Forth Valley Disability Sport successfully held their Annual General Meeting and Awards virtually over Zoom on Monday 22^nd February 2021.  The event was a triumph with over 45 in attendance including local, regional and national partners, sportscotland reps, Local Authority and SGB leads, clubs and volunteers. The purpose of the award ceremony this year was to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our athletes, coaches and volunteers in the surreal year of 2020.

Angus Whyte, FVDS Chair Person, welcomed all the guests and conducted the AGM, Eva Finlayson presented 2020 highlights for FVDS and the GOGA (Get Out Get Active) project. Lizzie Jackson (a local FVDS athlete) delivered an inspirational speech ‘An Athlete Lockdown Story’ which was greatly received. Finishing the evening was Graham Harvey FVDS Branch Coordinator presenting the awards, highlighting the achievements of each award winners across the nine (closely contested) categories.

This years’ Award winners included:

• Lockdown Legend – Caitlyn Ross
• Coach of the Year – Graham Harvey
• The Blair Forbes Junior Sports Person of the Year – Erin McDougall
• Senior Sports Person of the Year – Meggan Dawson Farrell
• Volunteer of the Year – Lyn Dumbleton
• GOGA Participant of the Year – Shirley Black
• Achievement Award – Lizzie Jackson
• Triumph Over Adversity Award – Craig Townsend
• Service to Sport The David Lawrie Award – Angus Whyte

The evening was hailed a great success by coaches, athletes, volunteers and partners alike. Graham Harvey FVDS Branch Coordinator said “Last year has been difficult and challenging for everyone. The nominees’ enthusiasm and hard work had paid off. The winners greatly deserved their awards. A special thank you to our speaker Lizzie Jackson for her inspirational words ‘An Athlete’s Lockdown Story’.”

Many thanks once again to our members and partners that attended the Virtual AGM and Awards FVDS looks forward to working with you all throughout the rest of 2021 and beyond.

If you or anyone else would like to know more information about Forth Valley Disability Sport please contact us by email; info@fvds.org.uk. Alternatively please visit our website www.fvds.org.uk and our social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter for general information, updates and award winners.

The UK Sports Association’s Trustee Board has considered how, when, and by what means there will be a return to Virtus European and World Championship programmes for British athletes.

Whilst Virtus has announced its intention to host a variety of events in 2021, they do so with caution, and in the knowledge that Local Organising Committees and Virtus itself may need to cancel events, and at short notice. This is due to the ever changing conditions around the pandemic.

The UKSA Board of Trustees has considered the following:

• Continuing UK Government restrictions and advice
• Foreign and Commonwealth office advice on international travel and restrictions, including isolation times
• Ongoing uncertainties around lockdown, health risks and timelines
• Athlete’s lack of and limited opportunity to appropriately train and the inability to restart training in light of Government guidelines and rules.
• Virtus guidance to Local Organising Committees on return to competition
• Availability and lack of UK wide national events programmes
• Other factors, including individual risk and financial implications

The primary concern of the UK Sports Association and its Partners is ensuring the continued safety of athletes, coaches and participants.

For the above reasons and given the on-going uncertainties, high levels of risk and lack of any immediate opportunity for training and preparation, there will be no physical face to face GB representation at Virtus events in 2021.

The UKSA Board will continue to monitor the situation. UKSA will make another announcement in the autumn given the ever changing position and the need for the UK to respond appropriately.

2021 Events Plan:

For 2021 UKSA will focus on the following events plan:

1. Promoting and enabling entry to virtual competitions throughout 2021
2. Planning with its Partners to establish how and by what means a return to GB representation will be achieved in 2022.
3. Eligibility and classification applications for Para sports, 2021 Virtual events and an anticipated return to competition in 2022

Planning for 2022:

As a multi-sport organisation, UKSA will invite National Governing Bodies of Sport and other Stakeholders to join a ‘Return to competition’ Forum. This forum will work together to establish guidance for managing a safe return for UK athletes, coaches and volunteers to Virtus events in 2022.

An on-line forum for athletes, coaches and families to engage directly with UKSA throughout 2021 will also be established. It is expected that the first meeting will be in March 2021.

The UKSA Trustees acknowledge the difficulties athletes, coaches and families have experienced throughout 2020 and now in 2021. We thank you all for your patience, support and help through these very difficult times.

UKSA and everyone involved with our work look forward to the day when we can once again stand tall amongst our international friends and showcase the extraordinary talent of British athletes at Virtus European and World Championships. We look forward to a safe return to sport as soon as we are all able.

UKSA Board of Trustees 

Dundee United Community Trust’s commitment to providing sport and physical activity opportunities to people living with disabilities has been recognised with a rebrand of Dundee United Para-Football Club.

The project will now be known as the Dundee United Para-Sports Club, reflective of the lack of opportunities present for people with disabilities to engage in wider sport other than football.

The rebrand comes at the club’s second anniversary which has seen the growth in the club’s provision, membership and partners from three initial football sessions for children with disabilities, amputee football and football for adults experiencing ill mental health. The growth and success of the project led to the football club being named as the best para-football project in the Scottish Football Association East Region’s Grassroots Awards in 2020.

