The logo for the 2018 BISFed World Boccia Championships was revealed on Sunday 13^th August at the medal ceremony for the 2017 United Kingdom Boccia Championships.

The UK Championships were held at Exhibition Centre Liverpool, the same venue that will be used for the World Champs the following year. Paralympic champion David Smith MBE retained his BC1 title while World Champion Stephen McGuire repeated his BC4 triumph of 2016. In the BC2 competition Tim Hayes claimed the title in his first appearance at a UK Champs. In the most dramatic final, Scott McCowan beat his brother Jamie after a tie-break to take the BC3 crown.

The World Championships will take place between the 12^th and 18^th of August 2018. Liverpool will play host to 192 athletes at the most prestigious boccia competition outside the Paralympic Games. Assistant Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Wendy Simon told the athletes at the medal ceremony how thrilled Liverpool was to be the home of the World Championships and that all participants would receive a very warm welcome to a sports mad city.

Tickets will go on sale later in the year and the local organising committee aim to stage a competition that will showcase a sport of intriguing tactics, incredible skill and nail biting tension to a new audience. The event is supported by UK Sport, Liverpool City Council and ACC Liverpool Group.

The logo was inspired by the rich cultural history of Liverpool and combines details of Boccia court markings into a striking montage.

 

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) sent a team of eight players to the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool or the UK Boccia Championships from the 11 – 13 August 2017.  The same venue will be used for the BISFed World Championships in 2018.  The UK Championships are always a significant date on the calendar for our high performance players.   Sadly, one of our players, Innes Martin, had to withdraw for family reasons on the eve of the competition.

Scotland has a history of delivering medals at this event in recent years and with four player’s part of the UK Boccia high performance pathway there was room for optimism.   The 2017 event was no different, with Scots winning five medals across the across the BC3 and BC4 classification groups.

In the BC1 section, world number one David Smith retained his British title defeating Wales’ Ricky Stevenson in the final.  Scotland’s representative in this class was SDS Academy Athlete, Reegan Stevenson, but lost out 8-2 to Jabe Peake (ENG) in the bronze medal match.

In the BC2 section it was England’s Tim Hayes who claimed the Gold medal, defeating teammate Reshad Saraj in the final.  Veteran, Zoe Robinson won 10-1 to claim the bronze medal against Morgan Butterfield (WAL).  Scotland’s representative in the class was Calum Glasgow from Forth Valley.  Glasgow failed to qualify from the pool but did manage to beat Scott Cromie (NIR) on a tie break.  As a developing player this experience will stand him in good stead.

Scotland’s strength is unquestionably in the BC3 classification and with Rio 2016 Paralympians Scott McCowan, Jamie McCowan and Patrick Wilson fighting it out for the British title – it is anyone’s guess!  Furthermore, there is considerable depth in the BC3 class across the UK which always makes for an exciting competition.  The tie of the group stages was between the McCowan brothers, with Scott losing out 3-4 to his younger sibling.  As it turned out, all three Scots made it to the Semi-Final.  Jamie McCowan beat Jess Hunter (ENG) 5-0, whilst brother, Scott, came up against teammate Patrick Wilson, and triumphed 9-1.  Patrick defeated Jess Hunter 5-0 in the bronze playoff match but the final was an all family affair.  Scott avenged the earlier group defeat to the hands of his younger brother, showing all his experience to win under pressure.  The match finished 2-2 and went to tiebreak.  A Scotland 1-2-3 in the BC3 classification indicates the strength we have in this country.

In the BC4 section we had three representatives, with the youngest being Ross Munro, who has made tremendous progress in this class.  The West of Scotland youngster recovered well from a 0-13 defeat to England’s Louis Saunders in his first game to narrowly lose out 2-4 to Paralympian Evie Edwards and 3-4 to the experienced Harry Thomson (ENG).  Although the young Scott failed to qualify from the group his performances were extremely encouraging against tough opposition.  The famous Boccia Brothers were at it again in the BC4 section, as both reached the semi-final.  They had actually faced one another in the group stages, with reigning World Champion, Stephen, coming out on top.  In the first semi, Peter came up against England’s emerging talent, Louis Saunders.  The match finished in a 4-1 defeat in a very close contest.  Stephen squared up against England’s Harry Thompson and emerged victorious after a close 5-2 contest.  Peter eventually won the bronze following a tie-break with Harry Thompson.  A result that was particularly pleasing for all involved in Scottish Boccia – it was great to see Peter amongst the medals again at the event.  Stephen came up against the Louis Saunders and broke him down to win 10-3 on the day and claim another BC4 British title.

