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.