Paralympian and Scottish Disability Sport Hall of Fame member Valerie Robertson was in touch earlier this evening to inform me that the most influential Scot in the development of international disability sport has passed away in Aylesbury.

The funeral will be held on Monday 18th February at 1200 noon at Warriston Crematorium, Warriston Road, Edinburgh EH7 4HW.

Jean Stone MBE was a founder member of the Scottish Paraplegic Association, the Scottish Sports Association for the Disabled (SSAD, now SDS) and the development of Stoke Mandeville as a world renowned centre of excellence for international disability sport.

Jean was heavily involved with the Third Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Edinburgh in 1970 and served the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as a volunteer for decades. There has never been a more respected figure in disability sport and all of us in Scotland who were influenced by and learned from her have much to thank her for. Jean Stone was an exceptional lady and Scottish Disability Sport recognised the importance of Jean in the development of sport in Scotland by honouring her with the title of Honorary Vice President.

Following her attendance at the National Stoke Mandeville Games in the summer of 1962, Jean wrote to the Secretary of State to ask for “recognition of the Welfare and Sporting Activities of the disabled” in Scotland. Jean was writing in her capacity as Secretary of the Scottish Paraplegic Association (SPA) and with support from the founding father of disability sport, Sir Ludwig Guttmann. Jean managed to arrange a meeting with representatives from the Scottish Education Department and Scottish Home and Health Department in the autumn of 1962 as a first stage to establishing a sports organisation in Scotland that was representative of all impairment groups.

The favoured approach at the time was to establish a Scottish Branch of the British Sports Association for the Disabled (BSAD) and this was the outcome of the inaugural meeting attended by 18 representatives from 15 organisations concerned with the welfare of disabled people, at the Simon Square Centre in Edinburgh on Monday 24th June 1963.

The First Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were held in Perth, Western Australia in 1962 and the Second Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, in Kingston, Jamaica in 1966. On examining the records of the time it is impossible not to be impressed by the massive effort that went in to fundraising for training and travel and the number of volunteers that were required to support Scottish teams travelling overseas.

In 1963 the National Stoke Mandeville Games were held at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh and also in the 60’s a Scotland v England wheelchair basketball competition was staged in front of the bandstand in Princes Street Gardens during the Edinburgh International Festival, attracting spectators from home and overseas. Strong successful Scottish teams coordinated by Jean Stone competed annually in the National Stoke Mandeville Games and Scotland was always represented in significant numbers in the GB Team for the International Stoke Mandeville Games. By 1966 the Scottish Paraplegic Association was sending 20 members to the Stoke Mandeville Games by air with appropriate numbers of support staff.

By 1968 lack of funding had become an issue. The Scottish Education Department grant remained at £120 but there was great excitement as the 1970 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games planned for Edinburgh drew nearer. Scotland’s first sports centre at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow encouraged inclusivity and it was reported that the Chairman had engaged with the architects of Meadowbank and the Royal Commonwealth Pool to ensure the east followed the example of the west. The Thistle Foundation was well established as an example of a disability sports hub and the Scottish Paraplegic Association(SPA) continued to promote and develop wheelchair sports and produce athletes of excellence.

A Special Meeting was called for Monday 3rd August 1970 at 17.00 hrs. in the Simon Square Centre in Edinburgh to change the name of the Association to the Scottish Sports Association for the Disabled(SSAD), amend the constitution and create an independent Association for Scotland. Jean Stone and others had campaigned vigorously for Scottish autonomy and finally their efforts had paid off. At the AGM in April 1972 the new constitution of SSAD was approved and the relationship with BSAD was settled.

Jean Stone and the late Bob Mitchell were the driving forces behind the establishment and development of disability sport in Scotland throughout their lives.

I was privileged to spend almost a full day with Jean last year at her home in Edinburgh. The occasion was to celebrate the life of the late John Clark who had recently passed away. I thought I knew a lot about Jean but that day I learned so much more. Her passion and commitment to disability sport were exceptional and long lasting. Jean touched the hearts of many and championed the cause of so many athlete members of the SPA, SSAD and SDS.

Jean was a private person but had so many contacts in every corner of the world. She was an exceptional politician, amazing administrator and such an expert in so many aspects of wheelchair sports in particular. Has there ever been a more influential volunteer? I doubt it.

Thank you Jean for your friendship and expertise. Your legacy will always be everything that is special about Scottish Disability Sport in 2019.

Richard Brickley MBE

Photo courtesy of WheelPower

Reigning US Open champion Alfie Hewett faces a rematch of September’s men’s singles final in New York against world No. 1 Shingo Kunieda when the four-strong Brit wheelchair tennis challenge begins on Wednesday at the Australian Open.

While Hewett begins his bid for back-to-back Grand Slam singles crowns against Japan’s defending Australian Open champion, 2016 champion and fellow Brit Gordon Reid will play Stephane Houdet of France, the 2018 runner-up to Kunieda at Melbourne Park.

Lucy Shuker will open her women’s singles campaign against Dutch defending champion Diede de Groot, while Andy Lapthorne plays former champion David Wagner of the USA in his first of three quad singles round-robin matches.

Ahead of his first match since winning the US Open in September, world No.3 Hewett said:

“I’ve come back from having a break and I’m feeling motivated to perform and where that leads I’m excited to find out. I’ve had an intense training period leading up to Australia. My fitness was always maintained, so physically I feel like I’m fresh and in a good place. However, when you take time away from the sport its surprising how quickly you lose little things about your game. So I’ve had to work hard to get back up to a level where I feel like I can really challenge for the title.”

