Monday 15th August saw the success of the Athletics Inclusion Workshop hosted by SDS, Grangemouth Stadium and scottishathletics. Fourteen enthusiastic coaches, teachers and volunteers attended the 3-hour practical workshop which included topics such as disability inclusion and increasing technical knowledge in aspects such as race running, wheelchair racing and seated throws.

SDS would like to thank Shona Malcolm OBE of scottishathletics for tutoring the workshop.

For more information on disability athletics or coach education within Central Scotland please contact Cheryl Willet, Scottish Disability Sport Regional Manager, on 07577 830 360 or cheryl.willet@scottishdisabilitysport.com.

 

The first Cycling Without Age Pilot Training Course will be held at at Larbert High School on Tuesday 30th August. There will be two sessions, with about six spaces in each slot. If you are interested or would like to find out more please contact Fraser Johnston on FJ17@sky.com.

 

Scottish Borders Disability Sport Group (SBDSG) are hosting their 2^nd Borders Boccia Open Competition on Saturday 1^st October and is open for players of all ages with a physical or learning disability across the country. For most players this will be the last opportunity to sharpen up their skills in a competitive environment prior to the Scottish Boccia Open.  The competition will be delivered in partnership with LIVE BORDERS (LB) and Scottish Disability Sport (SDS).

The details of the competition are below –

Event: Borders Boccia Open Competition 2016

Venue: Queens Leisure Centre, Galashiels TD1 2AE

Date: Saturday 1^st October 2016

Time: 10am – 4.00pm (approx.)

Entry: £5

Please see BOCCIA OPEN COMPETITION Entry Form.

As with other Scottish Disability Sport Boccia events, we rely on dedicated volunteers to officiate matches to ensure the success of the competition.  Also attached is Match Referee Volunteer Request for anyone who is able to support this event.

If you require further information, please contact Alan Oliver on the details below.

All forms should be returned to Alan Oliver, LIVE BORDERS, Melrose Road, Galashiels, TD1 2DU, aoliver@liveborders.org.uk – 07887 471 137 or 01896 661166.

 

This workshop supports swimming teachers and coaches to ensure deaf young people are fully included in swimming activities. Teachers and coaches will learn how to make small & simple changes to make activities deaf-friendly and develop confidence communicating with deaf children and young people. Teachers will also learn basic British Sign Language and lots of swimming specific signs.

Training will cover:

• The impact of deafness on young people
• Communication methods
• How to adapt your activities
• Tips for welcoming deaf children
• Guidance on engaging with deaf children in your area
• Fingerspelling
• BSL specific to swimming lessons

Date: Sunday 11 September 2016

Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm

Venue: Gordon Centre (Sport Aberdeen), Corunna Road, Aberdeen AB23 8DU

Cost:   Free

Complete and return the Making Swimming Deaf-Friendly Booking Form to Eleanor Connelly: swimming@ndcs.org.uk 0141 354 7850

N.B. This is for swimming teachers/coaches only – not suitable for lifeguards, duty mangers, etc.

A significant recent development in Para-bowls has been the inclusion of a series of national competitions within the mainstream championships organised by Bowls Scotland at Northfield, Ayr. The event is coordinated over a weekend by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and the leading male and female Scottish players in the B6, B7 and B8 classes are invited to compete in their respective sections. Recent initiatives by SDS and partners have led to an increase in physically disabled players with performance potential in Scotland and a number of the newcomers made their mark at Ayr this month.

This was year two of the event and Disability Sport Fife (DSF) was well represented once again, although world champion Martin Hunter from Burntisland had to call off through injury. Martin’s international team mate and defending champion Michael Simpson from Auchtermuchty and Strathmiglo BC had another fine tournament in the B7/B8 class, losing narrowly in the semi final 20-21 to Ian Brown from Kilbirnie.

Two DSF members, international Barbara McMillan from Cowdenbeath and newcomer Mary Wilson from Edinburgh contested the ladies open semi final with Mary winning through to the final 19-18. In the final she met experienced bowler Tracy Black from Alloa who was also making her first appearance in a major Para–bowls competition. Mary clearly has a future in Para-bowls but on this occasion she found her Central Scotland opponent just too strong.

Scottish international Billy Allan from Cowdenbeath has a fine home record in major competitions and once again he reached a B6 final. On this occasion he came up against new find Mike Nichol from Jedburgh who played an impressive semi final tie against international Gary Clelland. Billy had to settle for an excellent silver medal performance when he went down 12-21 to his Borders opponent in the B6 final.

There is no doubt that in one year the quality of physically disabled bowler contesting all of the three sections at Northfield has risen dramatically. This is great news as Scotland prepares for the Commonwealth Games in Australia, the Home Nations in 2017 in Wales and the next IBD World Championships.

Photo: Billy Allan and Michael Simpson

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

Three Lothian athletes and one athlete from the Borders have been selected to compete at this year’s Sainsbury’s School Games, scheduled for 1^st – 4^th September at Loughborough University.

Christian Buchanan (Swimming / East Lothian), Josh Manson (Wheelchair Basketball / Edinburgh), Ruairi Logan (Wheelchair Tennis / Edinburgh) and Beth Johnston (Swimming / Borders) have all been given the opportunity to compete at the games, which will provide the platform for around 1600 young people from across the United Kingdom to participate alongside their peers.  The competition will reinforce the experience of Olympic and Paralympic Games with opening and closing ceremonies as well as hosting twelve current and future events within the games – providing an excellent precursor to Rio 2016.

We wish all athletes the best of luck as they prepare to travel south of the border to showcase their undoubted talent.

The first Disability Gymnastics Summer Camp in the north of Scotland took place at the Gordon Sport Centre in Aberdeen on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th of July 2016.

Ingrid Taylor, Chairperson of City of Aberdeen Gymnastics (COAG), officially welcomed the participants to the premises on the first day. She witnessed some of the sessions during the weekend and was present on the last day to thank everyone and wave them goodbye. A very personal touch which made all participants feel unique and valued.

During the weekend, 19 gymnasts from Glasgow and Aberdeen, with ages ranging from 7 to 37 years old, experienced workshops in the disciplines of Women’s Artistic, Men’s Artistic, TeamGym, Rythmic and Acro. They learnt new skills from the specialised coaches and from each other’s performances. They worked with different team mates and hopefully formed new friendships. Everyone participated with such enthusiasm and good-humour: well done to every single one of them!

A huge thank you goes out to all the volunteers (17 coaches and chaperone) who helped the whole event run smoothly and shared their knowledge and experience! Their contributions were invaluable and very much appreciated by all who took part.

A special mention about the following volunteer coaches: Peter Boucher, Margaret Kerr, all of the coaches from Beacon Rhythmic, Evelyne, Mags, Kay, Steph, Sonia etc, Dawn Morley from Beacon TeamGym. Dorothy McQueen and Gail Robson also came to the Camp without gymnasts and involved themselves unconditionally. A very impressive gift!

Also thanks to our sponsors, Tesco store Inverurie, Sport Aberdeen and Scottish Gymnastics.

Overall, the training camp was very well received by all who took part, adults and children alike. Each, according to his/her needs, appeared to have benefited greatly and left exhilarated; hoping that this event format can be repeated on a regular basis.