Wheelchair racing has always been part of the DNA of Disability Sport Fife (DSF). Over a decade ago numbers dropped as interest waned.

Stimulated in the first instance by Callum Sloan, who secured his first racing wheelchair from the Saints netball club at the University of St Andrews, interest has returned. Callum now has a new wheelchair and his original chair has been borrowed by our youngest racer, Niamh Currie.

Susanne McGrath started racing in a borrowed DSF wheelchair from the early years but she now has a new chair part funded by local fund raiser Neil Smart, the Russell Hogg Trust and her own efforts. Jonny Brown started out in an old DSF wheelchair but he also now has a new chair provided by Education Scotland through Scottish Disability Sport.

The latest athlete to join the squad is Graham McIntyre who competed in his first DSF Track and Field Championships in a borrowed chair from scottishathletics. Graham has taken to the sport enthusiastically as he does with every activity he adopts.

The squad is tight knit but will welcome any new members at any time. Please contact the DSF office for further information. Training is held at the Pitreavie Athletics Centre in Dunfermline and Michael Woods Centre in Glenrothes. The more experienced racers train in the parks and proms of Fife. The rivalry between the squad members is healthy and was clearly visible at the recent Fife Championships. Well done to all squad members.

Photos: Rebecca Lee

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) enjoys a very special relationship with Kirkcaldy HS (KHS). For the past 7 years KHS has hosted the DSF 7s Football League at the High School and the standard of football in Fife for players with additional support needs has improved considerably as a consequence.

KHS Sports Leaders for the past five years have helped DSF to run its very busy events programme. KHS Sports Leaders now officiate at the DSF Swimming Championships, DSF Badminton Championships, DSF Cross Country Championships and most importantly the DSF Track and Field Championships.

The new intake of Sports Leaders were on duty at the 2017 DSF Track and Field Championships at Pitreavie. Scottish Athletics officials and DSF volunteers remarked on the enthusiasm and commitment of the young volunteers. Thank you KHS for your continued support and in particular the Rector and staff members who have made this happen.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Tyler McLelland is a young BC4 boccia player from Glenrothes who is being mentored and coached by GB Boccia Paralympian Kieran Steer from Crossgates. They meet every Monday evening at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre for a session supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust.

Mum Emma and Dad Mark are fully involved with Tyler’s boccia career and mum has already attended her first boccia leaders course. Together they traveled recently to their first Right on Target competition hosted by Forth Valley Disability Sport and Tyler won his first bronze medal.

Disability Sport Fife (DSF) already has a weekly recreational boccia session session but hopes to build a competition squad around Tyler with input from Kieran and GB Boccia coach Claire Morrison from Dalgety Bay. DSF hopes that Tyler will have the same impact on boccia development as teenager Callum Sloan from Dunfermline has had on wheelchair racing.

Boccia is an indoor court game played by participants who use a manual or power wheelchair. Boccia is a Paralympic sport that originally included players with cerebral palsy only. It now includes all players with severe mobility difficulties including those who are unable to throw and have to use a ramp to propel a boccia ball. You Tube includes lots of top quality boccia play.

DSF is keen to grow its boccia squad and bring this exceptional game to the attention of young players in Fife with severe mobility difficulties who use a power or manual wheelchair. For further information please contact the DSF office.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Over the past couple of years Disability Sport Fife (DSF) has committed to encouraging young people to consider bowls as a sports option. By linking with a number of Fife indoor and outdoor clubs the campaign is starting to pay dividends.

The Dovecot Bowling club in Glenrothes is one of the most committed partnership clubs. Specific club members first signed up for the DSF coach education programme and then offered a series of learning opportunities for players. DSF identified appropriate learners and the project was quickly up and running. The Association of Fife Rotary Clubs provided essential funding to help with club fees and equipment. The club itself offered generous discounted membership rates to DSF members. Young DSF members are now regularly enjoying their inclusive bowling coaching and playing sessions.

Successes have followed for Dovecot bowlers in DSF bowls competitions. Last year Briony Clark made a significant contribution to the Fife Bowls Team at the Inter Area Bowls competition in Fife and two weeks ago at the Beveridge Park Robert Anderson and Sandy Allan won the first Fife titles for Dovecot BC players at the DSF Lawn Bowls Championships. No doubt these will not be the last. Numbers have risen to 7/8 keen enthusiastic young players within a relatively short period.

DSF and Dovecot BC are very proud of this model of inclusive practice that has made a considerable impact in promoting opportunities for novice players with additional support needs. Thank you Dovecot BC members.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Borders Swimmer Beth Johnston continued her excellent development over the weekend, claiming double gold at the penultimate event in the World Para Swimming Series in Indianapolis, USA.  The series event was held at Indianapolis University Natatorium and was open to swimmers with a disability who met the relevant qualifying standards, with Scottish Swimming supporting a team of four young athletes to travel and compete.

https://www.paralympic.org/swimming/world-series-2017

The Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) youngster secured gold in the S10 100m Backstroke (1:18.50) and S10 50m Freestyle (32.45), holding off competition from swimmers from all over America as well as a host of other countries from across the world.  Beth highlighted this, stating, “it was a great experience, one I will never forget.  To be given the chance to compete against Americans, Canadians and Australians doesn’t happy every day!”  The 15 year old from Galashiels in the Scottish Borders also competed in the woman’s S10 100m Freestyle, finishing second in a time of 1:10.23.  Johnston, the only para swimmer on the BEST programme, is obviously flourishing under the guidance of Head Coach Lauryn Jocelyn leading to her standing as one of Scotland’s brightest prospects.

These results continue to build on times achieved earlier in 2017, after the former Scottish Disability Sport Academy athlete broke the Scottish record at the recent British Para Swimming International Meet in Sheffield for the S10 Backstroke (1:18.66).  Additionally, Beth claimed another record at the Scottish Disability Sport National Championships in April this year for the 50m Backstroke (36.50).

The Galashiels Academy pupil is currently part of the British Swimming Para Academy Squad and is also targeting next year’s Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast with Tokyo 2020 also very much on the horizon.

For the fifth year running the Right On Target Boccia Club offered a warm invite to boccia players with physical and learning disabilities to their competition.  Once again the event attracted 70 players from across the length and breadth of Scotland to compete across five categories.

The annual competition is an excellent introduction to competition for new players and provides much needed competition to existing players. Both players and officials can hone their playing and officiating skills and learn from others in a supportive environment. The players come together to compete but also to meet their boccia friends, encourage each other and be part of the growing boccia community.

The standard was high throughout the day with medals being closely contested in all groups. Yvonne Widd, Right On Target Chairperson, said: “We would like to thank clubs, parents, carers, players and volunteer officials for making today a great success. The event continues to grow each year and we look forward to seeing more people come along to compete next year.”

If you or anyone you know lives in Forth Valley or surrounding areas and would like to get involved in boccia please contact the Club Head Coach Jean Duncan by telephoning 07970 153 103 or email jeanmd50@gmail.com.

For a full list of results please see below:

RESULTS

Junior Throwers with a Physical Disability 
Winner: Fraser Johnstone, Forth Valley Right On Target Boccia Club
Runner Up: Alex Medley, Dundee Boccia Club
Third Place: Tyler McLelland, Disability Sport Fife

Players Using Assistive Devices
Winner: Hannah Craig, Dundee Boccia Club
Runner Up: Sean McCann, East of Scotland Boccia Club
Third Place: Aaryn Widd, Forth Valley Right On Target Boccia Club

Senior Throwers with a Physical Disability
Winner: Ross Munro, West of Scotland Squad
Runner Up: Reegan Stevenson, West of Scotland Squad
Third Place: Callum Glasgow, Forth Valley Right On Target Boccia Club

Junior Players with a Learning Disability
Winner: Michael Gilhooly, Kirkriggs School
Runner Up: Kaitlin Dow, Kirkriggs School
Third Place: Cameron Miller, Dundee Boccia Club

Senior Players with a Learning Disability
Winner: Darren Rooney, Forth Valley Right On Target Boccia Club
Runner Up: Christian Mason, Dumfries and Galloway Disability Sport
Third Place: Scott Bruce, Lothian Special Olympics

Scotland-Launch-leaflet-Sept-2016

GOGA Disability Sport Fife Newsletter-Edition2

Fife GOGA Newsletter – Edition 1

On Saturday 17^th June, around 150 athletes descended on Crownpoint for Red Star’s Annual Athletics Championships.  Participants travelled from as far afield as Aberdeen and Dumfries & Galloway, which is great to see and they were welcomed by a dry and sunny day.

As well as the numerous first time competitors which is fantastic to see, there were also a number of Scotland’s top athletes in Nathan Fleetwood, Gavin Drysdale and Jo Butterfield MBE to name a few.

The event had been verified by Special Olympics GB so many participants were competing for times/distances that then go towards their Special Olympics entry for the Summer Games in Sheffield in August 2017.

There were some great performances on the day and some very close fought races – congratulations to everyone who competed.

Thanks goes to Scottish Athletics for their support, all volunteers and helpers, Crownpoint staff, and all parents/carers who brought athletes along and supported.

For more information on Red Star Athletics club please contact Janice Eaglesham on Janice.eaglesham@btinternet.com

See below for results

Red Star 2017 Field Results

Red Star 2017 Track Results

Janice Eaglesham MBE