Katie Pake from Coalton of Balgonie Primary and Carnegie Swimming Club was the outstanding performer in the Fife junior swim team at the 2018 Scottish championships for junior swimmers with a physical or sensory impairment at Grangemouth Sports Complex. Competing in her first Scottish Disability Sportnational championships, the Fife youngster competed in five events, won four national titles and finished second in 100m individual medley. An outstanding start to her competitive career as a Para swimmer.
Cara Smyth from Carnegie Swimming Club was swimming in her final junior championships and recorded top three finishes in all her five events. It is always a sad day when junior swimmers compete in their final event but for Cara it was great to be competitive again following a lengthy period of rehabilitation after surgery. Cara has been a prolific success over the years as a member of Team Fife.
The remaining seven Fife swimmers won seven national titles and seven runners up medals. Five members of Team Fife are members of Carnegie Swimming club and three others train at DSF sessions at Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre and Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre. Connor Brown from Woodmill HS trains with his school and the day before was the leading physically disabled athlete at the first East Series cross country event of the season in Edinburgh.
Well done to Cameron Hemphill (Bell Baxter HS/Carnegie), Logan Harley (Glenrothes HS), Kerys Ballard (Woodmill HS), Keri MacNicol (Burntisland Primary), Bethany Payne (Donibristle Primary) and Graeme Baxter (Windmill Campus).
Thank you to Team Fife support staff Anna Tizzard, Kay Maxwell and Kerry Hick. Disability Sport Fife is in the process of rebuilding its junior swim team and the results this year are an indication that we are heading in the right direction.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife