Name: Taylor Mackenzie

Branch: Dundee City Disability Sport

Sport: Swimming

Club: Menzieshill Whitehall Swimming & Water Polo Club

How did you get involved in your sport? My mum and dad took me to the Olympia Pool when I was in nursery

How long have you been playing your sport for? Since I was 4 years old. I love the water and don’t feel different from others when I’m swimming.

Biggest Strength (as an athlete): My biggest strength is my love of swimming and my determination to improve my strokes

What’s the best thing about your sport? Swimming is fun and a great workout, it also gives you confidence to push yourself

What equipment do you need to take part in your sport? Other than the obvious things, I would never be without my water bottle, kick-board and fins.

Greatest sporting achievement: Competing in the Scottish Disability Sport National Junior Championships at Tollcross and the Special Olympics in 2017.

Favourite Para-athlete: Bethany Firth, S14 swimmer. I watched every race she was in during the Paralympics in Rio

Favourite athlete to compete against: Another S14 swimmer, Reagan Doig, proud that she is Scottish

Any advice for someone interested in your sport? Always warm up and warm down, show up early for training and have fun.

Derek Rae from Fife AC has successfully reached another milestone in his preparations for his next full marathon with a personal best of 70.06 at the 2017 Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Half Marathon in Glasgow.

The Kirkcaldy man is coached by Ron Morrison from St Andrews. The GB number one in the T46 class for athletes with an upper arm impairment finished in 15th position overall and lowered his half marathon time by an amazing 1 minute and 53 seconds. Last year in the same event Derek finished 27th overall.

Derek ran a personal best at the Virgin London Marathon in April this year of 2:33.24 and followed up with a PB of 32.32 at the City of Stirling 10K in September. To date coach and athlete are pleased with the continued progress as Derek builds up to his next full marathon and an attack on his 2017 London best performance.

Derek is a very committed full time athlete and if industry and commitment make champions then he is destined for the podium. Away from training Derek has become a peer mentor with Disability Sport Fife and last week he attended his first Coach UK workshop. Derek hopes one day to become a Scottish Athletics coach and inspire the next generation of young distance runners. Fife AC and Disability Sport Fife are already convinced he is inspiring many up and coming athletes of all ages and abilities.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Cameron Hemphill from Ladybank is the most improved young physically disabled swimmer in Fife in 2017. The young Disability Sport Fife (DSF) teenager moved to InCAS to access more training time and under the guidance of coach Garrie Roberts his performances have improved significantly. Cameron is now in third year at Bell Baxter HS and enjoying the challenges of working on his chosen school subjects and of course his swimming.

In May Cameron competed in his first InCAS Distance Meet and recorded his first set of personal bests for 200m freestyle (3.32.09) and 200m backstroke (4.24.09). In Aberdeen in June he competed at the SDS National Performance Championships and set four long course personal bests for 50 Freestyle (46.08), 100 Freestyle (1.41.52), 100m Backstroke (2.14.81) and 100m Breast Stroke (2.16.44).

Cameron was selected by Scottish Swimming for the National Junior Squad for the National Junior Para Swimming Championships in Sunderland and again he set three personal best short course times for 50m Freestyle (43.08), 100m Freestyle (1.32.39) and 100m Breast Stroke (2.10.77).

Cameron was selected for the Scottish Swimming 2017/2018 National Senior Squad Programme and has moved from InCAS Junior National Feeder to National Feeder and consequently increased his weekly training schedule. Cameron is a very committed young Para swimmer and like so many others he is looking forward to the season ahead and offering his best for InCAS, DSF and Scottish Swimming.

First national event will be swimming for Fife at the Scottish Disability Sport National Junior Championships at Grangemouth and thereafter he hopes to gain selection for Scotland for the British National Para Swimming Championships in Manchester in December. Like all successful high performance young sports people Cameron has a very enthusiastic and committed family behind him.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Disability Sport Fife identifies bowls as one of the most inclusive sports in the Kingdom and there are many examples of success stories. Community bowling clubs throughout Fife embrace DSF members with such enthusiasm and help them on their way along the well established bowls pathway that has been in existence in Fife for many years.

The Beveridge Park BC and East Fife Indoor BC have played a significant role in supporting the DSF competition programme for over three decades. Top Fife bowlers Gary Handyside and Sam Smeaton are members of Lumphinnans BC and club members are supportive of a novice group from West Fife CSS who practice there weekly. Scottish Champion Wendy Thomson from East Fife CSS is a member of St Andrews BC and since joining she has improved immensely. The link between East Fife CSS and Windygates BC has led to an increase in the number of players with additional support needs playing the game. Fair Isle BC is the home club for several of Fife’s leading visually impaired bowlers and within less than a year of the Dovecot BC development being set up, newcomer Robert Anderson has rocketed to number four in the Fife rankings. Abbeyview BC has a well established reputation in disability bowls development and Strathmiglo BC, Burntisland BC, Cowdenbeath BC and Kinghorn BC have in membership some of the nation’s top para bowlers. Several other clubs are keen to play their part and Fife should be fiercely proud of all that it is doing to promote inclusive bowls across the Kingdom.

In the mid 70s enthusiastic Fife bowler Alex McLean from Kirkcaldy was the first person in Fife to highlight to Disability Sport Fife the possibilities in bowls for players with additional support needs. At the time Alex was the manager of Rosyth ATC. Alex and some of his bowls colleagues from the Kirkcaldy area helped DSF to organise the first Fife Lawn Bowls Championships at Lynebank Hospital in 1976. A few years later the event moved to the Beveridge Park BC where the Championships have remained to this day. At the same time Alex forged links with Headwell BC and several top bowlers soon emerged. The most exceptional has been Pamela Mitchell from Dunfermline who is the current Fife and Scottish Ladies Indoor Champion in the section for players with a learning disability.

Within the past few weeks Headwell BC, West Fife Community Support Services and DSF have come together to deliver quality coaching for novice learners at Headwell BC. A new coaching session has been established, led by club member Chris Osborne, and plans are already in place to consider footwear and equipment purchases. The enthusiastic learners are enjoying their new sport in the welcoming environment of the Headwell Club. There is undoubtedly potential within the group and maybe the 2018 Fife Indoor Championships at the East Fife indoor Club will include a contingent from West Fife CSS/Headwell BC to support Pamela Mitchell. Well done to the committee members at the Headwell Club and club member Chris Osborne in particular for being inclusive in thinking and practice.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Tyler McLelland from Glenrothes is a relative newcomer to the Paralympic sport of boccia but improves with every competition. Tyler trains at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre and is part of the Disability Sport Fife Youth Squad.

Tyler’s mum Emma is his current coach and with her guidance and early input from Paralympian Kieran Steer plus support from Claire Morrison from GB Boccia, the young BC4 player is making steady progress. Emma successfully completed her Boccia Leadership award this year and later in the year she embarks on her UKCC Level 1 Boccia with support from Scottish Disability Sport and sportscotland. They are a formidable pairing. Tyler is also well supported by Dad Mark and brother Jack.

DSF is trying to build a competition boccia squad around Tyler in the same way as the successful athletics initiative around wheelchair racer Callum Sloan has led to a registration of over 20 junior athletes with physical or sensory impairments. Thanks to financial support from the Order of St John in Fife Tyler has taken possession of a new set of competition boccia balls, purchased in Spain and secured by Claire Morrison from Dalgety Bay on behalf of Tyler. He cannot wait to meet up with Order Members to show them his new boccia balls in action.

Disability Sport Fife is as always pleased to be associated with the long running Discovery Games. Tyler picked up another top three finish in a mixed class competition but most importantly he gained valuable competitive boccia experience.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

For most people it may be the particular delivery style that singles out Billy Allan from Cowdenbeath from other Scottish Para bowlers? Others may be impressed by his record of selections for IBD World Championships in Malaysia, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand and of course the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. There are however other qualities that Billy possesses that rank him up with the leading Para sportsmen and women in the 40 year history of Disability Sport Fife.

Billy looked up to and learned so much from Scotland’s Commonwealth Games gold medalist and Atlanta Paralympic medalist David Heddle from Fraserburgh. Throughout the 90s David dominated the men’s open and year after year Billy reached the final stages but could not topple the great man. 2002 was the year of the Manchester Commonwealth Games and scene of David Heddle’s finest triumph. It was also the final occasion that David won the Scottish Lawn Bowls title. Billy became Scottish Champion in 2003 for the first time and yet again in 2005 and 2007. He then had to wait until 2016 to regain the Dewars Trophy but he has now just completed a treble of victories following his win this year in Aberdeen. David Heddle is the only other bowler to complete the treble in the 38 year history of this event.

Billy Allan is fiercely loyal to Disability Sport Fife and Scottish Disability Sport. He never misses a DSF lawn bowls or carpet bowls National qualifying event and his record in carpet bowls at national level is exceptional. Billy is a fierce but fair competitor and he is a role model for emerging Fife bowlers. DSF values Billy greatly because of his loyalty to the local and national programmes and of course for his considerable skills as a bowler. Billy has been a brilliant servant to Disability Sport Fife and long may he continue.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Oliver Carter from Cupar and Carnegie Swimming Club is off to the best start possible for the new swimming season.  Last month at the Fife Championships he lowered the Scottish record for 50m freestyle for the S10 class to 27.04. The previous record of 27.29 was held by five times Paralympian Paul Noble at 27.29. Oliver also set a personal best for 50m backstroke of 32.80.

The young Bell Baxter HS pupil is in his final year and considering his options for next year and beyond. Under the guidance of Carnegie SC Head Coach Morag Mitchell he has moved up the world rankings for 400m freestyle to eleven and is currently a member of the British Swimming Academy and the Scottish Swimming Senior Bronze squad. Oliver’s next major competition will be in December in Manchester.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

As part of Triathlon Scotland’s ‘Scottish Para Come and Tri Series 2017’ in conjunction with Scottish Disability Sport & local partners, people from Grampian of all ages with a range of physical, sensory and learning disabilities took up the opportunity to swim, run and bike at Banff Academy on the 26^th August.

The 14 participants were tasked with completing one of two distances: A 300m swim, 4km cycle and 1200m run; or a 100m swim, 1000m cycle and 400m run. The cycle was completed as loops round the playing fields and the run took place on the fantastic new Deveron Community and Sports Centre 400m tartan track.

Participants were invited to bring their own bikes. However, for those without their own bike, the Triathlon Scotland team was on hand with a fleet of bikes, acquired through generous funding from the CashBack for Communities Facilities Fund.

Andy Redman, the North of Scotland Regional Development Officer for Triathlon Scotland, praised everyone that took part & noted that “all performances were outstanding”. He also commended the fantastic support that the parents, carers and others accompanying the athletes offered on the day. An enjoyable time was had by all.

One of the participants was Craig Dillon (pictured in action on his RaceRunning bike), who took on all three disciplines with gusto and thoroughly impressed the Triathlon Scotland team. When asked what he thought of the day, Craig said “yeah, good”. Craig is very keen to take part in more triathlon events in the future & particularly enjoyed the swimming element of the event.

Thanks go to Andy & Calum from Triathlon Scotland, the Enable Group in Banff, Charles (the Duty Manager at the facility), and Andrea McIntosh who volunteered on the day.

Photos by Andy Redman

The achievements of Craig Donaldson (Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC) and Wendy Thomson (East Fife CSS and St Andrews Bowling Club) cannot be underestimated. Craig has won the Turnbull Shield at the Scottish Lawn Bowls Championships organised by Scottish Disability Sport on seven occasions and four times in the last seven years. Wendy has just completed a treble of wins in successive years and won the Jessie Buchan Cup for the fourth time in five years. Both bowlers entered the championships as defending champions and successfully defended their titles. Rarely do the two national titles for bowlers with a learning disability return to the one Branch at the SDS.

Craig was inspired by his late father Bob to become involved in bowls and they played together often at the Kinghorn club. Both have been very committed club members for many years. Bob became a very enthusiastic supporter of DSF and regularly signed up for indoor, outdoor and carpet bowls events in Fife as a volunteer. Craig is a very successful all round sportsman and over the years has excelled in swimming, football, table tennis, badminton, track and field etc.

Wendy is a past winner of the Kilrymont St Andrews Athlete of the Year award and with that award comes a sports bursary. Wendy used her bursary to assist with her fees when she joined St Andrews Bowling Club and the rest is history. Playing at the St Andrews club and with support from staff at East Fife CSS her bowls has improved enormously over the last five years. Before this she travelled from St Andrews to Kirkcaldy weekly to access coaching support from Math Thomson at the Beveridge Park Club. Wendy is also an excellent indoor, carpet and ten pin bowler.

Bowls in Fife for players with physical, sensory or learning disabilities has been stronger. There are many inclusive bowling clubs across Fife and Disability Sport Fife members take full advantage of all that is on offer. Standards and number of participating players have improved accordingly.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife