Category: A News

Four Para Athletes Inducted into Hall of Fame

The scottishathletics Hall of Fame was established some years ago to recognise excellence in the sport of athletics. The initial inductees were great athletes like Eric Liddell, Liz McColgan and Alan Wells. Last year fifteen new athletes were added and this year the first four para athletes were inducted at the scottishathletics and jogscotland FPSG Annual Awards Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

In the 70s and early 80s, Barbara Howie from Lothian was Scotland’s first wheelchair athlete to excel on the world stage. Barbara was a multi medallist at the Paralympic Games in West Germany in 1972, Toronto in 1976 and the Netherlands in 1980. Barbara was a champion before the new technologies revolutionised racing wheelchairs. Barbara committed many years to athletics in Scotland as an official.

Colin Keay from Kirkcaldy was the first Disability Sport Fife member to be linked with the Fife AC coaching team. Colin has cerebral palsy and a significant number of secondary conditions but that did not deter him from becoming the outstanding T36 athlete of his generation. During the 80s Colin reigned supreme on the track and in cross country. At the Paralympic Games in New York in 1984 and Seoul in 1988 Colin won five gold and one silver medal.

Caroline Baird MBE from Cupar was a member of Disability Sport Fife and introduced to the Fife AC coaching team. Caroline has cerebral palsy, excelled under coach John Oulton and throughout the 90s was the world’s outstanding T36 sprinter. Caroline won five medals at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000. At the IPC World Championships in Birmingham and Berlin she won double gold. Caroline was awarded the George Dallas Trust Award in 2000.

Stephen Payton from West Lothian arrived on the international scene at the IPC World Championships in Berlin in 1994 and remained at the top until the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Stephen was a multi medallist at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and all European and World Championships in intervening years. Stephen has cerebral palsy and competed in T38 class.

These four athletes paved the way for all that has happened in para track and field up to and including the Paralympic Games in Rio. During their lifetimes they were the Scottish and British athletes to beat at every IPC or CPISRA major championships. I am certain that each one will feel massively honoured to be included in such an iconic Hall of Fame alongside so many world renowned athletes. On the night they certainly articulated their overwhelming appreciation.

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

Best wishes and thank you Barry – welcome Gregor

Disability Sport Fife values the very special relationship it enjoys with Glenrothes Strollers Football Club. DSF refers interested adults to the football club that is located directly across from the DSF office in the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre. Working with DSF and GOGA in Fife, the Strollers have set up a junior session on Tuesday evenings with support from Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. The partnership has never been stronger.

Until very recently Barry Christie has been the DSF contact coach at Glenrothes Strollers. Barry has recently moved on and DSF would like to pay tribute to all the excellent work he has done in strengthening the partnership and moving Para football forward considerably. Thank you for your friendship, support, expertise and passion for football. We congratulate you on your efforts in growing the club and all recent successes in all competitions. We shall miss you Barry.

As we say farewell to Barry and pay tribute to his achievements we welcome new Para football coach Gregor Rodger. I have already had a very useful meeting with Gregor and I am confident our respective organisations will move forward together in promoting community inclusive Para football. All the very best Gregor in your new post.

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

Boccia UKCC Level 1 Opportunity

An exciting coaching opportunity is coming to Edinburgh. Are you interested or currently active in coaching boccia? Well this coaching qualification is for you!

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) are the governing body for the sport of boccia and will be delivering a UKCC Level 1 course over the weekend of 25th and 26th January at Gracemount Leisure Centre, Edinburgh.

The course will provide the knowledge and expertise required to coach players of all ages and abilities in the sport. The workshop outcomes are listed below –

  • Planning and preparation
  • Effective communication and demonstration skills
  • How to give appropriate and constructive feedback
  • Evaluating activities
  • Understanding of boccia and coaching principles

The cost of the course is £250, however a subsidy of £75 is available via sportscotland. Please get in touch for more details about this. Please find the flyer attached for the upcoming Boccia UKCC Level 1 course.

To register your interest / book a place on the course, please contact Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

UKCC Level 1 January 2020

YPSP: Caitlyn Ross – My Amazing Journey this Season

Where do I start: this year has been amazing and went so quickly – like who can believe it’s November already! Now, people say new years are about trying new things and exploring new opportunities. I have definitely done that this year. First of all I have joined the Young Start programme and have done courses with them that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do anywhere else and will hopefully be a qualified swimming teaching and athletics level 1 coach and also an athletics assistant official by the end of the year or start of next year. I also will be doing my lifeguard award around Easter time next year.

I have also begun my journey with the Law Enforcement Torch Run to help raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics which has opened a lot of opportunities for me as I have gone into the police academy and made my first ever attempt at public speaking, where I spoke about Myself and My Special Olympic Journey. I have also joined them on Torch Runs at events like the Special Olympics 40th Anniversary Games in Stirling in 2018, Forth Valley Flyers Athletics Championships this year and also Scottish Disability Sports Senior Athletics Championships this year. This has been an amazing experience so far and have met some amazing people that I hope to continue to work with and support them as much as I can. I would also like to thank them for the support they have given me too.  Also you can show your support and keep updated on what they are doing through their Facebook page Law Enforcement Torch Run – Scotland.

On the 23rd October SDS held another very successful Central Para Sport Festival, where everyone there got involved and tried a mixture of different sports. These sports were athletics, badminton, boccia, climbing, curling, football and power chair football, sailing and swimming. Also to finish off the Festival we had an athlete Q&A with our amazing wheelchair curling and wheelchair racer athletes Robert McPherson and Meggan Dawson Farrell as they told us about themselves and what their sporting journeys have been like so far and where they want them to go.

After the success of this event we have had participants from the Central Para Sport Festival join clubs of the sport they enjoyed and wanted to do more of. This makes all the hard work that SDS put in to run this event every year worth doing as we get more children and young people into sport that they might not get to do anywhere else. For any more information on this event check the article write-up on the SDS web page.

On the 24th October Forth Valley Disability Sport and Go Out Get Active held an Adult Multi-Sport to help celebrate 3 years of GOGA. This was also a huge success with everyone there getting to try some new sports as well as some of the original sports we provide at FVDS. The sports they got to try were Soft Tip Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Boxing, Table Cricket, Quick Curling, and MATP (Motor Activity Training Program). It was an amazing event where everyone taking part loved it and had loads of fun trying all these sports and loads of laughs were shared as they went round all the activities.

sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2019

What a night of celebration for SDS at the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards 2019, held in the splendid surroundings of Glasgow City Chambers.

SDS won the Transforming Coaching Award for it leadership and mentoring programme, Young Start, which supports young athletes in their coaching journey. 80% of the young people taking part in the programme have gained qualifications. Exciting news is that SDS is now a finalist at the UK Coaching Awards on 5 December in London – #ukcoachingawards. Well done to all the young people who are now coaching sessions.

It is wonderful to note that the Disability Coach of the Year has been named the Janice Eaglesham Disability Coach of the Year and was won by Majella Kerr for her multi-sport work with participants on the autism spectrum.

And last but not least, Jack Calder (swimming) posthumously won the Lifetime Achievement Award – Volunteering.

Many thanks to sportscotland for an outstanding evening recognising so many volunteers, officials and coaches.

GOGA in Fife DIT for coaches and volunteers

Sixteen GOGA in Fife volunteers and peer mentor volunteers attended a Scottish Disability Sport, Disability Inclusion Training (DIT) coaching and volunteers course at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre on Monday 18th November. This was the first of several that will be organised throughout 2020 and 2021 for new and potential DSF volunteers and coaches.

The course was tutored by Richard Brickley and Pamela Robson and supported by Spirit of 2012 through Get Out Get Active (GOGA). This was the last of many GOGA in Fife training opportunities that have been held for coaches and volunteers within inclusive clubs and the local authority since GOGA in Fife was launched almost three years ago.

The GOGA in Fife team strongly believe that changing activity behaviours will only happen if the GOGA in Fife coaching and volunteering team is supported by quality, relevant and regular training. Spirit of 2012 through GOGA has made this possible and there is a commitment to ensure training continues throughout 2020 and beyond. Scottish Disability Sport and other partners are making this possible by offering funding for new courses in 2020.

The programme for this most recent course was determined by the participants and covered the DIT principles of adopting a functional approach, relevant communication styles and the principles of STEP. The whole course was practical and covered warm up, carpet bowls, run, jump and throws, boccia, team games etc. The full three hours were fun, appropriate and engaging. GOGA in Fife volunteers and peer mentor volunteers committed fully to the learning experience and feedback was positive.

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

World Para Athletics Championships

The World Para Athletics World Championships in took place in Dubai from the 7-15 November 2019.  Scotland had seven athletes #represent Great Britain in the event, producing a host of memorable performances.

There was a tremendous double gold and two new World Records for Scottish RaceRunners Kayleigh Haggo and Gavin Drysdale.  This was the first time RaceRunning has been incorporated into an IPC World Championships

Gavin dedicated his achievement to his late coach Janice Eaglesham MBE: “Wow, I cannot believe it. I knew I would probably have to break the world record to win it. I want to dedicate this gold medal to my late coach, Janice Eaglesham. She would have been so proud.”

Earlier on in the competition, Sammi Kinghorn delivered a bronze medal in the T53 100m and Maria Lyle claimed double gold in the 100m and 200m T35 events.  In addition, Paralympic Champion, Jo Butterfield, won silver in the F51 Club Throw.  Libby Clegg competed in her first major competition since giving birth and her preparations towards Tokyo finished with a semi-final place in the T11 100m.

Owen Miller made his debut at this level and finished in a credible 6th place in the T20 1500m.

A full list of results can be seen below.

 

Gavin Drysdale Gold – 100m RR3 in World Record
Kayleigh Haggo Gold – 100m RR3 in World Record
Maria Lyle Gold – T35 100m
Gold – T35 200m
Jo Butterfield Silver – Club
Sammi Kinghorn Bronze – 100m
Owen Miller 6th – T20 1500m
Libby Clegg Semi-final – T11 100m

 

Scottish Wheelchair Curling National Pairs 2019

The 2019 Scottish Wheelchair Curling Association National Pairs was played over the weekend at Kinross curling rink.  16 pairs of curlers from as far as Preston to the South and Elgin to the North competed in 4 sections of round robin on Saturday to determine the ‘High’ road and ‘Low’ road plays–offs on Sunday.

After a highly competitive Sunday it is Congratulations to Paralympians Jim Gault & Gregor Ewan from Elgin who were the class pair of the field winning the ‘High’ road and the title of National Pairs Champions 2019.  In the final they defeated local favourites Ross Hatten & Leslie Barr who beat some very strong pairs along their route to the final.  Ross & Leslie also deservedly won the umpires award for outstanding contribution to the tournament.

The ‘Low’ road was also a very keenly contested competition with the Lockerbie pair of Daniel Cowan and Alison Cloudsley deservedley coming out on top.  Congratulations to both players.

Our thanks go to Kinross Ice Rink for allowing us to use their facilities, the addition of the new lift and increased space allowed the competition to run very smoothly, grateful thanks to the ice staff, umpire Harry Brodie and all the catering as well as our army of volunteers who we just cannot do without.

Our next tournament is the SWCA British Open at Hamilton Ice Rink, 9th to the 11th February. Please see the new SWCA Facebook page ‘Scottish Wheelchair Curling Assoction – SWCA” for info on this great sport.

West Cross Country

Thursday 14th November saw the 2nd cross country in the West Series take place at Ralston Sports Centre, Paisley.  It was perfect weather for the athletes to take part in what was their second time at this venue.

A total of 176 athletes took part over 6 races with some great performance on the day and some very close finishes.   Well done to everyone who took part.

Massive thanks to Renfrewshire Leisure for hosting/setting up the event, sports leaders from Park Mains High School, students from West of Scotland College, and WOSA for organising.

The next event in the series will take place on Thursday 20th February in Airdrie.  For more information on this please contact Stuart skerr@ashton-sec.glasgow.sch.uk.

The SDS National Cross Country takes place at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow on Tuesday 19th March.  For more information on this please contact Mark Gaffney: mark.gaffney@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Young Fife man inspired by GOGA is leading from the front

Matthew Blissett from Glenrothes is a young DSF (SCIO) member who has benefited enormously from GOGA in Fife, supported by Spirit of 2012 Matthew works part time for Fife Council and over the past couple of years has signed up for a range of GOGA inspired inclusive active recreation sessions.

Matthew was one of the first members to take advantage of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust Leisure Active card that now includes DSF weekly sessions run in FSLT facilities. Matthew appreciates that signing up for additional classes means that he does not have to pay any more now that he has a Leisure Active card. His most recent commitments are to inclusive hydro spin sessions on Monday with Megan and Friday with Debbie.

Matthew attends GOGA supported Wednesday 11 30 swimming session for adult improvers with additional support needs led by Kathy and Kirsteen. As well as being influenced by GOGA and supported by Spirit of 2012, the session has grown in popularity over the past year in particular. This has enabled an additional coach to be taken on board and the session to run throughout the year, including holiday periods.

Matthew is one of a number of DSF members to sign up for lawn bowls atDovecot Park Bowling Club in Glenrothes. Inspired by coach Mike Mowat the club has blossomed into one of the most inclusive in Fife. Participants with additional support needs can now access separate sessions or join in inclusively with everything this ambitious local bowls club has to offer. The club offers coaching and entry into club and Fife wide competitions. Over the past couple of years Matthew has entered for DSF indoor, outdoor and carpet bowls competitions as a result of his experiences at the Dovecot BC.

Matthew is now also attending Thursday multi sports and GOGA in Fife is keen that he becomes a peer mentor volunteer in 2020. GOGA in Fife hopes he will soon sign up for Monday evening inclusive badminton sessions but working hours currently make this very difficult.

Matthew has also signed up for the GOGA in Fife Paths for All 12 week walking challenge, using his own phone and Paths for All diary. When I checked his diary last he was comfortably recording eight miles daily between his work and full on engagement in inclusive active recreation sessions inspired by GOGA and supported by Spirit of 2012. Matthew is a popular young man, a true DSF role model and great asset to the Fife programme. GOGA in Fife supported by Spirit of 2012 is making such a difference to so many participants with additional support needs in Fife.

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