Active Stirling, in partnership with the National Deaf Children’s Society, are holding deaf-friendly swimming lessons for deaf children and young people in Stirlingshire.

The activities are suitable for all abilities from complete beginners to confident swimmers.

You will take part in fun activities and learn new skills, delivered by fully qualified swimming teachers trained in deaf awareness.

Where	Wallace High School Swimming Pool, Airthrey Road, Stirling FK9 5HW
When	Every Saturday starting 19th January 2019 Terrified to Advanced: 12.25 – 12.55 pm
Who	Age 4+
Cost	£25 for first block of ten lessons, £17 a month after first block
Bookings	01786 273 555 (option 2 then 1) / bookings@activestirling.org.uk
Further info	Eleanor Connelly – 0141 354 7850 / swimming@ndcs.org.uk www.ndcs.org.uk/swimming

After being absent from Grampian for a considerable amount of time, we’re pleased to announce that dance is once again being offered to young people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities again thanks to a new partnership.

Citymoves Dance agency, which runs a range of recreational and developmental dance opportunities for non-disabled groups and adults with disabilities, has teamed up with Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV) to create EnAble Dance, a recreational mixed dance session especially adapted to be inclusive for youngsters with disabilities and their siblings.

Sessions will take place in the Aquatics Studio at ASV on Saturdays from 11:00 – 12:00, with the first one being held on the 12th January. The classes are drop-in (no block bookings required) and cost £4 per session.

This type of activity is in high demand, and we’re pleased to see it being offered again. The session is expected to be extremely popular.

For more information, contact Aberdeen Sports Village on 01224 438 900.

If you or anyone you know lives in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability and is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.

Neil McMurdo was presented with the Disability Award at the recent Clubsports Berwickshire Annual Awards, which took place at the beginning of November. Neil, who currently plays boccia, has tasted success as a player both locally and nationally in the sport while also leading coaching sessions to other Borders players in his home town of Eyemouth. In addition to this work, Neil also acts as treasurer for the Borders Boccia Club ensuring the smooth running of the club matters for session across the local authority.

Another Borders boccia coach was also recognised for his considerable input within the region, leading session in Galashiels on a weekly basis and acting as a ‘true inspiration’ and ‘role model’ for all aspiring athletes and coaches across the Scottish Borders. Hawick based Evans, was awarded the Disability Award at the recent ClubSport Roxburgh, highlighting the hard work and enthusiasm that he brings to each boccia session. Like fellow coach McMurdo, Ryan has also tasted success as a boccia player having claimed one of the podium places at the Scottish Disability Sport Boccia Championships in 2017.

The Clubsport Awards recognise the significant achievements and contributions made by individuals from the specific regions across the Scottish Borders and previous recent winners include World Champion para athlete Sammi Kinghorn and para bowler Mike Nicoll who was part of Team Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Games.

Part of the charitable organisation Live Borders, ClubSport represents and supports local member clubs, organisations and individuals to help everyone to achieve their sporting goals. To find out more about ClubSport across the Borders please contact Greig Shortreed on gshortreed@liveborders.org.uk.

As we come to the end of another year at Gareloch RDA, it is time to take a moment to look back at everything that was accomplished by our team in 2018. Everything we do is made possible by our volunteers, riders and of course, the horses that make up Gareloch Riding for the Disabled group.

In the summer, the future of the group changed, with the completion of the refurbished outdoor arena ready for Carriage Driving. Following months of fundraising, spearheaded by Ian, our primary fundraiser, and of course, our local community, as well as extensive training with our Carriage team and Bobbie, the pony, we look forward to opening up the new activity to volunteers and riders alike in 2019. The team have already proven themselves in October taking part in a Scottish Carriage Driving Association Competition.

Our riders continued to achieve incredible things throughout the year. From Scottish competitions to the Riding for the Disabled Association National Competition in Hartpury, we continued to have riders qualifying and riding to the best of their abilities. Well done to all of you that competed in 2018. For those that didn’t compete, the accomplishments kept on coming, with many riders earning certificates in their horse care and riding proficiency levels.

It was not just our riders that achieved over and above in the past year. Our Volunteers continued to grow and learn throughout the year, which cumulated in being awarded the Argyll and Bute TSI Volunteer of the Year Organisation of the Year award. Numerous members of our volunteer community have taken on new challenges for 2018, including Carriage Driving exams as well as undertaking Coaching qualifications.

None of the above could ever happen without the local community that support us through funding and attending our fundraising events, throughout the year. So as a group we would like to take this opportunity to thank every person and organisation that made our year possible.

Finally, our team of horses are the foundation to the group. We have met new characters this year, including Bosun, Harris and Brodie. But have also had to say goodbye to a few familiar faces. Holly has taken her retirement from the group. Most notably, our favourite small pony, Freddie, retired from RDA service in December, after 18 years supporting our riders.

After such a wonderful year, we are very excited about 2019 and intend to make it even more successful! We will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Riding for the Disabled Association throughout the year, as well as introducing Carriage Driving and continuing to develop both our riders and volunteers. If you would like to be involved in 2019, please contact the group on the details below. No horse experience is necessary, just an enthusiasm to learn and get involved with the team!

If you are interested in volunteering with Gareloch RDA or learning more about our group, contact: Louise Worrall 07716 543734.

The Sports Council for Glasgow held its annual Sports Awards at the stunning City Chambers in the city on Friday 23rd November.

The beautiful setting was befitting of the number of athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials who have given their all in sport this past year.

After a fantastic year, Para Sport was well represented on the evening, with a number of coaches and athletes nominated in various categories.

Red Star Athletics Club had three of their club nominated after a massive year in competition for both coaches and athletes.

Ross Paterson and Connaire McLindon both represented Scotland in Spain at the CPISRA World Games and Ross pulled on his first British Vest in Berlin, winning silver in the 400m at the IPC European Athletics Championships. Janice Eaglesham coached three medal winners in the Race Running events in Berlin, the first time the discipline has been realised at this level.

The winner and runners up are listed below:

Senior Disability Athlete Achievement
Winner – Chris Murphy, Judo
Runner up – Ross Paterson, Athletics

Junior Disability Athlete Achievement
Winner – Dean Barnard, Badminton

Disability Coach of the Year
Winner – Barry MacFarlane, Basketball
Runner Up – Liz Boyd, Bowls

Individual International Achievement
Runner Up – Connaire Mclindon, Athletics

High Performance Coach of the Year
Winner – Janice Eaglesham MBE, Athletics

Dean Barnard joined the Firhill Badminton Club in Glasgow last September and has also been an active member of Glasgow Disability Badminton Club which meets at Haghill. He competed in the Four Nations Competition in Scotland, winning Gold Medals in both the Mens Singles and Doubles. Dean was also part of the Special Olympics Scotland West Team taking part in the 40th Anniversary Games in Stirling this August, finishing 4th in the singles and winning silver in the mens doubles.

Chris Murphy won multiple Gold medals over the past year, including in the EJU ID European Judo Championships, German ID Judo Open Championships and IJF ID World Judo Championships. A worthy winner of the senior award.

Barry McFarlane, coach at Glasgow Eagles Basketball Club has been a mentor and coach to the teams at his club and has made a huge impact in basketball for people with learning disabilities in Glasgow, and Liz Boyd has led her team of bowlers with a learning disability in many training sessions and competitions this year, including the SDS National Carpet Bowls, the SDS National Lawn Bowls and the Inter Regional Bowls competition in Glasgow.