Scotland’s wheelchair curlers were in action at the GB Wheelchair Curling Championships in Hamilton from 4^th-6^th February. The Scots were up against a strong international and domestic field in what would be the perfect warm up for the forthcoming PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games.

Scotland progressed through the round robin phase with five wins from five matches, including victories over international sides from Germany and Denmark and Aileen Neilson’s rink went into the semi-finals with high hope of taking the GB title. A maximum of ten points, with 23 ends won, meant Scotland topped Group A after Sunday and Monday’s action. Group B saw Korea match Scotland with a 100 per cent record, while Sweden also showed their strength to finish second with four wins from five matches.

The Scots progressed to a semi-final meeting against a strong Swedish rink and it turned out to be a close run thing with Scotland emerging the winners by 5-4. With Korea beating the rink skipped by Torino 2006 Paralympic silver medallist Michael McCreadie 6-4 in their semi-final, it set up a clash between the two unbeaten sides in Tuesday’s final.

Unfortunately, It was not to be a third British Open title in a row for Aileen with team mates Gregor Ewan, Hugh Nibloe, Robert McPherson and Angie Malone, as the Scots were beaten 6-3 by a strong Korean outfit in an extra end.

Aileen commented;

“The final was an extremely close game with only blank ends and singles being exchanged,”

“Team Scotland had to steal in the extra end and were lying shot until the Korean skip played a great take out through the port to take the victory.

“The event provided a great opportunity to compete in a high class line up and was a great confidence boost beating the German and Swedish Paralympic teams just before the Games.

“We have received lots of messages of support from friends and family and it is nice to know that everyone back home will be rooting for us when we are in PyeongChang competing for Great Britain.”

The Scottish rink will now don the colours of ParalympicsGB as they compete in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games from the 9^th – 18^th  March with their confidence boosted after a successful GB Championships.

Despite the adverse weather conditions many of Scotland’s Top Para Swimmers were in attendance at the National Short Course Performance Swimming Championships on Sunday 21 January, held at the country’s top swimming venue, Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow.  The strength of the partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Disability Sport is evident with a strong squad of both male and female swimmers progressing to an extremely competitive level.

Thirty nine swimmers were in attendance, with a number withdrawn with injuries and some due to the inclement weather.

Toni Shaw the S9 swimmer from Grampian, recently selected for Team Scotland for the Commonwealth Games, proved her selection with some top performances throughout the day.  She had competition from 100m Backstroke World Record Holder in the S13 classification, Abby Kane from Ren 96 who ran her close in several events.  Toni’s 100m Butterfly performance saw her breaking the Scottish record in a time of 1.11.50.

Conner Morrison the S14 swimmer competing for University of Aberdeen, world record holder in the 100m Breaststroke, was in good form and had some great races against the up and coming youngster from City of Glasgow Swim Team, Louis Lawlor.

The McCulloch twins, Fraser and Lewis, from Inverclyde ASC, again battled it out in the S15 classification, with Lewis coming away with most of the plaudits in their events.

The event was also open to some of Scotland’s up and coming youngsters, swimming as guests, enabling them to experience the competitive environment with timing pads and scoreboard.

The Performance Championships have become a valuable event in the calendar for Scottish Para swimmers, with the Long Course event scheduled for June in Stirling.

We wish Beth Johnston and Toni Shaw the best of luck at the Commonwealth Games and hope they achieve whatever goals they have set for themselves.

 

 

Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games athlete, former Royal Engineer Micky Yule is a champion Powerlifter winning Gold at the 2016 Invictus Games before going on to represent Britain in the Rio Paralympics later that year.

Not content with his current achievements and thirsty for a huge new challenge, he’s now testing his limits in a highly dangerous sport – Skeleton.

The full article is on the Help for Heroes website here:
https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/news/2018/february/double-amputee-micky-yule-takes-on-epic-sporting-challenge/

You can watch Micky talking about the challenge here:
https://www.facebook.com/HelpforHeroesOfficial/videos/2174124115938286/

There are many opportunities across Scotland for people living with visual impairments. BBC Sport have recently profiled Scottish Visually Impaired Ski Club based at Midlothian Snowsports Centre – click on the link below to see the inspiring guides and skiers:

https://www.facebook.com/bbcsportscotland/videos/2028385220510690/?hc_ref=ARTeq6W_0t8dKrdT0q0bY2Gst5tcCz5Mc9EmxJ2VK8EABIsTAyUWXawpCqW_D_Vg7V4

 

When: Wednesday 11 – Friday 13 July 2018
Where: Badaguish Outdoor Centre, Glenmore, Aviemore PH22 1AD
Who: Young people with a physical disability, visual or hearing impairment aged 10-18 years

The camp is a multi-activity, 2-night residential camp featuring various adapted sport and physical activities supported by experienced and qualified staff in a fun, engaging and supportive environment. It is aimed at youngsters with a physical, visual or hearing impairment aged 10-18 and is ideal for those looking to engage in some form of physical activity or to build confidence and socialisation.

The camp will take place at the Badaguish Centre, Aviemore which is situated in the beautiful surrounds of the Cairngorms National Park. Application forms will be sent out in March but if you have any questions or would like to register interest, please contact us on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

You can see the photos from our 2016 camp at Badaguish on our Flickr page here.

The 38^th annual Scottish Disability Sport National Carpet Bowls Championships took place at Dundee International Sports Complex (DISC) on February 3 2018.

This event traditionally is one of the first major events in the competition year and brings together many of the nation’s leading indoor and outdoor bowlers. The quality of the bowling on show was frequently of the highest level and yet again demonstrated the standard of bowler regularly playing in Scotland.

Leisure & Culture Dundee and Dundee City Disability Sport proved to be excellent hosts and DISC is a venue ideally suited to the hosting of this Championships, indeed the carpets which for years had been transported from Glasgow will now take up new residence at the centre in lieu of the event being based here for the foreseeable future. Many thanks to all staff involved in the set-up of this event, especially Gordon Quinton, Darren Thomson and his two sons, and Carol Duncan.

This year saw players from Highland, Fife, Lothian, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and host branch Dundee compete over 5 sections to determine the leading carpet para-bowlers in the country. There was a very slight increase from Lothian and Highland branches and it was gratifying to see a further slight increase in the sections with a learning disability. More identification work is required to unearth bowlers with a physical and sensory disability and SDS and Bowls Scotland will continue to identify bowlers through the grassroots programmes within schools, clubs and branches. SDS Bowls Performance Development Manager Ron McArthur continues to develop the Regional Indoor Hubs. Allied to an extensive Coach Education programme and the comprehensive national events programme the sport is well placed to ensure existing and new para-bowlers in all classifications are well catered for in accessible sessions and competition structure. 

The event featured multiple matches only decided by one point which served to highlight the competitive nature of the event.  

After a successful year in 2017 which saw Team Highland celebrating their first trophy in almost two decades with Evan MacKintosh victorious in the Wheelchair section, they went one better this year with victories in 2 out of the 5 sections. It was the same final as 2017 and history repeated itself as Evan proved too strong emerging the victor by 14 shots to 2.

In the Mixed Ambulant & B3 section Lothian’s Neil Shirley a two-time winner of this event played Fife’s Billy Allan, a winner in this event four times. Following a clean sweep in the group section Billy was unfortunate to meet Neil Shirley, who had left his best bowls until the final, in excellent form.

In the all-Fife section for restricted ambulant & B2 bowlers two former champions went head to head again. Neil Laughlin – champion in 2017 – eventually lost to his stable-mate Kenny Dow, when he retire due to illness whilst ten shots down in the final.

A new name is on the trophy for the section for male bowlers with a learning disability. This section is always extremely competitive which was illustrated by last year’s champion Andrew Harrison making an exit in the first round to Lothian’s Euan Wright. Ultimately, though, it was Highland’s Phillip Hendry who played magnificently to edge the final 15-13 on the final hooter, despite losing the last 7 points of the match.

In the female section last year’s finalist Amanda Craig from Lothian played Glasgow’s Debbie Fotheringham. A slow start for the Lothian bowler saw Debbie take a commanding lead which ultimately proved too much to return from despite a stirring late comeback from Amanda.

Thanks as ever go to our Fife office – Norma Buchanan and Richard Brickley MBE who prepared the programme and draw for the event, with Norma providing crucial administration support on the day. Further thanks to Ron McArthur and Gordon McCormack OBE, Chairperson of the Glasgow Disability Sport branch for their support of this event.

Officials from local Bowling Clubs all provided officials for the day and without this input the event simply would not be possible. The support was again significant with almost 30 officials attending on the day and SDS are indebted to all who attended.

 

This continues to be an incredibly exciting period for bowls in Scotland as preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast gathers momentum and national attention now turns to the SDS National Indoor Championships in April at Falkirk IBC.

Photo: Winners at the 2018 SDS Carpet Bowls Championships: L to R: Phillip Hendry (Highland), Neil Shirley (Lothian), Evan MacKintosh (Highland), Kenny Dow (Fife) and Debbie Fotheringham (Glasgow). 

Kinghorn awarded Glasgow Sports Person of the Year 2017

The accolades keep on coming for wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn.  In the past year she has dominated her track events, culminating in two world titles and a world record at the World Para Athletics Championships in London.

On Friday evening in the beautiful surroundings of Glasgow City Chambers, Sammi was awarded the top title of the night, Glasgow Sports Person of the Year.  Sammi’s win says such an enormous amount about her achievements in the past year.  The standing ovation which accompanied her on her way to collect her award, said it all.

Earlier in the evening she won Glasgow Para Athlete of the Year in a strong group of fellow contenders Martin Perry (TableTennis) and Robert Barr (Bowls).  She is definitely going to need a bigger trophy cabinet.

Her sights now turn to the Commonwealth Games and she has only just returned from a training in camp in Tenerife. Although, perhaps not her favourite distance, Sammi’s desire to pull on the Scottish vest is more than enough to keep her focused and endure the arduous training regime a marathon warrants.

The evening had several para athletes up for awards.  Jack McComish, a member of the City of Glasgow Swim Team, was up for student athlete of the year, after a great year in the pool and his achievements at the Deaflympics.  And Dean Thornton, a member of the Scotland Cerebral Palsy Football team, picked up the Young Volunteer of the Year trophy for his work with young frame football players. A tremendous achievement for the young football player.

Free Wheel North, a cycling hub specifically for people with disabilities based at Glasgow Green, won Community Project of the Year, based on their totally inclusive approach to cycling.

The recognition for para-athletes and para sport is now more widely acknowledged and with another award to her name Sammi Kinghorn will definitely one to watch in years to come.

Glasgow Coach of the Year goes to Ian Mirfin MBE

Ian Mirfin MBE, wheelchair racing coach at Red Star Athletics Club, was awarded Glasgow Coach of the Year at the annual Glasgow Sports Awards at the City Chambers in Glasgow on Friday evening.

After a phenomenal year with athlete, Sammi Kinghorn, Ian picked up the award ahead of fellow nominees, Ian Wright (City Of Glasgow Swim Team) and another great coach to para sport, Terry McLernon MBE (Drumchapel Table Tennis Club).

Ian has been coaching athletics for over 25 years, founding Red Star Athletics Club in Glasgow with his wife Janice Eaglesham MBE.  He has coached a wealth of para athletes in his time, including the late Karen Lewis-Archer, at World and Paralympic level.

At Red Star there are now a number of wheelchair athletes coached by Ian, who have the potential to make their names in wheelchair racing.

Over the past year, Ian has seen Sammi excel at World level and through his knowledge and expertise has transitioned Sammi’s training programme from sprints to marathon training in her quest for glory at the Commonwealth Games in a couple of months’ time.

Ian deserves all the plaudits he can get after not just a fantastic year, but a lifetime of coaching which has led to so many athletes’ success.

The Scottish Para Bowls team will this week be in the València region of Spain on a training camp as the preparations for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games begin to gather pace.

The B6/B7/B8 Open Triple and the B2/B3 Mixed Pair will take part in a number of training sessions and competitive matches arranged at Quesada Bowling Club and El Rancho Bowling Club – the later of the two providing comparable green speeds to what can be expected at the Games.

As well as some top club level players, Quesada bowls club has also arranged a team of Spanish international players to provide some quality opposition.

The Commonwealth Games will take place in Gold Coast Australia from the 4 – 15 April.

B6/B7/B8 Open Triple

Garry Brown
Mike Nicoll
Michael Simpson

B2/B3 Mixed Pair

Irene Edgar
Robert Barr
Sarah Jane Ewing (Director)
David Thomas (Director)

Coaches
Bob Christie
Eric McMillan

The showcase event in the 2018 Scottish Wheelchair Basketball calendar saw St Mirren Warriors go head to head with Lothian Phoenix on Saturday 27th January at Oriam, Edinburgh.  The day saw a true feast of top class basketball as a number of National finals were played successively, including the men and woman seniors.   The Wheelchair Scottish Cup Final, presented by CliniMed, was the third game of the day and highlighted how dynamic, exciting and competitive wheelchair basketball is with the two top teams in Scotland battling out a thrilling encounter.

St Mirren got off to a lightning start as they flew out to a 17-4 lead to close out the first quarter behind some stellar play from the inside. The second quarter told a different story as Lothian grew from the ashes of defeat as they closed the gap 27-23 behind some great mid-range shooting and half-court offence.

The second-half began with St Mirren regaining their command on the game as they went almost perfect from mid-range shots, Abdul Rahman Bin Shaylan hitting shot after shot to give him 17pts through 3 quarters. Gary Davidson also chipped in with his fair share, leading St Mirren to a 49-32 lead at the end of the 3rd. Tightened defence from St Mirren along with an efficient offence allowed them to extend their lead behind a great fast break from Sarah McCaffrey.

St Mirren went on to be crowned Scottish Cup champions 2018 defeating Lothian Phoenix 61-41.

Rahman Bin Shaylan (St Mirren Warriors) was the 2018 Molten Sports MVP.

Stat Leaders

Shaylan 19 pts 11 rebounds

McKinley 16 pts 1 rebound

The Scottish Disability Sport Lothian Disability Badminton Championship provided a feast of competition and tensely-fought encounters on Saturday, with titles galore being won in Edinburgh.

It was hosted at Napier University by Lothian Disability Badminton Club and Scottish Disability Sport, and run by Roselind and Alistair Hall with support from David Gillespie as well as volunteers from Edinburgh University.

And the action itself saw some excellent badminton on show with some truly eye-catching individual performances giving fans a terrific spectacle.

Michael McCraw defeated Murrie Robertson in two games in the final of the LD men’s singles Division 1 final.

After defeating McCraw 21-18 in the round robin earlier in the day, Robertson lost out in the final as his opponent sealed a 22-20 21-12 victory.

It was Mahesh Bhatt who was left celebrating in Division 2 after battling past Dean Bernard 16-21 21-19 21-11.

Bhatt had to come from behind against Bernard, who started the quicker despite losing to his opponent in the round robin stage. Bhatt’s only defeat came in the round robin at the hands of Derek Tomkinson.

In Division 3, Ross Doig found an extra gear as he defeated Alistair Daniels in the final, in three games.

Daniels had looked the strongest player in the competition and had topped Group A in qualifying, with Doig finishing second after Daniels had beaten him 21-17 in the round robin.

And the two met again in the final but it was Doig who seized his moment, sealing a 21-16 19-21 21-6 success.

Diane Gillan dominated the LD women’s singles Division 1 throughout the competition, dropping just 22 points across all her matches.

Qualification successes against Louisa Ramsay (21-6) and Caitlyn De Souza (21-1) set up a semi-final clash with Jaz McNeil.

However, she powered through 21-3 and had the beating of Kerry Duncan in the final, sealing victory with a 21-8 21-4 scoreline.

In the women’s Division 4 singles it was Emma Stewart who claimed the glory – winning two from two against Sharon Munro and Claire Jeffray to seal top spot in qualification standings.

Pitted against Munro in the final, Stewart overcame her spirited opponent 21-9 21-15 to take the title, while Mary Wilson was too good for Laura Halil in the standing ladies combined final, the former sealing a 21-11 21-19 victory.

Colin Leslie got the better of Rory McLaren in the SL3 singles, Leslie taking the first game 21-11 before edging a closer second 21-15.

While in the SL4 singles, Jamie Munro was no match for David Purdie, who looked comfortable throughout as he secured a 21-8 21-11 triumph.

The SS6 singles threw up some tasty ties, but ultimately it was Bobby Laing who would prove to be a cut above the rest of the field, winning without conceding a game.

He topped his qualification group with two wins from two, dropping just 16 points in the process, to set up a semi-final against Jack Purvis.

Purvis was beaten 21-4 21-5, with Andrew Davies awaiting Laing in the final, having enjoyed three wins from three in his own qualification group before battling past Ross Foley in a three-set semi-final encounter.

But despite proving to be Laing’s sternest test of the tournament, Davies fell just short with the former triumphing 21-9 21-9. Laing would also go on to beat Leslie in the standing combined final 21-17 21-14.

The LD men’s doubles saw Grant Hunter and James Pert prevail, beating Kevin Dobson and McCraw 21-17 21-18 in the final after finishing as the top two pairings in Division 1.

While Gregor Hardie and Peter Sabine beat Doig and Campbell Reynolds 21-16 16-21 21-13 in the Division 2 doubles final and Becca O’Callaghan and Ramsay won the women’s doubles by beating Duncan and Stewart 21-18 9-21 21-18.

The combined mixed doubles saw a victory for Leslie and Wilson, beating Munro and Halil 21-4 21-12, while Pert and Gillan topped the LD mixed doubles Division 1 after four wins from four.

The final three categories saw mixed doubles Division 3 success for Hardie and Jeffray as they beat Reynolds and De Souza 21-19 15-21 21-14.

In the SS6 doubles combined it was Foley and Davies who took the glory with a 21-8 21-11 win over Finlay Davidson and Purvis in the final, while Leslie and Purdie got a walkover in their standing combined doubles final as Laing and Munro could not take to the court.