Category: A News

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.

Teaching Students off to an Inclusive Start

Future primary school teachers from the University of Aberdeen gained invaluable skills in providing inclusive physical education thanks to an initiative supported by Scottish Disability Sport.

Around 170 students studying for their Post-Graduate Diploma in Education this year took part in a coaching masterclass organised by the Aberdeen Active Schools Team. This comprised of students selecting up to 4 30-minute-long masterclass sessions to attend across the course of the afternoon (which included specialist workshops in hockey, early years, athletics, racket sports and much more). The Inclusive PE masterclass, which gave students the opportunity to learn a little about the sport of boccia & ideas to help adapt run, jump and throw activities for those with physical, sensory and learning disabilities, was amongst the most popular of the workshops with almost 110 students signing up for the opportunity.

It is hoped that many of the students will go on to attend certified Disability Inclusion Training, which will be offered in Aberdeen again in early 2020 as an open course for anyone to attend.

Well done to all of the students – who absolutely embraced the aims of the session – and thank you to Wendy & Nicole from the Active Schools Team who supported Alison in the deliver of the session.

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.

Dovecot Bowling Club and GOGA in Fife working together

A series of GOGA in Fife Action for Change initiatives has led to developments in the sport of bowls that have surpassed all expectations. A partnership in Glenrothes started when Mike and Joan Mowatt from Dovecote BC attended an introduction to inclusive coaching workshop promoted by Disability Sport Fife. The rest is history.

The workshop coincided with the launch of GOGA in Fife in 2017, supported by Spirit of 2012. One of the first Action for Change initiatives was set up at the Dovecot club. Mike, as the club coach, was very receptive to setting up club sessions at the club for learners with additional support needs. GOGA in Fife identified potential participants and within no time at all a group of players was training and playing with club members throughout the week.

GOGA in Fife’s earliest interventions centred on accessing equipment, clothing and assisting with the cost of memberships. The GOGA in Fife financial input was modest but the overall return in respect of inclusive practice was massive. The Dovecot Club even had parents, girl friends and wives signing up to join the fun and excitement. At the start of this bowls season thirteen bowlers who had benefited from the Action for Change initiative had taken out club memberships and are now full members enjoying everything that an inclusive bowls club has to offer.

The attached picture is of the Dovecot BC A team before their involvement in the Bennie cup at Thornton BC. The team was skipped by Lloyd Simpson, with Joe Watt leading, Robert Anderson second and Mike Mowat in third. Lloyd and Robert graduated through the GOGA in Fife Action for Change to secure places in the Dovecot team. I am told that it was a great team effort on the night although the Dovecot club finished a distant second in very wet conditions.

This performance followed a fine performance by Dovecot Park BC at the three counties championships at Bankfoot in Perthshire. The rink was once again skipped by Lloyd Simpson, with Robert Anderson lead, Sandy Allan second and Mike Mowat third. The Dovecot rink was ahead all match only to get a draw at the last end against a top Buckhaven team. Sandy is also a player who has progressed though the GOGA in Fife Action for Change initiative.

On the last Wemyss league game of the season, the three Dovecot BC rinks played against Kennoway BC and one rink had Lloyd as skip, Sandy leading, Robert second and Steven Anderson third. All members of this rink are GOGA in Fife supported players and they lost by only two shots. A remarkable outcome for a squad of players who are relative newcomers to the sport. It is amazing what can be achieved when club members like those at Dovecot BC can be so inclusive in ethos and practice.

The Dovecot BC members hope to continue and even expand their commitment to inclusive practice next season. “We are so proud of the players and there are some in time who will be a force to be reckoned with in mainstream bowls. Next season we are looking to have them play in Scottish, Fife and Wemyss league bowling.” said Mike Mowatt the man who started the ball rolling.

Thank you Dovecot BC members for supporting our bowlers and well done bowlers on your excellent season to date.

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

Last session for a leading West Fife CSS staff member

On Thursday 22nd August Ian Paterson from West Fife Community Support Services completed his final session before retirement from the Thursday multi sports session at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre for participants with additional support needs.

The DSF inclusive active recreation session is supported by Spirit of 2012 through GOGA and Ian is one of the most experienced Fife Council staff members lending weekly support to adult participants with additional support needs. Ian is one of many “significant others” whose commitment and expertise is critical to the smooth running of the Fife weekly programme of sessions.

Ian was as usual supporting West Fife CSS service user David Rennie and after the session the GOGA in Fife peer mentor volunteers surrounded Ian to wish him a very happy retirement and thank him for supporting them over the past two years plus.

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

ParalympicsGB launches Impossible to Ignore

ParalympicsGB has launched a new campaign to make disabled people Impossible to Ignore to mark one year to go to the start of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The initiative has been developed after recent research showed Paralympic athletes are key to challenging perceptions of disability in the UK.

With a year to go to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, preparations are ramping up to take the best prepared team to make the nation proud once again by recreating the incredible success of Rio 2016 where the team won 147 medals.

While many qualification events are still to take place, an estimated 250 athletes are tipped to compete for ParalympicsGB in Tokyo including competitors in the new sports of Taekwondo and Badminton.

Research from ComRes* suggests that the success of these athletes may have a direct impact on breaking down barriers, shifting perceptions and increasing opportunities for all disabled people.

· 84% of UK adults say the achievements of ParalympicsGB athletes have a positive impact on society overall

· 74% of UK adults perceive ParalympicsGB to be an inspirational sports team – more than any of the other teams listed

· 82% of disabled UK adults believe the Paralympic Games provides positive media coverage of disabled people

Nick Webborn, Chair of the British Paralympic Association, said: “This research is the strongest proof yet of the direct link between the success of our talented Paralympic athletes and its wider social benefit.”

“We believe that the success our Paralympic stars achieve on the field of play can be turned into meaningful, long-term action – turning the nation’s cheers into change and those medals into a movement.”

“With the great British public’s support, we can help to ensure disabled people are represented throughout society and, like our Paralympic heroes, become Impossible to Ignore.”

The research follows a poll carried out last year by Scope, the disability and equality charity, which revealed that nearly half of disabled people felt excluded from society.

Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive at Scope, said: ““We know the huge power the Paralympic Games has to shift attitudes and change perceptions towards disability.

“But life is still too tough for disabled people. There are 13.9 million disabled people in Britain and the disability employment gap has been stuck at about thirty percentage points behind for more than a decade.

“The challenge now is for charities like Scope to work with the British Paralympic Association to maintain this momentum and progress between Games so that all disabled people have everyday equality.”

The ParalympicsGB team at next year’s Games in the Japanese capital can play a pivotal role in helping to challenge those attitudes.

Helene Raynsford, Chair of the Athletes’ Commission at the BPA and a gold medallist at Beijing 2008, said: “This research highlights just how important our athletes are when it comes to changing perceptions towards disability around the UK.”

“While I am delighted to know that the efforts and exploits of British Para athletes has such a positive impact on those around us, I am also aware that there is still work to be done to improve the lives of disabled people across the country. I believe ParalympicsGB can be key to that drive for change.”

In an age where opinions can often be divided, ParalympicsGB also creates one of the highest levels of positive sentiment in conversations about sport on social media, according to analysis from Nielsen Sports.

Partnership in Action

Everyone should have the opportunity to get involved in sport and physical activity, and this is one of the principles that underpins the approach taken by sportscotland and its partners.

Collaboration is another essential principle, and the sporting connection established between the bodies responsible for student sport and disability sport in Scotland crystallises the impact that can be achieved by working together.

A cornerstone of the vibrant partnership between Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) has been the roll-out of the UK-wide Disability Inclusion Training (DIT) programme across the university and college landscape.

In the past two years, DIT has been embedded in all PE courses in Scotland, introduced to universities to enhance the trainee primary teaching curriculum and delivered to coaches in training across colleges and universities.

The full article can read on Sport First here:

https://sportfirst.sportscotland.org.uk/articles/partnership-in-action/

 

Leading female athlete at Fife Championships

Marie Wilson is a former pupil of Lochgelly HS and she became the 36th winner of the Lita Allen Memorial Trophy by being voted the leading female athlete at the 2019 Fife Track and Field Championships supported by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust at Pitreavie Athletics Centre.

Disability Sport Fife decided to replace the original trophy because it was damaged. Marie became the first recipient of the new trophy. She received her award after a GOGA in Fife multi sports session supported by Spirit of 2012. Pamela Robson, Trustee of the DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees presented the trophy to Marie.

Marie is a fine all round athlete and hopes to become a GOGA in Fife peer mentor volunteer like her brother Fraser. At the moment however her College studies take precedence. Marie is on the short list of candidates to captain the Fife team at the SDS National Track and Field Championships at Grangemouth Stadium.

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

Fife Para athlete secures silver behind world champion

Well done to Owen Miller from Dunfermline and Fife AC who secured a fine second place in T20 1500 metres at the Manchester International on Wednesday evening. Owen’s time was 3.59.98 in an event that was won by the world champion Michael Brannigan from the USA. Owen was the first T20 British athlete to cross the line.

Coach Steve Doig from Fife AC was pleased with Owen’s run considering he has had to pull back on training recently because of injury. Two sub four minute runs within a matter of a few days is a good outcome for the former Woodmill HS pupil.

Well done Owen. Another fine performance and reward for all your hard work these past months.

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

GOGA in Fife plays host to Volunteering Matters

GOGA in Fife was privileged to play host to Darren Wyn Jones from Volunteering Matters on Wednesday 14th August. Darren visited the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre and met and interviewed Robert Anderson and Adam Faulds from the GOGA in Fife peer mentor volunteer team. “We had a most enjoyable day with Darren” was one of many positive comments at the end of the day.

Adam and Robert were selected to represent the team along with Colleen Melville who sadly had to call off because she was unwell. Darren asked the boys lots of questions about being a peer mentor volunteer and not surprisingly he received lots of very positive responses. In due course Darren’s findings will be written up and shared.

Adam and Robert are two very committed peer mentor volunteers as well as being very active sportsmen. Robert recently led part of the Thursday multi sport warm up with around 70 participants and Adam is a qualified community walk leader. Both boys are very committed to the volunteering cause.

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

Fife Para athlete has fine run at Forth Bridge 10K

Well done to T20 athlete Carter Taylor from Dunfermline and Fife Athletic Club who had an outstanding run at the Forth Road Bridge 10K earlier to day. Carter finished 8th overall and 6th senior male in a time of 37.55.

Carter is coached by Steve Doig at Fife AC and to say he has made great progress as an athlete in the last year would be an understatement. Already a world class water skier and very competent swimmer, it is only in the last year or so that the young Disability Sport Fife member has fully committed to athletics. His progress has been significant on the track and in cross country and he is now a force to be reckoned with at the forthcoming SDS Scottish Championships.

Congratulations Carter is following in the footsteps of Owen Miller and Sam Fernando in distance running. Like Owen, Carter is a former pupil of Woodmill HS, a school that continues to produce outstanding athletes year after year.

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