The fortieth Inter Schools Gala for swimmers with additional support needs was held at Lochgelly HS on Thursday 26th September. As well as being a qualifying event for the 2020 SDS National Championships for swimmers with additional support needs at Tollcross International Aquatics Centre, swimmers were competing for team points for the Russell Hogg Trophy to be presented by Julie Hogg.

Pupils from Kirkcaldy HS DAS were competing for the first time and despite their many recent challenges, Woodmill HS pupils and staff turned out in significant numbers. There was a strong overall entry from Balwearie HS, Bell Baxter HS, Madras College, Auchmuty HS, Kilmaron, Glenrothes HS, Lochgelly HS and Queen Anne HS. Ten schools in total were represented which is a record for the Inter Schools gala.

Lochgelly HS swimmers successfully defended the title and retained the Russell Hogg Trophy for yet another year with an overall points total of 62. Woodmill HS finished runners up with 51 points, Madras College 3rd with 45 points and Glenrothes HS 4th with 35 points. Balwearie HS were 5th, Queen Anne HS 6th, Belll Baxter HS 7th, Auchmuty HS 8th, Kirkcaldy hS 9th and Kilmaron 10th.

Cerys Venters Scott (Carnegie Swimming Club) was voted top girl and Keir Fisher (Auchmuty HS and Glenrothes Amateur Swimming Club) top boy.

The Inter Schools Gala is organised by Disability Sport Fife with enormous input from Lochgelly HS staff and pupils. Many thanks to officials Fiona, Jim, Anne and Hilary from Glenrothes SC plus DSF volunteers Lara Ferguson, Emily Greig and Gayle Sloan. Lochgelly HS sports ambassadors were amazing timekeepers. Thank you to lifeguard Andrew for looking after pupil safety. A most enjoyable time was had by all.

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

Pupils from across the West of Scotland took part in the Schools Boccia competition at Easterhouse Sports Centre on Tuesday 24^th September 2019.

It was a great turnout with 19 schools being represented across the region. Schools travelled from as far afield as Stranraer and Cumnock and everyone enjoyed their day.
Results are below:

Physical Disability sections

Gold: Stephen – Annan Academy
Silver: Abi – Moffat Academy
Bronze: Taha – St Mungo’s High School

Gold: Daniel – Grange Academy
Silver: Michael – St Andrew’s Academy
Bronze:  Ben – Dalmilling Primary

Gold: Kieran – St Oswald’s Secondary
Silver: Declyn – Firpark Secondary
Bronze: Cleo – St Oswald’s Secondary

Learning Disability Sections

Gold: Rhys – Craigmarloch
Silver: Blake – Craigmarloch
Bronze: Grace O’Brien – Craigmarloch

Gold: Cameron – Stranraer Academy
Silver: John – Hollybrook Secondary
Bronze: Amy – Cumnock Academy

Well done to everyone who participated, there was some great boccia on display.  Keep practicing and hope to see everyone next year.

Ayrshire College students were officiating on the day and did a great job.  They were very enthusiastic and professional and interacted with the pupils extremely well.  Scottish squad players Reegan Stevenson and Ross Munro were also helping on the day and offered advice to pupils.

Thanks also goes to the Celtic FC Foundation’s ‘Inspiring Sport’ project who funded the event, and to Easterhouse Sports Centre for hosting and their help on the day.

After a drop in attendance in 2018, we were delighted to welcome 50 swimmers from schools across Aberdeen City & Shire with physical, sensory and learning disabilities to the annual Norma Buist Gala, held at Aberdeen Sports Village for the 3^rd year.

The event, named in honour of the late Norma Buist – who worked with St Andrew’s School and was a huge advocate of swimming – is the region’s qualifying event for the Scottish Disability Sport National Junior Swimming Championships, and spaces are hotly contested, particularly for the Learning Disability event!

There were some cracking races on the day from swimmers both experienced and new, with special mentions for newcomer Cassidy Guyan, who gave Lucy Thomas a run for her money, as did Jake Milne with seasoned Para Swimmer, Jason Cobb.

A great turnout of parents, teachers and support staff ensured that swimmers were well-supported during the event, and we thank them all for their encouragement of all swimmers & positive attitude during the entire event.

The feedback has been exceptional, and we’re thoroughly looking forward to next year’s event, which will be held on the 18^th September 2020.

The event would not be possible without the efforts from a team of volunteers from Grampian Disability Sport, members of the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Active Schools teams, local club representatives & Scottish Disability Sport. Special mentions go to Marie Cheyne for her tireless efforts in producing & communicating the competition schedule, and for the post-event admin, Pauline Stirling for running the show on the day, S14 superstar Conner Morrison for presenting medals & inspiring the next generation of athletes, and finally, to Kerry Buist – daughter of Norma – who also presented medals & thoroughly mucked in with the operation of the event.

Well done to all & good luck to all of the swimmers selected for the National Junior Swimming Championships, which will be held in November!

After a break of more than two years, Powerchair Football is now firmly a part of the Grampian para sport offering, thanks to a joint effort.

A group of enthusiastic players had been missing out on the sport since the previous coach was unable to continue to lead Grampian Strikers due to work commitments. However, after support from a local coach with an interest in Para Football, the Scottish Powerchair Football Association, Sport Aberdeen (who released the existing strikers, balls and brackets), Aberdeen Sports Village (who were keen to host the sessions) and Tayside Dynamo Powerchair Football Club (who provided coaching resources & helped run a Grampian taster session), the sport has now returned to Aberdeen and the first session was very successful.

Future aspirations for the participants include entering them into the Scottish Powerchair Football League once a regular player contingent is established, and growing the sport to include a wider demographic in sessions including more adult & female players.

All football equipment at the sessions is provided so participants only have to bring their powerchairs, and the cost of £4 per person includes entry into other activities & facilities at Aberdeen Sports Village (including their new Boccia session, which starts this weekend & takes place before the powerchair football session).

A huge thank you to coach Norman Innes & everyone else involved in getting these sessions set up again.

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.

The 2^nd GOGA in Fife Great Get Together supported by Spirit of 2012 was held in brilliant sunshine at the magnificent Fife Cycle Park on the afternoon of Thursday 19^th September.

60 participants plus volunteers, families, peer mentor volunteers and significant others  enjoyed walks of varying distances around the identified Fife Cycle Park “loops” of 500 metres to one mile.  The GOGA in Fife peer mentors played a significant role throughout from setting up the facility to leading the individual walks.

Team GOGA member Pamela Robson led the warm up and Team GOGA member Gayle Sloan coordinated arrangements for the refreshments and cake at the conclusion of the event.  We were well looked after throughout by Fife Cycle Park staff member Colm who did everything possible to ensure the 2^nd GGT was a success.  Many thanks also to Lochore Meadows staff member Kev who brought over adapted bikes and made the day for a significant number of participants and significant others.

Pupils from Levenmouth Academy DAS, Balwearie HS DAS, Kirkcaldy HS DAS and individual families signed up for the 2^nd GGT. In addition there was a strong representation from West Fife Community Support Services and Scottish Autism.  The first three quarters of an hour concentrated on walking and thereafter it was all bikes and adapted bikes.  The range of bikes available was impressive and Kev was always available to adjust and advise where necessary. Colm made the Fife Cycle Park cycles and helmets available to those whose skills and abilities were appropriate.

Everybody retired to the Fife Cycle Park for refreshments and cake plus of course the presentation of certificates. There was a wonderful buzz throughout the afternoon and many people enquired when the 3^rd GGT will be held. The GOGA in Fife team will consider dates and options and hopefully squeeze in another session before the end of the year.

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

 

Perth and Kinross Disability Sport are delighted to host the 2019 Tayside Schools Swimming Gala for pupils with a physical, sensory or learning disability on Wednesday 18th September 2019 at Perth Leisure Pool from 10am to 2pm in partnership with Leisure and Culture Dundee and ANGUSalive Sport & Leisure and supported by Perth City Swim Club, Live Active Leisure and Scottish Disability Sport.

Whilst this is a great opportunity for pupils to participate in swimming, it will also act as a qualifier for the Scottish Disabilty Sport  National Championships in November for those who would like to compete further.

Entry forms and information packs have been sent to all Tayside schools.

Any questions or if you would like an entry form sent out direct, please contact – graeme@pkds.org.uk

Closing date for entries – 11th September

Six youngsters from Grampian are on their way to becoming independent cyclists after Adventure Aberdeen hosted its very first Inclusive Learn to Bike workshop during the summer holidays.

The specialist workshop was set up following an enquiry from a parent of a deaf child, who highlighted that her son couldn’t yet cycle without stabilisers, but felt too old to attend the mainstream Learn to Bike workshops which are offered routinely across the country. After enquiring a little wider, it was found that there were a number of young people with disabilities in the same situation and it was then that we approached Adventure Aberdeen with the idea of setting up a pilot workshop especially for these children, and they thoroughly rose to the challenge.

At the end of the 3-hour workshop, 2 of the youngsters were able to cycle confidently without stabilisers, and the remaining 4 children were close to cycling 2-wheeled too!

The chance enquiry from this parent has become a catalyst in driving forward inclusive cycling, and we’re looking forward to continuing working with Adventure Aberdeen to set up further Inclusive Learn to Bike workshops more routinely, and hosting the first inclusive Bikeability workshop for the youngsters who have ‘graduated’ from Learn to Bike and who are ready to develop their cycling proficiency.

Well done to all of the participants who put in so much effort during the workshop, and a huge thank you to the parents and to Sally from Adventure Aberdeen for making it all happen.

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.

The recent training camp in Flagstaff and the opportunity to train with the outstanding Hawkins brothers has instilled a new confidence in Fife AC’s GB Paralympian Derek Rae.

All who know Derek recognise he is in better shape than ever and he confirmed this with an amazing 46 second PB at the Scottish Athletics 10K National Championships in Stirling last weekend.

Derek knew going into the race that he had enjoyed an excellent training block with coach Ron Morrison at Fife AC. Did he realise that he was going to run 31.13 just prior to his first visit to Japan and a race in Tokyo in preparation for the 2020 Paralympic Games? Derek ran hard from the gun and undoubtedly demonstrated his belief in his new found strength and fitness and he was spot on as always. Derek has never been short of determination and commitment.

