Category: A News

60 Seconds with a Tayside athlete: Sarah Ellis

Name: Sarah Ellis

Branch: Angus Disability Sport

Sport: Boccia

Club: Dundee Boccia Club & Tayside Boccia Squad

How did you get involved in your sport? I went to the para-sport festival in Aberdeen in 2016 and really loved the sport so I joined my clubs.

How long have you been playing your sport for? Around 10 months

Biggest Strength (as an athlete): I’m willing to recognise when I’ve made mistakes and learn from them

What’s the best thing about your sport? There is always something new to learn no matter if you’re at training or at competitions. I also love the atmosphere at competitions, the buzz that I feel is amazing!

What equipment do you need to take part in your sport? A set of boccia balls

Greatest sporting achievement: Silver in the junior section at the Lothian Open Boccia Championships

Favourite Para-athlete: Stephen Maguire, boccia player

Favourite athlete to compete against: Dan Bentley. He’s got Paralympic medals in boccia and I’ve learned so much from him.

Any advice for someone interested in your sport? Don’t be scared to come and give it a go! Boccia is a great way to improve your hand/ eye coordination and improve your confidence.

 

Martin Perry

Playing our Part: Martin Perry

23-year-old Martin Perry from Paisley attended mainstream school and was fully included within mainstream PE lessons. He was signposted by an Active Schools co-ordinator to Scottish Disability Sport’s summer sports camp, where he was introduced to the world of disability sport. The rest is history for Martin.

Since then, Martin has achieved in many areas of his life, including coaching qualifications, university, and is training with a focus on selection for Tokyo 2020.

Watch the sportscotland video below to get more information on Martin’s story, and if you would like to find out about disability sport opportunities in your area contact us on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

First All-Brit Grand Slam Wheelchair Tennis Semi at US Open

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett added to their growing list of historic achievements on Friday at the US Open when they set up the first all-Brit men’s singles wheelchair tennis semi-final at a Grand Slam.
Reid and Hewett will go head-to-head in Saturday’s semi-final, with a British player from the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme guaranteed a place in the men’s singles final in New York for the first time. Later in the day Reid and Hewett will be on the same side of the net when they contest the men’s doubles final.
One year and one week on from meeting in the Rio Paralympic men’s singles gold medal match, the two Brits both won three-set quarter-finals in New York as world No. 2 Reid reached his second US Open singles semi-final since 2013 and world No.3 Hewett booked his place in the last four on his debut at the final Grand Slam of the year.
Reid made his US Open debut in 2013 with a quarter-final victory over Belgium’s Joachim Gerard and Gerard was on the other side of the net again on Friday as Reid earned a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Despite earning an immediate break of serve Reid narrowly dropped the first set tie-break, but he came from behind to serve out the second set to love. Thereafter he dominated the deciding set to seal victory after two hours and 15 minutes.
“I’m very happy to come through a tough match against Jo today. Sometimes, to get the win it’s more about the desire rather than the quality of the tennis and that was the case in the final set today,” said Reid.
“There were definitely positives to take forward from the match into the semi tomorrow against Alfie, which will be a great occasion and one that I can’t wait for.”
Hewett came from 3-1 down to level both of the first two sets of his quarter-final against former world No.1 and six-time US Open champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan at 4-4. Hewett saved four set points in the opening set before going on to serve out the second set and force the decider.
The 19-year-old Roland Garros champion then forged into a 5-2 lead in the deciding set before wrapping up a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
“I’m really happy to be in my first US Open singles semi. Shingo played well and it was hard to break him down. He’s a great competitor and athlete, so it was always going to be a tough match,” said Hewett.
“I found a way to get back into the match after losing the first and being 3-1 down. I’m happy how I fought, I didn’t feel like it was one of my best matches, but I dug deep so I’m very pleased with that.”
Reid and Hewett also meet top seeds Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer in Saturday’s men’s doubles final as they bid to follow up their victories over the French duo in the last two Wimbledon finals.
Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

World Champion Coaches in Fife

Sammi Kinghorn from the Scottish Borders is a double gold medallist from the recent World Para Athletics Championships in London. Sammi and coach Ian Mirfin MBE came across to Fife on Wednesday 6th September to lead a technical and training workshop for the Disability Sport Fife (DSF) wheelchair racing squad.

Sammi is a natural teacher and the Fife squad members are enthusiastic learners. Topics covered included wheelchair set up, positioning, pushing action, starts and bends etc. DSF coaches Pamela Robson, Gayle Sloan and David Brown had many questions and received many valuable responses. The Fife squad is currently preparing for the Scottish Track and Field Championships at Grangemouth in mid September.

