Perth and Kinross Disability Sport are delighted to host the 2019 Tayside Schools Swimming Gala for pupils with a physical, sensory or learning disability on Wednesday 18th September 2019 at Perth Leisure Pool from 10am to 2pm in partnership with Leisure and Culture Dundee and ANGUSalive Sport & Leisure and supported by Perth City Swim Club, Live Active Leisure and Scottish Disability Sport.

Whilst this is a great opportunity for pupils to participate in swimming, it will also act as a qualifier for the Scottish Disabilty Sport  National Championships in November for those who would like to compete further.

Entry forms and information packs have been sent to all Tayside schools.

Any questions or if you would like an entry form sent out direct, please contact – graeme@pkds.org.uk

Closing date for entries – 11th September

Six youngsters from Grampian are on their way to becoming independent cyclists after Adventure Aberdeen hosted its very first Inclusive Learn to Bike workshop during the summer holidays.

The specialist workshop was set up following an enquiry from a parent of a deaf child, who highlighted that her son couldn’t yet cycle without stabilisers, but felt too old to attend the mainstream Learn to Bike workshops which are offered routinely across the country. After enquiring a little wider, it was found that there were a number of young people with disabilities in the same situation and it was then that we approached Adventure Aberdeen with the idea of setting up a pilot workshop especially for these children, and they thoroughly rose to the challenge.

At the end of the 3-hour workshop, 2 of the youngsters were able to cycle confidently without stabilisers, and the remaining 4 children were close to cycling 2-wheeled too!

The chance enquiry from this parent has become a catalyst in driving forward inclusive cycling, and we’re looking forward to continuing working with Adventure Aberdeen to set up further Inclusive Learn to Bike workshops more routinely, and hosting the first inclusive Bikeability workshop for the youngsters who have ‘graduated’ from Learn to Bike and who are ready to develop their cycling proficiency.

Well done to all of the participants who put in so much effort during the workshop, and a huge thank you to the parents and to Sally from Adventure Aberdeen for making it all happen.

If you live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray (or know someone who does) and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

The recent training camp in Flagstaff and the opportunity to train with the outstanding Hawkins brothers has instilled a new confidence in Fife AC’s GB Paralympian Derek Rae.

All who know Derek recognise he is in better shape than ever and he confirmed this with an amazing 46 second PB at the Scottish Athletics 10K National Championships in Stirling last weekend.

Derek knew going into the race that he had enjoyed an excellent training block with coach Ron Morrison at Fife AC. Did he realise that he was going to run 31.13 just prior to his first visit to Japan and a race in Tokyo in preparation for the 2020 Paralympic Games? Derek ran hard from the gun and undoubtedly demonstrated his belief in his new found strength and fitness and he was spot on as always. Derek has never been short of determination and commitment.

Well done yet again Derek. This season has been your best to date and we wish you all the very best in Japan one year out from the Games. Derek has been preparing for this monumental challenge with sessions in the heat chamber. Conditions in Japan will be challenging and Derek’s back up team at the Scottish Institute of Sport will leave nothing to chance in their efforts to assist him with his preparations.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

We are delighted to announce details for the upcoming Central Parasport Festival 2019.

Date:     Wednesday 23rd October 2019

Time:     10.00am – 3.00pm (9.30am arrival and registration)

Venue: The Peak, Stirling Sports Village, Forthbank, Stirling FK8 1QZ

Currently within Central Scotland we have a vast amount of opportunities for children and young people with a visual, hearing or physical disability to get involved in sport or physical activity at a local, regional and national level.

This festival is targeting pupils within a mainstream school setting in the Central area, with a physical, visual or hearing disability aged between P1 – S6. The key impact of the event is to provide a multisport opportunity to these pupils, identify talented individuals within specific sports, alongside channelling pupils onto local, regional clubs/ programmes and sessions. We would like to welcome back all pupils who have attended in the past, alongside engaging new pupils to attend for their first experience. During the 2018 event, video footage was captured highlighting the aims and impact of the event featuring testimonies from young people, parents, club coaches and professional officers.  We hope this footage will prove a useful tool in providing an insight to the event https://tinyurl.com/y66748wq.

Booking information

Please see below Event information and application form, with a closing date of Monday 30^th September 2019, (forms requested to be returned directly to Cheryl Lappin – Central SDS RDM). Alternatively forms can be completed online at https://www.cognitoforms.com/ScottishDisabilitySport/CentralScotlandParasportFestival.

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

Cheryl Lappin SDS Regional Development Manager for Central Scotland on cheryl.Lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577830360

Central Para Sport Festival 2019 – Event Information & Application

Disability Sport Fife bowlers and volunteers enjoyed yet another brilliant Fife Indoor Bowls Championships at East Fife Indoor Bowling Club Methil, courtesy of club committee members. The warmth of welcome was as always outstanding and greatly appreciated by all participants, spectators and support staff. DSF and East Fife Indoor have enjoyed a very special relationship for over 25 years and successive generations of Fife bowlers with additional support needs consider this event one of the most important in the DSF annual calendar.

The event began at 10 30 with a tribute to local hero Craig Bernard who as recently as last year reached the final of the championships B section. Craig died earlier in the year and many of those participating had attended his memorable funeral. Craig loved the Fife Indoor Championships and considered them his home event. Participants were invited to think about Craig at some point in the day and thank him for his friendship and good humour. Craig touched the hearts of many and within the bowling community in particular.

Throughout the day there were many exciting ties and all were overseen by the very committed volunteer markers from local bowling clubs. Officials were as always coordinated by Math Thomson from the Beveridge Park BC who was only able to spend a very short time at the event this year because of a hospital appointment. Thank you deputy Bill Bruce for standing in on the day and ensuring everything ran smoothly. These brilliant volunteers worked non stop from 10 30 till 15 00 and stayed behind for the presentations. Four and half hours of constant officiating with a short break for lunch. Brilliant ladies and gents.

Darryl Stewart from Cowdenbeath BC retained the men’s open title with a win over Crag Donaldson from Central Fife CSS, the reigning Fife outdoor champion. Lloyd Simpson and Steven Anderson from Dovecot BC were presented with joint third place trophies.

The equivalent ladies open title was contested by Pamela Mitchell from Headwell B.C and Wendy Thomson from St Andrews BC and East Fife CSS. Pamela was first introduced to the Fife bowls programme in the early 80s by Alex McLean at Rosyth ATC and she is playing better bowls in 2019 than ever before. Pamela was a convincing winner and will head to Aberdeen on Saturday in search of another SDS outdoor national title. Both Pamela and Wendy are past Scottish champions. Julie Allan from Windygates Bowling Club and East Fife Indoor Bowling Club was awarded a third place trophy.

Kevin Mustard from Central Fife CSS won the men’s section B title by defeating Phillip Callander from West Fife CSS and Headwell BC in the final. Mathew Blissett from Dovecot BC won a trophy for third place.

Newcomer Charlie Porter from East Fife CSS won the men’s C1 section with Robert Morrison from Headwell BC finishing runner up. Wayne Moreland from Windygates BC and East Fife CSS won the men’s C2 section with newcomer Aaron Kean from Headwell BC finishing runner up.

Tribute was paid to Headwell BC, Dovecot Park Bowling Club, Windygates BC,Beveridge Park Bowling Club, Lumphinnans Bowling Club, East Fife Indoor andAbbeyview Bowling Club that continue throughout the year to encourage and include bowlers with disabilities to train and play in inclusive environments. A feature of this years’s championships was the number of new players who registered and progressing to the final stages of their sections. DSF is very proud of its links with inclusive bowling clubs and the role played by GOGA in Fife, supported by Spirit of 2012 over the past 30 months.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

Toni Duffin is the latest GOGA in Fife inspired young person to complete the Paths For All 12 week walking programme – “Feeling Great One Step at a Time”.

Paths for All is a national partner of GOGA in Fife and GOGA in Fife invested in pedometers to encourage and inspire GOGA in Fife members to walk regularly and embed walking in their daily routine. The GOGA in Fife programme is supported by Spirit of 2012.

Walking is now so much a part of Toni’s daily routine that she is six weeks into her second round of conscientiously filling in her Walker’s Diary at the end of each day. I looked at her diary this week and over an 18 week period she rarely if ever drops below 8,000 steps and on one particular Thursday she registered over 20,000 steps. Remarkable discipline and commitment by a young Fife woman who also attends a number of GOGA in Fife weekly sessions supported by Spirit of 2012.

Toni has a loving family behind her all the way and her golden lab Tess has played her part. Jillian P and Gillian W are the outstanding Scottish Autism support staff who have encouraged and supported Toni throughout her walking journey to date. The role of significant others can never be under estimated and I am advised that Toni is the driving force. The staff members have welcomed the opportunity to be part of Toni’s journey.

Toni is working towards becoming a GOGA in Fife peer mentor volunteer and her walking commitment to date will undoubtedly have helped her achieve that ambition.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees