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