Scotland’s Sammi Kinghorn left her opponents in her wake to set a 200m T53 World Record at Mesa, Arizona. The Rio Paralympian, 21, raced home in 28.67 seconds to knock a remarkable 0.26 seconds off the record set by US racer Jessica Galli five years ago.

It was a superb performance by the wheelchair racer from the Borders who is coached by Ian Mirfin.

Kinghorn, who won 200m T53 bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, demonstrated that she will be a force to be reckoned with at the World Para Athletics Championships in London later this summer with that performance. She also led from the front to win the 800m in 1.52.05. By the end of the meet, Sammi had five gold medals to her name with wins in a further three events.

She took the 100m in 16.63 which was into a headwind and only 100th outside her own European record. In the 1500m, Sammi won a tactical race against T54 athletes in 3.35.53, opening up a four-second gap in the last 200m. Her 55.32 time in the 400m was only five hundredths outside her own European record.

Sammi then moved on to compete at the Daniela Jutzeler Meet in Arbon, Switzerland, where she was once again in superb form. The young Scot set a 100m European record with a win in 16.21 and that time was just 0.02 outside the World Record and the second fastest of all time in her classification. Then, in the 400m, Sammi set another European record of 53.72 in second place in the race for the second fastest of all time (and inside the previous WR).

Sammi can’t stop setting records at the moment and she clocked another European best in the T53 800m in 1.47.60 at the Swiss Champs with a great performance.

That followed victories in Arbon again, when the Paralympian won the 100m T53/T54 overall in 16.38 and 400m T53/T54 overall in 54.08. She finished third in the T53/T54 1500m heat in a new Scottish record of 3.26.35.

There were also PBs for young Scots athletes Luke Deighan, Sean Frame and Kyle Brotherton at this event.

Many congratulations to Sammi, her family and coach Ian Mirfin, on a really strong start to the season ahead of London.

Injury has ruled Libby Clegg out of the World Para Athletics Championships in London this summer. Unfortunately, double Rio sprint champion Libby sustained a calf injury earlier this week and will not recover in time for July.

Alongside her guide runner, Chris Clarke, Clegg secured great success in 2016, winning the T11 100m and 200m titles at the Paralympic Games in Rio and setting world records in both events.

‘It is with a mixture of emotions that I have to announce that due to injury, I will be unable to compete at this year’s World Para Athletics Championships in London,’ said the 27-year-old Scot, a gold medallist at Glasgow 2014.

‘I sustained a calf injury during a training session this week and have been advised by the medical team at British Athletics that it will be impossible for me to recover in time for the championships.

‘I am still going through the various emotions of disappointment and frustration as despite the setback of my guide runner, Chris, picking up an Achilles injury earlier this year, I felt training was going really well and couldn’t wait to return to London as double Paralympic Champion.’

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the recognised governing body for para bowls in Scotland and is preparing for the 8 Nations & Para Sport Event at Broadbeach Bowls Club in Australia from the 3 – 7 June 2017.  This event is essential in the qualification process for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

A team of ten players and four directors have been selected to represent Scotland in the Mixed Pair B2/B3 and Open Triple B6/B7/B8 events and these players will be supported by four coaches.  Scotland will have two teams competing across both disciplines.  The players will be tested further at the subsequent training camp that has been arranged at Musgrave Hill Bowls Club, which is also on the Gold Coast.

Commenting on the event, SDS Performance Manager Gary Fraser said:

“SDS are delighted to announce a strong field of players to compete at the Gold Coast Para-Sport Lawn Bowls Competition.  Selection decisions were extremely difficult but we feel the group has a good blend of youth, experience and a strong sense of team unity, which is vital for the pairs and triples disciplines. We look forward to the event with great enthusiasm and are confident that the players can put in the performances required. They have worked extremely hard over the past two months, competing in various competitions, to reach this stage.”

Scottish Disability Sport will travel to Gold Coast with Bowls Scotland’s High Performance Squad, which will provide a great opportunity for the full squad to blend ahead of the Commonwealth Games in April next year.

Open Triples B6/B7/B8

Player	Classification	Town	Local Authority
Billy Allan	B6	Cowdenbeath	Fife
Mike Nicoll	B6	Jedburgh	Scottish Borders
Garry Brown	B7	Kirkmuirhill	South Lanarkshire
Barbara McMillan	B7	Cowdenbeath	Fife
Michael Simpson	B7	Auchtermuchty	Fife
John Wardrope	B7	Ayr	South Ayrshire

Mixed Pair B2/B3

Robert Barr	B3	Glasgow	Glasgow
Billy Edgar	B3	Saltcoats	North Ayrshire
Irene Edgar	B2	Saltcoats	North Ayrshire
Maria Spencer	B3	Dunfermline	Fife

Directors

Director	Town	Local Authority
Sarah-Jane Ewing	Dunfermline	Fife
Ron McArthur	Falkirk	Falkirk
Christine Morrow	Dalmuir	Clydebank
David Thomas	Ardrossan	North Ayrshire

Coaches

Coaches	Town	Local Authority
Bob Dick (Head Coach)	Cupar	Fife
Chris McGready	Perth	Perth & Kinross
Eric McMillan	Cowdenbeath	Fife
Nigel Walker	Dalgety Bay	Fife

 

Paisley’s Martin Perry delivered a Bronze medal in the Class 6 Team event at the 2017 World Para Team Championships in Slovakia.  Perry, along with team mates, Paul Karabardak and David Wetherill reached the semi-final stages, eventually losing to Croatia.

This is another milestone for the Drumchapel Table Tennis Club pupil and more information can be found on the British Table Tennis Association for the Disabled website:
http://www.bttad.org/

Rio Paralympic gold medallist and reigning Wimbledon champion Gordon Reid made history again on Sunday, becoming the first Brit to win the men’s singles title at the Japan Open in Iizuka to cement his return to the top of the wheelchair tennis world rankings.

Reid will become world No.1 for the third time when this week’s rankings are published after winning his second title at Super Series level, the top tier of wheelchair tennis tournament outside of the Grand Slams.

The 25-year-old beat world No. 5 Nicolas Peifer of France 7-6(3), 6-1 in Sunday’s final, which was Reid’s second in Iizuka after also finishing runner-up in 2015.

After defeating world No. 8 Maikel Scheffers in the quarter-finals, second seed Reid made it back-to back victories over former Japan Open champions when he beat Argentina’s world No. 4 Gustavo Fernandez in the semi-finals. Reid beat Fernandez 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to reach one of three finals in Iizuka for players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme.

The British No.1 went into this year’s Japan Open just 30 points behind Stephane Houdet of France at the top of the rankings. But securing his place in the semi-finals for the second straight year proved to be the key result for Reid’s return to world No.1, as Peifer beat defending champion Houdet in the other semi-final before Reid signed off in style with victory in Sunday’s final.

“I’m very happy to be coming home with the title and regaining my place at the top of the singles rankings,” said Reid, who also partnered Alfie Hewett to their third Super Series doubles final of 2017 before they finished runners-up to top seeds Houdet and Peifer.

“This is my first Japan Open title and only my second Super Series title, so it’s one I am very proud of. I felt I improved my level throughout the week and produced my best tennis at the important points in the final to clinch the match.

“My performances in Japan have given me a good confidence boost looking ahead to the summer Grand Slams.”

Reid first became world No.1 after winning September’s historic all-British men’s singles gold medal match against Hewett at the Rio Paralympics.

He remained at the top for three weeks and then regained the position in December when beating Houdet in his penultimate match of the season, in the semi-finals of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in London.

Reid therefore became the first Brit to earn the men’s singles year-end world No. 1 ranking and become ITF Wheelchair Tennis World Champion. Reid is due to receive his ITF World Champion’s award in Paris next month.

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

Aviemore was the venue last month, for the seventeenth annual Disability First Shinty Festival which saw Abercorn School from Glasgow emerge as winners.

7 teams and 5 schools from Inverness, Oban, Perth Glasgow and North Ayrshire enjoyed coaching from qualified shinty coaches and games throughout the two day event which culminated in a tournament.

The tournament was played on a round robin format with all 7 teams playing each other once, with the top 2 teams making it through to the final.

The round robin league was extremely competitive with some excellent play and great goals scored throughout the day.

Abercorn School from Glasgow topped the group on maximum points with record holders Drummond clinching second place, two points behind Abercorn.

The final, surprisingly was a one side encounter with defending champions Abercorn proving too strong for their Inverness opponents Drummond, running out convincing winners by 6 goals to nil.

Camanachd Association President Jim Barr and Rosemary and Aaron Macphee presents t-shirts and medals to all the players and coaches.

Camanachd Association Youth Director, Willie MacDonald, said: “This is one of the most rewarding events we hold annually as we are bringing together children who don’t get many opportunities to compete in shinty. The event grows in popularity each year so I hope we build on this success for next year”.

Festival organiser and Regional Development Manager, Ronald Ross, said: “I would like to thank our festival sponsors the Celtic FC Foundation ‘Inspiring Sport’ programme and the MacPhee Family for their support of this hugely enjoyable event.”

Scottish Disability Sport CEO, Gavin Macleod, said: “Congratulations to the Cammanachd Association on another successful Disability First Shinty Festival and well done to all the schools, coaches and players who participated.”

Pictured is the Abercorn School captain with the trophy, his teammates and other competitors. Also in the picture is Rosemary and Aaron MacPhee.

Great Britain’s men’s and quad wheelchair tennis teams have reached the semi-finals of their respective events at the 2017 BNP Paribas World Team Cup after winning their final round-robin ties on Thursday to finish top of their pools in Alghero, Sardinia.

Rio 2016 men’s singles gold and silver medallists Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett and teammate Dermot Bailey are unbeaten so far in the men’s competition at the International Tennis Federation’s flagship wheelchair tennis event, having secured 3-0 wins against China, Italy and Austria. They play Poland on Friday for a place in the men’s final for the second time in three years.

“There have been a few close ties and upsets in the draw. GB have done a good job to finish top of the group without losing a match.  It’s a real confidence boost going into the semis,” said 19-year-old Hewett. “There’s a good atmosphere in the camp, we are focussed on one match at a time and looking forward to the next one tomorrow.”

The World Team Cup has provided some memorable moments for GB players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme in recent years, including Hewett and Reid both being members of the Great Britain team that won the men’s title for the first time in 2015. Hewett was also part of the Great Britain team that won the junior title in 2013.

Hewett beat Martin Legner 6-1, 6-1 and Reid defeated Nico Langmann 6-3, 6-0 to give Britain an unassailable lead over Austria in Thursday’s third and last men’s Pool B round-robin contest. Bailey then partnered Reid to a narrow 6-1, 4-6, (10-6) victory over Langmann and Legner after a match tie-break in the doubles rubber.

The Great Britain quad team, featuring Rio quad singles silver medallist Andy Lapthorne, Antony Cotterill and James Shaw, have also finished top of Pool B in their event after a 3-0 victory over Korea and 2-1 wins over Canada and Japan.

Cotterill dropped the opening singles rubber of Thursday’s contest against Japan, but Lapthorne forced the doubles rubber after beating Mitsuteru Moroishi with a powerful display 6-0 6-0. Reigning Doubles Masters champions Cotterill and Lapthorne then won the doubles rubber against Shota Kawano and Moroishi 6-3, 6-3.

“I’m really pleased with how the week has gone so far and I’m looking forward to another big match on Saturday,” said Lapthorne, who has been a part of two Great Britain teams that have won the World Team Cup quad title previously.

Great Britain play USA on Saturday in a bid to reach this year’s final after Cotterill and Lapthorne were both members of the GB team that last won the quad title in 2014.

Great Britain’s junior team of Ruairi Logan and World Team Cup debutants Alex Chaston and George Davies will play off for fifth to eighth places. All three of Great Britain’s junior round-robin contests against Brazil, Russia and Turkey have been decided in the doubles rubber, with 15-year-old Logan unbeaten so far in his three singles rubbers.

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

A team of 25 swimmers competed in the British Para Swimming International Meet between Thursday 27 and Sunday 30 April. The event took place for the fourth year running in Pond’s Forge, Sheffield.

This event is one of the largest open competitions for para swimmers and attracted teams from all over the world. As British Swimming enters a new Paralympic cycle, athletes were competing for the title of British Champion. Races toko place over the four days with heat sessions taking place in the morning and finals in the evening.

Toni Shaw and Stephen Clegg had a particularly successful event, as they broke eight British and Scottish records between them. A full list of new record holders is below.

British Records:
Stephen Clegg S12 50m Freestyle (25.14)
Stephen Clegg S12 100m Freestyle (54.08)
Stephen Clegg S12 100m Backstroke (1:02.01)

Scottish Records:
Toni Shaw S9 50m Freestyle (30.97)
Toni Shaw S9 100m Freestyle (1:06.54)
Toni Shaw S9 400m Freestyle (4:58.66)
Toni Shaw S9 100m Butterfly (1:12.35)
Toni Shaw SM9 200m IM (2:44.61)
Beth Johnston S10 100m Backstroke (1:18.66)
Oliver Carter S10 100m Freestyle (59.13)

World Para Series Medallists:
Gold – Conner Morrison 100m Breaststroke
Silver – Scott Quin 100m Breaststroke
Silver – Andrew Mullen 50m Butterfly
Silver – Andrew Mullen 50m Backstroke
Silver – Stephen Clegg 100m Backstroke
Bronze – Stephen Clegg 100m Freestyle
Bronze – Stephen Clegg 100m Butterfly

General Stats:
Total 107 Events
Total Final Swims 54 (50.5%)
PBs as % of total Swims 36.6%
Total Scottish Swimmers Entered 25

Day 1

On day one, University of Aberdeen Performance athlete, Conner Morrison (SB14), took gold in the MC 100m breaststroke event, with a time of 1:07.53 (947 points). Paralympic silver medallist, Scott Quin, SB14, (Warrender Baths) secured silver in 1:08.29 (916 points).

Paralympian Stephen Clegg (S12) picked up bronze in the MC 100m freestyle. The University of Stirling athlete touched home in 54.08 (834 points), which was a new British Record.

Andrew Mullen (S5, City of Glasgow Swim Team) and Oliver Carter (S10, Carnegie) finished 19^th and 21^st respectively. Earlier in the day Oliver Carter broke the Scottish Record for the event, touching home in 59.13.

In other World Series finals, Toni Shaw (S9, University of Aberdeen Performance) finished 11^th in the MC 100m freestyle in 1:07.30. Earlier in the day she had broken the Scottish Record for the event with a time of 1:06.54. Rosie Bancroft (S10, Manchester Aquatics) and Abby Kane (S13, Ren 96) were 16^th and 21^st overall for the event.

Reagan Doig (SB14, Stirling Swimming), finished 18^th overall in the MC 100m breaststroke.

Day 2

Stephen Clegg (S12, University of Stirling) continued his record breaking form on day 2 of the British Para-Swimming International Meet at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, breaking the British Record in the MC 50m freestyle event with a time of 25.14 to finish 9^th overall (764 points). He takes the record from older brother James.

Andrew Mullen (S5, City of Glasgow Swim Team) finished 20^th overall with a time of 36.37 (677 points).

In the Women’s MC 50m freestyle World Series finals, Toni Shaw (S9, University of Aberdeen Performance) finished 13^th overall in 31.33 (732 points). Earlier in the day Shaw had broken the Scottish record for the event with a time of 30.97.

Abby Kane (S13, Ren 96) finished in 30.58 (714 points) to finish 16^th overall for the event.

Shaw (SM9) went onto break the Scottish Record again in the MC 200m IM World Series final, posting a time of 2:44.61 to finish 14th overall with 724 points.

In the Men’s MC 200m IM World Series finals, Scott Quin (SM14, Warrender Baths Club) finished 11^th overall with a time of 2:21.44 (758 points) while gold medallist from day 1, Conner Morrison (SM14, University of Aberdeen Performance) touched home in 2:22.16 (746 points) to finish 12^th.

