Scottish Disability Sport would like to wish Angus Whyte (FVDS Chair) a very Happy 80th Birthday! Chairperson of the branch since 2011 Angus has been instrumental to the strategic focus, growth and development of the branch throughout the Forth Valley area. Angus’ influential approach and kind personality equates to partners, families and athletes greatly appreciating the work he does to support Forth Valley Disability Sport. Angus is a very dedicated and committed volunteer shaping the focus of the charity by securing funding through the Youth Work in Sport Initiative 2013-2018 and the Get Out Get Active Project 2016-2019, and additionally he is also the Chair Person of Access to Industry and volunteers with Mary Meals Charity Shop in Dunblane.

Happy 80th Birthday Angus, many many happy returns!

On Sunday 7th July it was our Forth Valley Flyers Disability Athletics Championships, with athletes meeting from all across Scotland.

Starting off the event, we were privileged to participate in the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.  They were represented by officers from Ireland and Scotland, with Ross Christie as the lead officer in Scotland. This team will travel across Scotland promoting Special Olympics.   The torch crosses the globe in between the Special Olympics raising funds for charity and promoting inclusion and diversity within each nations’ police forces.

Following the championships, Flyers club member Caitlyn Ross presented to local trainee police officers to raise their awareness about the Special Olympics.  By being involved in sport, this boosted her self-esteem and confidence, enabling Caitlyn to go on to volunteer and motivate others with any disabilities to take part.   The increased awareness helps improve engagement by police officers in our communities, enabling better support for those that have disabilities.

This was one of the best ever athletics events hosted by the Flyers, with 105 athletes, representing 12 clubs from Grampian to Gateshead and Ayr to Fife.  There were 37 track and 18 field events. Our Flyers team did the Forth Valley region proud by winning 30 gold, 18 silver and 9 bronze medals.   The Special Olympics torch bearers took part in the long jump and 4 * 100m relay events, with Flyers athlete Steven Stone really impressing the police officers in the long jump. Steven is UK ranked 1st in his F20 category, with his personal best jump of 6.59m. Each team in the relay race was represented by one of the clubs and one team constituted the torch bearers.  Their participation in the competition really demonstrated their inclusive ethos.

The Forth Valley Flyers welcomes children and adults from across our three counties of Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.  Our athletes have gone on to progress at the highest levels on the global stage, such as the Special Olympics and the Paralympics.  We offer a full range of track and field specialities to train in.  Additionally, for wheelchair users, we have a club racing wheelchair; and for those with some leg function, they can try one of our RaceRunning bikes.  These opportunities present the first feeling of freedom that they may have experienced.

The Flyers is life changing for our club members, as not only are we providing sporting opportunities, our club sessions are key social opportunities for those that might otherwise feel isolated in society.

Would you know someone with a physical or learning impairment, who might like to try out one of our sports, in a very friendly and supportive environment?  We meet at the Grangemouth athletics stadium each Tuesday at 5.30 and on Friday at 6pm.

Might you know someone interested in volunteering? We always need extra help to support our club.

Would you like to earn sport coaching qualifications and gain experience? We can help you develop your career.

Find out more about us www.forthvalleyflyers.org.uk and contact us for more details on forthvalleyflyers@btinternet.com.

Borders Disability Sport are hosting their 5th Borders Boccia Open Competition on Saturday 28th September and is open for players of all ages with a physical or learning disability across the country. For most players this will be the last opportunity to sharpen up their skills in a competitive environment prior to the Scottish Boccia Open, held in October. The competition will be delivered in partnership with LIVE BORDERS (LB), Borders Boccia Club & Scottish Disability Sport (SDS).

The details of the competition are below –

Event: Borders Boccia Open Competition 2019

Venue: Queens Leisure Centre, Galashiels TD1 2AE

Date: Saturday 28th September 2019

Time: 10am – 4.00pm (approx.)

Entry: £5

Please see attached the entry form: BOCCIA OPEN COMPETITION Entry Form
Borders Disability Sports Group Privacy Notice

As with other Scottish Disability Sport Boccia events, we rely on dedicated volunteers to officiate matches to ensure the success of the competition. Also attached is match referee volunteer form for anyone who is able to support this event: Match Referee Volunteer Request

If you require further information, please contact event organiser Alan Oliver on the details below.

All forms should be returned to Alan Oliver, LIVE BORDERS Sports Development, St Mary’s Mill, Level Crossing Road, Selkirk, TD7 5EW, aoliver@liveborders.org.uk – 07887 471 137 or 01750 700 110.

Aces at Broomhill – Tennis festival for people with additional support needs

24th August 2019, 2-4pm: Come along and join us between 2 and 4 pm for a fun afternoon at Broomhill Tennis Club! All ages and abilities welcome!

Hillhead Tennis and Rugby ASN Festival

Sunday 24th August, 2pm – 4pm: Inclusive for all – great social afternoon.

Borders Disability Sport would like to invite you to participate in the 16th Jed Renilson Wheelchair and Hand Cycle 10km Race, scheduled for Sunday 27th October 2019. The race is included as part of the Jedburgh Running Festival and will start at Bonjedward, Jedburgh.

In memory of the late Jed Renilson, founder of the wheelchair race, Borders Disability Sport are committed to carry on this legacy and hope to welcome new and experienced participants alike. For organisational purposes, entrants are required to submit their previous or best 10km race time.

The race route is an out and back, starting at Bonjedward Garage and heads down a steep hill before turning right onto the A698. The route then heads east along this road for 5km before turning and heading back West towards Jedburgh. Entries can be accessed through Entry Central – https://www.entrycentral.com/event/108652.

If you have any queries around the event, please contact Borders Branch Development Officer Alan Oliver on aoliver@liveborders.org.uk or 01750 700 110.

10k Wheelchair Race Flyers 2019

Jedburgh Wheelchair Race Invite Letter 2019

On Saturday 29th June, bowlers from all over Scotland were welcomed to Blackford Bowling Club for the first ever Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Open Lawn Bowls Championships.

Blackford BC President Stuart McNaughton welcomed everyone to sunny Perthshire before the green was opened up for some fantastic competitive bowls across four categories:

• Bowlers with a physical disability – wheelchair
• Bowlers with a physical disability- ambulant
• Bowlers with a learning disability
• Bowlers with a visual impairment

The round robin format in each category meant each player got a minimum of three or four games before the top two in each group played off in the final to determine the champion.

Each final was played in great spirits with some brilliant shots determining our champions.

Elizabeth Jackson from Clackmannanshire won the wheelchair section after a great performance against Jim Eadie from Perth & Kinross. Stuart Chesby from Fife won the physical disability – ambulant section defeating Robert McCrackan from Perth & Kinross in the final. Graeme Panton from Perth and Kinross won the learning disability section after a very close final with Ryan Flynn from Forth Valley. Sylvia Johnston from Dundee won the visual impairment section with some great bowls against Lynn Barr from Lanarkshire.

Perth & Kinross Disability Sport Branch Coordinator, Graeme Doig, said: “Thank you to everyone who came along to play and support our first ever disability bowls Championships.

“This event has been a big success with some very competitive bowls and we hope to establish this on the bowling calendar in years to come.

“Thank you to everyone at Blackford Bowling Vlub for their support in organising this event and for the officials, volunteers and sponsors whose contribution helped make this an enjoyable experience for all.”

Ron Anderson, Bowls Development Officer at Blackford added: “We started this journey into supporting people with a disability to get involved in bowls three years with the help of Ron McArthur. We are delighted with the progress made with our coaching sessions and the success of a number of our bowlers at national competitions last year.

“Thank you to everyone who took part and we hope to see everyone again next year.”

Inclusive hockey for all

Venue: Glasgow National Hockey Centre
Date: Tuesday 6th August
Time: 11.00am – 12.00 noon

Free stay and watch: Eurohockey Championship

The curtain was brought down on Riverside FC Powerchair team’s superb first season on Saturday at the Scottish Powerchair Football Association (SPFA) Annual Awards night at Hampden when Scott McIntyre was awarded the SPFA Breakthrough Player of the Year Award. Well done to Scott – a thoroughly well deserved award.

The team was formed last August when one player turned up at the first training session at Wallace HS. Numbers expanded rapidly and the team now has 10 players who attend training sessions at The Peak on a Monday night at 7.30 – 9pm.

The team plays in the MDUK National Championship and has won a number of matches. This is particularly impressive as the team all use NHS powerchairs and very often they played against teams using top of the range sports powerchairs.  It can seem like trying to run against Usain Bolt at times as the sports chairs are so much faster, but the commitment and will to win and compete are second to none.

The team also got a mention in the Scottish Parliament recently when Bruce Crawford MSP gave them a namecheck on a discussion about powerchair football.

The team would like express their thanks the support and help it has received from Scottish Disability Sport, Active Stirling, Scottish Football Association and everyone at the SPFA. It really is very much appreciated  and without it there is no doubt the team would not be thriving the way that it is.

If you or anyone you know is interested in taking up the sport please contact Ian Anderson on 0779 230 7175.

The Grampian region was delighted to welcome 51 participants to this year’s annual Parasport Festival for school-aged pupils with physical & sensory impairments.

The event, held at Aberdeen Sports Village, saw a 71% increase in attendance compared to the 2018 Festival and was the best-attended Festival in Grampian since the shift to focus on participants with physical, visual and hearing impairments from mainstream education who are often greatly underrepresented in sport.

This year’s Festival focused on 8 sports – specially chosen to enable ongoing participation in community sessions in Grampian and to suit the abilities and disability types of those attending: Football; Athletics; Boccia; Table Tennis; Wheelchair Basketball; Bowls; Swimming; and Badminton.

Additionally, this year marked the first Grampian event to feature both a coordinated VIP presentation & tour for key stakeholders and a workshop for parents and teachers to learn more about the athlete journey and the work of SDS. The parent/teacher workshop also featured an inspirational talk by Gary Clow, parent of Grampian Commonwealth Games para athlete, Lewis.

The event would not have been possible for the 50+ amazing volunteers & helpers from Active Schools Aberdeenshire, Active Schools Aberdeen, Live Life Aberdeenshire, Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club, Grampian Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Club, Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club, Aberdeen & District Table Tennis Association, Scottish Swimming, Scottish Disability Sport, Scottish Student Sport, BasketballScotland, regional athlete ambassadors, and the wider sports development network. We’re also really thankful for the parents & teachers who took the time to bring along the children they care for.

Initial feedback from the event suggests that the children and adults thoroughly enjoyed & benefitted from the event, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2020 event, which is set to take place in early September.

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.

Photo courtesy of Marie Gilbert

The sun was shining at Albury Outdoor Sports Centre, the hospitality was second to none, and the competition was fierce (albeit friendly & with copious amounts of banter) at this year’s Grampian Regional Lawn Bowls Championships.

The qualifying event for Grampian’s bowlers to reach the SDS National Lawn Bowls Championships was highly anticipated amongst the bowls community and saw bowlers with physical, visual and learning disabilities aged 20 – 88 from across Aberdeen City & Shire compete for the top spots on the day & a place at Nationals. The event also saw a tremendous 50% increase in entries compared to the 2018 event.

Thanks to the organisation skills of Grampian’s bowls lead, Kevin Duncan, participants were split into 3 pools for the day (seated bowlers & those using wheelchairs, ambulant bowlers with physical and learning disabilities, and bowlers with visual impairments) and competed in round robin matches against the others in their pool.

Following the event, the players, carers, parents and umpires retired to the club house where local hero & Albury Outdoor Sports Centre volunteer, Agnes MacDonald, ensured that everyone was suitably fed & watered with an afternoon tea. In turn, diners donated over £80 towards the Centre’s funds. The Centre is entirely run by volunteers & managed by Albury Community Sports Hub. SDS, Grampian Disability Sport & the players are eternally grateful to Agnes & her team for continuing to make sure everyone is looked after, both at our annual event & at the weekly Grampian Bowls Squad sessions, which take place on Saturdays from 13:00 – 15:00 at the Centre and are suitable for all ages.

Special mentions from the day go to first-time competitors Reggie Craig & Zoe Kane who performed incredibly well amongst our veteran entrants.

A huge thank you also goes to the team of umpires & markers, without whom the event wouldn’t be possible.

Congratulations to all of the competitors.

Results:

Section A (Seated bowlers & those bowling from wheelchairs)
Gold: Kevin Duncan
Silver: Reggie Craig
Bronze: Kerry Mathers

Section B (Ambulant bowlers)
Gold: Zoe Kane
Silver: Martin Morrison
Bronze: Kelly McDonald

Section C (Visually impaired bowlers)
Gold: Ali Burt
Silver: David Cox
Bronze: Jim Lamb

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.