Grampian shooter Allan Ritchie has again taken home the gold in his latest Para Trap event – this time the final round of British Shooting’s 2018 Shotgun Series held at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground

The current Scottish, British, European & World Record Holder (and current ranked World #1 Para Trap Shooter) battled stiff competition in the scorching heat to secure the top spot after a bumpy start to the weekend.

After forecasting a significantly lower than hoped for score for the weekend, he managed to pull it back and finished with a 102/125 securing Para Gold. Congratulations also go to fellow Para Trap shooters, William MacLennan who took silver, and Keith White who took home bronze.

If any organisations or companies would like to support Allan in his endeavors 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

Congratulations to Derek Rae from Fife AC for a fine run and an excellent win in the 10K at the Glenrothes Road Running Festival on Sunday 17th June.

Derek led from the start and finished in a time of 33.15. This was just reward for all the hard work he has put in with coach Ron Morrison since he returned from his spectacular performance in a GB vest at the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon. It is worth noting that the T46 Para athlete finished off his day with a nine mile cool down run back to his home in Kirkcaldy.

The Glenrothes Road Running Festival is organised by the Fife Olympiad Committee in conjunction with Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. The start and finish are at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre and the event incorporates a 4K, 2K and 300m a junior jog. There is something for everybody on the schedule and the programme is inclusive of all communities.

Derek was just outside his personal best of 32.32 for 10k, a time he set at the City of Stirling 10K in 2017. During the week he was involved as a volunteer at the Disability Sport Fife (DSF) Track and Field Championships at Pitreavie Athletics Centre. Following the 10K Derek made time for a photograph with DSF member Graham Law who once again completed the 4K race within the Road Running Festival. Derek is an ambassador and peer mentor volunteer for Disability Sport Fife.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

On Tuesday 29th May, Glasgow RDA kindly hosted the West & Central Scotland Regional Dressage Competition.  On a dry sunny day, but thankfully not too hot, the riders, who had trained hard for weeks, were ready for their Dressage tests.  This year sadly, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances there were less competitors than in previous years but Glasgow, Equipower, Carrick, Forth Valley and Gareloch groups were represented.  The competition was no less keen.  Sadly, due to the small numbers of participants we had to cancel the Countryside Challenge and Tack and Turn out.  Hopefully all will be restored for next year.

Thanks to the fantastic input from their coaches, volunteers and the support of the horse owners, it was clear that all the effort had paid off as many riders were presented with rosettes and trophies too.

This year four competitors with be travelling down for the National Championships which will be held at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire in July.

It was a great pleasure to have four ladies representing two groups in our Region of the Trefoil Guild there to present the prizes.  The ladies told me how delighted they were to attend and how inspired they were with the skills and competitiveness of all our  riders.  The National Trefoil Guild have chosen the RDA as their Charity of the Year and are sponsoring the Countryside Challenge at the National Championships In addition, groups have been fund raising and donating to RDA groups throughout this year.  Mrs. Susan McNeil from the Glasgow Board also very kindly assisted with the prize giving.

West & Central Regional Committee would like to thank Glasgow RDA , our judges, writers, and all the organisers and helpers for a tremendous day.

WEST & CENTRAL REGIONAL RESULTS 2018: DRESSAGE QUALIFYING CLASSES

Lindsay Trophy Winner: Carys Marie Williams – Gareloch

DRESSAGE  NON- QUALIFYING CLASSES

Gardner Trophy Winner: Leah Syme – Equi-Power

If you are interested in volunteering or want to loan a pony to your local RDA contact: Gillie Drapper on 01360 860 243

Photograph information
Trefoil Guild Ladies: Winnie Patrick, Lena Ross of Bishopbriggs, Joy Thomson and Ann Young of NorLan
Lindsay Trophy – Carys Marie Williams Gareloch RDA
Gardner Trophy –  Leah Syme – Equi-Power RDA

Congratulations to Graham McIntyre from Leven and Callum Sloan from Dunfermline who recorded personal best performances in the Kilmarnock 10km (Roon the Toon) on Sunday 10th June. The event is organised  Kilmarnock Harriers and AC. by It was a tough course for the Disability Sport Fife wheelchair racing squad members but they coped well and received very positive feedback from their coach Pamela Robson.

For Queen Anne HS teenager Callum it was his first push over 10K and he completed the course in a creditable 47.39. Graham is still coming to terms with his new racing wheelchair and was pleased with his time of 32.39.

Both athletes are now well and truly ready for the Disability Sport Fife Track and Field Championships to be held at Pitreavie Athletics centre on Wednesday 13th June. The Championships are once again supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Briony Clark has become the 15th Disability Sport Fife volunteer to be acknowledged by UK agency Volunteering Matters for her significant contribution to the development of disability sport in Fife. Briony was one of DSF’s original peer mentor volunteers.

Briony has been involved with GOGA in Fife since it was launched 18 months ago and since she left school she has spent large amounts of her free time supporting others at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre.

Briony is one of the most talented all round sportwomen in Fife. Briony excelled as a footballer at school and is now an active member of Glenrothes Strollers. She is also very competent in racquet sports, athletics, bowls and is an exceptional swimmer. Some of her sporting activities have been curtailed because of work commitments but not her enthusiasm for volunteering.

Briony volunteers weekly at multi sports, run jump and throws and many sports events throughout the year. Briony is patient, confident and skilled with participants with severe and complex needs in particular. Briony has the ability to pursue a coaching pathway but for the moment is happy to be a peer mentor volunteer and a particularly good one at that. Briony is enthusiastic, reliable and exceptionally popular within her peer group.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

Ciara Roulston shone for Tayside at the Eton Dorney Open Paratriathlon. The Artic One sponsored event, was Ciara’s first Paratriathlon. Not only was the event a great development experience, it also saw Ciara take home 1st place in the Super Sprint.

Ciara is an emerging triathlete based in Kirriemuir, whose dedication to individual training has been irrefutable. Relatively new to the sport, Ciara has gone from strength to strength in terms of her training. Ciara’s approach and attitude to training is first class and she does a great job of looking for support and guidance from supporting organisations. This combined with her work ethic is sure to culminate in additional gains to her performance over time.

Ciara commented “I couldn’t be happier with how my first race went. To come away with a first in my first race, I’m still in shock.  I’ve trained hard and know I have to train harder still. I have plenty to work on but am taking lots of positives from this event.”

Ciara Roulston attended her first Paratriathlon event at the Eton Dorney Open Paratriathlon. The event, supported by Artic One, saw Ciara competing in the Para Super Sprint.

On Friday 18^th May, South Lanarkshire Disability Sport (SLDS) celebrated 20 years of the organisation with their Awards Night at the Town House in Hamilton.

Ian Dunn, treasurer of SLDS, kicked off the evening welcoming everyone, before a delicious two-course meal was served.

Craig Brown CBE and Aileen Neilson were the guest speakers for the evening and were very inspirational with their talks.  Craig is a South Lanarkshire Leisure sports coach and play worker, and wheelchair basketball player and Aileen is a Paralympic Curler having competed in three Winter Paralympic Games.  Both talks were extremely motivational and SLDS thanks them for contributing to the success of the evening.

The Award Winners

• Junior Male Sports Performer – Alexander Thomson
• Junior Female Sports Performer – Shiona McClafferty
• Adult Male Sports Performer – Jack McComish
• Adult Female Sports Performer – Diane Gilan
• Coach of the Year – David Gilhespie
• Club of the Year – Blantyre Soccer Academy Disability
• School of the Year – Lanark Grammar
• Outstanding Contribution to Disability Sport – East Kilbride Youth Disability Sports Club
• Outstanding Sporting Achievement – Stephen McGuire

It was a great evening celebrating the success of disability sport in South Lanarkshire and honouring the 20 years that SLDS has been established.  Special mention to two of the founders of SLDS, and the dedication, passion and commitment they have both put in to the organisation, and fittingly they won a special award.

Outstanding Service to Disability Sport – Ian Dunn & Millar Stoddart

Categories were nominated through schools, Active Schools, Sports Development, clubs, governing bodies and charity groups so thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate.

There were also twenty eight merit awards awarded throughout the categories so congratulations to all winners and merit winners, keep up the good work.

Children from across Grampian came together to compete in the last of this year’s School Boccia Festivals organised by Active Schools Aberdeen & Active Schools Aberdeenshire.

Anna Ritchie School, Westfield School & Riverbank Primary turned out for the event, played at Sheddocksley Sports Centre, where they took part in a series of fun drills before competing in a round robin event against the other teams.

The Festival was enjoyed by both pupils and staff alike, and pupils will be able to continue to improve their skills at one of the many regular boccia sessions available throughout Grampian.

A massive thank you to Marna and Cath, two of our fantastic volunteer boccia coaches, who played a huge part in running the event!

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

Grampian Disability Sport was pleased to welcome home players from all across the region, and visiting players from far and wide to this year’s Grampian Games!

The three day event, comprising indoor bowls, 10-pin bowling, table tennis and boccia, received over 50 entries this year (including a handful of first-time boccia entrants in the Junior category who performed fantastically on the day), and all events were closely contested – especially in the final few matches!

The results are as follows:

Indoor Bowls (played 11^th May):

• Gold: Kevin Duncan
• Silver: Shona Fraser
• Bronze: Kerry Mathers

10-pin Bowling (played 12^th May):

• Gold: Craig Barrie
• Silver: Heather Thomson
• Bronze: Kerry Mathers

Table Tennis (played 13^th May):

• Open Male Class A
  • Gold: George Keith
  • Silver: Alexander Rae
  • Bronze: Stephen Welsh
• Open Male Class B
  • Gold: Bryan McKenzie
  • Silver: Michael Finnie
  • Bronze: John Clark
• Female Class
  • Gold: Kara Rae
  • Silver: Eveline Johnston
  • Bronze: Joanne Morrison
• Open Doubles
  • Gold: George Keith & Terry Sowah
  • Silver: Joanne Morrison & Stephen Welsh
  • Bronze: Joint (Andy Drummond & John Clark, and Kara Rae & Alexander Rae

Boccia (played 13^th May)

• Class A (adult players with a physical disability)
  • Gold: Mike Lyon (Grampian)
  • Silver: Kerry Mathers (Grampian)
  • Bronze: Fiona Muirhead (West of Scotland)
• Class B (adult players with a learning disability)
  • Gold: Stephen Brodie
  • Silver: Natalie Morrice
  • Bronze: Grace Adamson
• Class C (adult players who use assistive devices)
  • Gold: Hannah Craig (Tayside)
• Class D (junior players)
  • Gold: Daniel Strong (Grampian)
  • Silver: Cameron Millar (Tayside)
  • Bronze: Tyler McLelland (Fife)

Thanks goes to all of the partners and volunteers who made this year’s Grampian Games possible: the GDS committee; Ric Young and his team from Garioch Indoor Bowling Centre; Andrinne Craig; George Keith; Marna McDonald; and Cath Robertson.

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.

East Lothian tennis player Luke Turnbull has been selected to represent Great Britain at the upcoming INAS World Tennis Championships set to be held in Paris, 14^th – 22^nd July 2018.

The Tennis Championships will delivered within the INAS European Games, which will welcome around 1000 participants in sports including Athletics, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming and of course Tennis.

The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (INAS) helps more than 300,000 of the world’s best athletes to compete in a variety of winter and summer sports and organises International competitions such as the World and European Championships.

Luke, 14 years old, has been playing tennis for over 7 years but has only recently become involved with the learning disability programme over the last 12-18 months and has made a incredible impression during this time, culminating in his recent selection for Great Britain providing the opportunity to play Tennis in one of the most iconic cities in the world.

The North Berwick High School student currently plays for the North Berwick Men’s 1^st Team and for St Serf’s U16 and U18 junior teams, claiming the Division 1 Championship last year.  During his time at U14 level, Luke was ranked as high as number 5 in Scotland.

The East of Scotland youngster is now part of the GB Performance Squad for players with an intellectual impairment and will be hoping to continue his impressive progression through the disability form of the sport and achieve some good results in Paris.