October marked Get Out Get Active Forth Valley’s 3 year celebration event which gave a warm welcome to 80 individuals!
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed taking part in both our multisport event and weekly cycle sessions to celebrate the success of our GOGA project!

Firstly a big thank you to our event volunteers and committee members, without them this day would not have been achievable. Furthermore a warm thanks to John, Stephanie & Helen from Volunteer Matters, Brenda & Rosie from PAMIS, Arthur Aniolowski Boxing and Barry & staff from Cricket Scotland. Our participants all had a ball trying new activities, meeting new people and being active together.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer with us or find out more about our weekly activities then please get it touch:
goga@fvds.org.uk / 01786 466486.

The sun shone on athletes for the annual Jed Renilson Wheelchair & Handcycle Race, welcoming 11 individuals to the Scottish Borders to take on the 10km course.

The event, organised by Borders Disability Sport and supported by scottishathletics and Scottish Disability Sport, took place on Sunday 27th October.

Claiming another victory at the event, Ben Rowlings (Red Star AC) was the first wheelchair athlete to cross the finish line in 23 minutes 40 seconds – around 30 seconds slower than his 2018 time. As in previous years, the headwind back towards the finish line proved challenging with GB athlete Rowlings recognising this, stating ‘conditions were good on the whole, however the headwind back into the finish was tough’.

The first two Scottish Male athletes across the line were Luke Deighan (27.22) and Kyle Brotherton (28.00).

First across the line in the woman’s race was another GB athlete, Borders very own Sammi Kinghorn (Red Star AC) who clocked a time of 25.38 to finish around 2 seconds faster than 2nd placed female Mel Woods. Sammi stated after the event, ‘Always so nice to race locally at the Jedburgh 10k and better when friends and family can come and support’.

Both Ben and Sammi, along with coach Ian Mirfin, will be heading to Dubai next month to compete at the World Para Athletics Championships.

The event also hosts the annual 10k Handcycle Race, won this year by Edinburgh based athlete Ken Talbot who recorded a time of 17.56. This time was enough to claim top spot on the day, however was outside of the current course record. Talbot held of the challenges from Mike Thomas (21.26) and Dave Wise (21.30) who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

There were debuts at the event for a number of athletes including Fife’s Callum Sloan (3rd Scottish Male) and Mel Woods (2nd Scottish Female) in the wheelchair race while Stuart McMillan and Andrew Eastcroft tasted competitive action for the first time in the Handcycling race.

The event continues to run in the honour of late founder Jed Renilson and is now organised and driven by Graham Cook and Borders Disability Sport. The event is also heavily supported by the local community including Kelso Wheelers, Jedburgh Rugby Club and local officials.

Full results can be found below.

Position	Name	Time
1	Ben Rowlings	23.40
2	Sammi Kinghorn	25.38
3	Luke Deighan	27.22
4	Mel Woods	27.23
5	Kyle Brotherton	28.00
6	Callum Sloan	41.47

 

Position	Name	Time
1	Ken Talbot	17.56
2	Mike Thomas	21.26
3	Dave Wise	21.30
4	Stuart McMillan	27.45
5	Andrew Eastcroft	30.27

 

Wednesday 23rd October saw the success of the 2019 Central Parasport Festival seeing children and young people with physical, visual and hearing impairments taking part at the event held at The Peak, Stirling. Pupils from P1 – S6 in mainstream schools travelled from across Central Scotland to take part in a variety of sports such as boccia, badminton, swimming, athletics, football, curling, and new sports of climbing and sailing, all delivered by local sports clubs, Trust/ SGB representatives, regional/national coaches and GB athletes.

The event was a great triumph, kindly hosted by Active Stirling and supported by the Celtic FC Foundation, it offered new and exciting sports on the day. Strong partnerships from Forth Valley Disability Sport, Falkirk Community Trust, Active Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council supported the identification of pupils attending this years event and future pathway opportunities.

We were delighted to welcome esteemed VIP representatives from the 3 local Councils, Trusts, FVDS Branch, sportscotland, Celtic FC Foundation sponsorships and local Councillors to showcase the impact and support of the event. Inspirational speeches closed the event from two-time GB Wheelchair Curling Paralympian Bob MacPherson and 2014 Scotland Commonwealth Games athlete Meggan Dawson Farrell, both sharing their personal experience through disability sport and coaching the pupils on the day.

Cheryl Lappin (SDS Regional Development Manager for Central Scotland) said: “The event was a fantastic success and a worthwhile experience for not only many pupils engaging in sports they may never have tried before, but also their parents and teachers alike. The message is certainly getting out there that there is opportunities and pathways in place for all pupils with a disability within Central, from a local level to an international level. Most of all, it has been great to see so many pupils with a physical and sensory disability in mainstream schools engage in sports, have fun, and potentially move up the pathway”.

