Category: A News

Record Amount Raised at Ayrshire Sportsability Ball

The stars were shining down on this year’s Ayrshire Sportsability (ASA) 15th Annual ball. Not only did the event celebrate Ayrshire’s best in disability sports, but raised a record-breaking amount for the charity.

The glittering reception took place on Saturday 27 April at Ayr Racecourse, and was hosted by Edward Reid, a former finalist from Britain’s Got Talent. Guests were treated to a four-course dinner, before dancing the night away to the band, Life & Soul. And some even managed a few selfies with the Daleks!

The highlight of the evening was the 11th annual Ayrshire Sportsability award ceremony. These awards promote and applaud local achievements in sports for people with a disability in Ayrshire and Arran.

There were five awards up for grabs:

  • Elle McCreadie, winner of the Young Athlete of the Year Award (sponsored by Ayrshire College), for displaying exceptional qualities in disability sport (under 18 years).
  • Robyn Love, winner of the Athlete of the Year Award (sponsored by The University of the West of Scotland), for displaying exceptional qualities in disability sport (over 18 years).
  • Stanecastle School, Irvine, winner of the Most Active School Award (sponsored by North Ayrshire Council and KA Leisure). This award is given to a school in Ayrshire or an individual within a school who has promoted a new initiative for children and young people with a disability.
  • Learn 2 plus, South Ayrshire Council, winner of the Activity in the Community Award (sponsored by East Ayrshire Council Vibrant Communities). This award is for a club that has made a difference over the year in delivering sports to people with a disability.
  • Gary Seymour, East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities, winner of the Disability Sports Coach of the Year (sponsored by The University of the West of Scotland), for making a difference in delivering disability sports to people with a disability.

Not only did the event recognise Ayrshire’s disability sports heroes’, it raised a record amount for the charity. Dr Waiyin Hatton, Chair of Ayrshire Sportsability, explains more: “Huge congratulations to our winners and finalists for their achievements and inspiration. And we raised a record £11,000 to continue our ambitious disability sports activities.

“On behalf of the Ayrshire Sportsability Board, I would like to thank Ayrshire College, East Ayrshire Council, KA Leisure, North Ayrshire Council and the University of the West of Scotland for sponsoring the Awards. Special thanks to all our guests, sponsors, supporters and volunteers, who made the event a stunning success.”

To find out more about Ayrshire Sportsability, visit www.ayrshiresportsability.org.uk.

Photographs: (left to right)

Photo 1 – Young Athlete of the Year Award (Jane McCreadie, Elle McCreadie, Moira Birtwistle, Ayrshire College and Dianne Campbell, Ayrshire Sportsability

Photo 2 Athlete of the Year – Dianne Campbell Ayrshire Sportsability, Kayleigh Haggo, UWS Student, Mrs Love (Robyn’s mum)

Photo 3 Most Active School – Colin Glencourse, Martin Edwards Headteacher Stanecastle School, Lauren Fletcher Active Schools North Ayrshire and Dianne Campbell

Photo 4 Activity in the Community –  Representatives from Learn 2 plus South Ayrshire Council, Adam Strain East Ayrshire Council Vibrant Communities and Dianne Campbell

Photo 5 Disability Coach – Gary Seymour East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities, Dr Waiyin Hatton UWS, Dianne Campbell

 

Understanding the BC3 Calibration

Understanding and coaching the BC3 classification within the sport of boccia can be challenging for players, coaches and ramp assistants and ‘calibration’ has become a key training component for competitive players.  This process involves identifying where on the ramp to place each ball to reach different areas of the boccia court.

We have created this resource to help players, coaches and ramp assistants understand and improve this crucial element of the BC3 game.

Calibration

If you have any questions regarding the sport or would like further information please contact the SDS office on 0131 317 1130 or admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com

Get involved on social media #ScottishBoccia

UK Boccia Championships 2019

Following the Scottish Championships earlier this month the following players qualified for the 2019 UK Championships taking place at Antrim Forum Leisure Centre, Northern Ireland from Friday 14th – Sunday 16th June 2019.

All players have been ratified by Boccia UK. Congratulations to all those selected.

BC1
Reegan Stevenson

BC2
Lewis McConnell

BC3
Jamie McCowan
Scott McCowan
Patrick Wilson

BC4
Stephen McGuire
Kieran Steer
Ross Munro

Get involved on social media #ScottishBoccia

More Success for McGuire at World Level

The Hong Kong World Boccia Open concluded with the Team and Pairs events over the weekend and there were three Scots representing Boccia UK, which is an important milestone in their preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

The three Scots in action are: Jamie McCowan (BC3), Patrick Wilson (BC3) and Stephen McGuire (BC4), whilst we are also fortunate to have Claire Morrison form part of the coaching team.   

Former World Champion and two time Paralympian, Stephen McGuire, teamed up with Evie Edwards and Louis Saunders for the BC4 Pairs competition, as they looked to put a marker down a year out from Tokyo 2020.   

They started the group with a narrow 4-6 defeat to Brazil meaning there was no room for error if they wanted to progress.  Fortunately, the rallied well to record back-to-back victories against Croatia (5-1) and Thailand (4-1), setting up a semi-final against Hong Kong, who had home advantage.  Although the Brits put in a spirited display, they succumbed to a 1-5 defeat to the hosts.   

McGuire and his BC4 teammates settled for a bronze medal match against China and a chance to complete a very successful competition.  They produced a brilliant performance to win 6-1 and claim their place on the podium!   

Hamilton man, McGuire, finishes the World Open with a gold and a bronze to further affirm his credentials at this level. 

The BC3 pair, saw the two Scots joined by 2012 Paralympian, Jess Hunter, as they cruised through the group stages winning four games from four.  However, they had to overcome Greece on a tie break.  Nevertheless, they set up a semi-final with Thailand and were eventually defeated 0-5.  In the bronze medal match they were faced with the prospect of Australia and were eventually undone 3-5 by the Aussies.  

Great Britain finished the competition with a Gold, Silver and a Bronze medal with the Scottish players proving to be pivotal in their success.  Congratulations! 

Medal Recap 

BC3 Individual
Silver: Patrick Wilson 

BC4 Individual
Gold: Stephen McGuire 

BC4 Pair
Bronze: Stephen McGuire, Luis Saunders & Evie Edwards 

The individual competitions were concluded today, which saw resounding success for Great Britain, and it was the Scottish athletes that provided the goods, as all three were involved in medal matches.   

Stephen McGuire rose from the ashes to scrape through his group on points but manged to battle his way to the final, where he met Yuk Wing Leung (HKG) who had the home advantage.  However, the Hamilton man showed his class and experience by winning 4-1 and claiming Gold medal. 

Patrick Wilson managed the competition well and took some major scalps before reaching his first World level final.  Most notably, he defeated World number one and current World Champion, Grigorios Polychronidis, in the Quarter Final.  In the final itself, he faced World number 3, Daniel Michel (AUS), who has emerged as a real talent as this level.  The match was a close affair, but it ended in defeat for the Peebles man as he lost out 2-4.  Nonetheless, this can be seen as a huge step forward. 

Jamie McCowan won all his matches until the semi-final, where he was defeated by the eventual winner, Daniel Michel (AUS).  He therefore had to settle for a bronze medal match against home player Yuen Kei Ho (HKG), where he eventually lost out 1-3. 

The team and pairs get underway tomorrow and all the action (and live streams) can be followed via http://www.bisfed.com/bisfed-2019-hong-kong-boccia-world-open/

Boccia Medals in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong World Boccia Open is currently ongoing and three Scots are representing Boccia UK at the event, which is an important milestone in their preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The three Scots in action are: Jamie McCowan (BC3), Patrick Wilson (BC3) and Stephen McGuire (BC4), whilst we are also fortunate to have Claire Morrison form part of the coaching team.

The individual competitions were concluded today, which saw resounding success for Great Britain, and it was the Scottish athletes that provided the goods, as all three were involved in medal matches.

Stephen McGuire rose from the ashes to scrape through his group on points but manged to battle his way to the final, where he met Yuk Wing Leung (HKG) who had the home advantage.  However, the Hamilton man showed his class and experience by winning 4-1 and claiming the Gold medal.

Patrick Wilson managed the competition well and took some major scalps before reaching his first World level final.  Most notably, he defeated World number one and current World Champion, Grigorios Polychronidis, in the Quarter Final.  In the final itself, he faced World number 3, Daniel Michel (AUS), who has emerged as a real talent as this level.  The match was a close affair, but it ended in defeat for the Peebles man as he lost out 2-4.  Nonetheless, this can be seen as a huge step forward.

Jamie McCowan won all his matches until the semi-final, where he was defeated by the eventual winner, Daniel Michel (AUS).  He therefore had to settle for a bronze medal match against home player Yuen Kei Ho (HKG), where he eventually lost out 1-3.