Day 3

Toni Shaw (S9, University of Aberdeen Performance), secured her hat-trick of Scottish Records on day 3 of the British Para Swimming International Meet, taking place at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. The 13-year old swam to a new record in the MC 100m butterfly World Series final, posting a time of 1:12.35 which saw her finish 7^th overall with 784 points.

Reagan Doig (S14, Stirling Swimming) finished 14^th overall for the event in a time of 1:11.46 (625 points).

Stephen Clegg (S12, University of Stirling) was back on the podium twice, with Silver in the MC 100m backstroke, where he won silver in a time of 1:02.01 (876 points). That improved on the British Record he set for the event at the Paralympic Games in Rio last summer.

Later on in the evening Clegg won Bronze in the MC 100m butterfly, finishing in 1:00.92, 812 points.

Andrew Mullen (S5, City of Glasgow Swim Team) made a welcome return to the podium on the penultimate day of racing at the British Para Swimming International Meet in Sheffield.

Mullen won silver in the MC 50m butterfly with a time of 37.59 (738 points).

Paralympic silver medallist, Abby Kane (S13, Ren 96) finished 6^th overall in the MC 100m backstroke, with a time of 1:10.58 (849 points).

Day 4

Paralympic Silver medallist, Andrew Mullen (S5, City of Glasgow Swim Team) had to be satisfied with silver again for the MC 50m backstroke World Series Final on the last day of racing at the British Para Swimming International Meet in Sheffield. Mullen’s time of 38.04 (775 points) was just 0.1 off his time in Rio, which won him the silver medal for the event.

Gold went to Czech Republic’s Arnost Petracek (S4) in a world record time of 42.22 and a total of 1035 points.

In other World Series Finals, Toni Shaw (S9, University of Aberdeen Performance) again showed her form, finishing 5^th in the MC 400m freestyle event, with a time of 4:59.51 (683 points). Abby Kane (S13, Ren 96) was 12^th in 5:03.65 (624 points), while Beth Johnston (S10, BEST) and Cara Smyth (S10, InCAS) finished 19^th and 21^st respectively with times of 5:25.18 (572 points) and 5:31.27 (541 points).

In the Men’s MC 400m freestyle event, Oliver Carter (S10, Carnegie) finished 10^th in 4:35.09 (645 points).

In the MC 200m freestyle World Series finals, Conner Morrison (S14, University of Aberdeen Performance) finished 9^th overall in 2:06.35, with Scott Quin (S14, Warrender Baths) and Jack Milne (S14, Dundee City Aquatics) finishing 14^th and 22^nd respectively in 2:08.35 (743 points) and 2:12.69 (672 points).

Reagan Doig (S14, Stirling Swimming) was 7^th overall in the Women’s MC 200m freestyle  posting a time of 2:23.16 for 620 points).

The full list of swimmers competing is below:

Name	Branch	Region
Rosie Bancroft		West
Lewis Beagrie		West
Christian Buchanan	Lothian Disability Sport	East
Oliver Carter	Disability Sport Fife	Fife
Stephen Clegg	Borders Disability Sport	East
Reagan Doig	Perth & Kinross Disability Sport	Tayside
Adam Donnachie	South Lanarkshire Disability Sport	West
Rhys Gill	Grampian Disability Sport	Grampian
Hope Gordon	Highland Disability Sport	Highlands & Islands
Kayleigh Haggo	Ayrshire Sportsability	West
Genevieve Hunter		West
Kyle Hughes		West
Beth Johnston	Borders Disability Sport	East
Abby Kane	Ayrshire Sportsability	West
John Law		West
Stephen McCormick	Disability Sport Fife	Fife
Amy McFarlane		West
Jack Milne		Tayside
Conner Morrison	Grampian Disability Sport	Grampian
Andrew Mullen		West
Laura Pilkington	Lothian Disability Sport	East
Scott Quin	Lothian Disability Sport	East
Toni Shaw	Grampian Disability Sport	Grampian
Cara Smyth	Disability Sport Fife	Fife
Erin Swan		West

Full results can be seen here.

If you or anyone you know would like to become involved in disability swimming, please contact Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.