Well done yet again Derek. This season has been your best to date and we wish you all the very best in Japan one year out from the Games. Derek has been preparing for this monumental challenge with sessions in the heat chamber. Conditions in Japan will be challenging and Derek’s back up team at the Scottish Institute of Sport will leave nothing to chance in their efforts to assist him with his preparations.

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

We are delighted to announce details for the upcoming Central Parasport Festival 2019.

Date:     Wednesday 23rd October 2019

Time:     10.00am – 3.00pm (9.30am arrival and registration)

Venue: The Peak, Stirling Sports Village, Forthbank, Stirling FK8 1QZ

Currently within Central Scotland we have a vast amount of opportunities for children and young people with a visual, hearing or physical disability to get involved in sport or physical activity at a local, regional and national level.

This festival is targeting pupils within a mainstream school setting in the Central area, with a physical, visual or hearing disability aged between P1 – S6. The key impact of the event is to provide a multisport opportunity to these pupils, identify talented individuals within specific sports, alongside channelling pupils onto local, regional clubs/ programmes and sessions. We would like to welcome back all pupils who have attended in the past, alongside engaging new pupils to attend for their first experience. During the 2018 event, video footage was captured highlighting the aims and impact of the event featuring testimonies from young people, parents, club coaches and professional officers.  We hope this footage will prove a useful tool in providing an insight to the event https://tinyurl.com/y66748wq.

Booking information

Please see below Event information and application form, with a closing date of Monday 30^th September 2019, (forms requested to be returned directly to Cheryl Lappin – Central SDS RDM). Alternatively forms can be completed online at https://www.cognitoforms.com/ScottishDisabilitySport/CentralScotlandParasportFestival.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the event or disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact:

Cheryl Lappin SDS Regional Development Manager for Central Scotland on cheryl.Lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577830360

Central Para Sport Festival 2019 – Event Information & Application

Disability Sport Fife bowlers and volunteers enjoyed yet another brilliant Fife Indoor Bowls Championships at East Fife Indoor Bowling Club Methil, courtesy of club committee members. The warmth of welcome was as always outstanding and greatly appreciated by all participants, spectators and support staff. DSF and East Fife Indoor have enjoyed a very special relationship for over 25 years and successive generations of Fife bowlers with additional support needs consider this event one of the most important in the DSF annual calendar.

The event began at 10 30 with a tribute to local hero Craig Bernard who as recently as last year reached the final of the championships B section. Craig died earlier in the year and many of those participating had attended his memorable funeral. Craig loved the Fife Indoor Championships and considered them his home event. Participants were invited to think about Craig at some point in the day and thank him for his friendship and good humour. Craig touched the hearts of many and within the bowling community in particular.

Throughout the day there were many exciting ties and all were overseen by the very committed volunteer markers from local bowling clubs. Officials were as always coordinated by Math Thomson from the Beveridge Park BC who was only able to spend a very short time at the event this year because of a hospital appointment. Thank you deputy Bill Bruce for standing in on the day and ensuring everything ran smoothly. These brilliant volunteers worked non stop from 10 30 till 15 00 and stayed behind for the presentations. Four and half hours of constant officiating with a short break for lunch. Brilliant ladies and gents.

Darryl Stewart from Cowdenbeath BC retained the men’s open title with a win over Crag Donaldson from Central Fife CSS, the reigning Fife outdoor champion. Lloyd Simpson and Steven Anderson from Dovecot BC were presented with joint third place trophies.

The equivalent ladies open title was contested by Pamela Mitchell from Headwell B.C and Wendy Thomson from St Andrews BC and East Fife CSS. Pamela was first introduced to the Fife bowls programme in the early 80s by Alex McLean at Rosyth ATC and she is playing better bowls in 2019 than ever before. Pamela was a convincing winner and will head to Aberdeen on Saturday in search of another SDS outdoor national title. Both Pamela and Wendy are past Scottish champions. Julie Allan from Windygates Bowling Club and East Fife Indoor Bowling Club was awarded a third place trophy.

Kevin Mustard from Central Fife CSS won the men’s section B title by defeating Phillip Callander from West Fife CSS and Headwell BC in the final. Mathew Blissett from Dovecot BC won a trophy for third place.

Newcomer Charlie Porter from East Fife CSS won the men’s C1 section with Robert Morrison from Headwell BC finishing runner up. Wayne Moreland from Windygates BC and East Fife CSS won the men’s C2 section with newcomer Aaron Kean from Headwell BC finishing runner up.

Tribute was paid to Headwell BC, Dovecot Park Bowling Club, Windygates BC,Beveridge Park Bowling Club, Lumphinnans Bowling Club, East Fife Indoor andAbbeyview Bowling Club that continue throughout the year to encourage and include bowlers with disabilities to train and play in inclusive environments. A feature of this years’s championships was the number of new players who registered and progressing to the final stages of their sections. DSF is very proud of its links with inclusive bowling clubs and the role played by GOGA in Fife, supported by Spirit of 2012 over the past 30 months.

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