Home Nations Championships 2019
22 – 24 March 2019 
Glasgow Indoor Bowls Club

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is currently the recognised governing body for para lawn bowls in Scotland and is tasked with selecting players that can deliver medals at the highest levels of international competition, including the Home Nations Championships, IBD World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

From the 22 to 24 March 2019 Scotland will host the Home Nations Championships at Glasgow Indoor Bowling Club, in what will be the first of a revised format of the competition series. Going forward there will be two Home Nations competitions per annum, one indoor, and one outdoor; with a focus on the Commonwealth Games disciplines of B2/B3 Mixed Pairs and B6/B7/B8 Open Triples. However, there will be the added singles element as part of the home nations programme.

The talent pool in Scotland has increased considerably over the past 12 months, with several new players obtaining an international classification. Whilst exciting for the sport, it doesn’t make selection decisions any easier. Nevertheless, we are confident of a strong Scottish performance in this home nations competition.

Commenting on the team selection, SDS Performance Manager, Gary Fraser said: “We are looking forward to hosting the home nations championships in what will the first of a revised format and we are delighted to announce a strong field of players. This presents the ideal opportunity for all players to stake their claim to be amongst Scotland’s elite, with less than two years to go until the IBD World Championships.”

Scottish Para Lawn Bowls Squad

Players	Classification	Town	Local Authority	Branch
Mary Stevenson	B2	Barrhead	Renfrewshire
Maria Spencer	B3	Dunfermline	Fife	Disability Sport Fife
Robert Barr	B3	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow Disability Sport
Sandy McIntosh	B2	Inverness	Highland	Highland Disability Sport
Billy Allan	B6	Cowdenbeath	Fife	Disability Sport Fife
George Guthrie	B6	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow Disability Sport
John Wardrope	B7	Ayr	South Ayrshire	Ayrshire Sportsability
Garry Brown	B7	Kirkmuirhill	South Lanarkshire	South Lanarkshire Disability Sport
Glen Livingston	B7	Carnock	Fife	Disability Sport Fife
Michael Simpson	B7	Auchtermuchty	Fife	Disability Sport Fife
Ian Graham (R)	B2	Grangemouth	Falkirk	Forth Valley Disability Sport
Sharon Moncrieff (R)	B3	Cumbernauld	Glasgow	Glasgow Disability Sport
Fraser Mathieson (R)	B6	Stirling	Stirling	Forth Valley Disability Sport
Daniel Porter (R)	B8	Galashiels	Scottish Borders	Scottish Borders Disability Sports Group

(R): non-travelling reserve

Director	Town	Local Authority	Branch
Sarah-Jane Ewing	Dunfermline	Fife	Disability Sport Fife
George Miller	Ardrossan	North Ayrshire	Ayrshire Sportsability
Christine Morrow	Dalmuir	Clydebank	Glasgow Disability Sport
David Thomas	Ardrossan	North Ayrshire	Ayrshire Sportsability

 

Coach	Town	Local Authority	Branch
Bob Dick (Head Coach)	Cupar	Fife	Disability Sport Fife
Bob Christie	Brechin	Angus	Angus Disability Sport
Chris McGready	Perth	Perth	Perth & Kinross Disability Sport
Eric McMillan	Cowdenbeath	Fife	Disability Sport Fife

 As the daylight in the evenings extends and March approaches, SDS Regional Managers in Tayside, East of Scotland and West of Scotland are getting ready to welcome participants to the well-established Parasport Festivals in their regions, but for the West of Scotland this will see the flagship event celebrating its 10th anniversary.  

The first Parasport Festival took place in the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow and proved to be so successful that other regions gradually introduced the event which now takes place in five regions across Scotland: Grampian, Central Scotland, East of Scotland, West of Scotland and Tayside. 

The event is designed to encourage pupils with physical, visual and hearing impairments in primary and secondary mainstream education, to experience a range of sports with the aim of being supported to engage in ongoing regular activity/sport. The specific target group for the event is identified in the SDS Equality Action Plan. 

These bespoke events are very much a partnership event where SDS Regional Managers work with Active Schools Co-ordinators and Sports Development Officers from Local Authorities, Trusts, governing bodies of sport and local sports clubs.  

The impact of the hugely successful events is outlined in the Celebrating 10 Years video but some facts and figures at a glance are listed below – and if you want to see more about what the events offer click on the brief promotional video link. 

Scottish Disability Sport CEO, Gavin Macleod, said: “The Parasport Festivals have grown over the last 10 years to become a focus point for introducing young people with physical and sensory impairments to a wide variety of sports and providing opportunities into regular participation. We would like to thank the numerous governing body and Local Authority partners across Scotland who have provided vital support to enable these Festivals to evolve.” 

Facts and figures at a glance: 

• In 2019 SDS is celebrating 10 years of Parasport Festivals
• 1618 pupils have attended para sport festivals in 27 local authorities
• After attending the multi-sport festivals 15% of participants have been supported to engage in weekly sessions or clubs
• The male to female ratio has moved to from 80/20 to 60/40
• In 2018 50% of participants attended the festival for the first time, providing evidence that the festival should be continued to be provided
• 68% of participants have a physical disability, 21% have a visual impairment and 11% have a hearing impairment
• Participants of the festival were invited to feed back on the impact of sport on their lives in a survey. The results demonstrated that: 
• 98% felt better by participating in sport  
• 98% felt more confident in their physical ability  
• 93% got out more and were less socially isolated  
• 95% felt more competent in their physical ability  
• 91% felt more able to cope with life  
• 90% made more friends through sport  

If you or any one you know has a disability and would like to get involved in the Parasport Festivals or any other disability sport programmes,  please telephone 0131 317 1130 or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com. 

#Getinvolved 

#SDSInclusivesport 

Scottish Disability Sport has partnered with the Celtic FC Foundation, RNIB, Haggeye, Guide Dogs Scotland, Visibility, JudoScotland, Scottish Swimming, Scottish FA and scottishathletics to provide an opportunity for people across Scotland with visual impairments to try a variety of sports. This fantastic opportunity is open to everyone over 10 years.

This event provides anyone living with a visual impairment with the opportunity to try a wide range of sports.

Scottish Disability Sport Regional Managers will be on hand on the day to raise awareness and support participants to get involved in their chosen sport in their local area. If you would like to have a chat about the event please do not hesitate to contact us.

All participants will have the opportunity to try the following sports:

• Athletics
• Bowls
• Cycling
• Football
• Goalball
• Judo
• Swimming

If you have, or someone you know has, a visual impairment and would like to get involved in sport, please register by:

• Completing this registration pack – Visual Impairment Sports Day Registration Pack
• Completing the online form here – Online Registration
• Phone us on 0131 317 1130, or email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com

Details of the Event

Venue: St Paul’s RC Academy, 90 Gillburn Road, Dundee DD3 0EH
Date: Saturday 30th March 2019
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm (10.30am registration)
Cost: FREE!

Paralympic bronze medallist Aileen Neilson will skip Scotland’s team at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships which will be hosted in Stirling next month (3-10 March 2019).

Neilson is the most decorated athlete in the Scotland line-up having medalled at the Paralympics in Sochi, as well as earning silver and two bronze medals from previous World Championship appearances in 2011, 2007 and 2017 respectively. The 47 year old who lives in Strathaven, was the first woman to skip a wheelchair curling team at a Paralympic Games (2010) and a World Championships (2011) and her appearance at The Peak Sports Village next month will mark her ninth appearance at a World Championships.

“It is always an honour to be selected to represent your country and whilst the Paralympics is the pinnacle of my career, to have the opportunity to compete in a home World Championships is right up there too,” said Neilson.

“I was a spectator at the World’s when they were last hosted in Scotland back in 2005 and it was a light bulb moment. I had just started curling and met the team representing Scotland and I knew at that point I wanted to become a competitive curler and represent my country. I very much hope that we will have good home support with lots of saltires in the crowds next month and our team will inspire the next generation of wheelchair curlers to whatever level they aspire to,” she said.

Neilson is joined by fellow Sochi medallist Robert McPherson, who was also in the world bronze medal winning team in 2017 along with Hugh Nibloe, who made his Paralympic Games debut in PyeongChang in 2018. At 37 years, Nibloe is the youngest member of the quintet which features two world championship debutants.

David Melrose from Duns has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the game, having been introduced to the sport in 2014 and selected to the British Curling elite programme at the start of this season. His first competitive outing for Scotland was last October at the Stirling Wheelchair Curling International Invitation (SWCII) which was hosted at the same venue where he will make his first World Championship appearance.

The 52 year old former fire fighter said: “I feel very excited and privileged to be part of this team and to wear the Scotland top with my name on the back feels very special. It is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a home Championships, as I know for some of us it will be the first time that friends and family can watch us compete, having been unable to travel abroad for other events, so we will be aiming to deliver worthy performances for everyone.”

Gary Logan completes the team as alternate and he will earn his first cap for Scotland as he makes his World Championships debut. The 47 year old has previously competed at two World B Wheelchair Curling Championships for the English Curling Association in 2015 and 2016, but as the son of Scottish parents he said: “My dad John would be ‘especially proud of my achievements and inclusion in the Scotland rink.”
Stirling’s hosting of the eight day event is the first time the World Championships have been staged in Scotland since 2005 and the tournament will feature 12 teams for the first time. The member associations competing are Canada, China, Germany, Korea, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Switzerland and United States, along with nations Estonia and Latvia who are making their first appearance at these Championships.

British Curling Head Wheelchair Coach Sheila Swan said: “This is the most important annual event in our sporting calendar, providing our first opportunity to gain crucial qualification points for ParalympicsGB towards the next Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2022.

“Our team comprises a mixture of experience and new talent which will aim to deliver another medal winning performance on the return of this tournament to Scotland. The last time we hosted the tournament was also the last time we won gold and we are looking forward to the backing of our Scottish supporters, who will no doubt play a huge role in welcoming all nations to the biggest event outside of the Paralympic Games,” Swan added.

Tickets are now on sale for the championships hosted at the Peak, which is operated by Active Stirling.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “I am delighted to see such a high calibre Scottish team competing in Stirling next month at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships. Scotland is the perfect stage for curling events and we look forward to welcoming many more world-class athletes from across the globe for what is sure to be an exciting tournament.”

Scottish Curling CEO, Bruce Crawford said: “We have selected a strong team to represent Scotland at this year’s World Wheelchair Curling Championships, which we are hosting in Stirling 3-10 March.

“The team has a good balance of experience alongside fresh talent which will make them exciting to watch.

“We wish them every success as they strive to perform in front of the home crowd in Stirling in the first event of the qualification process for the next Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing 2022.”

Ticket prices are £4 per session for round-robin group matches, £6 for Saturday’s knockout Semi Finals and £10 for Sunday’s Bronze and Gold medal matches.

For information on accessible seating please contact Box Office on 01786 473 544 / 274 000.

All tickets can be bought at: https://culturestirling.org/world-wheelchair-curling-championships/

You can follow the build-up and results of the World Wheelchair Curling Championship on Twitter, Instagram (@worldcurling | @wwhcc2019) and Facebook (/WorldCurlingFederation | /wwhcc19) and by searching the hashtags #WWhCC2019 #curling

SCOTLAND TEAM:

Aileen Neilson (skip) – 47yrs, born East Kilbride, lives Strathaven
David Melrose – 52yrs, born Haddington, lives Duns
Robert McPherson – 50yrs, born Motherwell, lives Bellshill
Hugh Nibloe – 37yrs, born Stranraer, lives Stranraer
Gary Logan – 47yrs, born Berwick-upon-Tweed, lives Cornhil on Tweed, Northumberland