A special thank you to the Celtic FC Foundation for supporting this years event, as well as hosts Active Stirling, Forth Valley Disability Sport, Falkirk Community Trust, Clackmannanshire Council, Scottish Swimming, Badminton Scotland, Scottish Boccia, Scottish Curling, British Curling, Forth Valley Flyers, Central Athletics, Riverside Powerchair Football club, Falkirk Football Foundation, Stirling Wheelchair Curling Club, Sailing representatives, Arion Swimming Club, Denny High School senior pupils, Stirling University volunteers, sportscotland and the Active Stirling and the Peak staff for all their support

To find out more about this event or disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact: Cheryl Lappin – cheryl.lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360.

The Royal National Institution for Blind People (RNIB) are hosting a football session for individuals with a visual impairment. The aim is to build on the huge success of the previous session held in Glasgow in April and introduce people to the sport of football.

This session will welcome individuals of all ages and will be delivered by coaches from the Scottish FA and Rangers FC at Whitburn Community Education Centre, West Lothian on Sunday 17th November (1pm – 3pm). No previous experience of playing the sport is needed.

To register a place at the event, please contact Daniel Meikle on Daniel.Meikle@rnib.org.uk or 0131 652 3140.

NEW College Lanarkshire student Alexander Thomson is on track to a career in athletics after impressing at a Scottish Student Sport event at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.

The 18-year-old from Hamilton, who studies NQ Level 4 Access to Sport and Fitness, competed in the first Scottish Student Athletics Opening Match.

Scores of student athletes competed in the Scottish Athletics-licensed event in a range of track and field events, including sprint and middle distance running, pole vault, long jump, shot putt, high jump and triple jump.

Alex was one of only two students to represent a college at the event, with the majority drawn from Scottish universities.

He competed in both the Men’s 200m and 400m distances, winning his first heat in the 200m and finishing in fifth place in the 200m final.

As a sprinter, Alex is making a name for himself in both mainstream and disability athletics.

The ex-Hamilton Grammar pupil combines his studies at the College’s Motherwell Campus with participating in national and international athletics events.

Alexander was the only athlete at the Emirates student event to have a disability classification. He is categorised T38, which is a classification for athletes with cerebral palsy.

In March, he won a silver medal in 400m at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, where he also finished in fifth place in the 800m final and fourth in 4x100m relay.

He represented Great Britain at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland in August, finishing in fourth place in both 100m and 200m.

He is currently training for two BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) Athletics events: the Indoor Championships in Sheffield in February, and the Outdoor Championships in Bedford in May.

Furthermore, a good performance from Alexander at the European Championships in Poland in June could lead to selection for the GB Paralympic team for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Alexander trains several times a week with Whitemoss Amateur Athletics Club, which is based at John Wright Sports Centre in East Kilbride.

He said: “I used to play rugby when I was younger, and I decided to take up running when I was about 13 or 14. It was hard at the start, but it’s got easier as I’ve kept at it.

“My dad, who’s also called Alexander, encouraged me. I think he saw something in me – he used to run long distances, but I’m a sprinter.

“My long-term goal is to become a professional runner, and if not that, then I want to be a personal trainer or an athletics coach.”

Alexander was supported in competing by the College’s Learner Engagement team and Students’ Association, who covered the cost of his entry fees. He was also cheered on at the day-long event by Student President Calum Smith.

His lecturer Chris Wilson said: “Alexander is a conscientious, diligent student who is a pleasure to have in the class.

“We try to prepare students like Alexander as best we can so they can balance their academic and sporting interests, often by giving them coursework in advance to allow them to attend international competitions and meetings.

“We also try to build in study skills they will need while they are away, and they can always communicate with us by email.

“We have a lot of students who are involved at a high level in their chosen sport and as a college we are keen to support them wherever we can.”

To find out more about the range of Sport courses on offer at New College Lanarkshire, please visit www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk/courses/sport or call 0300 555 8080.

Disability Sport Fife owes so much to the late outstanding volunteer John de Courcy plus Shona Malcolm OBE from Scottish Athletics. These two individuals played a very significant role in establishing the very successful East Series Cross Country programme that now plays such an important part in the DSF calendar of events.

The 2019/2020 programme is now about to get under way over the winter with three events in Lothian and one in Fife early next year at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy. Dates have been widely publicised and appear on this Facebook page. Entry forms have been circulated. These events are organised by SDS and Scottish Athletics along with the National Championships at Bellahouston Park next year.

Fife athletes will hopefully access in significant numbers the leg of the East Series and the Fife Championships organised by DSF and Fife Athletic Club. Both of these events are held at the Beveridge Park.

Over the years the number of athletes involved in cross country has risen significantly. The increase in interest has had a major impact on the strength of the Fife track and field squad. There are more Fife athletes training for distance events or longer sprints in 2019 than ever before and this has had a major effect on our ability to contest a wider range of events at the National Junior and Senior Championships. The two most successful Fife AC athletes who have come through this system are Owen Miller and Sam Fernando from Woodmill High School and Bell Baxter High Schoolrespectively. Each of these athletes has been inspired by GB Paralympian Derek Rae.

There is now a fourth Fife AC athlete who is making his mark in distance running, having already achieved considerable success in swimming, cycling and in particular water skiing. Carter Taylor from Dunfermline is enjoying his most successful season to date and last weekend at theLochore 10k he finished 6th overall and 2nd senior athlete. Carter’s time was 00:37:24, just over a minute behind the winner. Fantastic progress for the west Fife athlete who goes from strength to strength with every event and cannot wait for the cross country season to get under way.

Carter is a relative newcomer to distance running but he is improving with every competition and following in the footsteps of Owen who is one of the world’s leading 1500m runners and Sam who excels in 3Km steeplechase. Derek of course won silver in T46 marathon at the IPC World Championships held during the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.

Hopefully this season’s cross country programme will highlight some new distance athletes with potential and perhaps some girls to strengthen team Fife. The DSF partnership with Fife AC and the role played by coaches Ron Morrison and Steve Doig in particular has contributed considerably to this very unique athletics story.

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

Adam Faulds is a former pupil of Balwearie HS and a most trusted and valued GOGA in Fife peer mentor volunteer. Adam is a qualified walk leader who offers up hours of his leisure time every week to support participants with additional support needs in particular. Adam is also a most accomplished all round sportsman.

Just over 12 weeks ago Adam embarked on the Paths For All “Feeling great, one step at a time” programme promoted by GOGA in Fife. His commitment to the programme has been amazing. GOGA in Fife is supported by Spirit of 2012.

Every day he completed the Paths for All diary and recorded the time he spent walking, the number of steps recorded on his pedometer, where he walked and how he felt. Adam recorded over 10,000 steps at least every day and on several days he was over 20,000 with family and friends. What a star.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman DSF Board of Charity trustees

Welcome to Andy Mathieson the latest volunteer to sign up for GOGA in Fife. Disability Sport Fife has known Andy for a number of years as a volunteer marker at DSF bowling events organised in conjunction with the Beveridge Park Bowling Club. Andy is a keen bowler and the secretary of the Beveridge Park Club.

Andy volunteered his services to support DSF members and he has successfully been deployed to the inclusive weekly multi sports session at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre for adults with additional support needs. The session is supported by Spirit of 2012 through GOGA.

In the past year weekly attendances have grown to 80 – 90 participants of which 50 – 60 have additional support needs. For many participants it is the highlight of the week. On Andy’s second session the programme included a very varied warm up and cool down, Nordic walking, badminton, unihoc, boccia, carpet bowls and unicurl. Andy has added so much to the team of volunteers delivering the bowls session.

Volunteers, peer mentor volunteers and significant others are so important to the delivery of the weekly programme of multi sports sessions in Fife. Andy is yet another quality recruit to the GOGA in Fife volunteer team.

Richard Brickley OBE MBE Chairman Disability Sport Fife Board of Charity Trustees

A regular bowls session for players with a disability is back up and running across East and Midlothian. This opportunity is open to players with a physical, visual/hearing or learning disability regardless of age and experience.

These sessions will be delivered across two venues – East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club and Midlothian Indoor Bowling Club. I have highlighted the dates below –

Sunday 27th October (East Lothian IBC) – 12pm – 2pm

Sunday 24th November (East Lothian IBC) – 12pm – 2pm

Sunday 15th December (Midlothian IBC) – 10am – 12pm

Sunday 22nd December (East Lothian IBC) – 12pm – 2pm

Each session will cost £3 and be delivered by new lead coach Megan Kivlin.

If you are interested in attending, please confirm with Billy Mellors on development@bowlseastlothian.uk or 07930 716073. This confirmation is essential as this will allow the session to have appropriate equipment available for all players.

Organisations, local authorities, clubs, schools & individuals in Grampian are keener than ever to be inclusive, which has been demonstrated in a recent surge in requests for informal and formal training opportunities.

In the period May to October, there were a total of 10 CPD opportunities offered, which included informal inclusion sessions for school teachers and pupil support assistants, practical training for senior pupils completing their Sports Leaders Award, Primary Education students and Sports Coaching students, UK Disability Inclusion Training workshops which were opened up to a range of clubs, organisations and individuals, and a youth boccia leader workshop aimed at equipping primary-aged pupils with the skills to run peer-led boccia sessions.

We’re looking forward to hosting a further Disability Inclusion Training workshop and 3 Boccia Leaders workshops in Grampian over the final 2 months of the year, and are excited to see the Grampian Active Schools Coordinators pass on their skills to teaching staff & pupils in an effort to grow the sport of boccia in mainstream schools throughout the region.

Watch this space for more inclusive opportunities coming to Grampian in 2020!

If you, or anyone you know, lives with a physical, sensory or learning disability in Grampian & is interested in getting involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07828 744 848.