The team and pairs get underway tomorrow and all the action (and live streams) can be followed via

http://www.bisfed.com/bisfed-2019-hong-kong-boccia-world-open/

Bowls Scotland Announce Para Lawn Bowls Squad

Bowls Scotland now lead on the high performance para lawn bowls programme, having taken over from Scottish Disability Sport, on 1 April 2019. Their first task was to select a team of players and coaches that will lead them through to the Home Nations Championships in September.

Their overall task will be to select a team of physically disabled and visually impaired players capable of delivering medals at the IBD World Championships in 2020 and the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

There were few surprises in the selection but SDS is delighted to see former B7 World Champion Kevin Wallace return to the fold. Kevin is a player with exceptional ability and represented Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Bowls Scotland has appointed former Scottish Disability Sport coach, Bob Christie, as Head Coach and Programme Coordinator on an interim basis. The standard in para bowls has increased dramatically over the past few years and it was a very difficult selection process. The following players were successful in making the long list.

Physical Disability
B6: Billy Allen (Cowdenbeath)
B6: George Guthrie (Maryhill)
B6: Fraser Mathieson (Bridge of Allan)
B6: William Nicol (Stirling)
B7: Garry Brown (Blackwood Victoria)
B8: Ian Brown (Kilbirnie-Ladeside)
B7: Glen Livingston (Cowdenbeath)
B7: Barbara McMillan (Cowdenbeath)
B8: Daniel Porter (Galashiels)
B7: Kevin Wallace (Clackmannan)
B7: John Wardrop (Seafield)
B7: Pauline Wilson (Willowbank)

Visual Impairment
B2: Carole Combe (Tanfield)
B3: Melanie Inness (Coltbridge)
B3: Maria Spencer (Abbeyview)
B2: Mary Stevenson (Shanks)
B3: Robert Barr (Jordanhill)
B2: John Fox (Spateston)
B2: Ian Graham (Zetland)
B2: Sandy Macintosh (Inverness)

Directors
Sarah Jane Ewing (Abbeyview)
George Miller (Saltcoats)
Chris Morrow (Willowbank)
Nigel Walker (Dalgetty Bay)

Assistant Coaches
Chris McGready (Grangemouth)
Eric McMillan (Cowdenbeath)

Scottish Disability Sport would like to thank the coaches, directors, officials, partners and all volunteers who have supported the SDS para lawn bowls programme over many years. We wish Bowls Scotland well in leading the programme going forward and we hope there are many years of Scottish success ahead.

Delegates attend Edinburgh University Symposium

Disability Sport Fife and GOGA in Fife coaches/volunteers attended the first International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment or Deafblindness held at Edinburgh University last weekend.

The Symposium was hosted by Professor John Ravenscroft (Edinburgh University), Professor Lauren Lieberman (Brockport, New York University) and Professor Pamela Haibach-Beach (Brockport, New York University). The Symposium was attended by professionals from all over the world including Japan, USA, New Zealand, Finland, Canada and Hungary to name but a few.

The weekend programme consisted of presentations and practical workshops from a wide variety of presenters. Topics included adapting blind sports, self advocacy, challenging perceptions of physical education for pupils with disabilities and motor development. Delegates were offered the opportunity to try sports including blind tennis, football, cricket, warm up ideas and guide running.

A highlight of the Symposium was hearing from Erik Weihenmayer via video link. Erik is the only blind person to climb Mount Everest and then go on to climb all of the seven summits. He is an inspirational man who advocates a ‘no barriers life’.

Pamela and Gayle came away from the weekend completely inspired by the presenters and delegates who attended the Symposium. They were massively influenced by the challenges blind people have to overcome and the courage they demonstrate on a daily basis.

Pamela and Gayle have returned to Fife with a host of new ideas, practical hints and tips that they can apply to their coach led sessions. They are confident their learning will benefit many Fife athletes and not only those with a visual impairment. What was also important was that they gained confidence and reassurance that their current practice in Fife is on the right lines and compatible with key messages over the weekend.

Pamela and Gayle are indebted to the following agencies for supporting their attendance at this unique Symposium in Scotland. Fife Council, Fife Disabled Sports Trust, GOGA in Fife and Disability Sport Fife.

The Trustees of Disability Sport Fife (SCIO) are indebted to Pamela and Gayle for giving up so much of their leisure and family time to advance their learning for the benefit of DSF members and significant others.

Richard Brickley MBE – Chairmam DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

Grampian Schools’ Boccia Finals

There was certainly no shortage of talent at this year’s Grampian Schools’ Boccia Finals with some incredibly close games, impressive tactical attacks and pinpoint accuracy on show.

The final, which took place as part of the 3-part annual League in Aberdeen’s Sheddocksley Sports Centre, saw around 70 pupils from primary and secondary schools across Aberdeen City and Shire battle it out for top points and the referees were not disappointed by the efforts, courteousness and spirit of each and every one of the players.

A massive thanks goes to all of the Active Schools Coordinators from Aberdeen City and Shire who helped on the day, to Grampian Disability Sport’s Cath and Marna who travelled down to officiate the games, to the school staff who accompanied the pupils, and especially to Scott, the Active Schools Assistant at Orchard Brae School, who coordinated the entries and match schedule.

We’re looking forward to what will be an even bigger, better and incredibly competitive League in 2019/2020.

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.

Silver for Derek in IPC World Marathon Championships

It was business as usual this week for Derek Rae from Kirkcaldy and Fife Athletic Club who won silver in the T45/46 class at the IPC World Marathon Championships held as part of the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon. As well as winning an IPC World Championships silver medal, Derek recorded a massive PB and ran significantly under 2.30 for the first time.

Derek was back to his weekly routine as a peer mentor volunteer at the weekly GOGA Spirit of 2012 supported run, jump and throws session at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre. My goodness how all the athletes with additional support needs missed him and how enthusiastically they welcomed him back. The medal was the star attraction on the night and there were many who wanted to wear it.

Success at the highest level in Para sport has not changed this modest, unassuming and dedicated athlete. I have never known an athlete who works harder and he deserves all the success that comes his way. Winning silver at the world championships has not changed the man … trust me.

Well done also to coach Ron Morrison at Fife AC and the team of experts at the Scottish Institute of Sport who look after Derek. It has been a hard winter of training but Derek and his team is now enjoying the success they so richly deserve.

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

Projects Encouraging Women & Girls Participation Announced

Fifteen projects aiming to get more women and girls in Scotland taking part in sport and physical activity are set to benefit from £300,000 of investment from the Scottish Government’s Women and Girls fund.

The beneficiaries of this programme include women and girls who have previously had little or no access to sport and physical activity for a wide variety of reasons. Some of the most marginalised in society have been targeted for support such as residents of Scotland’s most deprived communities, survivors of sexual abuse, and young women and girls with severe physical impairments.

Sports Minister, Joe FitzPatrick, together with sportscotland, launched the fund in October to celebrate Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week. Today he congratulated the projects who have been successful in their applications and said:

“There are so many benefits to making sport and physical activity a part of daily life. From improving physical and mental health, to developing skills and strengthening communities, the impact can be life-changing and that’s why we want as many people as possible to enjoy those benefits.

“It is encouraging to see that participation in sport and physical activity by women and girls in Scotland is increasing, but some still face barriers to taking part. The projects who will be supported through the £300,000 Women and Girls fund have shown great insight and innovation in understanding those barriers and taking steps to address them. I look forward to seeing the impact that they have.”

Projects will be delivered across Scotland led by governing bodies of sport and local authorities, in conjunction with other partner organisations.

The projects will receive between £10,260 and £28,000 to support their plans to engage more women and girls in sport and physical activity and builds on the success of the Sporting Equality Fund launched in 2017.

Commenting on the investment, Mel Young, chair of sportscotland, said: “Sport has the power to change lives and the projects chosen to receive this funding demonstrate that the benefits of participation go way beyond simply improving physical health.

“For some of the women and girls, the impact literally could be life-changing, as they develop the social skills, self-confidence and employability skills they need to progress in life

“sportscotland’s Fit for Girls programme consulted with girls directly to identify and understand the barriers to participation and the Women and Girls fund gives us the ability to build on that knowledge. By working with our partners, we can deliver opportunities to target the least active who would gain the most through a life-long engagement with sport.”

In most of the projects, the sports and activities on offer have been chosen in consultation with the women and girls who will participate and range from traditional team sports, including football, to fencing and outdoor sports.

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) has been awarded £15,000 from the Women and Girls fund to engage women and girls with severe impairments into the sport of Boccia. SDS are in the process of appointing a Boccia Development Officer who will engage with women and girls in a wide variety of settings and support these individuals into local sessions or clubs. This programme is being run in partnership with disability organisations including Capability Scotland, Muscular Dystrophy UK and Cerebral Palsy Scotland.

The Women and Girls fund has been set up to support the Scottish Government’s priorities of tackling inactivity and addressing inequality, contributing to the Active Scotland Outcomes framework.