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

https://www.stepcount.org.uk/blog/meet-the-walkers-richard

UK Sport has named Boccia UK Performance Coach and SDS Board Member Claire Morrison on their female coaches leadership programme. 

The programme seeks to increase female representation in Olympic and Paralympic sport with an objective of doubling representation in high performance sport by the Paris 2024 games. 

Claire has been named alongside 7 other coaches to lead a 6-month programme for the most promising coaches, offering key support, development and observation opportunities. The programme will focus on three key areas fundamental to coaching development journey – leadership, environment and transition. 

 Having been a key part of SDS throughout the years, Claire joined us as a National Development Officer following a work placement with sportscotland. Despite leaving in 2013 to join Boccia UK, she soon became a Board Member, a post she remains in to this day. 

 Speaking of her new role, she said: 

 “It is great that UK Sport have not only recognised that there is an imbalance here but that they have committed to promoting change. I have always been lucky to be inspired, guided and supported by women in leadership roles. Having a visibility of female coaches in performance coaching roles will hopeful help people realise what is possible and inspire them to go on that journey.” 

 Everyone at SDS congratulates Claire on being recognised in this manner and we look forward to seeing the impact her expertise and passion for coaching have on these young coaches. 

My name is Joseph Graham.

First of all, I’m honoured to be the face of Disability Darts Scotland. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the support, encouragement and acceptance of my teammates, Kerry, wee Jojo and Ted McMillan.

After a horrific stabbing and a massive stroke, I was left permanently disabled when I was 20.

I lost the sight in my left eye and the ability to use the right side of my body. I needed to learn to walk, talk, swallow and even tell the time again.

My life became a struggle, stuck in an isolated existence of Post Traumatic Stress, relentless recovery and unwanted limitation, but finding the right help led me to discover real courage.

I contacted Ted McMillan and asked him to visit me in my home three times but I cancelled each time before I used my courage to go to the Cawburn myself to meet him.

That was just over a year ago. This decision changed my life, leading me to finding purpose and inclusion again. I trusted myself, which has paid of massively as earlier this year I was picked to play darts for my country.

I cannot begin to convey how much this means to me. Darts has been a privilege and a boost for my self belief despite having to learn to throw with my left hand…..which is not easy for a right handed person!

Not only do I play for Disability Darts Scotland, I also play mainstream darts for the Cawburn Railroaders every week.

Darts is not just a sport to me, it is a fundamental part of my ongoing recovery and belief in humanity. It’s freedom, inclusion, acceptance and the message that darts is for everyone and it’s fun!

Following on from ‘Sweep and Slide’, Scottish Curling are excited to announce a Wheelchair Curling specific evening, with Paralympic Coach Sheila Swan and members of the Team GB Paralympic Squad.  This event is designed to give all attendees an overview of this discipline, as well as some insights and tips for those who already wheelchair curl from those at the top of the game.

This webinar is free to members of Scottish Curling, SWCA and members of any Scottish Disability Sport SGB club or programme. Full details can be found on the website here:

https://www.scottishcurling.org/clubs-members/curl-up/curl-up-wheelchair-curling-with-the-paralympic-squad/

Innovating our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic through sport and exercise

Friday 26th February 2021, online

University of the West of Scotland’s Sport, Exercise and Health Innovation Conference, is the first of its kind to take place in Scotland. Supported by Scottish Enterprise, this new and exciting conference will bring together academic researchers, practitioners, investment funders, start-ups, public and private sector providers and government and local authority policy makers who are involved in developing and delivering sport, exercise and health products and services.

It aims to represent the leading edge for professional development and networking in the areas of applied sport science, sports medicine, and innovation. It will encompass developments from important Scottish industrial sectors including health, technology and engineering; food and drink; textiles; tourism; and life sciences and biotech. Overall, the Conference has a cross cutting theme which addressees many of the areas identified within the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework, most specifically ‘Health and Wellbeing’.

Full information can be found here:

https://www.uws.ac.uk/about-uws/academic-schools/school-of-health-life-sciences/division-of-sport-and-exercise/sport-exercise-and-health-innovation-conference/

Laura Pilkington is a 23 year old Para Swimmer with the Falkirk Integrated Regional Swim Team and a member of both the SDS & sportscotland Young Person’s Sports Panels.  Laura has been an active participant in our award winning Be Active Be Well programme and has written about how these inclusive sessions have enabled her to continue staying active during these difficult times.

The Scottish Disability Sport Be Active Be Well programme has been a hit with numerous individuals across different regions taking part in a range exercise and wellbeing sessions. I participated in a lot of the Be Active sessions over the summer months including yoga, HIIT, calisthenics and wheelchair exercise sessions. There really is something for everyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed these sessions, and even when I broke my leg during the first lockdown I was still able to participate fully with different adaptations to exercises. That was one of my favourite things about the sessions and the adaptability each instructor had, there would be numerous slightly different exercises in one class! Nobody was left out and all different disabilities were catered for.

This was a unique opportunity as a lot of exercise sessions were going on during lockdown but the ‘Be Active Be Well’ sessions were specifically for people with a disability. It can be quite intimidating going to an exercise class without knowing if it is going to be accessible, but these sessions were designed to be accessible giving an ease of mind when joining in!

The upbeat nature of the classes and relaxed environment made it a great atmosphere to be a part of which was very welcoming. I gained a lot of upper body strength within those sessions as well as learning a lot of new exercises that I could do away from the classes. One of my favourite classes was HIIT with Gill Penfold, she always challenged you and gave you ways you could progress the exercise and I definitely came out of those sessions feeling a sense of pride in what I had achieved.

The group had a real community feel, you got to know each other over the 12 week period and I definitely felt like I had something missing out of my routine when they stopped. Luckily, they are back on and are free and fully accessible for all. One of the hardest things about lockdown can be feeling lonely and isolated but the general chit chat and laughs at the start and end of sessions helped towards this and getting to know other people with a disability. Having something to focus on and a distraction from everything happening in the world really helped with my mental health and gave me an hour that day just to focus on myself! If you haven’t already tried the Be Active sessions, I would highly recommend getting involved!

Laura Pilkington, Young Persons Sport Panel

View all our Be Active Be Well sessions and register for one here.