Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) has today announced a partnership with independent charity SportsAid Scotland to re-launch the SDS Athlete Academy, a multi-sport support structure for talented para-athletes.

The academy aims to supplement the continued development of the most promising and talented para-athletes at a pivotal stage in their athlete journey.

Many of the athletes are targeting the Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games and SportsAid Scotland have been assisted in their support through The Robertson Trust.

Each athlete will receive a funding allocation, whilst also receiving key elements of performance education to support their progression into high performance sport.

SDS work closely with the sportscotland Institute of Sport and other external partners to develop a programme of workshops and training opportunities to best prepare the athletes for when they progress to a UK Sport funded programme or equivalent.

The programme is open to Scottish Governing Body (SGB) or National Governing Body (NGB) athletes with the potential to succeed at national and International level.

Athletes are selected based on strict criteria relating to performance levels, attitude to training and commitment to their sport. Each athlete must be eligible to compete for Scotland and the selection criteria is aligned with that of SportsAid Scotland.

The 2021-2022 intake includes 27 athletes across 12 sports.

Gary Fraser, SDS Performance Manager, commented:

“It is an exciting time to be involved in performance disability sport, and the standard of athlete that has been selected for the SDS Athlete Academy indicates a promising future for Scottish para-athletes competing on the international stage. Athletes at this stage of the performance pathway require more support, whether it be financial or educational, and we are delighted to be able to offer the programme again with the support of SportsAid Scotland and our other key partners.”

Roddy Mackenzie, SportsAid Scotland Chief Executive, said:

“We are more than happy to support such an invaluable project. Athletes have found it increasingly difficult training in isolation during the pandemic and we feel this is a way of bringing them together and giving them a collective identity.”

 Gemma Lumsdaine, GBWR Pathway Athlete, said:

“Being part of the SDS Athlete Academy is such a privilege, I am really excited to be part of a group of athletes who are all striving towards their goals. I think the fact that there is such a wide range of experience and sports within the academy will really help us to learn from each other and also support each other as we progress. The academy will provide us with expertise and education which is extremely valuable to me and will enable me to be the best athlete I can be.“

For further information, please visit https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds-athlete-academy/

On Saturday 20th November the inaugural SDS Highland Parasport Festival was held at Dingwall Leisure Centre (High Life Highland) for young people with physical and sensory disabilities.

In what was a hugely successful first Highland Festival, the young people tried out a variety of exciting and in many cases completely new sports in an inclusive and welcoming environment. All participants were wonderfully supported by the brilliant High Life Highland team during the day as they made their way through the busy events programme.

Throughout the day the youngsters tried swimming, badminton, boccia, wheelchair basketball, athletics and kayaking which were all met with smiles on faces. A parent of one of the participants told SDS that it was “the best day out we’ve had in ages”.

We were also delighted to welcome Maree Todd MSP along to support the event, where she got involved in the activities and spoke with participants. She even had time to join in some wheelchair basketball before taking on SDS CEO Gavin MacLeod and High Life Highland CEO Steve Walsh in a mini boccia match during the lunch break.

Maree Todd MSP said:

“I was delighted to attend the inaugural Highland Parasport Festival and was pleased that the day was a great success with all the participants enjoying themselves trying out new sports.

It was a great pleasure seeing the young people active in learning and with smiles on faces, ably supported by SDS and High Life Highland staff.

Sport should be for everyone, and by creating welcoming and inclusive environments like this we can get more people with disabilities participating in sport and enjoying the huge benefits that it brings.”

High Life Highland’s Head of Sports Development Mags Duncan said:

“This was a great first festival for youngsters with a physical, visual or hearing impairment and was very well received by all those who attended.

“With such positive feedback, we’re planning regular sessions and intend to have further festivals in other areas of the Highlands such as Caithness and Skye.

“We want to ensure as many people as possible will get the opportunity to take part in a range of different sports and activities.”

SDS would like to thank High Life Highland for providing the venue and support from the HLH team throughout the event.

The 2021 SWCA National Pairs was played over the weekend at Kinross curling rink. Fifteen pairs of wheelchair curlers competed in a round robin format to determine the ‘High’ road and ‘Low’ road play offs on Sunday afternoon.

In the High road final Paralympians Gregor Ewan & Jim Gault (pictured) from Elgin came out on top and retained their title as SWCA National Pairs Champions. The final was a close match with Stewart Pimblett and new curler Karen Aspey from the Northern Ice Club taking the match to the wire.

The Low road final was also a very keenly contested contest with the pair of David Hogg & Martin Sutherland coming out on top against Alan & Alison Hopkins.

Our thanks go to Kinross Curling for all their help making the competition run smoothly, grateful thanks to the ice staff, umpires Harry & Michelle Brodie and all the catering staff as well as our fantastic army of volunteers who we just cannot do without.

All being well our next tournament is the SWCA British Open at The Peak, Stirling, 28th February to the 2nd March, just a few days before the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, exciting times ahead.

Anyone interested in finding out more about club wheelchair curling in Scotland please see our website: https://www.scottishwheelchaircurling.com/

SWCA National Pairs 2021

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th November

The SWCA are delighted to be holding their National Pairs this weekend at Kinross Curling Rink. The competition will be the first national wheelchair curling competition to be held in Scotland in almost 2 years and we are very much looking forward to seeing many of our members take to the ice and compete again.

15 pairs will play a round robin format starting Saturday morning with the semi finals and final scheduled for Sunday afternoon. It’s sure to be a great weekend of wheelchair curling with players from all over the country entered including former Paralympic medalists and defending champions Jim Gault & Gregor Ewan and his fellow current GB squad members Norma Woods & Stewart Pimblett (both pictured).

All are welcome, why not come along and watch some great curling?

Anyone interested in finding out more about club wheelchair curling in Scotland please have a look at our website where you will information on wheelchair curling clubs and competitions in your area

https://www.scottishwheelchaircurling.com/

Snowsport Scotland are offering para snowboard skills sessions at the indoor snow slope in Glasgow this December, aimed at people who can already snowboard but are looking to broaden their skills. They also offer an opportunity to meet other snowboarders.

The Progression Sessions are open to any snowboarders with a disability or additional support needs looking to develop their skills and push their riding to the next level.

During the sessions we’ll work on ensuring the fundamentals are honed so you have a good platform to work from as we explore how to ride different parts of the mountain.

Jumps, boxes, bumps, piste performance are all on the menu as we try and have as much fun on our snowboards as possible.

Min Standard: Can link turns effectively on heel and toe edge, control speed and use uplift safely (button lift).

Min age: 16 years old

Tickets: £24 per person (Discounted*), £27 per person (Full Price*) equipment hire not included

If you want to find out if this event is suitable for you or just ask some more questions about it please email: alastair@snowsportscotland.org

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/para-snowboard-progression-session-tickets-198898820727?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWOeSVIoJ0n/?utm_medium=copy_link

We are delighted to share details for the first Scottish Disability Sport Highland Parasport Festival 2021!

Date: Saturday 20th November 2021

Time: 10.00am – 4.30pm (9.30am arrival and registration)

Venue: Dingwall Leisure Centre, Tulloch Avenue, Dingwall IV15 9LH

This Parasport Festival is designed to introduce pupils with a physical, visual or hearing impairment, aged P1-S6 to try new and exciting sports. It has been identified that these groups are significantly under-represented when it comes to participating in weekly sport or physical activity.

This is the first parasport festival running in Highland so we are excited to welcome you to the event! Please watch our ‘Get Involved’ video which highlights the aims and impact of the event featuring testimonies from young people, parents, club coaches and professional officers.

The festival is a partnership event between Scottish Disability Sport, High Life Highland, Highland Disability Sport and Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport along with local club coaches and volunteers to offer sessions in swimming, badminton, boccia, basketball, kayaking and athletics.

Booking information

Online application form is available here.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the event or disability sport in Highland, please contact:

Kirsty Ewen – SDS Regional Development Manager for Highland and Orkney – kirsty.ewen@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07792057153.

Visually Impaired (VI) Rugby is a game which has been modelled on traditional rugby and takes elements from both Union and League codes. Similar to touch rugby, the game is 7-a-side and the referee is very vocal, commentating on the game at all times to help all players understand where the ball is and what is happening.  The ball contains small ball bearings and bells which makes it audible and players wear numbered bibs.

Strathmore Community Rugby Trust are offering new sessions at Forfar Community Campus every Sunday. Further information on the session and who to contact can be found in the flyer below.

145981 Visually Impaired Rugby Flyer

This Winter WheelPower are encouraging us all to be more active with the help of their extensive Online Resource. With live zoom classes to sign up to, workout videos to watch, and free exercise equipment to all help you along the way, there is no better time to join the movement.

Head of Sport, Emily Weller, said: “During the winter period it can be more difficult for disabled people to maintain their fitness and access physical activity. The change in the weather and the dark evenings mean that we all spend more time at home and are looking for new ways to exercise. This winter we are delighted to reintroduce you to the online resources from WheelPower, to help you get through the next few months.”

• WheelPower delivers 3 Live Online Exercise Classes every week. They began in May 2020 and were featured on the BBC One Show in May 2021.
• WheelPower has over 35 Online Workout Videos available on YouTube, all delivered by wheelchair users.
• Over the last year WheelPower has gifted over 700 free sets of resistance bands to disabled people across the UK.

https://www.wheelpower.org.uk/resources/get-active-with-wheelpower