Category: A News

Scottish Success at UCI World Cup

The UCI Track Cycling World Cup took place in London at Lee Valley VeloPark from 14-16 December. The event had a strong presence of Scottish Para riders, which provided the opportunity to earn qualifying points for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

This was the first time para-cycling events were included within the main schedule of a World Cup, and has been viewed as a major step forward.

There were some exceptionally strong performances form the Great Britain team and Kadeena Cox showed her class in the C4/5 500m, finishing ahead of Paralympic champion, Sarah Storey, to win gold on the opening day.

From a Scottish perspective, double Commonwealth Games Gold medallist, Neil Fachie and his pilot Matt Rotherham won gold in the mixed B sprint event.

Inverness rider, Fin Graham, delivered a bronze medal in the C1-C3 1km. The former SDS Archie Cameron Bursary recipient was also recently named on British Cycling’s World Class Podium Potential programme.

Local Borders Sportsmen Presented with Awards

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.

Year End at Gareloch Riding for the Disabled

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.

BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award Winner Kirsty Ewen

Scottish Disability Sport is absolutely delighted to congratulate Kirsty Ewen, Highlands & Islands Regional Manager, on a very well-deserved BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award.

Kirsty was one of fifteen winners from throughout the UK who were recognised for their volunteering contribution. She is truly an inspirational role model and contributes so much to local and national sport through her volunteering.

The video of Kirsty’s win can be seen here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/get-inspired/46587170

 

Boccia UK seeking Chair

The United Kingdom Boccia Federation (Boccia UK) is the National Governing Body for the Paralympic sport of boccia in the UK. It is a federation comprising the four sports organisations responsible for the development of boccia in each of the home nations, namely Boccia England, Disability Sport NI, Disability Sport Wales and Scottish Disability Sport.

Boccia UK is responsible for the identification, development and preparation of the UK’s most talented players, with a particular focus on supporting athletes to achieve their potential at the highest level of Paralympic sport. This principally involves running the World Class Programme (WCP), funded by UK Sport. In addition the organisation facilitates home nation collaboration around the development of the UK wide performance pathway.

Building on our success at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and more recently at BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships in Liverpool, Boccia UK is currently looking to recruit a suitably qualified Chair to lead Boccia UK to further success at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and beyond.

For full information see the Recruitment Pack below:

Boccia Recruitment Pack Chair at 11. 12.2018

Glasgow Celebrates Success

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.

Stirling Deaf-Friendly Swimming Lessons

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 by us in deaf awareness.

When and Where
Wallace High School Swimming Pool, Airthrey Road, Stirling FK9 5HW, every Saturday – starting 19th January 2019
Beginners & Improvers 12.25pm – 12.55pm
£25 for 1st block – 10 lessons, £17 a month after 1st block
Age 5 +

Bookings: 01786 273 555 (option 2 then 1) / bookings@activestirling.org.uk

Further info: Eleanor Connelly on swimming@ndcs.org.uk / 0141 354 7850
www.ndcs.org.uk/swimming

Wallace High DF Lessons Poster

SDS Boccia Open Championships (Non-Bisfed) 2018

Saturday 26th October 2018 – [EN]GAGE Sports Centre, Napier University, Edinburgh 

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) were supported by local branch, Lothian Disability Sport (LDS) to deliver the annual Scottish Boccia Open Championships for players out with the bisfed classification, attracting around over 70 players to Edinburgh. This is a fantastic number and is the highest amount of entrants since the competition structure changed in 2014.  

The event saw players from across Scotland, as well as entrants from England and Northern Ireland, compete in sections for players with a physical disability (Class A), players with a learning disability (class B, male and female) and a Junior section. The large entry allowed for some excellent competition throughout the day in all sections, providing players the opportunity to test themselves against players across the UK – some renewing old rivalries and some experiencing the competitive stage for the first time.   

This competitive element was particularly evident in class B as numbers allowed for four groups in both male and female categories, meaning that the group winner only would qualify for the semi final stage.  Dundee’s Sarah Bichard ended Lothian’s traditional dominance of this section with victory over Natalie Newby with Sarah’s clubmate Rebekah Perry claiming the bronze.  

The male section witnessed some excellent boccia played with Hayden Keir from Dumfries & Galloway declared the champion following victory over Kirkrigg’s Calum Thomson in the final. James Muirhead (also from Kirkriggs) completed the podium positions. It is fantastic to see the players who have typically played in the junior section progressing to medal positions in the senior section, proving that there is very strong players competing around the country ready to make the next step.  

Class A provided a slightly more UK-wide feel as entrants from England and Northern Ireland supplemented the entry from across Scotland.  Multiple-winner Derek Sked (England) replicated the form he’s shown in the past three years to make it all the way to the final – but only by winning a tie-break against Lothian’s Jim Anderson in a closely contested semi-final. Lothian’s Heather Nicolson beat West of Scotland’s Fiona Muirhead in the other semi-final.  

Heather Nicolson had her maiden victory at these championships and returned the title to Scotland by defeating Derek Sked in the final on yet another tie-break. Fiona Muirhead claimed victory over Jim Anderson to secure the bronze medal.  

A strong junior category resulted in Kirkrigg’s Michael Gilhooly winning gold by defeating Dundee’s Cameron Millar in the final. Forth Valley’s Ryan Flynn won the bronze by winning the play-off against Dumfries & Galloway’s Stephen Hoyle.  

The championships were supported superbly by the staff at [EN]GAGE who provided an excellent environment for players to express themselves on the court.  Thanks is also extended to the dedicated and knowledgeable band of officials who allowed the day to run smoothly from start to finish alongside Jack Brodie from Lothian Disability Sport.  Lastly, the clubs, coaches and players continue to support the event in their numbers and continue to produce the performances that seem to make the event a greater success each year. 

North Ayrshire Active Schools ASN Festival

North Ayrshire Active Schools hosted an ASN festival for all school across North Ayrshire. 7 schools were in attendance.

The Festival took place at The Portal on Wednesday 14th November 2018, 10-2pm.

We worked in partnership with Ayrshire College classes –  HNC Health fitness & exercise and Sports Coaching Development. The college pupils received a 1 hour planning workshop from Lauren Fletcher, Active Schools Co-ordinator and delivered each sport station. We also worked in partnership with KA leisure, sporting pathways, SDS & Ayrshire Sport Ability.

The festival was offered to all ASN schools and ASN pupils within mainstream schools. There was a morning slot for primary aged pupils
(10-11:45am) with a total of 39 pupils attending and an afternoon slot for secondary pupils (12:15-2pm) with a total of 24 pupils attending.

There was 6 stations for pupils for all abilities to participate in – Football, Boccia, Athletics, Basketball, Target Sports & Badminton. All stations were ran by college students, KA staff and Sporting Pathways basketball coach.

All pupils received a participation certificate and all pupils along with staff loved the event and can’t wait till the next festival which will be held on Wednesday 23rd January 2018 10-2pm at The Portal, Irvine.