Monday 27^th August saw the successful launch of the Central Powerchair Football sessions, led by Riverside Football Club in partnership with the Scottish Powerchair Football Association and Active Stirling.

These sessions are open to all powerchair users, regardless of age or ability. Everyone is welcome!

Details of these weekly sessions:

When: Monday evenings 7 – 8:30pm

Venue: The Peak, Stirling

Cost: Free

All ages and abilities welcome – no previous experience required – equipment provided

To book or to find out more information please contact Scott Kinross on 01786 273555 or kinrossk@activestirling.org.uk.

Additionally, to find out more information on disability sport within Central Scotland, please contact Cheryl Lappin, SDS Regional Development Manager, on cheryl.lappin@scottishdisabilitysport.com /  07577 830360.

Disability Curling at the Peak

Our new disability inclusion classes offer three distinct curling sessions at the Peak tailored to support those living with a disability.

Our sessions are a great introduction to the sport of curling consisting of 1 hour of coaching with a qualified Active Stirling or Scottish Curling qualified instructor.

Get involved in this great sport, meet new friends and have fun on the ice.

For information on times please download the leaflet here:

Disability Curling

On Saturday 4th August Live Active Leisure hosted a Boccia Festival at the North Inch Community Campus, Perth, with teams from Perth, Kinross, Strathearn and Dundee Boccia Club in attendance.

The festival consisted of a 15-game round robin format and all the players received a certificate of attendance for taking part in event. The certificates were presented by Paul Cromwell, Chief Executive of Live Active Leisure.

Nigel, one of the boccia player’s carers, said: “On Saturday we participated in a Boccia Festival at North Inch Campus Perth, a truly spectacular event. The competitors came from Dundee, Perth, and Crieff and many were supported by parents or support workers.

“All ran seamlessly as each team played five matches, yet there was no rush or problems as the referees, scorers and stats crunchers (Darren) showed how to arrange a competition full of smiles.

“As for the competition most matches were closely fought with great sportsmanship and camaraderie.

“A fantastic event – oh and Perth A won, but you know what, everyone was a winner and I’m so glad I was there.

Once again thanks to Louise and her team; you all achieved gold too.”

Results were:

• Perth A – 1st place
• Kinross – 2nd place
• Dundee – 3rd place
• Perth B- 4th place
• Strathearn – 5th place

Picture: Team Perth A vs Kinross playing their boccia game

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS)
Disability Sport Regional Manager Tayside

(Part Time – 18 Hours)

Salary Scale : £25,000 – £28,000 (Pro Rata) subject to experience

SDS, in partnership with sportscotland, is seeking to appoint a motivated and dynamic Disability Sport Regional Manager (Part Time)to lead the strategic direction of disability sport across Tayside and implement the SDS strategic plan at a local level.

The post holder will work in partnership with all relevant stakeholders in disability sport to develop a sporting infrastructure for disabled people in Tayside. The post holder will be responsible for further developing existing sports structures and ensuring a seamless pathway from participation to performance.

The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate proven experience of leading, developing, implementing and evaluating sports development initiatives and programmes as well as knowledge of sports development pathways. This post is initially offered on a two year fixed term basis with expectation of extension with an office base within Tayside.

For a full job description, candidate specification and application form, see our website: www.scottishdisabilitysport.com or apply online here.

OR, contact Caroline Lyon, Administrator, Scottish Disability Sport, Caledonia House South Gyle, Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ

Tel: 0131 317 1130   Fax: 0131 317 1075

E-mail: admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com

Closing date: 12 noon on Friday 21^st September 2018.

 Interviews: Friday 5^th October 2018.

SDS Regional Manager Part Time Tayside JD & PS 2018
SDS Regional Manager Part Time Tayside Application Form 2018

Forth Valley Disability Sport Team has excelled themselves in the 40th Anniversary Scotland Special Olympics which was hosted at the University of Stirling from Thursday 8th August and Sunday 12th August 2018. Forth Valley Special Olympics Team’s medal haul has reached 16 medals overall.

The Forth Valley team of 10 athletes and seven coaches / carers competed against athletes from all over Great Britain, Europe and Asia. Individuals from Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire athletes represented Forth Valley in the Special Olympics which is a competition for people with learning disabilities and is organised by Special Olympics Scotland. Forth Valley was represented in athletics, bowls, golf, multi activity training programme (MATP) and swimming.

The games began with an exciting opening ceremony which set the scene for the three day competition, with performances from Red Hot Chilli Pipers and many other well know celebraties. Cheers from family and friends welcomed the athletes in their parade as they entered Forthbank Stadium in Stirling alongside Special Olympic legend from the past 40 years, Davie Lawrie, the founder of Forth Valley Disability Sport.

The Forth Valley Team has been training hard for the competition which took place in three venues throughout Stirling. The commitment of the athletes has been evident in the results which you can see listed below. Well done to all of our Special Olympics athletes, many of whom medalled and recorded personal bests.

Mitchell Graham, Team Manager, said: “It has been a fantastic competition and for many of the athletes, they have been training at the competition venue as part of their preparation. Everyone will be going home with memories they will never forget.” He also went on to thank the many local business that have supported the team including RJM Sports who supplied the Forth Valley teams Uhlsport kit, Coaches for transporting the team to and from Stirling and the volunteer coaches, escorts and careers who have made it possible for the team to be here.

Forth Valley Disability Sport would also like to thank everyone who helped the Special Olympics team to be so successful. A few companies, clubs and organisation are listed below: The Bill McLaren Foundation, Bannockburn Miners Welfare Social Club, Forth Valley Flyers Athletics club, Enable Arion Swimming Club, Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club, Denny Bowling Club, Pollokhaws Bowling Club and Polmont Bowling Club.

If anyone reading this article would like more information about sports participation opportunities for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities please telephone Forth Valley Disability Sport on 01786 466486.

The extensive individual and team medal haul is as follows:-

Athletics
Name	Area	Medals
Sharon Sloan	Stirling	1 Gold, 5th
James McDonald	Stirling	1 Silver, 1 Bronze
Ellen Wotherspoon	Falkirk	1 Bronze, 4th, 6th
Athletics total: Individual medals – 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze

 

Indoor Bowls
Name	Area	Medals
Craig Stirling	Falkirk	2 Silver
Frank Maguire	Falkirk	1 Gold, 1 Silver
Robert McWilliams	Falkirk	2 Silver
Ryan Flynn	Falkirk	1 Gold, 1 Silver
Indoor Bowls total: Pair medals – 2 Silver; Individual medals – 2 Gold, 2 Silver

 

Golf
Name	Area	Medals
Andrew Stuart	Stirling	1 Silver
Lewis Scullion	Stirling	1 Silver
Golf total: 2 Silver

 

Swimming
Name	Area	Medals
James McDonald	Stirling	1 Gold, 1 Bronze
Sharon Sloan	Stirling	6th, 6th
Swimming total: Individual medals – 1 Gold, 1 Bronze

 

MATP
Name	Area	Medals
Hope Wotherspoon	Falkirk	2 Gold
MATP total: Individual – 2 Gold

The total of the medal success overall is: 16 medals.

Owen Miller from Fife AC is having the most incredible season and his most successful ever. On Saturday 18^th August at the BMC Grand Prix event in Stretford, Manchester, Owen recorded 3:58.34 for 1500 metres. This was Owen’s second fastest time to date and the third occasion this summer he has run under 4 minutes.

Owen is now ranked three in the IPC world rankings for the T20 class. Since coming under the wing of Steve Doig at Fife AC, Owen has progressed dramatically and is once again challenging for international honours. Owen has well and truly put his injury ridden 2017 season behind him and he is enjoying competing once again.

Owen is an ex pupil of Woodmill HS and over the past few years he has been Scotland’s lead distance athlete in the T20 class.  Owen will lead Team Fife at the Scottish Track and Field Championships at Grangemouth on Wdnesday September 12th. Team Fife will be attempting to retain the AR Mitchell team trophy.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

This season it is impossible to keep up with the outstanding Owen Miller from Dunfermline. No sooner had I posted an article about his third under four minute 1500m run at Stretford at the weekend, than he heads to Glasgow on Tuesday evening and registers a PB for 3000m …..by three seconds no less.

It was back on June 1st that Owen set a personal best for 3K of 8:39.76 at the BMC Regional Races at Scotstoun. Last night he lowered that time to 8:36.90. A significant improvement in a distance that he does not compete over too often but where he undoubtedly has considerable talent.

Coach Steve Doig from Fife AC has transformed Owen into a world class athlete once again following a disappointing 2017 through injury. Team Miller however are fully aware that the bar is constantly being raised internationally in the T20 class over 1500 metres and there is still some way for Owen to go before he is competitive on the world stage.

The summer months have demonstrated clearly that Owen and his coach are on track for the important 2019 season that lies ahead. Owen will be the first to admit that family have played an critical role in his career to date.

Congratulations Owen once again. Owen is shining example of the school to club/community support that is present in Fife and shapes champions.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Glasgow Life has para cycling track sessions available at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Para cycling sessions are dedicated coaching sessions for riders with physical and learning disabilities who want to keep fit and develop their skills and technique through coached sessions.

Do you know of someone who has a visual impairment and is interested in cycling? We have also recruited several tandem pilots to support tandem riding.

Sessions are one hour long, limited spaces available!

The next available dates are:

Wednesday 1-2pm or 2-3pm

• August 22nd or 29th
• September 5th, 12th, 19th or 26th
• October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th or 31st
• November 7th, 14th or 28th
• December 5th, 12th or 19th

Thursday 6-7pm or 7-8pm

• August 16th or 30th
• September 13th or 27th
• October 11th or 25th
• November 8th
• December 6th or 20th

Saturday 3-4pm

• August 25th
• September 8th or 22nd
• October 6th or 20th
• November 3rd or 17th
• December 15th or 29th

Solo riders >4 riders per hour maximum, tandem stokers (on the back!) >6 riders per hour maximum.

On Thursday evenings the session are busy and we try to run them as follows: new and beginner riders 6-7pm; regular and experienced riders 7-8pm.

Sessions are very popular already and require advance booking.

For more information on booking and rider registration please contact gordon.watson@glasgowlife.org.uk or andy.craig@glasgowlife.org.uk.

 

Congratulations to Derek Rae from Kirkcaldy and Fife Athletic Club who had an excellent win in the Ceres 8 mile race in a time of 44.11. Derek last competed in this race in 2015 when he finished runner up.

Derek is just back from a self-funded 2.5 week training camp in Monte Gordo on the south east coast of Portugal. Derek feels he has benefitted immensely from his season’s training to date and the times he has been recording are confirmation that all is going well. At present Derek is on a high intensity period under the guidance of his coach Ron Morrison from St Andrews.

The period ahead involves performing strongly at the Stirling 10K and the Glasgow Half Marathon in September.

Has there ever before been such a committed and talented Fife performance athlete? Apart from his training Derek commits weekly to his role as a peer mentor volunteer with Disability Sport Fife. Working with DSF coach Pamela Robson and other volunteers, Derek inspires a squad of young novice athletes at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre every week. Derek is an exceptional role model and wonderful ambassador for disability sport in Fife.

Yet another DSF member who has been hugely influenced by GOGA in Fife in the role he plays as a volunteer.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability sport Fife