No Limits Andrew Slack Memorial Open Boccia Competition

No Limits multi-sport club are hosting their annual Open Boccia Competition on Saturday 17^th November at Bathgate Academy Sports Centre, Bathgate.

The event is named in memory of former player and club member, Andrew Slack and is open to players of all ages with a physical or learning disability.  The entry form for the event can be accessed by clicking here.

Full event details can be found below:

Event – No Limits Andrew Slack Memorial Open Boccia Competition

Date – Saturday 17^th November

Time – 9.30am – 5.00pm

Venue – Bathgate Academy Sports Centre, Edinburgh Road, Bathgate, EH48 1LF

Cost – £5 per player

Closing date for entries is Friday 9^th November and completed forms should be returned to event organiser Elaine McCallum at: 8 Laverock Park, Linlithgow EH49 6AT / 07982 899 981

Em0111329@blueyounder.co.uk or boccia@nolimitssportsclub.org.uk

No Limits Boccia Comp 2018 Entry Form

The West of Scotland Junior Time Trials were held on Wednesday 3^rd October at the magnificent Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow.

39 Schools and Clubs from across the West, with a total of 167 young swimmers, with Learning, Physical or Sensory Impairments gathered to try to gain a place on the West of Scotland Team competing at the SDS National Championships in November.  It was a great event and for the first time welcomed swimmers from Dunoon ASC who made the trip over the water!

A number of great performances were put in from top swimmers including Louis Lawlor and Logan Smith, and Kathryn White and Lottie Barry.  With the SDS classification system in place there were a number of swimmers across all classifications, and plenty of competition for places in the West of Scotland Team.

There was tremendous support from parents and families, which made for an exciting atmosphere.

The National Championships for swimmers with a Physical and Sensory Impairment will be held at Grangemouth Pool on Wednesday 7^th November and for swimmers with a Learning Disability at Tollcross Pool on Wednesday 21^st November.

Thanks go to the West District Officials for their continuing support of this event, and to the staff of Tollcross for their input prior to and during the competition.

The event was lucky enough to recruit volunteers from Barclays bank and their contribution was invaluable. Thanks also to all the other volunteers who supported the event, and the club coaches and teaching staff for their attendance.

Schools and clubs will be notified of team selections in due course.

Thursday 27^th September 2018 saw the success of the Soft Archery Training delivered in partnership with Scottish Archery, Falkirk Community Trust and Forth Valley Disability Sport. 11 keen and enthusiastic Central coaches, volunteers, clubs and Active Schools representatives attended the workshop held at Grangemough High School.

Participants were taught how to organise safe, enjoyable and purposeful Soft Archery sessions, and become the driving force behind setting up and running Soft Archery sessions within Central Scotland.

Key training outcomes included:

• Identifying and teaching skills, setting up a Rapid Range, explaining safety rules, warms ups, guide to shooting , games and activities
• Understanding how to set up and plan Soft Archery sessions, as well as gaining knowledge of how to use the equipment safely

To find out more information about coach education and disability sport in Central Scotland, please contact: Cheryl Lappin – cheryl.lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com / Phone: 07577 830360

Additionally please visit the Scottish Archery website for further sport specific information
http://scottisharchery.org.uk/

A clay pigeon shooter from Aberdeenshire has been crowned British Shooting Grand Final Paratrap Champion 2018.

Allan Ritchie, from Whitehills, took on some of the strongest shooters in the country at the event in Fauxdegla, Wales to secure 1st place after finishing the last round with a score of 24. With Storm Bronagh in full force, it presented some extraordinarily challenging conditions, which the shooters took on with great determination & skill!

Going into the last day, there was a 4-way tie for the lead position. Congratulations to William MacLennan & George Glover who took home the Silver & Bronze medals.

Allan is in the midst of a grueling 3,200 mile round trip for a series of world class events, which also includes the World Shooting Parasport World Cup, taking place this week in Chateauroux in France, and the World Shooting Parasport Grand Prix, which will be held in Lonato, Italy.

Good luck to Allan with the remainder of his events (as well as the long drive), and thank you to the sponsors that are helping him reach his potential!

37 school-aged swimmers from across Aberdeen City & Shire with physical, sensory and learning disabilities were welcomed to Aberdeen Sports Village this week for the annual Norma Buist Gala.

Despite a lower number of entries for this year’s event, a number of newer swimmers were out in force & competition between the teams (and individual swimmers) was as exciting as ever with places in the SDS National Junior Swimming Championships at stake!

As well as the usual inspiring performances by experienced competitors Jason Cobb, Matthew Scott, Tegan Davidson, Rhys Gill, Murray Eunson & Lucy Thomas – all of whom took home medals and/or PB’s – a number of new & developing para swimmers wowed us with their performances including Skye Michie, Rebecca Thomson, Aidan and, Para Swimming newcomer, Layton Burr who certainly gave the older lads a run for their money!

The event was well-attended by teachers, parents and fellow pupils who were an amazing support to all of the competitors!

The event would not be possibly without the team of volunteers from Grampian Disability Sport, members of the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Active Schools teams, local club representatives & Scottish Disability Sport. An extra thank you to Marie Cheyne for her tireless efforts in producing & communicating the competition schedule, and for the post-event admin!

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

East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club (ELIBC) are re-starting their indoor bowls sessions for individuals with a physical, learning or visual / hearing impairment.  The sessions are co-ordinated by East Lothian Bowls Development Co-ordinator Billy Mellors and supported by Lothian Disability Sport and have previously engaged and supported a number of individuals who are new to the sport.

The bi-weekly sessions will support individuals who are new to the sport, as well as experienced bowlers and offer the opportunity to try a range of adapted equipment including specialised bowling wheelchairs and adapted throwing devices.  Dates of the sessions can be found below –

• Sunday 14^th October (12 noon – 2pm)
• Sunday 28^th October (12 noon – 2pm)

The sessions are delivered by trained coaches and provide an introduction to the sport in a friendly and welcoming environment – all ages and abilities are welcome. The sessions will also offer a more competitive element, providing a competition during each session for those who are interested.  Each session costs £3 per session.

If you are interested in attending these sessions, please contact Billy Mellors on 0793 071 6073 or development@bowlseastlothian.uk.

After a successful ‘come and try’ day in May,  an opportunity has been developed to have regular RaceRunning sessions at Meadowmill Sports Centre on Monday 6-7pm.

For more information please contact Lynda Gillroy :  lgilroy1@enjoyleisure.com

For more information on RaceRunning see:   http://www.cpsport.org/sports/racerunning/

Congratulations to all four Disability Sport Fife athletes who are members of Fife AC and were competing at the City of Stirling 10k at the weekend. The Stirling 10K also incorporates the Scottish Championships.

It was a tough run in very blustery conditions. All athletes found the occasion a massive challenge but stuck to the task in hand and of course all successfully completed the course. As Derek Rae was quick to point out in true and honest fashion the conditions were the same for everybody.

Derek went into the race feeling in excellent shape and knowing that the block of training he had just completed had set him up for the challenge ahead. Derek’s main focus is on the 2018 Glasgow Half Marathon and the Stirling run has set him up perfectly for that great occasion. Derek has three more weeks of hard intensive training then after Glasgow he is looking forward to an easier week or two which will be most welcome and of course is well deserved. Derek recorded a time of 32.14 which is a personal best of around 18 seconds. Derek is coached by Ron Morrison at Fife AC.

The remaining trio of Fife AC athletes completed their runs as follows: Owen Miller – 34.16, Sam Fernando – 34.48, Carter Taylor – 38.03. There were 163 starters in Stirling and DSF is fiercely proud of the performances of all four representatives. Owen and Carter are coached by Steve Doig at Fife AC and Sam Fernando by Ron Morrison. The partnership between DSF and Fife AC is very special and continues to produce excellent inclusive initiatives.

Photos: Derek Rae and Sam Fernando

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

The Gareloch RDA is happy to announce the grand opening of our new carriage driving arena. The arena was officially opened on Friday 31st August following months of fundraising spearheaded by Ian Ward. The group thanks each and every person and organization that helped to make this dream a reality.

The new arena has been designed to allow riders to learn how to drive a horse led carriage. The group’s specialist pony, Bobbie, has spent a year in training for this new activity, while the specially designed carriage will be with the group by the end of September. By bringing this new activity to Gareloch RDA, we can enable a far broader base of riders to learn how to interact and work with the horses.

Team work, learning and fun are all central to the Gareloch RDA ethos, our new arena will not only enable more people to interact with a new sport, but enable volunteers to learn a whole new skill, as well as giving back to our community. For more information please contact us on the details below.

If you are interested in volunteering with Gareloch RDA or learning more about our group, contact: Louise Worrall 07716 543734

Huge congratulations to the Annan Athletic Disability Football Team who secured the SFA Disability League 1 for season 2017/18.

Congratulations must also go to coaches George and Rob who have been with the team every step of the way. These boys train twice a week every week and have been duly rewarded for all their hard work, dedication commitment and effort.

A special mention and thank you must also be made to Annan Athletic FC for their continued support of the team, the boys feel very much part of the club who allow them to train weekly at Galabank and have allowed the boys to wear the AAFC badge with pride throughout the season.

This partnership alongside Dumfries and Galloway Disability Sport has been invaluable and without such support this kind of success and opportunity would not be possible.

Congratulations lads get yourselves a good rest and get ready to go again for season 2018/2019!