Category: A News

Curling for All – The Peak, Stirling

Curling for All at the Peak

Stirling Sports Village, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ

For adults and youn gpeople witha range of disabilities. The cost is £3 for participants, one parent/carer/supporter friend joins in for free. Places are limited, booking is essential.

Wednesday 22nd November 2017, 3-4pm, 4-5pm

Wednesday 29th November 2017, 3-4pm, 4-5pm

Wednesday 6th December 2017, 3-4pm, 4-5pm

Open to people with physical, learning and sensory impairments, and autistic spectrum disorders. Traditional, stick or wheelchair curling available.

For more information and to book a place contact Helen Kallow, RCCC Disability Curling Development Officer, 0131 333 3003, helen@royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org.

Inclusive Skating Glides into Braehead, Glasgow

Have you the desire to learn how to skate, gliding over the Ice like Torvill and Dean? Well, now you can!

Intu Braehead Ice Rink is introducing a new open Inclusive Skating session every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am.

It will cost £8.50 for an inclusive skater and carer, and skate hire is included in the price.

If you are interested in this exciting new venture, head along to Braehead Ice Rink this weekend, or contact Margarita Sweeney-Baird on margarita.msb@gmail.com for more information on inclusive Skating.

Aberdeen Sports Awards 2017

Conner Morrison and Toni Shaw beat off strong competition to take home the Disability Sports Achiever of the Year & Junior Disability Sports Achiever of the Year awards respectively at this year’s Aberdeen Sports Awards held at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The swimmers, who train and compete with the University of Aberdeen Performance Swimming Team, are working their way up the British Swimming World Class programme and have aspirations of making Team GB for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as well as joining Team Scotland in next year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Both Toni and Conner have worked exceptionally hard over the past few years and it certainly paid off when both athletes were selected for the GB Squad for this year’s World Para-Swimming Championships in Mexico.

Toni was shortlisted alongside Jack Caird, a wheelchair basketball player who was recently selected for the Scottish U15 Team, and Conner was shortlisted with Kerry Mathers, a RaceRunning athlete who recently took home bronze in the 100m RR3 final in the CPISRA RaceRunning World Championships held in Denmark.

Congratulations to all of our athletes who were nominated, shortlisted and award winners, and thank you to the Active Aberdeen Partnership who hosted the event.

Runners Up at Home Nations Test

The Scottish Para bowls team competed against England and Wales in the Home Nations tests series from the 27 – 29 October 2017.  The format included B2/B3 Mixed Pair and B6/B7/B8 Open Triples, replicating that of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast next year.

This was the final opportunity for the bowlers to put in a performance ahead of selections next month as competition for places are as fierce as they ever have been.

Although winning the competition was a goal for all players and coaches, it was deemed secondary to trialling player combinations and positions in order to inform our final selections.  In this regard the competition was a huge success.

There were some excellent performances across the board, with the physically disabled triple only losing twice in eight matches.  This highlighting the quality Scotland possess, with all six players competing well.  The visually impaired players had a mixed competition, losing five from eight matches, however, there were some top performances throughout from all players and directors.

Although finishing runners up by a narrow margin wasn’t the result we were all looking for, the competition served a great purpose and was hugely beneficial.  The individual and team performances has left all the coaches and selectors much to contemplate over the next few days as we draw closer to naming our Gold Coast 2018 team.

Scottish Disability Sport wishes to thanks all the players, directors and coaches for their hard work and dedication over the weekend.

Open Triples B6/B7/B8
Billy Allan
Mike Nicoll
Garry Brown
Martin Hunter
John Hughes
Michael Simpson

Mixed Pair B2/B3
Billy Edgar
Robert Barr
Maria Spencer
Irene Edgar

Directors
Christine Morrow
Ron McArthur
Grace Whitton
Sarah Jane Ewing

Coaches<
Bob Dick (Head Coach)
Bob Christie
Nigel Walker
Eric McMillan
Chris McGready

The Mixed Pair B2/B3, Directors and Open Triple B6/B7/B8 will be nominated to Commonwealth Games Scotland prior to the team being fully announced on the 30 November.

60 seconds with a Tayside athlete: Steven Key

Name: Steven Key

Branch: Perth & Kinross Disability Sport

Sport:   Bowls

Club:   Inchture Bowling Club

How did you get involved in your sport? Initially through a fun charity day. But since disability through SDS and Inchture who have helped me so much.

How long have you been playing your sport for? About 9 years able bodied then 1 year in a wheelchair.

Biggest Strength (as an athlete): Commitment, determination and the love of the game.

What’s the best thing about your sport? Anyone can take part. Also it’s a team sport and the competitive spirit of individual games

What equipment do you need to take part in your sport? 4 Bowls. Oh and in my case a wheelchair   

Greatest sporting achievement: Winning the 2017 Lawn Bowls National Championships in Aberdeen.

Favourite Para-athlete:  Tough question, but I suppose Billy Allan for his commitment to the sport.

Favourite athlete to compete against:  Anyone really.

Any advice for someone interested in your sport? Try it and you will love it. It’s not an old persons’ game as the myths say.

Visual Impairment Sports Day – a unique opportunity to try a variety of sports

This is a fantastic opportunity for people with a visual impairment to try a variety of sports in a friendly and supportive environment.

The visual impairment sports day aims to provide an introduction to sport and engage participants in sport. RNIB, Haggeye, Guide Dogs Scotland and Visibility are supporting Scottish Disability Sport and governing body partners the Scottish Football Association, JudoScotland, Scottish Swimming and Scottish Athletics, Goalball UK and Blazing Saddles to provide a quality experience to participants on the day.  This unique opportunity is funded by the BIG Lottery Fund.

Many people with a visual impairment are not aware of the opportunities available to them in their local area. Scottish Disability Sport Regional Managers will be on hand on the day to raise awareness and support participants to get involved in their chosen sport in their local area. If you would like to have a chat about the event please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sports on offer throughout the day are: athletics, bowls, cycling, football, goalball, judo, swimming and tennis.

Date: Saturday 11th November, 2017

Venue: Scotstoun Leisure Centre, 122 Danes Drive, Glasgow, G14 9HD

Time: 10.30 am – 4.00 pm

Cost: FREE

If you have a visual impairment or know someone with a visual impairment that would like to get involved in sport and would like to attend please register by telephoning Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Please note that booking is essential for all participants. The full registration pack can be downloaded here.

For public transport information please see the SPT website at: www.spt.co.uk

Visual Impairment Engagement Day Flyer

North Lanarkshire Boccia Sessions

New fun boccia sessions are beginning for all individuals with physical and learning disabilities. If you are looking to get more active and meet new friends, these sessions could be for you!

  • All ages and abilities welcome
  • No previous experience required
  • Equipment will be provided

The sessions will take place at St Maurice’s High School, North Road, Cumbernauld G68 9AG from 5.00pm on Thursday 26th October.

For more information contact 01236 757657 ext 5256 or email mackayk@northlan.gov.uk / joergensenn@northlan.gov.uk.

Pan Disability Boccia Sessions Flyer

World’s Top Wheelchair Curlers at Stirling International

The third Stirling Wheelchair International Invitational was held at the Peak, Stirling, from October 17th – 20th, with the very best of the world’s wheelchair curlers gathered to face each other. Eight teams representing the official Curling Associations of their respective countries took part. Norway, current world champions and three times holder of the trophy, would have to fight off the world silver and bronze medalists, as well as two other world top ten ranked teams and three just outside the top ten.

There was a tremendous show of curling skill on show, played on great ice, resulting in an exciting week of sport. It went right to the last game on Friday, when Russia, world silver medalists, overcame a plucky Scottish outfit, world bronze medalists, to emerge victorious at 5 shots to 4 after the very last stone. It was that close. Team Switzerland slotted into third place.

Norway, the defending champs, could only make sixth spot; after a sticky start.

Pictured, the Russian winning team. From left to right as viewed: Andrey Smirnov, Konstantin Kierokhtin, Alexander Shevchenko, Marat Romanov, Daria Shchukino.

On the back row: Anton Batugin (coach), Andy Hemming (SWCII), Christine Simpson (Provost), Sandy Lees (AGL sponsor) and Judy Mackenzie (SWCII).

(Courtesy of Royal Caledonian Curling Cub)

Forth Valley Disability Sport

Forth Valley Disability Sport need your vote!

Forth Valley Disability Sport need your vote! FVDS are one of the many projects involved in the Aviva Community Fund that gives grants to local projects voted by you! If FVDS are successful is reaching the finals of this funding the branch will use the money to engage with inactive groups focussing on female participation as this is a proven gap in the Forth Valley area in terms in inactivity. Please take two minutes and vote on the link below.

 https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-2203

Wheelchair Basketball at Glasgow Club Kelvin Hall

Our inclusive and accessible sessions welcome you to try the sport of wheelchair basketball in a friendly, social and welcoming environment.

Our qualified volunteer coaches will support you at a level that suits your needs in an inclusive, safe, comfortable and most importantly fun social environment.

Glasgow Club Kelvin Hall

  • Junior mixed session (11-16 years): Sundays 1.00-2.30pm, cost £3
  • Adult mixed session: Sundays 2.30-4.00pm, cost £4

Sports chair will be supplied or bring your own along. Participants must be able to transfer into a chair or bring support to assist with transferring. Friends and family welcome to take part.

For further information, please contact Glasgow Fever Basketball Club – www.glasgowfever.com / stacey@glasgowfever.com / 0141 287 5630