 

 

The final medal results for the 2017 UK Championships were as follows:

BC1 Class
Gold: David Smith (Eng)
Silver: Ricky Stevenson (Eng)
Bronze: Jabe Peake (Eng)

BC2 Class
Gold: Tim Hayes (Eng)
Silver: Reshad Saraj (Eng)
Bronze: Zoe Robinson (Eng)

BC3 Class
Scottish medal sweep!
Gold: Scott McCowan
Silver: Jamie McCowan
Bronze: Patrick Wilson

BC4 Class
Gold: Stephen McGuire (Sco)
Silver: Louis Saunders (Eng)
Bronze: Peter McGuire (Sco)

 

SDS would like to congratulate all the players, coaches and support staff on an extremely successful UK Championship and our thanks go to all at UK Boccia and Boccia England for hosting and organising this event.

Wheelchair curling is offering a talent identification and talent transfer opportunity for potential Paralympians.  If you are currently performing in a sport, have the mindset, commitment and ambition to be the best you can with the ultimate aim of being a Paralympian, then we would like to support you to get there. Scottish wheelchair curlers have enjoyed many international successes (Paralympic Silver & Bronze, 6 x medallists at World Championships) and you could be a part of future successes.  Save the date in your diary and give us a call or drop us an email to register your interest in attending.

Date:                     Saturday 9^th September, 2017

Venue:                 The National Performance Curling Centre, Stirling Sports Village, Stirling FK7 7JU

Time:                     12.00 noon – 4.00 pm

Age:                       16 years  – 40 years

Royal Caledonian Curling Club, sportscotland Institute of Sport, British Curling, Scottish Disability Sport and sportscotland are working together to provide this unique opportunity to new curlers and current performers in disability sport who meet the eligibility criteria for the sport.

If you, or any one you know has substantial demonstrable impairments in leg/gait function and would like to know if you are eligible to compete as a wheelchair curler please call either of the numbers below to have an informal chat and register your interest. The application form can be downloaded here.

Scottish Disability Sport
T: 0131 317 1130
E: admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com

sportscotland Institute of Sport
Sheila Swan
T: 07917 183 414
E: sheila.swan@sisport.com

Pictured: Aileen Neilson and Tom Killin, Paralypians

Nominations are invited from those connected with SDS for awards that will be presented at the AGM on 17^th September 2017.

Please note that all nominations must be supported/seconded by an individual or organisation in membership of SDS.  It is important that there is a clear indication why the individual is being nominated.

A list of former award winners can be seen here: www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds-award-winners

All nominations should be returned in confidence, before Monday 21^st August 2017, to:

Gavin Macleod, CEO, Scottish Disability Sport, Caledonia House, South Gyle, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ

Alternatively the nominations can be completed online here.

The award categories are:

• SDS Glasgow Trophy for “Service to Sport” : This award recognises individuals who have played an active role in the development of SDS in any capacity whatsoever. Length of service as an SDS volunteer is an aspect that has been taken into consideration in determining appropriate recipients in the past.
• SDS Fife Trophy for (Coach of the Year): This award recognises coaches who have played a significant role in supporting SDS members to achieve their full potential.
• Russell Hogg Trophy (Development Coach of the Year): This award recognises emerging coaches who have committed to supporting Scottish athletes and players with a disability.
• Findlay Calder Trophy (Athlete of the Year): Awarded to the athlete who has contributed most to disability athletics in the past year.
• Brian Dolan Memorial Trophy (Swimmer of the Year): This award is specifically for the swimmer who has contributed most to disability swimming in the past year.
• Angus Trophy: Awarded to the Sportsperson of the Year (excluding athletics and swimming).
• Elspeth Watson Trophy: Awarded to an individual outwith SDS who has contributed significantly to disability sport.
• Special Awards: This section was introduced at the AGM of 2002 to recognise individuals who have made a significant contribution in raising the profile of disability sport in Scotland.
• Silver Salver: Donated by Capability Scotland, this award is specifically for a talented newcomer.
• Gordon Brown Trophy – Athletes’ Athlete Trophy

The Team Scotland Awards take place on Thursday 21 September 2017 and they are looking for your vote on who should be crowned Para-Sport Athlete of the Year!

Team Scotland have suggested four inspirational athletes – Samantha Kinghorn, Gordon Reid MBE, Alison Patrick and Karen Darke MBE, however you can also suggest another athlete to vote for.

In order to vote for your favourite Para-Sport Athlete follow the link below and like or share the picture of the athlete or choose ‘other’ and comment with the name of your choice. From your votes a shortlist of 3 athletes will be shortlisted for a chance of winning the awards. Voting closes on Monday 14 August so get voting!!

 

https://www.teamscotland.scot/2017/last-chance-vote-team-scotland-awards-winners/

Mary Wilson continued her medal streak at the Peru Para-Badminton International in Lima last week. She was the only representative from Scotland and playing all three events, SL4 women’s singles, SL3-SU5 women’s doubles with Danielle De Araujo from Brazil and Raul Anguiano from Guatemala in the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles.

