The 2017 Fife Swimming Championships organised by Disability Sport Fife and supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and Fife Council were held at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre on Friday 3rd March. The Championships launched the 2017 Annual Fife Sports Festival and incorporated a 70 event programme of individual events and relays. Glenrothes Swimming Club officials and Sports Leaders from Kirkcaldy HS supported DSF volunteers to run a five hour programme of quality swimming.
West Fife Community Support Services retained the Anne H Brodie Team Trophy with 71 points, almost 30 points ahead of second placed East Fife Community Services. West Fife CSS also retained the Sonia Kane Memorial Relay Trophy. Ryan Peterson East Fife CSS and Nikki Baxter West Fife CSS won the men’s and women’s individual Trophy Races.
In the senior events for athletes with a learning disability Shaun Rowcliffe, Paul Coultard and Carter Taylor were the leading swimmers in the men’s races. All swimmers are coached by Kathy Bijak and attend DSF weekly swimming sessions. Briony Clark and Nikki Baxter were the leading senior women with a learning disability.
The senior swimmers with a physical impairment were Kirsty Brunton INCAS, Mary Wilson and Michelle Hill. The leading junior swimmers with a physical impairment were Connor Brown Woodmill HS, Cara Smyh INCAS, Logan Harley, Kerys Ballard Carnegie SC, Steven McCormick FINS and Cameron Hemphill INCAS.
There were many fine swims by junior swimmers with a learning disability and in particular Andrew Chapman Burntisland SC, Arran Howe Bell Baxter HS, Mathew Blair Woodmilll HS, Calum Robertson Balwearie HS, Megan Morgan Woodmill HS and Holly Jane Gray Madras College.
Madras College swimmers achieved something very special by winning the boys and girls junior relays. Congratulations to Nathan Orr, Kieran Beaton, Laurie Doran, Josh Gibson, Chloe Hutchison, Holly Jane Gray, Caitlin Pringle and Danielle Adamson.
DSF Fire won the senior open relay – Shaun Rowcliffe, Pauline Bryson, Jamie Thomas and Robert Anderson. DSF 2 won the challenge relay – Michelle Hill, Kirsty Brunton, Cerys Venters Scott and Steven McCormick.
Paralympian Derek Rae from Kirkcaldy presented medals along with DSF Chairman Paul Noble MBE.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife