Gordon Reid made Wimbledon history again on Sunday when he became the first ever wheelchair tennis men’s singles champion at The Championships. The British No.1 Reid defeated Sweden’s’ Stefan Olsson in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 to win his second Grand Slam singles title.

World No.3 Reid took control early on in the first set and won it comfortably 6-1. After both players traded breaks of serve in the second set Reid took his opportunities to lead 5-3. Two games later successive errors from Olsson gave Reid two match points and although he hit a double fault on his first opportunity to seal the title, the 24-year-old Scot fired down an unreturnable serve to seal his place in the Wimbledon history books after 69 minutes.

“To win Wimbledon is an absolute dream. To do it here in front of the people I love, my friends and family, my coaches, with so much support. It’s great,” said Reid. “I got tight on my first match point but on my second one I just forced myself to breathe and relax. I’ll never forget this moment, it’s incredible and such a special moment. To be able to play singles here at Wimbledon is brilliant; I’ve had worse weekends for sure!”

Reid’s historic singles achievement follows his doubles title from Saturday when he and Alfie became the first all-Brit partnership to win the Wimbledon wheelchair tennis men’s doubles title.

Photos courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

Stefan Hoggan from Auchtermuchty in Fife is now working for Triathlon Scotland as an Engagement Officer. Stefan’s remit is to try and encourage involvement of all communities in the sport regardless of age, gender or ability. Few high performance sports participants are offered the opportunity to work for a Scottish Governing Body in which they are involved. Stefan is delighted to be offered the opportunity to contribute to the development of the sport and those of us who know him well are confident he will be a success.

Stefan is being funded by British Triathlon as a performance Paratriathlete until November of this year. It is just over a year since he transferred from performance swimming to Paratriathlon and he has achieved so much in that time. Training in three disciplines as opposed to one is a daunting challenge for any athlete but he demonstrated good progress at Strathclyde Park in his most recent international Paratriathlon. Stefan’s swimming and cycling have improved immensely and when he arrived at the second transition he was in sixth place in his class. Running remains his greatest challenge and he dropped four places on the third and final stage of the race. Stefan undoubtedly gave everything on the day and was pleased with his performance. Since moving north to train with Fiona Lothian of Triathlon Scotland at Stirling Stefan is more settled and enjoying his training enormously.

Stefan has been a Scottish Disability Sport Academy athlete and is currently a member of the SDS Young Persons Panel. Throughout his career in sport Stefan has been committed to Disability Sport Fife and never misses the opportunity to turn out in Fife colours. As a junior he was a regular in the Fife Sportshall team and led from the front at all times. As a performance swimmer he was recognised by SDS, DSF and East Fife Sports Council for his contribution to performance swimming. Stefan may be a novice in Paratriathlon but many of us believe he has much more to offer this sport as a top performer.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) were delighted to join forces once again with support from the Sports Council for Glasgow and the Scottish Football Partnership (SFP) to deliver the National 5-a-side football Championships at Glasgow Green. Scottish Disability Sport is grateful for the support the Sports Council for Glasgow and the SFP has provided for our National Football Championships.

A large entry of 50 teams from around Scotland descended on Glasgow Green to participate in the SDS/ SFA National Championships on a gloriously sunny day, making it two years in a row on the sunshine front which is a first for this event!

David McArdle of the SFA organised an excellent day’s football with teams representing 12 member branches and three non-member areas competing across eleven groups in five sections. The combining of A Class and B Class players in the Premier Division has allowed teams a much more competitive environment and accommodates teams that would otherwise not play many matches.

It proved to be a very successful tournament for teams from the West of Scotland, with all 5 competitions being won by teams from this region, demonstrating the strength of the clubs and players in this area. Firhill emerged victorious in the Premiership division defeating Highland in the final in a repeat of last year’s result, Blantyre claimed the Championship title with victory over Glasgow and St Mirren Monday Marvels won the League 1 division with Stirling City All Stars finishing runners up with South Lanarkshire’s Blantyre finishing third.

Lothian schools team once again found themselves in the Junior A section and following their defeat by North Lanarkshire’s Buchanan HS last year hoped for a different outcome this time. Unfortunately their opponents this time – Glasgow’s Abercorn – once again proved slightly too strong for the team from the East again and the silver medal went back east along the M8 again. Glasgow proved too strong for Highland in the Junior B section to complete the clean sweep for the West of Scotland.

What was extremely positive to see was the increase in number of teams from nine of the branches and areas competing.

Scottish Disability Sport and the Scottish Football Association are grateful for the input of Brian Martin for providing officials, who supplemented their referees with students from City of Glasgow College.

Junior players from across Scotland gathered for the inaugural Wheelchair Basketball ‘Regional Junior Championships’, at the Peak in Stirling.  The Championships form an important step in the talent pathway for young players, with many progressing onto Scotland honours.

The competition was split into two age groups –  U13s, playing 3v3 on 8ft sized hoops, and the U19s playing 5v5 on 10ft sized hoops.  Several of the games were so tightly fought they went to double overtime.

Tina Gordon, wheelchair basketball development officer for basketballscotland commented: “This is such a fantastic day for the development of junior wheelchair basketball.  The quality of play and camaraderie between players, has certainly made for a fun and exciting atmosphere.”

The event was sponsored by RGK Wheelchairs and supported by Scottish Disability Sport, Active Stirling, the Peak Sports Village, Stirling Knights, Stirling Sainsbury’s and The Lord’s Taverners.  RGK Wheelchairs also provided the award for the Most Valuable Player, which was awarded to Morwenna Hastings, representing Highlands.

Final placings:

U13s

1. East
2. Tayside & Fife
3. West
4. Grampian and Central

U19s

1. West
2. East
3. Tayside & Fife
4. Grampian and Highlands
5. Central

University of Stirling

June 2016

49 swimmers from across Scotland travelled to Stirling University pool to compete at the SDS National long Course Performance Championships on Sunday 12th June.

The event was a huge success hosting a record total of 168 swims, of which 54 swimmers achieved Personal Bests, and an astonishing 75 new times were recorded (for long course distance). Also 15 swimmers from across the country underwent a 2 day Classification process whereby they were to be classified for the first time, or reviewed. Feedback from swimmers suggested the process to be efficient and professional.

Scottish Records

Rosie Sheridan, a 12 year old swimmer from Central who underwent the Classification process for the first time this weekend, also achieved a new Scottish Record in the SB6 50m breaststroke with a time of 1:13.44.

Thanks to Paul Noble announcing the event was seamless with OBE Jim Anderson presenting medals throughout, and launching his new book ‘Jim the Swim’.

A well appreciative thanks goes out to;

• all the officials, timekeepers and announcer
• Paul Wilson at Scottish Swimming
• SDS Regional Development Managers
• Stirling University pool for supporting the event and making the day a huge success

For more information on the event please contact Cheryl Willet – SDS Regional Development Manager (Central) cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360

Scottish Cycling and Glasgow life are working in partnership to develop track cycling for people with a disability.  One of the key focusses going forward is the recruitment of pilot cyclists to support visually impaired riders on a tandem.

If you are a cyclist who is interested in getting involved in this programme please follow the link below to an article in the Evening Times. The article tells the story of Fraser Kane, who transferred to the sport (from swimming) after being inspired by Neil Fachie and Craig McLean, who won double Gold, at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

http://m.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14534256.Appeal_launched_for_cyclists_to_pilot_tandems_for_visually_impaired_riders/?ref=twtrec

For more information please contact Gordon Watson on gordon.watson@glasgowlife.org.uk