World No.7 Reid won the first Grand Slam singles title of his career in Australia three years ago and is relishing his return to Melbourne, which will see him play world No.3 Houdet in his opening singles and doubles matches. He said:

“I love coming back to Melbourne Park, they have improved the facilities once again and it’s fantastic for all the players. Seeing the singles trophy up close again during the draw ceremony brought back great memories from 2016.”

While Hewett begins his 2019 season this week, Reid has already played two tournaments this season, the first of which brought his latest Super Series doubles title when he partnered Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez to win the Bendigo Open. He now turns his attention to attempting to win back-to-back Grand Slam doubles titles with Hewett as the two-time US Open and three-time Wimbledon champions reunite.

“Over the last few months I’ve played with a few different partners while Alfie had his break. So I’m looking forward to being back on the doubles court with him and aiming to win our first Aussie Open doubles title as a team,”

Hewett and Reid will play Houdet and Australian Ben Weekes in their semi-final.

Five-time Australian Open doubles champion Andy Lapthorne opens his bid for a first quad singles title at Melbourne Park against his doubles partner and world No.2 David Wagner of the USA. Lapthorne was runner-up to Wagner at last week’s ITF 1 Melbourne Open.

World No.3 and 2014 US Open quad singles champion Lapthorne, who was runner-up to Wagner at last week’s ITF 1 Melbourne Open, said:

“I feel like I’m playing OK right now and getting some good results and performances, so I’m looking forward to really trying to bring my best tennis to the singles court this year. It’s always a buzz coming back to Australia and knowing I’ve won lots of titles here and I’m looking to add to that this week. As far as David and I go in doubles, we are a good team and well prepared for our latest chance at another Grand Slam together.”

After facing Wagner, Lapthorne will also play Australians Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson in the four-ay round robin phase of the quad singles competition The top two players after the round-robin will go forward to Saturday’s quad singles final. Later this week Lapthorne and Wagner will also play Alcott and Davidson as the Anglo-American duo and reigning US Open champions attempt to win their fourth Australian Open quad doubles title in six years.

Of the four Brits competing in the wheelchair events at Melbourne Park this week world No. 7 Shuker has the most experience of the first Grand Slam of the year. Shuker will be playing her tenth Australian Open and faces a tough assignment in her opening women’s singles match on Wednesday when she takes on world No.1 Diede de Groot. She said:

“I’m extremely proud to have qualified for this Grand Slam for the tenth time. It’s a stat I can be proud of. I’ve had some great results and performances here over the years, being twice a singles semi-finalist and twice a doubles finalist. The Australian Open is definitely one of my favourite tournaments in the calendar, there is always a real buzz in Melbourne during the Slam.”

After contesting her latest Grand Slam doubles final at Wimbledon last July partnering Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock, Shuker partners South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane this week. Shuker and Montjane will play Ellerbrock and Dutchwoman Marjolein Buis in their semi-final.

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation

Scottish Disability Sport / Scottish Swimming National Performance Swim Championships 2019
Sunday 20^th January 2019

The Mercat Gait Centre in East Lothian played host to the Scottish Disability Sport / Scottish Swimming National Short Course Performance Swim Championships on Sunday 20^th January 2019, attracting 40 swimmers with a physical, visual, hearing or learning impairment from all regions of the country.

The Performance Championships are a strong partnership event between Scottish Disability Sport and Scottish Swimming and were introduced to support regional development and create an appropriate competition for regional and national squad swimmers, inviting individuals from the Highlands, Grampian, Central, Fife the West and East of Scotland.  The event implements the IPC Multi-Classification system and for a number of swimmers, this was the first time they had experienced the British Swimming Points Scoring System allowing them valuable an introduction to these conditions and therefore preparing them for future competitions.

This years event welcomed several swimmers for the first time, many of whom are working towards an official classification and the championships provide an excellent platform for these individuals to record times over distances they might not have competed over in the past. One swimmer new to the event was Fife’s Katie Pake – the Carnegie Swimming Club youngster recording four personal best times including the 100m free (1.37.91).

Other notable performances on the day came from West of Scotland swimmer Louis Lawlor and Highland’s Tamsin Neef. The two S14 swimmers claimed a clean sweep with Lawlor (City of Glasgow Swim Team) taking home gold medals in the 200m free, 100m fly, 200m IM and 100m free, while Neef (TAIN ASC) claiming first places in 100m back, 200m free, 100m fly, 100m breast, 200m IM and 100m free.

Scottish Disability Sport would like to express thanks to all the dedicated volunteers from the SASA East District for their invaluable support on the day, as well as the expertise provided from multi Paralympic medallists Jim Anderson OBE and Paul Noble MBE who kindly presented medals and provided expert commentary throughout the day.

Paul Wilson, the Disability Performance Development Manager at Scottish Swimming, was also present to ensure the smooth running of the event lending his experience to the points system for the event.

For further information on the event or swimming for people with disabilities in Scotland, contact Scottish Disability Sport on 0131 317 1130 or alternatively email admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

Scotland’s Gordon Reid won the Bendigo Open to claim the first men’s doubles Super Series title of the year.  The world number seven Reid and Argentine partner Gustavo Fernandez beat French top seeds Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer 6-3 6-3 on Saturday. 

The pair were playing in their second tournament together since reaching the final of the 2015 Australian Open. 

A further report can be found on the Paralympics GB website: 

https://www.paralympics.org.uk/articles/reid-and-fernandez-seal-bendigo-open-doubles-glory  

Photo courtesy of the Tennis Foundation