Grampian athletes were celebrating success this month after a series of medal-winning international performances across a number of events.

Lewis Clow (Athletics) and Rhys Gill (Swimming) travelled out with Team Scotland to the CPISRA World Games at the beginning of the month, and certainly didn’t disappoint! Lewis, who competed in the Games for the 2nd time, took home not only a bronze medal in the T37 Long Jump but a PB and new Scottish Best in the T37 200m event. Newcomer, Rhys, claimed bronze in the S9 200m IM event – which is an incredible achievement, especially as this was the first time Rhys had swam 2-armed butterfly. Rhys also gained PB’s in most of his other events!

Next up was the Special Olympics 40th Anniversary Games, and the Grampian Special Olympics Squad sent out a team of cyclists & table tennis players out to Stirling to show off their talents! The cycling team came home with an incredible 5 gold, 3 silver & 5 bronze medals, and the team of just 4 table tennis players, led & coached by para table tennis veteran, George Keith, took home an outstanding 10 medals – 1 gold, 6 silver & 3 bronze – in a tough competition!

The finale to our jam-packed August was the World Para Swimming European Championships, where Toni Shaw & Conner Morrison represented the Grampian Champions against some of the toughest competition in the world!

Conner, the world record holder for the men’s SB14 100m Breaststroke, was narrowly pipped at the post by teammate, Scott Quin, in the final & had to settle for a silver medal – much to his disappointment (but to our delight in seeing Conner take home a medal)!

The hype and media attention surrounding Aberdeen’s Toni Shaw was absolutely justified, as the 15-year-old, competing in her inaugural event as a senior with British Swimming, took home an astounding 5 medals in the S9/SB9/SM9 classification group comprising of bronze for 100m Freestyle & Backstroke events, silver in 100m Butterfly & 200m IM events, and a well-deserved gold in the 400m Freestyle event, where she also set a new European Record and beat the current Paralympic Champion!

All in all, our Grampian Champions had a busy August competing against some tough competition, but certainly rose to the occasion & did their region proud!

If you, or anyone you know, lives in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability and is keen to get involved in Para Sport, please contact Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or on 07828 744 848

Disabled horse riders and carriage drivers from West & Central Scotland Region on winning form – RDA National Championships 13-15 July, Hartpury College, Gloucestershire

The dust is settling, and the excitement is quelling after another fabulous trip to the Nationals for some West & Central participants.

Our Arts & Crafts were well represented with six pieces of work travelling down to the Nationals.  Overall turn out this year was greater than ever, therefore the challenge of returning with a rosette all the more difficult.  However, Marissa Johnston’s painting with an RDA theme, came back with a 6^th place rosette.   Many congratulations Marissa and her Glasgow Group.  We were delighted with the high standard of all the works and look forward to seeing what we receive in the Regional Arts & Crafts Qualifiers for 2019.

First competitions on Friday saw Carriage Driving in the main arena.  Dressage and cones in the morning, followed by Obstacles in the afternoon.  Two competitors, Lynda Farquhar and Emma Hunter, both driving Ozzy, entered from Forth Driving.  It was a thrilling competition all round with barely a ball knocked from cone, but more challenging obstacle rounds.  Lynda and Emma focussed and succeeded.  Lynda brilliantly retaining her first place and trophy from last year, with Emma coming a terrific 3^rd in her first National Championship.

Saturday saw Leanne Peters from Gareloch riding Harley.  Though Leanne has been to the Championships before this was the first event on this scale for Harley.  Leanne and Harley have built up a wonderful relationship and Leanne guided Harley calmly through their test, again in one of the main outdoor arenas.   The scores for the class were incredibly close.  Leanne and Harley can rightly be very proud of their performances.  Just a few tweaks and the pair will soar.

Sunday was Gareloch’s Carys Marie Williams turn.  This was the first time in such an environment for both Carys Marie and Bella.  They took it in their stride, going out with confidence and massive smiles.  The scoring was once again extremely close with Carys just being pipped at the places.

Travelling to the National Championships from Scotland is no mean feat for the competitors, the ponies or the supporting teams but the challenge of adventure, the thrill of competition and the companionship of everyone involved makes taking part the best thing that we have done for our sport and our Region.   We are very proud!

At the GAA Glasgow Miler Meet at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday 27th July, Owen Miller and Sam Fernando from Fife AC recorded outstanding personal best performances for 5000m. Owen is coached by Steve Doig and Sam by Ron Morrison. Sam recently returned from Paris where he won bronze in 10000m and gold in 3K steeplechase at the INAS European Championships. Owen recently broke through the 4 minute barrier for 1500m for the first time with a time just over 3.57.

Owen was in brilliant form in Glasgow when he recorded 15.08 for 5000m, over 30 seconds faster than his previous personal best. Over the past few years Owen has concentrated on 800m and 1500m because these distances have a Paralympic pathway for T20 athletes. Owen started out as a cross country and distance athlete but switched to middle distance because of his ambition to represent Great Britain and 800m and 1500m were the only opportunities available.

His Miler Meet performance is a clear indication of his considerable talent over 5K as well as middle distance. It may be that Owen’s time is the fastest time recorded by a GB T20 athlete?

Sam similarly had a great run in Glasgow. Like Owen he is having the season of his life and yet he is still a novice in high performance distance running. Sam recorded 15.39 at Scotstoun, the first occasion he has broken through the 16 minute barrier. Sam’s previous best for 5K was 16:05.33. Apart from the competition commitments Paris was a whole new experience for Sam and he passed with flying colours.

Disability Sport Fife is indeed fortunate to have two such talented athletes and access to an incredible athletics partner in Fife AC with outstanding coaches and supportive athletes. Owen is a past pupil of Woodmill HS and Sam a past pupil of Bell Baxter HS.

Once again, Grampian shooter Allan Ritchie has triumphed in the latest Para Trap event as part of the British Shooting Shotgun Series 2018. However, he added to his national success by being picked to represent Team GB internationally.

The current Scottish, British, European and World Record Holder (and current ranked World #1 Para Trap Shooter) will now travel to Chateauroux in France this September to compete in the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup, and will soon after fly off to Lonato in Italy for the World Shooting Para Sport World Championships at the start of October.

Everyone at Scottish Disability Sport and Grampian Disability Sport wishes Allan all the best in his endeavour to secure the top spots in both events! Good luck, Allan!

If any organisations or companies would like to support Allan in his endeavours in Para Trap Shooting, please get in touch.

If you, or anyone you know, lives in Grampian with a physical, sensory or learning disability and is keen to get involved in Para Sport, please contact Alison Shaw on alison.shaw@scottishdisabilitysport.com or on 07828 744 848.

Engage Boccia Session Continues to Thrive in Dundee

The Engage Boccia Session continues to thrive in Dundee. The newly formed session has been running since March under the expert tutelage of Darren Thomson. Darren is a dynamic coach with decades of high level experience combined with a natural ability to provide fun and engaging delivery for all participants.

The session runs with the support of the Big Lottery Fund and Dundee & Angus College. Dundee & Angus College have been proud supporters of disability sport across the area; with their students gaining opportunities to enhance their delivery for individuals with a disability.

These fun sessions are open to all individuals with physical disabilities affecting all four limbs and trunk. If you are looking to get more active and meet new friends, these sessions are for you.

When: Mondays, 6.00-8.00pm

Where: Dundee & Angus College, Gardyne Road, Dundee DD5 1NY

All ages and abilities welcome

No previous experience required

Equipment will be provided.

For more information contact Jennifer Scally, SDS Regional Manager, on 07703 793 901 or jennifer.scally@scottishdisabilitysport.com

S&S Grewar Ltd, a construction company based in Kirriemuir, have offered their support to local wheelchair racer Murran Mackay.

The T54 athlete is a rising star within athletics who recently attained a personal best in the 200m discipline.

Murran’s dedication to wheelchair racing has been irrefutable but athletes based in rural communities typically face additional barriers in meeting their training needs. This support will enable Murran to continue trekking across the country in order to obtain the track time that she requires.

Thank you to S&S Grewar Ltd for sponsoring a local athlete.

Photo: Jayne Grewar of S&S Grewar Ltd presenting Murran Mackay with a sponsorship cheque

Matthew Doig, 12, from Perth competed in the 22nd International RaceRunner’s Cup in Copenhagen last week. The competition boasted 90 athletes from 11 different countries around the world.

Matthew won five gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m achieving four personal bests. To top it all off, Matthew claimed the Under 14 world record in the 1500m.

Congratulations to Matthew on his achievements, keep up the great work at Perth Strathtay Harriers!

Ben Leitch, a wheelchair basketballer from Perth, thrived in his first international tournament for the Great Britain Junior Men’s Team.

Ben was part of a 12 man squad that attended the XXV Trofeu International Barcelona Tournament which returned home undefeated. The tournament was a warm up for the U23 European Championships which will be taking place in September, with selection of the final squad still to take place.

Ben’s passion for wheelchair basketball is clear and his dedication to development has seen him shine in the sport. Ben recently signed for the highest level wheelchair basketball team in the country; the Glasgow Rocks Wheelchair Basketball squad. He is a great representative for Tayside and still supports his local team, Dundee Dragons.

SDS would like to congratulate Ben on his first call up to Great Britain.

The fifteenth Jed Renilson Wheelchair and Hand Cycle 10k is just around the corner, scheduled for Sunday 28^th October 2018.  This event is organised by the Scottish Borders Disability Sport & Leisure Group and is an excellent opportunity for experienced and aspiring wheelchair / handcycling athletes to test themselves at a well-established event.

The race will commence prior to the 10k and half marathon and will be part of the Jedburgh Running Festival.  The race route is basically an out-and-back. Starting at Bonjedward Garage the race 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 .The finish line is on the A698 at the banner approximately 70 metres after the turning for the car park at the Caddyman Restaurant at Mounthooly.

A map of the route can be found here – https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4633949.html

All riders must provide their previous or best 10k race time, this safety constraint allows us to confirm riders can compete the course in under 45 minutes.

Anyone who hasn’t raced this distance before must contact the organiser prior to entry.

Entry to the event can be completed by following this link – https://www.entrycentral.com/event/108652.

 

Beach Wheelchairs is a Scottish Charity which believes that everyone has the right to enjoy our beautiful beaches.

Since we started in July 2015 in North Berwick, we have helped over 250 individuals to get on the beach and spend special time with friends and families. In 2017, friends in Portobello followed our lead, and opened a site on the promenade beside their beach.

Beach wheelchairs can also be used to allow children to take part in educational trips, individuals to attend beach weddings and may be used at other beaches or off road sites by prior arrangement.

‘Can’t thank you guys enough for today! For the first time since her accident Sarah could go down to the beach with her husband, kids and dog and have an amazing time. She even dipped her toe in the sea!’

All of the wheelchairs have been specially designed to enable individuals with disabilities to get back on the beach. Unlike a standard manual wheelchair they have large, rubber wheels which move easily over the sand. We hire out beach wheelchairs free of charge from each of our seaside locations using local volunteers.

At North Berwick we have a child’s and two adult beach wheelchairs and a beach walker for free hire. We also now have a hoist.

To book please phone 0300 111 2112.

www.beachwheelchairs.org.