With the demand for additional para-sport continuing to increase, the club seeks to reflect that growth by providing as many opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity as possible with staff completing coaching courses in order to deliver an increased variety of sporting opportunities.

Paul Wilson, Head of Community Development, said:

“We understand that football isn’t for everyone, so we have been working on providing other sports for some time now.  We are excited to confirm that, in the next few months, we will be delivering a brand-new athletics programme specifically for people with a disability.  Changing to Dundee United Para-Sports Club reaffirms our commitment to providing opportunities for those living with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity, not just in football but in various other sports too.”

Graeme Doig, Scottish Disability Sport Tayside Regional Development Manager, said:

“I am delighted and proud to work in partnership with Dundee United Para-Sports Club. Their weekly football sessions have proven a huge success for all involved. They are fun and meaningful with each one tailored to get the best out of their players whether they have a learning, sensory or physical disability. The coaches ability to treat each player as an individual with individual needs is what sets them apart and keeps the players coming back week after week whilst attracting new players into a football club suitable for their ability’
‘Dundee United Para-Sports Club also support our Tayside Parasport Festival each year which aims to introduce pupils with physical, visual or hearing impairment into a variety of sports. Feedback from pupils and parents alike is always extremely positive and this always helps create introductory pathways for these young people to play weekly football in a trusted, safe and secure environment with their peers.

“I am really excited to work in partnership with them again to develop more sport and physical activity opportunities in the months ahead.”

If you would like to find out more about Dundee United Para-Sports Club email: enquiries@dundeeunitedct.co.uk

SDS Regional Managers Alison Shaw and Andrew MacKenzie were delighted to join Scottish Student Sport (SSS) on their latest BiteSSSize Best Practice webinar series.  

The webinar explored how disability sport could be better embedded into Universities, Colleges and more generally into Scottish sport, with para-swimmer Erin Swann providing a student-athlete insight. 

Alison and Andrew’s presentation gave an insight into the partnership work that exists between SDS & SSS, encouraging educational institutions to follow that lead and work in collaboration with SDS to provide the necessary training and expertise to drive inclusive sport for students with disabilities. 

With plenty of discussion throughout from representatives of sports governing bodies, a number of clear themes emerged to better embed disability sport for students with disabilities. 

Visibility – Saying you are inclusive is one thing, but showing it is another. Including para-athletes and people with disabilities across digital and print media will show you are welcome and serious about inclusivity 

Opportunity – Ensure you are creating multiple opportunities for students with disabilities to participate and try new sports  

Links to community – Collaborate with community clubs to encourage the smooth transitions between youth and student sport as well as encouraging the transfer of knowledge and best practice between the two 

You can watch the webinar in full here: 

Scottish Curling are very pleased to showcase the next set of ‘Curl Up’ dates, looking forward to the lighter nights and brighter weather on the horizon.

This latest tranche includes some brand new topics, featuring a session on tactics, hosted by the indominable Mr David ‘Rambo’ Ramsay  as well as a technically focused presentation on the key skill of ice making, to name but two.

They are delighted with the feedback so far, and we are eager to keep the momentum going by offering a little ‘something for everyone’ over the course of the coming weeks.

Scottish Curling Development Manager Scott Andrews first came up with the idea for ‘Curl Up’, after delivering some virtual content on tactics to Junior Clubs in Ayr.

The feeling was, that if there was an appetite at local level, then why not offer something for all our members, and beyond.

Scott says:

”The engagement so far from the members has been overwhelmingly positive with over 100 signing up to our most recent workshop (‘Sweep and Slide’ with Academy Manager, Sophie Jackson).

To be in a position to offer this range of sessions – just a matter of weeks after launching ‘Curl Up’ – proves there’s a real hunger for it, and a desire among our contributors to give back to the membership, and that makes it all worthwhile.

We are planning to continue our ‘Curl Up’ sessions until the middle of April. Looking further ahead, ideas are already taking shape to start ‘Curl Up’ again in August leading up to the start of the season 2021/22.

We hope that members have found the sessions fun and interesting. As a team we have certainly enjoyed hosting them and giving members some curling filled evenings in the absence of on-ice action.”

Full information can be found on the Scottish Curling website here: https://www.scottishcurling.org/curl-up-spring-2021-programme/

Congratulations to Alec Watt who was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours list announced earlier this year.

Alec has been a great ambassador for sport, supporting numerous participants to be part of the Glasgow Eagles which he founded in 1988. Alec’s dedication to support people with a disability in his inclusive sessions has been a great success across Glasgow. No matter what age or ability of the participant Alec is always keen to support them.

You can read more here:https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18977431.alexander-watt-nets-mbe-honours-list-glasgow-eagles-success/

Everyone at SDS would like to congratulate on Alec’s well-deserved MBE – well done Alec!

 

Brits Andy Lapthorne, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid all booked their places in the Australian Open singles semi-finals on Sunday’s opening day of wheelchair tennis action at Melbourne Park. 

On an excellent day for players on the LTA’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme, Lapthorne made history when he won the first ever completed quad singles knockout quarter-final at an Australian Open, defeating the USA’s David Wagner 6-1, 6-4.  

With the Australian Open expanding its quad division field to eight players this year and therefore moving from a round-robin format to a knockout competition for the quad singles, world No.2 Lapthorne opened up a 6-1, 3-0 lead over former champion David Wagner of the USA , before needing to regroup midway through the second to close out victory. 

Three-time Australian Open finalist Lapthorne, who plays reigning US Open champion Sam Schroder of the Netherlands in Monday’s semi-finals, said:  

“I came out and tried to play aggressive and it worked. I got it to 6-1, 3-0 and probably relaxed a bit. I felt a lull there and let him get back into it, but I showed massive character to hold for 5-3 and just found a way (to win). This is what all the campaigning has been for, to get eight players here and I’m so proud of that. 

“I’ve done a few things differently and I’m trying to stay relaxed, as I’m very aware that it’s a privileged position that we’re in, being able to play tennis while so many here and in the UK are in lockdown,” added Lapthorne, who partners Wagner in Monday’s quad doubles semi-finals, where they face Japan’s Koji Sugeno and American Nick Taylor. 

Reigning French Open champion Hewett found a way to ‘win ugly’ against Frenchman Nicolas Peifer. Hewett recovered from 2-0 down to take the opening set and served out his match to love with an ace for a 7-5, 6-4 victory that sets up a men’s semi against world No.1 Shingo Kunieda. Former US Open men’s singles champion and world No.3 Hewett, said: 

“I’ve come here to take the title. It’s one I haven’t got and tomorrow is a big, big challenge on the way to trying to make that happen and I’m really excited for it. But to put things into perspective, we’re in a tough place in the world right now, so to actually be out here playing tennis in the sun is quite a privilege.” 

Reid needed six match points before joining Hewett in the singles semi-finals, overcoming the effects of illness to secure a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s world No.2 Fernandez.  

The world No.5 fell 3-1 behind in the final set before stringing four games in a row to lead 5-3. However, it wasn’t until Fernandez had reduced Reid’s lead to 5-4 that the Rio 2016 men’s singles gold medallist earned the first of six match points, finally drawing Fernandez into a backhand error to prevail after two hours and 30 minutes. 

Having also beaten Fernandez in the quarter-finals of the 2020 Australian Open, Reid will now attempt to defeat Belgian Joachim Gerard, the same player he beat in last year’s semi-finals. Drawn in the opposite half of the men’s singles draw to Hewettt , he said: 

“I’ve had a stomach bug in the last few days and I didn’t have a lot left in the tank in the third set, so I’m just happy that I stuck in there and made it difficult for him.  

“I don’t think I did anything too wrong. He raised his level, made more balls and caused me a lot of pressure. I had to try and reset for the third set, hang in there, and I started the set well. I was really happy with the way I fought, it meant a lot to me to get that win today. It was a gutsy final set – it wasn’t always pretty, but sometimes you’ve got to do that when you’re not feeling 100 per cent.  

Lucy Shuker’s 11th Australian Open began with a 6-2, 6-2 loss to French Open finalist Momoko Ohtani. Shuker now turns her attention to Monday’s women’s doubles semi-finals, when she will attempt to reach a third Australian Open doubles final and her first partnering South Africa’s Kgothatso Monttjane. Shuker said:  

“I love playing here and it’s just a shame I didn’t bring my best game today. I went 2-0 and 40-0 up and then Ohtani started to settle into it. I think that if I’d had a bit more patience I probably could have been a bit more competitive. She defends very well, so there were times when I thought I’d almost won the point and then she digs out that extra ball. 

Shuker and Montjane face Colombia’s Angelica Bernal and Chile’s Macarena Cabrillana in their doubles semi-final, having beaten the same partnership twice in the last 10 days to reach the final of both of their Australian Open warm-up wheelchair tournaments. Shuker added: 

“I’m looking forward to the doubles and I love playing with KG. I think our games compliment each other really well.  We’ve got to two finals in the lead-in events after beating the same pair. They will be gunning for us, but hopefully we can dominate again and it’s one match at a time.”  

Monday’s second day of wheelchair tennis action will also feature the men’s doubles semi-finals, with Hewett and Reid beginning their men’s doubles title defence with a contest against Fernandez and Kunieda. 

Unbeaten in doubles competition in 2020, when they completed a career Grand Slam of titles together, Hewett and Reid saw their winning sequence come to an end against Fernandez and Kunieda last week at the Victorian Wheelchair Open, the first of two Australian Open lead-in tournaments.  

Looking ahead to Monday’s doubles semi-final. when he and Reid begin their quest for a British record-equalling 10th Grand Slam doubles title together, Hewett said: 

“It’s probably not the first round match we would have liked, having lost to them last week, but there was a lot of good in last week’s match to take forward into this week.” 

To find out more about the LTA’s work with disability tennis, head to www.lta.org.uk/play or email disabilitytennis@lta.org.uk. 

Photo courtesy of the LTA