylor, Manager of Scottish National CP Football Team, on +44 (0) 7826 520 224.

Scotland’s Robyn Love excelled at the IWBF World Championships 2018 in Hamburg, Germany, as the GB women’s team finished with a silver medal in their first ever World final.  The GB team put in a great performance but were undone 56-40 against the Netherlands

The Ex Lothian Phoenix star was competing in her first Word Championships having previously played at the European Championships (Spain, 2017 & England, 2015) and the Paralympic Games (Rio, 2016).

Robyn Love’s, who was GB’s top scorer, helped close the gap to 34-30 with two and a half minutes to go in the third quarter.  However, this was as close as it got for the women’s team.  Love finished on 12 points with eight apiece from Helen Freeman and Amy Conroy.

The World Para Athletics European Championships was a major success for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team.  In particular, Scotland had seven Scots representing their country and each of them delivered a medal winning performance.  Libby Clegg, who was nominated team captain, sadly had to withdraw due to an injury to her guide in the lead up to the event.

Dunbar athlete Lyle, who is coached by Jamie Bowie, stormed to her third successive European title in the women’s T35 100m.

‘My start was good,’ said 18-year-old Maria. ‘It is not the time I wanted but I have been really struggling this season [with mental health issues] so for me just to get there, run and cope with the occasion was the main thing.

‘People forget that it is a European Championships, it is a big deal for people like me. It is another learning step for Tokyo. It is not something you do often. I am pleased, it has been a great experience and I hope to learn from it.

‘It is good to show Para sport in Europe and how it is becoming very professional and how you can’t just rely on rankings, you have got to go out and do your best.’

Come Thursday and GB and NI secured gold and silver in both the men’s and women’s RR3 100m; RaceRunning – the new discipline to these championships.

After both setting world records in their classes in the morning’s heats, the women’s race was expected to be a competitive final and it certainly lived up to the billing.

Red Star athlete Dines was pushed all the way to the line by team-mate Kayleigh Haggo and stopped the clock in 19.00 (-0.7) – 0.13 seconds outside the world record she set in the heats.

‘Having the opportunity to compete on the world stage is incredibly important and I am delighted to be given the opportunity and win gold,’ said Hannah, who is coached by Janice Eaglesham.

‘I think I am going to have to train pretty hard to stop Kayleigh grabbing that off me.’

Silver medallist Haggo, who is coached by Janice Eaglesham and set a time of 19.46, said: ‘I can’t put into words how much I enjoyed it. I went out there to have fun and I certainly did that. Hannah and I train together so it’s really good having each other to push one another.’

The next race on the track also saw a British one-two as Gavin Drysdale surged to victory in the men’s equivalent, with Rafi Solaiman (Sheffield & Dearne) taking the silver medal, with the times 17.37 and 19.33 respectively. That was a world record for Gavin.

Drysdale, coached by Janice Eaglesham, said: ‘I felt like I had already won a gold medal just by being here so to win a real one is absolutely incredible.

‘It means the absolute world to me to be competing here in Berlin, I still can’t believe we are actually here, I am usually cheering everyone from my TV screen at home and now I am on the other side having just competed.

‘Race running is one of the very few sports I can do independently so to be given this opportunity to come and compete at a European Championships and something which I can participate in independently and, more importantly, something I love has just been totally surreal.’

On Wednesday, Ross Paterson had taken a silver medal in the T38 400m final with a solid run of 56.82 ensuring he reached the podium in second.

‘It is unbelievable,’ said Ross, who is coached by John Kinder. ‘Even just being here is brilliant so I am glad that I went out and put in a performance. I will come back next year even stronger. I knew what it would be like. It was a great race and hopefully I can come back stronger.’

Stef Reid finished fourth in her T64 200m final and has the long jump event to come on Sunday. Stef, coached by Aston Moore, clocked a time of 29.49.

Come Friday evening and it was silver for Butterfield in the Club Throw and Reid added a bronze in the long jump on Sunday – with Maria unfortunately having to pull out of her 200m race through injury.

For Jo Butterfield, who is coached by Phil Peat and Shona Malcolm, it was a return to the podium at the Championships, throwing a solid series, her best effort coming in round four, with a best of 21.53m. Zoia Ovsii (UKR) won the event in a world record of 24.31m.

‘It has been a tough year; I had surgery earlier in the year, so I am just very happy to be competing here,’ said Jo.

‘I would have liked to have thrown a little further, but it is pretty good to be out there.

‘I would have preferred the gold to be honest but wouldn’t we all. But getting a medal for the team is a big thing. Whatever happened on the day, I was still able to come out here and win a medal. It has been a rough year and a lot of rehab, I still have more to come. To take that silver medal is quite special.

‘I was perhaps a bit sluggish but I still lacking a bit of range so maybe that is why I felt like that. I was glad to get one really big throw out there where the speed was right but the others, I didn’t feel like that.

‘I have a lot of work to do over the winter to get stronger, but I look forward to doing that and coming back fighting in Dubai next year.’

Stef Reid, who is coached by Aston Moore, took to the long jump after competing earlier in the week over 200m. On the day, her 5.9m leap took bronze.

‘It was a historic moment; Marie-Amelie [Le Fur, France] set a fantastic world record so I am really happy for her, but I really wanted it to be me,’ said  Stef.

‘We still have a lot of work to do so you have got to recognise that and take notes and see what they are doing and then you go back and make a plan ready for next year.

‘I think I will need more speed. I think I will need to change a few things about my equipment – I think that has become quite obvious. But I think we are still in the mix. This has left a lot of fire in my belly – I don’t like coming third.

‘It’s great to come away with hardware, it is a special thing and you should never discount it and you should always be grateful because often these events there are just seconds or centimetres between having something and having not.

‘Sport is tough, there are very fine lines and I think you should celebrate every time you do get something.’

Ross Paterson, who is coached by John Kinder, took fourth place in the men’s T38 200m final with a run of 24.96.

Scottish Disability Sport congratulates all the athletes and their coaches.

SDS welcomes Kirsty Ewen to the organisation as part- time regional manager for Highlands and Islands. Kirsty was a member of sportscotland’s Young People’s Sport Panel 2016 – 2018 and is currently a member of the Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board to the Scottish Government.

As well as the above roles Kirsty brings a wealth of experience from many volunteering roles including Open Water Domestic Events Co-ordinator, volunteering at IPC World Championships, London 2012, Glasgow 2014 Queens Baton Relay and Glasgow 2018 European Championships.

On a weekly basis Kirsty coaches with Inverness Swimming Club and Highland Swim Team. Gavin Macleod, CEO, said: “I am delighted to have Kirsty in our Regional Team, she brings great enthusiasm, experience and has a clear passion for the development of disability sport.”

Kirsty replaces Charlie Forbes who has semi – retired. Kirsty is really excited to be joining the team and looking forward to working with partners across the Highland and Islands to provide more opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in and progress in sport.

Congratulations to Mike Drever from Leven who has once again been invited as one of the country’s leading Para Trap shooters to compete in the British Shooting Grand final being held at Fauxdegla, Wales on22/23rdSeptember.  http://britishshooting.org.uk/uploads/documents/Olympic%20Trap%20Rankings4.pdf

This will be my Mike’s last competition opportunity and training period prior to heading to Lonato in Italy as a member of the Great Britain team for the 2018 Para Trap World Championships October 2-7. http://britishshooting.org.uk/news/title=Para_Sport_World_Cup_Teams_Announced&d=1507

Mike has also been invited and accepted an invitation to be part of the athlete performance programme for shooting led by the governing body, Scottish Target Shooting (STS).  This will provide Mike with access to a world class coach for the year ahead and will undoubtedly contribute to his development as a world class Para trap shooter.

This year Mike has retained his Scottish Para clay titles in Olympic skeet as well as Olympic Trap.

Disability Sport Fife is proud to identify with this proud Orcadian who has established himself as the first Fife based world class Para shooter in any discipline. Mike works at the University of St Andrews and his arrival in Fife has added considerable quality to the squad of Fife Para athletes who represent their country at the highest level in their sport. All the very best Mike in the months ahead in your two major competitions.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Scotland’s only competitor at this event, Mary flew the flag high in Brazil last week, coming home from the Brazilian Paralympic Centre with two medals in the SL4 women’s singles and SL3-SU5 women’s doubles.

Prior to the competition Mary was part of the first training camp for players, competing, sharing ideas and sparring with new competitors.

With limited numbers in the women’s SU5 event it was decided that SL4 and SU5 women’s singles events would be a joint event. With Mary now playing against a higher class it proved too difficult to get past the SU5 Japanese athletes in the group. Mary came third in her group and was out of the SU5/ SL4 competition, however having beaten Brazil’s SL4 Maria Rayane Lucia (21-8, 21-1) in her group, Mary came out in one of the highest positions of the SL4 category which set her up for a singles silver medal event with SL4 Danielle De Araujo of Brazil. In a convincing two-set score line of 21-8, 21-11 Mary secured the highest medal available for SL4 women’s singles in their category, silver.

Mary’s second medal came in the shape of doubles with her Peruvian partner Jenny Huaranga. The seconds seeds were up against some tough competition with the strong Japanese SU5 women in this category. In the group stages our pair came second with an excellent win over Kaede Kameyama (Japan) and Maraisa Santos (Brazil) in a three-set thriller 21-23, 21-10, 21-10, but lost out to another Japan-Brazil pairing of Abinaecia Da Silva/ Mamiko Toyoda, 9-21, 5-21, securing them a place in the semi-finals.  Here was where the journey ended for the pair who lost out to Japan’s Noriko Ito Akiko Sugino 9-21, 8-21.

Finally, in the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles Mary, playing with Brazils Rogerio De Oliveira, was pipped in the quarter finals v Japans Toshiaki Suenaga and Akiko Sugino 10-21, 8-21. Reaching this stage was thanks to a superb win in the group stages against another strong Japanese pairing of Taku Hiroi and Kaede Kameyama 21-13, 23-21.

Qualification for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics has been outlined and will start this January, Mary is currently GB’s only SL4 woman competing on the international stage and is looking forward to the process of hopefully qualifying for the first Paralympics to involve Para-Badminton.

‘I continue to prepare and work hard in the hope I may qualify for Tokyo 2020. My next tournament is in Japan in six weeks’ time. Thank you for the support from Badminton Scotland and my coaches Kaity Hall and Sarah Bok. Also for the financial support from  Path to Success, QARANC, Archers Hall and Crombies Butchers of Edinburgh.’