Category: A News

Central Parasport Festival 2019

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 30th 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

2019 Fife Indoor Bowls Championships – a great occasion

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’s feeling great 18 weeks into her new walking routine

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

Fife boccia player wins third title of the season

Tyler McLelland from Windygates has continued his excellent run of fine form with another regional boccia win at the Right on Target invitation competition in the Forth Valley Branch of SDS.

Tyler enjoyed a very close match against Fiona Muirhead in the final of the BC4 section but held his nerve to lift his third title of the season. On his way to the final Tyler won two from three of his qualifying matches.

Tyler is coached by mum Emma and supported by dad Mark and trains on the performance boccia court at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes, courtesy of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. Tyler is also being mentored by fellow Scot Stephen McGuire, one of the leading BC4 boccia players in the world.

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

Euro Success for Scottish Boccia Players

The 2019 BISFed European Boccia Championships concluded over the weekend and it was a hugely successful event for Boccia UK and an important milestone in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games qualification.

The British team of 10 players, included four members of the Scottish programme, including: Reegan Stevenson (BC1), Patrick Wilson (BC3), Jamie McCowan (BC3) and Stephen McGuire (BC4).  These players were supported by a further three Scots in lead coach, Claire Morrison and ramp assistants, Linda McCowan and William Wilson.

Individual Competition

The competition began with the individual event and there were some tough matches for all players.  McCowan and McGuire managed to progress to the quarter finals whilst Stevenson and Wilson bowed out in the group stages.  McCowan reached the Semi final following a very good performance, whilst McGuire’s individual competition ended with a 3-4 defeat.  Sadly, McCowan had to settle for 3 / 4 play-off following defeat in his match.  McCowan won the European Championships in 2017 and he used all his experience in the bronze medal match to ensure that the he reached the podium.

Team & Pairs Competition

The European Championships ended with the Team & Pairs competition and it was this event that delivered a huge amount of success for the Scottish players.

Stevenson was making his debut at this level and is the most recent Scot to progress through our programme to represent Boccia UK.  He formed a Team with David Smith (BC1), Will Hipwell (BC2) and Claire Taggart (BC2). The Team battled through the competition to deliver a bronze medal and much needed ranking points ahead of Tokyo 2020.

In the BC3 Pair competition Wilson and McCowan teamed up with Jess Hunter, in a now very experienced trio.  They developed through the group stages and finally bowed out at the semi final stages.  However, they delivered a bronze medal in the 3 / 4 playoff.

The BC4 Pair, led by Stephen McCowan, included the ever improving Evie Edwards and Louis Saunders cruised through the group stages, won their quarter-final and their semi-final.  However, the final proved a bridge too far and they had to settle for a silver medal.

Boccia UK will be delighted with the outcome of their latest major championships as the players and the coaching team continue their preparations for next years Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Full Boccia UK Results

Individual
BC1: David Smith (Gold)
BC2: Claire Taggart (Silver)
BC3: Jamie McCowan (Bronze)

Team and Pairs
BC1/2: Reegan Stevenson, David Smith, Will Hipwell, Claire Taggart (Bronze)
BC3: Jamie McCowan, Patrick Wilson & Jess Hunter (Bronze)
BC4: Stephen McGuire, Louis Saunders & Evie Edwards (Silver)

Learn to Curl Programme

Disability Curling at The PEAK

Our disability inclusion classes offer two distinct curling sessions at The PEAK tailored to support those living with a disability. Our sessions are a great introduction to the sport of curling consisting of 1 hour of coaching with a qualified Active Stirling or Scottish Curling instructor. Get involved in this great sport, meet new friends and have fun on the ice. Carers are welcome to attend for free and would be encouraged to take part on the ice.

Learn to Curl – Disability

Curling Stick Coaching

Stick curling sessions are for existing stick curlers and also for those who are new to the stick delivery on the ice If you are an existing curler, thinking about switching, or just want to increase your current stick skills – this class is for you! Each session is coached by Scottish Curling qualified coaches. For new and experienced stick curlers.

Learn to Curl – Stick Curling

Lothian Wolves Head Coach takes up National role

Lothian Wolves Powerchair Football team head coach Steven Miller has enjoyed a successful couple of months both on and off the pitch.

The Edinburgh based coach was named as the Scottish Powerchair Football Association (SPFA) Volunteer of the year at the inaugural awards ceremony held in June before being invited to become assistant coach with the Scotland National squad.  The SPFA highlighted that ‘Steven has worked tirelessly to build the relatively new club in the Edinburgh area, dedicating much of his own time to the sport.  He has brought together a collection of athletes who display determination, skill and respect in all that they do’.

This topped off a remarkable second season for the head coach, who led Lothian Wolves to the Championship title for the second year running as well as guiding them to a 3rd place finish in this season’s Scottish Cup competition.  These achievements are even more remarkable given that Lothian Wolves have only been established and competing for just over two years.  Lothian Wolves will now make the step into the Premiership for the coming season and test themselves against some of the more established and long running sides across Scotland.

