The stars were shining down on this year’s Ayrshire Sportsability (ASA) 15^th Annual ball. Not only did the event celebrate Ayrshire’s best in disability sports, but raised a record-breaking amount for the charity.

The glittering reception took place on Saturday 27 April at Ayr Racecourse, and was hosted by Edward Reid, a former finalist from Britain’s Got Talent. Guests were treated to a four-course dinner, before dancing the night away to the band, Life & Soul. And some even managed a few selfies with the Daleks!

The highlight of the evening was the 11^th annual Ayrshire Sportsability award ceremony. These awards promote and applaud local achievements in sports for people with a disability in Ayrshire and Arran.

There were five awards up for grabs:

• Elle McCreadie, winner of the Young Athlete of the Year Award (sponsored by Ayrshire College), for displaying exceptional qualities in disability sport (under 18 years).
• Robyn Love, winner of the Athlete of the Year Award (sponsored by The University of the West of Scotland), for displaying exceptional qualities in disability sport (over 18 years).
• Stanecastle School, Irvine, winner of the Most Active School Award (sponsored by North Ayrshire Council and KA Leisure). This award is given to a school in Ayrshire or an individual within a school who has promoted a new initiative for children and young people with a disability.
• Learn 2 plus, South Ayrshire Council, winner of the Activity in the Community Award (sponsored by East Ayrshire Council Vibrant Communities). This award is for a club that has made a difference over the year in delivering sports to people with a disability.
• Gary Seymour, East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities, winner of the Disability Sports Coach of the Year (sponsored by The University of the West of Scotland), for making a difference in delivering disability sports to people with a disability.

Not only did the event recognise Ayrshire’s disability sports heroes’, it raised a record amount for the charity. Dr Waiyin Hatton, Chair of Ayrshire Sportsability, explains more: “Huge congratulations to our winners and finalists for their achievements and inspiration. And we raised a record £11,000 to continue our ambitious disability sports activities.

“On behalf of the Ayrshire Sportsability Board, I would like to thank Ayrshire College, East Ayrshire Council, KA Leisure, North Ayrshire Council and the University of the West of Scotland for sponsoring the Awards. Special thanks to all our guests, sponsors, supporters and volunteers, who made the event a stunning success.”

To find out more about Ayrshire Sportsability, visit www.ayrshiresportsability.org.uk.

Photographs: (left to right)

Photo 1 – Young Athlete of the Year Award (Jane McCreadie, Elle McCreadie, Moira Birtwistle, Ayrshire College and Dianne Campbell, Ayrshire Sportsability

Photo 2 Athlete of the Year – Dianne Campbell Ayrshire Sportsability, Kayleigh Haggo, UWS Student, Mrs Love (Robyn’s mum)

Photo 3 Most Active School – Colin Glencourse, Martin Edwards Headteacher Stanecastle School, Lauren Fletcher Active Schools North Ayrshire and Dianne Campbell

Photo 4 Activity in the Community –  Representatives from Learn 2 plus South Ayrshire Council, Adam Strain East Ayrshire Council Vibrant Communities and Dianne Campbell

Photo 5 Disability Coach – Gary Seymour East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities, Dr Waiyin Hatton UWS, Dianne Campbell

 

Disability Sport Fife and GOGA in Fife coaches/volunteers attended the first International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment or Deafblindness held at Edinburgh University last weekend.

The Symposium was hosted by Professor John Ravenscroft (Edinburgh University), Professor Lauren Lieberman (Brockport, New York University) and Professor Pamela Haibach-Beach (Brockport, New York University). The Symposium was attended by professionals from all over the world including Japan, USA, New Zealand, Finland, Canada and Hungary to name but a few.

The weekend programme consisted of presentations and practical workshops from a wide variety of presenters. Topics included adapting blind sports, self advocacy, challenging perceptions of physical education for pupils with disabilities and motor development. Delegates were offered the opportunity to try sports including blind tennis, football, cricket, warm up ideas and guide running.

A highlight of the Symposium was hearing from Erik Weihenmayer via video link. Erik is the only blind person to climb Mount Everest and then go on to climb all of the seven summits. He is an inspirational man who advocates a ‘no barriers life’.

Pamela and Gayle came away from the weekend completely inspired by the presenters and delegates who attended the Symposium. They were massively influenced by the challenges blind people have to overcome and the courage they demonstrate on a daily basis.

Pamela and Gayle have returned to Fife with a host of new ideas, practical hints and tips that they can apply to their coach led sessions. They are confident their learning will benefit many Fife athletes and not only those with a visual impairment. What was also important was that they gained confidence and reassurance that their current practice in Fife is on the right lines and compatible with key messages over the weekend.

Pamela and Gayle are indebted to the following agencies for supporting their attendance at this unique Symposium in Scotland. Fife Council, Fife Disabled Sports Trust, GOGA in Fife and Disability Sport Fife.

The Trustees of Disability Sport Fife (SCIO) are indebted to Pamela and Gayle for giving up so much of their leisure and family time to advance their learning for the benefit of DSF members and significant others.

Richard Brickley MBE – Chairmam DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees

There was certainly no shortage of talent at this year’s Grampian Schools’ Boccia Finals with some incredibly close games, impressive tactical attacks and pinpoint accuracy on show.

The final, which took place as part of the 3-part annual League in Aberdeen’s Sheddocksley Sports Centre, saw around 70 pupils from primary and secondary schools across Aberdeen City and Shire battle it out for top points and the referees were not disappointed by the efforts, courteousness and spirit of each and every one of the players.

A massive thanks goes to all of the Active Schools Coordinators from Aberdeen City and Shire who helped on the day, to Grampian Disability Sport’s Cath and Marna who travelled down to officiate the games, to the school staff who accompanied the pupils, and especially to Scott, the Active Schools Assistant at Orchard Brae School, who coordinated the entries and match schedule.

We’re looking forward to what will be an even bigger, better and incredibly competitive League in 2019/2020.

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.

Saturday 15th June 2019
Crownpoint Track, Crownpoint Rd, Glasgow G40 2AL
11.00am – 4.00pm

An athlete should be listed as Ambulant/WC/VI /RR (Race Runner) or LD along with their event and current best time or distance. Ambulant athletes can enter a maximum of three events. Wheelchair racers can enter a maximum of four events.

Please note the Club throw is for athletes with a physical disability only. The softball throw and, standing long jump are for lesser able athletes who cannot throw javelin or do a running long jump.

When entering for throws events, please enter the weight of the implement used as well as the distance thrown.

The entry fee will be £3.00, any cheques to be made payable to Red Star AC.

Please fill out the entry form and send or email along with payment (made payable to Red Star AC) to: Red Star AC, 4 Balmoral Drive, Cambuslang, Glasgow G72 8BG by Friday 31st May 2019. If emailing, bring entry fee on the day. Please call mobile or text to check entry has been received.

There will be a Tombola and Raffle on the day

EVENTS
60m Club Throw (PD seated Only)
100m Softball (less abled)
200m Shot Putt
400m Javelin
800m Discus
1500m Long Jump
Standing Long Jump (less abled)

All track events are for ambulant athletes, wheelchair racers and race runners with the exception of 100m walk (athletes who cannot run 100m). We would encourage athletes to enter 100m if possible and leave the 50m for those who are less able.

Selected Field events are for particular groups of athletes, please see above. Please leave softball for less able athletes who cannot throw a javelin or shot putt.

Red Star Entry Form 2019

1st Scottish Disability Championships

When: Sunday 23rd June 2019, start time 10.00am

Where: Dumfries Table Tennis Club, Shakespeare Street, Dumfries DG1 2JE

https://dumfriesttc.co.uk / facebook.com/DumfriesTableTennis

Disability Open Competition Entry Form

Congratulations to young Callum Sloan from Dunfermline and Queen Anne HS who has set a PB of over two minutes at the 2019 Virgin Money London mini marathon.

Callum set a PB last year at 20.55 and at the time of posting this report his estimated finish time this year was 18 minutes. An exceptional time for the young T53 Disability Sport Fife teenager.

In London to support Callum was his family and coach Pamela Robson.

Callum has had a period of health challenges and Team Sloan will be delighted with today’s push. Well deserved outcome for a very committed young athlete.

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

A student para swimmer has been awarded full blues by Robert Gordon University.

Laura Pilkington, a first year Applied Sport & Exercise Science student, trains with University of Aberdeen Performance Swimming and picked up the accolade for her commitment to her sport whilst juggling the demands of being a full-time student and managing her disability.

Laura is also currently a member of the SDS Apprenticeship Programme where she’s aiming to obtain her UKCC Swim Coaching qualifications whilst volunteering at Bridge of Don Amateur Swim Club to utilise her skills.

Well done to Laura for this amazing achievement and thank you to her mentors, supporters and coaches who have helped nurture her talent.

If you, or someone you know, lives with a physical, sensory or intellectual impairment and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw (Regional Manager for Scottish Disability Sport) on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

The Grampian region was devastated to learn of the passing of disability sport participant and long-serving coach, Murray Cran last week following a short illness.

Murray was a ‘well kent’ face across Aberdeen City and beyond, having participated in a range of sports including wheelchair curling, and coached thousands of children in his decades of involvement in sport.

Up until his illness took hold, Murray coached regularly alongside his wife, Evelyn, with Active Schools Aberdeen, and had the opportunity to pass on his skills and promote inclusion to the next generation. He certainly made a huge impact in sport in the area and will be very much missed by everyone who knew him.

Murray’s funeral takes place at West Chapel, Aberdeen Crematorium on Friday 26th April at 14:45, and a gathering to celebrate his life will follow thereafter at 3 Lums in Sheddocksley.

Our thoughts are with Evelyn and the rest of Murray’s family at this sad time.

Roon the Toon 10K Road Race will be held in Kilmarnock on 9 June 2019. This is a fully inclusive event and also hosts the Scottish Wheelchair 10K Championships (Sponsored by Ayrshire Sportsability). This is a fantastic event with an iconic route, great on course entertainment and a goody bag at the finish.

You can get all the information about the event at www.roonthetoon.com.

 

Para-Badminton starlet, Lesley Johnstone, returned to Aberdeen last week from the Turkish Para-Badminton International event empty handed, but the defeat has not put her off her dream of competing in the Paralympic Games.

Johnstone, who has had a remarkably quick journey up the Para-Badminton pathway having only committed to the sport in 2018, was selected alongside national squad teammates Alan Oliver and Mary Wilson to attend the international events to hopefully qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics next summer where the sport has its debut.

Lesley faced an incredibly difficult opening game with mixed doubles partner, Denis Grzesiuk, where they were heavily defeated by French duo Mazur & Noel. This was then followed by a loss to Liek Huo Cheah & Katarzyna Ziebik, albeit by a far narrower margin.

She also faced very strong opposition in the women’s singles SL4 event where she faced a loss of both games to Khalimatus Sadiyah Sukohandoko. However, she came back strong in her second game to Helle Sofie Sagoy to win the 2nd game of the match.

The Scottish women’s doubles of Johnstone and Wilson saw further defeats in the women’s doubles event. However, with this being Lesley’s very first international & given the short space of time she’s been on the performance pathway, her determination and achievements are more than worthy of a great deal of admiration, and we look forward to seeing Lesley compete in her next event in Uganda.

A special thanks goes to BadmintonScotland for their support of Lesley through this quick journey!

If you, or someone you know, lives with a physical, sensory or intellectual impairment and would like to get more involved in sport, please get in touch with Alison Shaw (Regional Manager for Scottish Disability Sport) on 07828 744 848 or alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com.