In the Mixed Doubles event Mary and Raul topped their group with two convincing wins before losing out in the quarter finals to 4^th seeds and eventual winners Tetsuo Ura and Asami Yamada from Japan.

In the women’s doubles Mary and Danielle secured 2^nd place in their group losing out to the Japanese eventual winners Akiko Sugino and Asami Yamada, however with 2 wins and a 2^nd place they secured a place in the semi-finals v Cintiya Oliviera and Cassia Araujo from Brazil. IN a tough fought 3 setter Mary and Danielle lost 16-21 21-19 13-21 securing a bronze medal in this event.

Her gold was won by topping the group for the SL4 singles. With three spectacular games and no opponent getting more than 6 points in any set she was able to secure the singles win and her first gold since starting international competitions in Majorca.

Before the tournament Kaity Hall was in Lima running a workshop with BWF working with the AGITOS Foundation. The workshop introduced over 50 new para-badminton athletes to the sport alongside coach education. The athletes were then classified and participated in the tournament.

With Tokyo 2020 only three years away now it is fantastic that we are having success both in the playing and coaching fields within para-badminton.

 

Last week four Scottish boccia players competed against the best players from across the world as part of the Boccia UK Team in the Boccia World Open in Seville, Spain.

In addition to the players the Scottish contingent also included Boccia UK Performance Coach Claire Morrison and three ramp assistants, Linda McCowan, Gary McCowan and William Wilson.

In the BC3 pairs, Jamie McCowan and Patrick Wilson also triumphed in both of their opening fixtures, the first coming against France.

Player	Home Town	Team & Pairs Results	Individual Results
Patrick Wilson	Peebles	Silver Medal	4th Place
Jamie McCowan	Dundonald	Silver Medal	Group stages
Scott McCowan	Dundonald	Silver Medal	Group stages
Stephen McGuire	Hamilton	4th Place	Bronze Medal

The BC4 duo of Stephen McGuire and Evie Edwards had a strong start beating Germany and Portugal to progress through to to the semi- final stages against Hong Kong. Unfortunately a score of 1-7 put them in the bronze medal play off with Portugal who put them into fourth place in the pair’s competition.

Stephen McGuire put the disappointment of the pair’s result behind him and focussed on strong performances in the Individual Competition. He went on to the semi – final stages and again went on to the bronze medal play off. Stephen is delighted that he won his game against the reigning Paralympic Champion and World number one Ywing Leung from Hong Kong to win the bronze medal.

The McCowan brothers Jamie and Scott, and team mate Patrick Wilson formed a formidable team when competing against the best BC3 players in the world, beating France and Portugal to head into the final with Portugal. A tie break situation resulted in a Silver medal for the trio.

In the BC3 Individual competition Patrick Wilson was the BC3 Player to progress to the quarter and semi – finals. Unfortunately Patrick finished outside the medals following a 5-1 defeat against Alexsandr Legostaev from Russia

 

SDS with partners will shortly be rolling out new Boccia participation sessions across Scotland thanks to funding through the BIG Lottery Fund.

If you or anyone you know has a disability and would like to try the sport of Boccia please telephone Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or alternatively please  email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid created British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships history on Thursday after the Rio Paralympic gold and silver medallists set up the first all-British men’s singles semi-final to guarantee that there will be a Brit in Sunday’s Super Series final at Nottingham Tennis Centre.

British players secured a clean sweep of wins on the third day of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour Super Series event, organised by the Tennis Foundation, after second seeds Antony Cotterill and Andy Lapthorne also reached Saturday’s quad doubles final.

World No. 2 Reid, already twice a finalist in Nottingham, booked his place in the last four this year with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 victory over French sixth seed Nicolas Peifer.

“It was even more difficult conditions than yesterday. It was quite blustery at times, it was a little bit cold and a little bit drizzly, but I thought I played some pretty good tennis in the third set. Nico started to be a little more consistent in the second set and I wasn’t missing by much, but it didn’t matter in the end and I was reading the ball better in the third set and used the wind to my advantage, too,” said reigning Paralympic champion Reid.

Hewett, who is at a career best world No.3 ranking for the first time this week, came from 5-2 down and two set points down to wrap up a 7-6(4), 7-6(3) victory over 2013 British Open champion Joachim Gerard of Belgium in his semi-final.

“I’m not sure how I got to be 5-2 down as I didn’t feel like Jo was doing to much on the court, but then I won eight straight points and that gave me the confidence to fight back and then save the two set points at 5-4,” said Hewett. “It’s great for everyone here to have an all-Brit semi-final and a Brit guaranteed to be in the final, I just need to do all I can now to make sure that it is me.”

The other men’s singles semi-final will see world No. 1 and Wimbledon runner-up Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina take on reigning British Open champion Stephane Houdet of France.

Fernandez kept himself on course for  a possible first British Open title after earning a thrilling 6-2, 0-6, 7-5 win over five-time British Open champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan, recovering from 4-2 down in the final set.

Houdet maintains his hopes of a third successive British Open title after ending the winning sequence in Britain this summer of Wimbledon champion Stefan Olsson of Sweden. Third seed Houdet clinched their quarter-final 7-5, 6-2.

Cotterill and Lapthorne ensured that there will be a British pairing in Saturday’s quad doubles final after beating Australian Heath Davidson and South Africa’s Lucas Sithole 6-4, 6-2.

“We’ve been on something of a roll since winning the Doubles Masters in the USA in November and have only lost the one match since then, at the French Open Super Series in June, so it’s nice to be back in another Super Series final and our first together here at the British Open,” said Lapthorne. “We’ve got a great partnership and will be all out to win in front of the home crowd on Saturday.”

Cotterill and Lapthorne will play American top seeds Bryan Barten and David Wagner in the final after Barten and Wagner’s 6-1, 7-5 win over Greg Hasterok and Ymanitu Silva.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s women’s doubles final will see Dutch top seeds and Rio Paralympic silver medallists Marjolein Buis and Diede de Groot take on the second seeds, Dana Mathewson of the USA and Kgothatso Montjane of South Africa.

Tickets are available on the gate at Nottingham Tennis Centre all week.   Entry is free for children, with adult tickets priced just £2 for a weekday ground pass and £5 for a Saturday or Sunday (finals weekend) ground pass.  For more details, or to purchase tickets online in advance, visit www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/britishopen.

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

Scotland will be represented at under 19 and under 15 level at this weekend’s National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships as they go into battle with the other Home Countries in this highly prestigious event within the youth calendar.  Both age groups will be travelling south of the border with a 10 player squad, supported by the coaching and management staff and will contribute towards nearly 200 talented junior wheelchair basketball players from across the United Kingdom.

The under 19 squad kick off their campaign against London on Saturday afternoon, followed by a fixture later on that day against Northern Ireland.  As England have a greater pool of players to select from, they are in a position to select teams from a number or regions across the country whereas the other Home Countries (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) select players from across the Nation, highlighting the achievement of being selected to represent your country.  The business end of the under 19 competition gets underway on Sunday and the Scotland team will be confident on improving their 7^th place finish in 2016.

This year’s championships will see some new players represent their country for the first time whereas some of the more experienced players will play at this age group competition for the last time.  Josh Manson, currently of West Lothian club Lothian Phoenix, will pull on the Scotland under 19 vest for the last time at these championships having gained valuable experience which has significantly supported his development as a player throughout the years.

The under 15 squad will be keen to equal the result from last year having claimed victory in an 11 strong team competition and the youngsters tip off their defence on Saturday afternoon against Wales (1.40pm).  The young squad will keen to make a better start this year after losing their opening two games of 2016’s competition before remaining unbeaten throughout the remainder of the competition, culminating in a 17 v 8 win against East Midlands to claim the gold medal.

A full player and coach list is highlighted below –

Under 19 Squad		Under 15 Squad
1	Rhys Collier (Lothian Phoenix)	1	Jack Caird (Grampian Flyers)
2	Dylan Cummings (Worcester Wolves)	2	Charlie Redmond (Lothian Phoenix)
3	Craig Brown (Lothian Phoenix)	3	Jason Giles (Lothian Phoenix)
4	David Beattie (CWSC Panthers)	4	Ben Flannigan (Lothian Phoenix)
5	Tom McCaffrey (Lothian Phoenix)	5	Blair Marshall (Dundee Dragons)
6	Adam Donnachie (Lothian Phoenix)	6	Logan Kidd (Lothian Phoenix)
7	Josh Manson (Lothian Phoenix)	7	Finlay Erskine (Lothian Phoenix)
8	Cameron Watson (Lothian Phoenix)	8	Sarah McCaffrey (Lothian Phoenix)
9	Ben Leith (Lothian Phoenix)	9	Owen Leitch (Dundee Dragons)
10	James Beattie (CWSC Panthers)	10	Sophia Law (Grampain Flyers)
H/C	Jen Scally	H/C	Niall Ritchie
A/C	Gemma Lumsdaine	A/C	Conor Smart
T/M	Tina Gordon	T/M	Yvonne Amour

 

Updates from the Junior Championships can be seen by following British Wheelchair Basketball on Twitter @BritWheelBBall #LTJC2017.

A full list of fixtures for the 2017 Lord’s Taverners National Junior Championships can be found on the British Wheelchair Basketball website – http://www.britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/gbwba/index.cfm/the-league/juniors-programme/national-junior-champs/national-junior-champs-2017/#598333e448ad1.

*photo credit – under 15 squad member Charlie Redmond at a recent Scottish Disability Sport Para Sport Festival.