Miller has been involved with the club since its inception in 2016 when the sessions were established by local branch, Lothian Disability Sport and he remains very much at the centre of the development in the Edinburgh and surrounding areas.

Miller commented on his achievements, ‘I’m delighted and extremely grateful for the opportunity and hope that I can make a positive contribution to the National team’.

Powerchair football continues to go from strength to strength across Scotland and the sport now boasts many opportunities across the country to become involved.  For further information on the sport, please visit the SPFA website – https://thespfa.org/.  Alternatively, please contact SDS Regional Manager (East) Neal Herbert on neal.herbert@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Davie Lawrie

SDS is saddened to hear of the passing of Davie Lawrie.

Davie volunteered with the Scottish Disability Sport National Cerebral Palsy Football Squad in the early years of the squad. Davie was a coach within the national programme which coached footballers of all levels once a month in Stirling, and he would accompany the national squad players to international competitions. One such competition was in Denmark, and it was at this event that Davie was remembered for waking up the whole squad early in the morning by ringing a huge school bell.

He also accompanied Special Olympics teams to international competitions. Forth Valley Disability Sport captured the heart of Davie who volunteered over a period of 18 years in many roles. He was chairperson, vice chairperson, committee member, coach, mentor and fundraiser.

Davie was well known to parents, athletes, schools and local authorities. He was known as “one man and a bag of footballs” when he would tour schools and day centres to coach young people and adults with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. Notably, all players hung on every word that Davie said as he made every session fun and very enjoyable, and he always had the players’ best interests at heart.

He was the key driver in developing the Football For All event which became the first disability football event in Scotland to offer competition opportunities for mainstream pupils.

Davie was delighted when his service to FVDS was recognised and he was awarded the Service to Sport award. Shortly afterwards this very award became known as the Davie Lawrie Service to Sport Award.

Outwith disability sport, Davie refereed boys’, girls’, women’s and men’s football games where he wouldn’t be afraid to use yellow and red cards in a gentlemanly manner. Davie also gave his time to local care homes, performing old classic sing-alongs to residents who looked forward to his weekly visits.

Davie was one of a kind, well respected by everyone who was fortunate enough to make contact with him. He was a kind, helpful and generous individual who will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by Scottish Disability Sport, Special Olympics Scotland and Forth Valley Disability Sport.

Funeral service on Monday 2nd September 2019 at Co-op Funeral Parlour, Alloa at 1:15pm, thereafter to Sunnyside Cemetery at 2:00pm. There will be a retiral collection in aid of Strathcarron Hospice.

Laing Claims Silver Medal at Para Badminton World Champs

West Lothian’s Bobby Laing marked his attendance at last week’s BWF Para Badminton World Championships with a sliver medal in the mixed doubles, alongside partner Rebecca Bedford (England). The Championships saw several East of Scotland players travel to Basel, Switzerland to compete in singles and doubles action from 20th – 25th August. The players, who all have a strong association with Lothian Disability Badminton Club (LDBC), were supported throughout by coach Sarah Bok.

Laing and Bedford, who were unseeded in the Short Stature (SS)6 class, were unbeaten in their group recording victories against parings from the USA and the number two seeds from South America. This saw the British duo through to the semi final stage where they matched up against Goncalves Tavares (Brazil) and Fernadez Vargas (Peru), claiming the victory in a pulsating match 21-11, 23-25, 23-21 and setting up an all British final against Andrew Martin and Rachel Choong (England). The match eventually went in favour of the all England partnership and triple mixed World Champions with a 21-15, 21-13 victory, meaning that Scotland’s Laing went home with a sliver medal.

Laing also competed in the singles, recording two group victories before losing out 21-9, 21-12 to an American player in the round of last 16.

Midlothian based athletes Alan Oliver and Colin Leslie both competed in the Standing Lower (SL) 3 class with some varying fortunes. Oliver performed well over the course of his group matches, claiming two victories and one loss to set up a last 16 clash with top 10 seed Indian player Umesh Vikram Kumar eventually losing out 21-16. 21-12. Leslie, found the competition at the tournament tough as he lost all three group matches including a close fought match with Chinese player Faxin Wu.

Both players were also entered into the SL3 men’s doubles with Oliver and Swedish partner Rickard Nilsson particularly unlucky not to progress further after two group victories (including one walkover).

The only female player to represent Scotland was Edinburgh based player, Mary Wilson. Wilson, who is relatively new to the sport and competing in the SL 4 category, was unlucky not to progress from her group after recording one victory (v Ugandan player Khadja Khamuka) and two defeats. Wilson was then paired with Englishman Antony Forster in the mixed doubles, unfortunately coming up slightly short and losing both group matches.