Sammi brought along her three World Championships medals and passed them around the athletes and support personnel. The youngest member of the group, Niamh Currie, brought along her photo album that included a photo of Sammi. Not surprisingly the addition of Sammi’s signature added so much to the importance of that album.

Fife wheelchair racing squad members are Susanne McGrath, Callum Sloan, Jonny Brown, Niamh Currie and Graham McIntyre.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Welcome to SDS, Alison!

Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to announce the newest member of the Regional Team. Alison Shaw took up the post of Regional Manager for Grampian on Monday. Alison brings with her a wide range of knowledge and experience in both sports development and disability sport. Here are some facts below that Alison has shared about herself.

Hometown: Marykirk, South Aberdeenshire

Education: BSc Sports Studies from the University of Aberdeen

Work Experience: 6 years in Sports Development at Aberdeen Sports Village mostly developing children’s sport, disability sport opportunities, and managing the coaching and volunteering team

Disability Sport Experience: Represented on Grampian Disability Sport committee since 2013, undertook Disability Inclusion Training, Autism Awareness Training and add-on module for disability Trampoline coaching, and often coach trampoline and multi-activity sessions for people with disabilities.

In my spare time: Usually running around after my toddler,  but try to fit in the odd visit to the cinema/comedy shows, and enjoy taking part in sport and exercise.

If you or anyone you know has a disability and would like to get involved in Grampian please contact Alison on 07828 744848 or alternatively email Alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Forth Valley Disability Sport

Central Disability Sport Events & Coach Education Calendar

Scottish Disability Sport (Central) would like to launch the Regional Disability Events Calendar for the upcoming academic year (August 2017 – 2018).

Cheryl Willet, SDS Central RDM, would like to thank partners from Forth Valley Disability Sport, Clackmannanshire Council, Active Stirling, Falkirk Community Trust, Scottish Swimming, Scottish Athletics, Scottish Boccia and the Scottish Football Association for their ongoing support in collating this robust Calendar for the year ahead.

Please click on links below for information;

For any questions or to find out more information about disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact: Cheryl Willet – cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360

 

2017 School Games Success for Tayside Trio

Thursday 31st August – Sunday 3rd September saw the School Games take place at Loughborough University. The 2017 School Games, delivered by the Youth Sport Trust (YST), are a major multi-sport event for the most talented young athletes across the UK.

School Games saw Tayside athletes Jack Milne & Ben Leitch represent Scotland at the elite event alongside Tayside referee Carolyn Wilson.

Dundee City Aquatics swimmer, Jack won a gold medal in the 100m fly, silver in the 100m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m backstroke. The Dundee native truly enjoyed his experience in Loughborough.

Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club wheelchair basketballer, Ben Leitch came home with a bronze medal in the Wheelchair Basketball competition. The Perth local made history as Scotland became the first Celtic nation to win a Wheelchair Basketball medal at School Games.

A huge Tayside congratulations must also go to Carolyn Wilson. Carolyn is a dedicated Wheelchair Basketball referee from Perth & Kinross who was selected to officiate the final of the elite level competition.

If you would like to find out more about sporting opportunities in Tayside, please contact Jennifer Scally at jennifer.scally@scottishdisabilitysport.com

Pictured: Jack Milne, with his silver medal from the 2017 School Games; Ben Leitch highlighting great shooting form whilst representing his country; Carolyn Wilson, pictured left before officiating the Wheelchair Basketball Final at the 2017 School Games.

 

Inclusive Athletics Workshop Central Region

Monday 4th September saw the success of the Central Inclusive Athletics Workshop delivered by Shona Malcolm OBE from scottishathletics and hosted by Falkirk Community Trust at Grangemouth Stadium. 15 enthusiastic coaches, teachers and volunteers from across the Forth Valley area attended the workshop that included topics such as:

  • Technical knowledge in working with Race Runners, Wheelchair athletes, Seated Throwers and an introduction to Guided Running
  • National and International Classification
  • The competition pathways within disability sport

Many thanks to Falkirk Community Trust for hosting the workshop and Scottish Athletics for tutoring the course.

To find out more information about disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact: Cheryl Willet SDS RDM – cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360

 

Fife Juniors in form at the Perth Open

Disability Sport Fife coaches Pamela Robson and Gayle Sloan plus support staff were up in Perth this weekend with some of the Fife junior track and field squad for the Perth Open Track and Field Championships.

All athletes medalled but most importantly the coaches paid tribute to the quality of support they displayed towards one another and the respect they demonstrated towards the other competitors.

The Championships were a great success and many thanks to the organisers. There were lots of smiling faces throughout the day and many excellent performances from the Fife youngsters.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife