School children from across Grampian took to the court in an inclusive Basketball Festival run by Grampian Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Club.

6 schools attended the popular, annual event, held at Aberdeen’s Beach Leisure Centre earlier this month, and fun, energetic & age-appropriate festival formats were on offer for primary and secondary pupils.

Secondary pupils were treated to short, small-sided games in the morning and were offered the opportunity to learn wheelchair basketball skills & inclusive basketball in the afternoon. The 10 primary pupils focused on skill development with standing basketball and wheelchair basketball being learned and played all morning.

The event was a massive success & was enjoyed by all!

The Festival took place at the Beach Leisure Centre & was organised in conjunction with Active Schools Aberdeen City, Active Schools Aberdeenshire & Grampian Disability Sport.

Thanks go to Sarah Hawkin, coach of the Flyers junior wheelchair basketball team & senior player, for organising the event.

Orianne Slater of City of Aberdeen Gymnastics Club (COAG) was crowned Scottish Disability Junior Gymnastics Champion at the Scottish Voluntary Championships, and Floor & Vault event at Kelvin Hall on the 25th November, adding to the British Disability Champion title that she clinched back in October for the third year in a row.

The competition was her last Scottish Championships as a Junior. Her overall score was higher than competitors in the Senior category which is a very promising sign for her upcoming years at Senior level.

Orianne has Perthes’ disease, which has caused deterioration of her hip joint. However, her disability has never deterred her and her Scottish and British titles have been achieved through a combination of Orianne’s hard work and determination at COAG & at her monthly sessions with City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club, and the inclusive nature of COAG – in particular, through the efforts of her coach, Lorna Presly.

Well done to all of the competitors and congratulations to Orianne.

 

Edinburgh Eagles lead coach Celia Peerless has won Scotland’s BBC Unsung Hero Award for 2017, recognising many years of dedication working with athletes with and without disabilities.

The West Lothian based coach has been instrumental in the success of the Edinburgh Eagles Athletics Club, creating an environment for all young people to come along and hone their athletic skills while also building friendships and developing social skills. The club was established in partnership with Lothian Disability Sport and Scottish Athletics, aiming to provide an environment for young people with autism and/or a leaning or physical disability to try a run, jump and throw session – an introduction to the sport of athletics. The weekly session, held at Forrester HS on a Wednesday evening, has been a significant success and Celia has been at the heart of this, providing enthusiasm and dedication that has been key towards driving the club forward.

In addition to leading the Eagles, Celia has previously supported Para Sport Festivals and Multi Sport sessions that have been delivered across the East region while also playing a significant coaching role with West Lothian club, Livingston Athletics Club. Celia is currently coaching two athletes at Livingston AC who have progressed from the Edinburgh Eagles session, highlighting the key role she plays in helping athletes with a disability to develop through the sporting pathway.

The parent of one of these young people demonstrated the impact that Celia has had on her son’s athletic journey so far, stating: “As the parent of a young person with autism, my 18-year-old son, would not have achieved a successful transition to mainstream (athletics) if it had not been for Celia’s patient understanding and her belief that the sport can be for everyone.”

A truly well-deserved award. The video of Celia receiving her award can be found by following the link below –
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/42075076

78 senior and junior bowlers with a physical, sensory or learning disability participated in the 2017 Disability Sport Fife Carpet Bowls Championships, supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre. Volunteer markers from bowling clubs in Central Fife officiated for five hours to determine the outcome of 144 ties. In total 14 singles titles were contested. Leading bowlers in the open sections were also competing for places in the Fife team for the Scottish Championships to be organised by Scottish Disability Sport at DISC in Dundee in February.

Sections were amalgamated for physically and visually impaired bowlers because of late call offs through illness. Kenny Dow from Central Fife CSS took the title for ambulant players with a 7-2 victory over Eleanor Clark from Kirkcaldy. The final of the section for wheelchair bowlers was keenly contested by two Central Fife CSS bowlers with Jim Donaldson defeating Willie Harrison by 5-4 after an extra end.

Four junior sections for bowlers with a learning disability were involved pupils from Lochgelly HS and Balwearie HS. Balwearie HS pupils were taking part for the first time. Balwearie HS pupils Caitlin De Soyza and Jennifer Grist won the two girls’ titles with victories over defending champion Kayshaleigh Lambert and Derry Reilly from Lochgelly HS. The title winners in the boys sections were Brandon Cuming from Lochgelly HS and Simon McAndrew from Balwearie HS. Runners up were Ian Stephen and Dawood Murtaza from Balwearie HS.

Three ladies’ senior sections were held for the first time thanks to a much larger entry than before from West Fife CSS. Julie Allan from East Fife CSS enjoyed her most successful tournament to date with an undefeated run to the open final where she defeated past Scottish champion Michelle Wallace from Central Fife CSS by the convincing margin of 5-0. Roberta Buchan from Central Fife CSS similarly went through to the B section final without losing a match and defeated Hannah Moffat by 8-3 to take the title. The ladies C section final was a close encounter between West Fife CSS bowlers Lauren Jack and Kim Vivien with Lauren winning by 5-4.

Not surprisingly Fife’s most successful bowler with a learning disability, Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC, won the men’s open section for players with a learning disability with a victory over newcomer Robert Anderson from Dovecot Park BC. Robert’s brother Steven also had an excellent championships, losing out on count back during the qualifying stages to the eventual champion.

Kevin Mustard from Central Fife CSS won the B section when he defeated Jimmy Ramsay from East Fife CSS. Wayne Moreland won the C section with a victory over Mathew Blisset from Dovecot Park BC. The D section final involved two East Fife CSS players David Scott and George Goodsir with David winning the title 6-3. Robbie McKenzie Smith from East Fife CSS won the E section final with a win over Kevin Rowe from West Fife CSS.

Paul Richardson from Brand Rex walked the West Highland Way in support of Disability Sport Fife and raised over £600 which DSF assigned to the purchase of new bowls and a second hand mat. Paul was on hand at the end of the Championships to present trophies to the finalists.

Photo: Championships finalists

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

 

Fife GOGA Newsletter 3

As part of GOGA in Fife (Get Out Get Active), Disability Sport Fife (DSF) teamed up with Active Schools and Badminton Scotland to organise a “Big Hit” Festival at the University of St Andrews Sports Centre on Tuesday 21st November between 10 00 and 12 00. GOGA in Fife is supported by Spirit of 2012 and has a focus of encouraging inactive individuals with additional support needs to be active more often.

The Festival on the day was coordinated by Jane Russell of Badminton Scotland with support from Alex Bird from Active Schools. Caitlyn McAleese, Active Schools Coordinator, Madras College Primary Cluster, was the Fife Council staff member who approached DSF about setting up the Festival. Caitlyn coordinated arrangements in the lead up to the event.

Sports Leaders from Madras College, prepared by Jane, delivered a two hour programme of appropriate skills, games and fun activities. 26 pupils with additional support needs from Madras College in St Andrews and Castlehill Primary in Cupar participated. The follow up to the half day Festival will be the introduction of lunch time badminton sessions in 2018 with input from Madras College staff and sports leaders.

A morning of active recreation was enjoyed by all. Learners were supported by learning support assistants, teachers and sports leaders. It is hoped to host a follow up GOGA in Fife tennis Festival for North East Fife schools in 2018, once again in the magnificent University of St Andrews Sports Centre.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

 

Disability Sport Fife members played a significant role in the outstanding results recorded by the four Fife AC members who finished ninth overall at the Scottish Athletics National Short Course Cross Country Championships at Kirkcaldy High School on Saturday 11th November.

Almost 150 athletes from 36 of Scotland’s leading athletics clubs participated. Cameron Boyek from Central AC was the first athlete to finish in a time of 12.01. Fife Athletic Club leading athlete Logan Rees crossed the finish line in 6th place in 12.16 and he was followed by Owen Miller in 56th place in 13.11, Sam Fernando in 73rd place in 13.23 and Derek Rae in 75th place in 13.27. Fine performances by every Fife athlete and a most creditable finishing overall position.

Logan, Sam and Derek are coached by Ron Morrison in St Andrews and Owen is coached by Steve Doig in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy. All DSF members are on heavy endurance and strength training programmes over the winter in preparation for the 2018 athletics season. Cross country races are part of that programme and all DSF members thrive on the challenges presented by this very different and hugely enjoyable form of distance running.

Disability Sport Fife greatly values the very strong partnership it enjoys with Fife AC in event organisation and athlete training. There are more DSF members than ever before training with Fife AC as club members and Fife AC officials play a prominent role in the organisation of DSF Cross Country and Track and Field meetings throughout the year. DSF recognises Fife AC as a truly inclusive athletics club

 

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Disability club starting 23rd November from 5-7pm, £1 admission.

• Boccia
• Wheelchair basketball
• Wheelchair rugby

For further information contact Dianne Campbell on 07523 827 373 or admin@ayrshiresportsability.org.uk.

Sportsability Flyer

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) enjoys a very special relationship with the members of the Order of St John Fife. For over two decades Order members have financially supported individual DSF members and teams and have even funded the purchase of a DSF mini bus. Thousands of pounds have been raised by Order members in support of DSF projects and programmes and the beneficiaries have been hundreds of DSF members past and present.

Earlier this year Order members presented DSF with a cheque for £500 and it was decided to spend part of the money on the purchase of boccia balls for the ever improving young Tyler McLelland from Glenrothes. Advice was sought from Boccia UK Coach Claire Morrison and Claire recommended that soft boccia balls from Spain were the best available internationally for Tyler. Claire arranged the purchase and Tyler has not let them out of his sight since they arrived. They command a prominent position at home.

Recent surgery to his arm has prevented Tyler practicing but in the new year he hopes to return to full training. The young Auchmuty HS pupil hopes to follow in the footsteps of Rio Paralympian Kieran Steer from Crossgates who recently retired from the sport. Tyler’s mum Emma is now pursuing a coaching pathway and is going forward for her UKCC Level 1 Boccia Award in February next year.

Order of St John members Lesley Macdonald, Ewen Macdonald, Mary Gilmour, Stuart Morris, Elizabeth Laing, Findlay Macrae, Lawson Rennie and James Clark recently visited the DSF office at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre to meet up with Tyler, mum Emma and little brother Jack. Tyler explained why the soft Spanish boccia balls will help him with his game and even outlined some of the intricacies of the sport that is played globally by players with high levels of physical impairment. Tyler just cannot wait to get back playing after an already lengthy lay off.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife

Over 60 junior athletes with additional support needs competed in Round 1 of the East Series Cross Country Championships at Peffermill in Edinburgh. Disability Sport Fife had the largest representation of athletes in one of the most popular occasions on the annual calendar of events. The East Series is organised by Scottish Athletics and Scottish Disability Sport and the penultimate race is held in Fife at the Beveridge Park and organised by Disability Sport Fife and Fife AC.

Athletes from Bell Baxter HS, Balwearie HS, Woodmill HS and Lochgelly HS took part. Cross country is very popular in Fife and prepares the young athletes for the 2018 Track and Field season. Owen Miller and Sam Fernando from Balwearie HS and Bell Baxter HS respectively established themselves in the East Series Cross Country events before becoming outstanding middle distance athletes with Fife AC.

In the girls 1K race Fife produced four year group winners through Gemma Seaton S1 (Woodmill HS), Saskia Taylor S3 (Woodmill HS), Megan Wilson S4 (Woodmill HS), Derry Reilly S5 (Lochgelly HS). In the equivalent for boys Nathan Smith S2 (Woodmill HS), Michael Robertson S3 (Woodmill HS), Ryan Downie S4 (Woodmill HS) and Scott Combe S6 (Woodmill HS) were the year group winners.

In the 2K race for girls, Michelle and Louise Harley S5 from Lochgelly HS finished first and second respectively. Edwin Barron S3 (Woodmill HS), Shakeel Ul-Haq S4 (Lochgelly HS), Arran Howe S5 (Bell Baxter HS) and Matthew Blair S6 (Woodmill HS) were year group winners in the 2K race for boys.

Nine year group race wins for the young athletes from Woodmill HS in the first of the 2017/2018 East Series of cross country races. A really impressive start and the pupils are already looking forward to race two next month.

Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife