Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games bronze medalist Aileen Neilson will skip the Scotland team as they take to the ice at the World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship (WWhBCC) in Lohja, Finland this weekend. Aileen will play alongside team-mates Gregor Ewan (third), Hugh Nibloe (second), Robert McPherson (lead) and Angie Malone (alternate) in Finland.

The  WWhBCC will be held from 4-10 November at the Kisakallio Sports Institute with a record 16 international teams taking part. The teams will battle for the final two remaining spots at the 2017 World Wheelchair Curling Championship (WWhCC) which will be held in Pyeong Chang, South Korea.

The teams taking part are split into two groups with Scotland featuring in Group A:

Group A: England, Israel, Italy, Scotland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey.

Group B: Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Latvia, Poland, Chinese Taipei.

Slovakia and Finland, who were both relegated from the 2016 WWhCC in Lucerne, Switzerland, will be amongst the favourites in Finland and there will be international debuts for the teams from Chinese Taipei and Turkey.

Both groups will play a round-robin stage beginning on Friday 4 November, with the top three teams from each group proceeding to the play-off stages. If required, teams will play one round of tie-breakers at 14.00 on Wednesday 9 November, to determine the final rankings. The top ranked team from each group will progress directly to the semi-finals taking place at 09.30 on Thursday 10 November. The second and third placed teams will play a qualification round at 18.30 on Wednesday 9 November for the remaining semi-final places.

The semi-final winners will qualify for the WWhCC 2017 and play for the gold and silver medals, while the semi-final losers will compete for bronze medals. Both medal games take place at 14.30 on Thursday 10 November.

The WWhCC 2017 is the last qualification event for the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, to be held in PyeongChang, Korea from 9-18 March.

To keep up-to-date with all the action from Finland follow the World Curling Federation on Twitter, Instagram (@worldcurling) and Facebook (/WorldCurlingFederation) and use the hashtags: #WWhCC2017 #Roadto2018 #curling.

With the Paralympic Games in Rio now over individual sports seek to identify the athletes that will receive high performance funding as we head into the next Paralympic cycle.  British Athletics have announced the athletes that will receive this funding, which is provided by the National Lottery through UK Sport, with emphasis based on winning medals at a Paralympic Games.  Consideration will have also been given to those athletes with the potential to medal at the IPC World Championships being held in London 2017.

SDS wish to congratulate Jo Butterfield, Libby Clegg, Maria Lyle, Stef Reid, Sammi Kinghorn and Derek Rae who have been announced on the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP).  This is split into two levels: Podium (for athletes with the potential to win medals at Tokyo 2020) and Podium Potential (for athletes developing towards Tokyo 2020 and the Paralympics in 2024).

Podium

Libby Clegg
Jo Butterfield
Stef Reid
Maria Lyle

Podium Potential

Sammi Kinghorn
Derek Rae

A full report can be found on the British athletics website:

http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2016-news-page/november-2016/02-11-16-wcpp-2016-17/

 

The National Deaf Children’s Society and North Lanarkshire Leisure are teaming up to hold a deaf-friendly swimming gala in Airdrie.

Swimmers will have the opportunity to meet deaf role models, take part in a swimming ‘master class’ and put their skills into action in the deaf-friendly swimming gala!

This is an exciting opportunity for deaf swimmers to meet, have fun and compete together in a friendly and supportive environment. Young people must be able to swim 25 metres+. No previous competitive experience necessary.

• John Smith Pool, Airdrie, ML6 0AH
• Saturday 19 November 2016
• 1:30pm – 5:00pm
• Communication support provided by NDCS
• Parents/carers must be present throughout
• Free!

The recommended age for this event is 8-18 but younger swimmers are welcome to take part if they can confidently swim 25 metres+. Hearing siblings welcome.

To find out more or to book a place, please contact:

Eleanor Connelly, Swimming Development Officer
0141 354 7850
http://bit.ly/DFSgala
swimming@ndcs.org.uk

Deaf-Friendly Swimming Gala Entry Form Download

On 2 October 2016, at the Scottish Disability Sport AGM, the Scottish launch of the Get Out Get Active programme took place.

This is an exciting new UK programme funded by Spirit of 2012 with three Scottish localities, Grampian, Fife and Forth Valley, taking part.

For full information please download the GOGA leaflet.

 

It’s official. The international Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed that four British players, including Paralympic gold medallist and Wimbledon men’s singles champion Gordon Reid,, will compete at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters 2016 in London (30 Nov-4 Dec).

Tournament success throughout the year has ensured Reid (world No.2), Andy Lapthorne (quad world No.4), Jordanne Whiley (world No.5), and Lucy Shuker (world No.8) will all fly the flag for Britain at the ITF’s year-end wheelchair tennis singles championship at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Reid, from Helensburgh in Scotland, said: “I know you are only as good as your last match and that the competition will be really intense at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. I’m just going to knuckle down and work hard to give myself every opportunity to win this title. That would be a dream finale to my year.”

Competition will be tough in all of the disciplines, with Joachim Gerard (Belgium), Jiske Griffioen (Netherlands) and David Wagner (USA), the respective reigning men’s, women’s and quad champions, all returning to defend their titles.

The top eight ranked men’s and women’s players and top six quad players at the ITF ranking list cut-off of 10 October qualify for the Masters making it one of the most prestigious events on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation.

 

 

The remaining two member branches to complete their Minimum Operating Requirements (MOR) were celebrating at this year’s SDS AGM as they were notified they had been successful in their efforts to ensure that their branch was fully aligned to the SDS MOR criteria.

Perth & Kinross Disability Sport (PKDS) and South Lanarkshire Disability Sport (SLDS) have worked hard in improving their branch operations across the five main headings of the SDS Strategic Plan 2012-2017:

• Branch, Local & Regional Opportunities
• Developing Talent & Performance
• Education & Coaching
• Governance & Infrastructure
• Communication & Leadership

For Perth & Kinross this achievement has been an immediate positive by-product of their appointment of a professional officer (Caroline Ness) through their position as an official charity of the 2014 Ryder Cup. Lynn Melville – the current Chair of the organisation – said

“PKDS are delighted to obtain the branch Minimum Operating Requirements and provides us with a robust and strong structure behind the charity and allows us to continue with our exciting development plans. Well done to Caroline Ness for all her hard work and the branch trustees who have supported this process.”

For South Lanarkshire it is testament to the hard work undertaken by the board of trustees of the charity in making stronger links to the local authority and trust through Patrick Murphy the Development Services Manager of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture.

SDS had set a target of all branches achieving MOR before March 2017 and these presentations confirm this success well ahead of schedule. The process now continues with ongoing evaluations and a re-accreditation process to ensure branches remain fully fit for purpose.

Congratulations to PKDS and SLDS on their respective achievements.

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Saturday 8^th October 2016 – [EN]GAGE Sports Centre, Napier University, Edinburgh

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) were supported by local branch, Lothian Disability Sport (LDS) to deliver the annual Scottish Boccia Open Championships for players out with the bisfed classification, attracting around 60 players to Edinburgh on Saturday 8^th October.

The event saw players from across Scotland, as well as entrants from England (Derek Sked) and Northern Ireland (Caroline Millar), compete in sections for players with a physical disability (class A), players with a learning disability (class B, male and female) and a junior section for players under the age of 16.  The large entry allowed for some excellent competition throughout the day in all sections, providing players the opportunity to test themselves against their peers from across the country – some renewing old rivalries and some experiencing the competitive stage for the first time.  This competitive element was particularly evident in class B as numbers allowed for four groups in both male and female categories, meaning that the group winner only would qualify for the semi final stage – this was tough for some players who managed to claim a number of victories and were disappointed as first place was decided on shots difference.  Lothian continued their proud record of dominance in the female section as Jodie Lavin (Lothian Special Olympics) defeated experienced campaigner Kirsty McCallum (No Limits, Lothian) in a tightly contested final, 3-2.  Philippa Robertson (Lothian Special Olympics) produced some excellent shots in the bronze medal match, defeating Harriet Davis 6-5 meaning that the region recorded a clean sweep in the medal stakes.  James Muirhead of Kirkriggs Boccia Club adapted superbly to the transition between junior to senior competition, claiming an impressive victory in the male class B section at the first time of asking – narrowly defeating Tayside Special Olympics player David Carlin in a tie break after the players were locked at 3-3 after four ends.  Forth Valley’s Darren Rooney proved victorious in the 3^rd/4^th place play off, defeating Scott Bruce (Lothian Special Olympics) 4-3 in another display of impressive boccia.

Class A provided a slightly more UK-wide feel as entrants from England and Northern Ireland supplemented the entry from across Scotland.  Last year’s winner Derek Sked (England) replicated the form from 12 months ago to claim victory in convincing fashion with a 7-0 win against Northern Ireland’s Caroline Millar at the final stage meaning he would take the gold medal across the border once again.  The bronze medal match was contested by two East of Scotland Boccia club players as Heather Nicolson and Adam Stafford battled out a closely contested match with Nicolson building on her victory at last weekend’s Borders Boccia competition to claim victory 6-3.

The junior category was another hotly contested section with Dumfries & Galloway player Morgan Deer displaying consistent and impressive form throughout, culminating in a 6-5 win against Michael Gilhooly  (Kirkriggs Boccia Club) in the section final.  Calum Thomson capped off an enjoyable day, defeating Kaitlin Dow 6-4 in the bronze medal match.  Additionally, the most improved junior is also recognised at these championships with Dundee Boccia Club working closely with clubs across the country to identify a youngster who has developed their game over the previous 12 months.  This year’s selected recipient of the shield was Patrick Boyce of Kirkriggs Boccia Club.

The championships were supported superbly by the staff at [EN]GAGE who provided an excellent environment for players to express themselves on the court.  Thanks is also extended to the dedicated and knowledgeable band of officials who allowed the day to run smoothly from start to finish, alongside announcer Richard Mann whose expertise on the microphone added to the atmosphere throughout.  Lastly, the clubs, coaches and players continue to support the event in their numbers and continue to produce the performances that seem to make the event a greater

Angus-based athlete Gemma Lumsdaine travelled to Westminster last week to address guests at the House of Lords in an event to launch “Supporting Tomorrows Superstars”, a campaign which is raising money to buy a new wheelchair rugby chair for each wheelchair rugby club across the UK and Ireland.

The campaign is run by children’s rugby charity Wooden Spoon, and Gemma, who plays wheelchair rugby, spoke about the benefits of disability sport in general. Gemma also outlined how wheelchair rugby in particular has helped her as it is geared towards athletes impaired in both upper and lower limbs.

Gemma described giving the speech at the House of Lords as nerve-wracking but ensured she made the most of the opportunity to promote disability sport to the audience which included sportsmen, dignitaries, charity funders and ex-Paralympians.

63 delegates attended the 2016 SDS Branch Conference on Sunday 2 October at the new venue of the Stirling Court Hotel on the University of Stirling campus. The conference was able to attract   delegates from 12 out of the 13 SDS member branches who were cheerfully welcomed with a hot cup of coffee and breakfast roll on a pleasant but chilly autumn morning to set them up for a productive day ahead.

The delegates were able to share their experiences with each other along with the chance to access up to date information on key topics related to the day-to-day operations of a branch.

The theme of the conference was ‘Looking back to look forward!’ with delegates reflecting on the challenges and opportunities that have faced the membership in the previous year along with celebrating the successes of Scottish athletes in the Rio 2016 paralympics. Much of the content was driven by branch members and featured those in similar roles having the opportunity to discuss key aspects facing branches in the current sporting landscape.

The conference opened with a welcome and introduction from SDS Chairperson Janice Eaglesham MBE who ran through the achievements and progress SDS has made within the last year and the integral role branches play as the lifeblood of the organisation. This was followed by an excellent presentation from Gold Medal winning, World-Record Club Throw holder Jo Butterfield and her coach Shona Malcolm OBE on their Rio experience and the life of a high-performance athlete and coach.

Representatives from four branches presented case studies of recent pieces of good practice their branches had implemented. These were warmly received by other branches and led to some very interesting discussions.

A key component of the day involved delegates splitting into groups of similar roles and taking the opportunity to discuss the key challenges facing branches with plenty examples of good practice being shared. This followed a very successful pilot of these workshops last year.  SDS staff and board members chaired the groups and ensured key aspects were covered relevant to the positions.

Last year’s conference saw the inaugural meeting of the Young Persons’ Sports Panel which has been used as a voice for the younger members of our communities. This year the panel met again to ascertain the progress that has been made in the year with many citing the gained confidence and skills they have gained as proof of the benefit of the panel.

The day was concluded with a fascinating presentation from Rio 2016 Derek Rae, ably supported by Richard Brickley MBE, who led us on a whirlwind tour of Derek’s ascension through distance running following his accident. The talk highlighted the critical support role a branch can play in a high-performance athlete’s sporting journey.

A successful branch network ensures athletes and clubs are effectively supported in their development along areas of the sporting pathway so it is critical branches are comprehensively supported in this respect.  The presentations from the conference are available on SDS Website at https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/about-sds/branch-conferences/