Well done to the small squad of Fife swimmers who headed north to represent Team Fife at the 2017 SDS Senior Championships for Swimmers with a learning disability and many thanks to the families and East and Central Fife Community Support Services who ensured that Fife was represented.
18 swimmers competed, which was only one third of the original Disability Sport Fife (DSF) selection. The closure of Tollcross Leisure Centre in Glasgow for repairs necessitated a move to the Inverness Sports Centre and an increased amount of travel time and a much longer day. Within the Fife team there are a significant number of swimmers with complex needs and the decision was taken that the challenge of the longer day would not have been in the interest of a number of Fife swimmers.
Julie Allan, Michelle Wallace, Ryan Peterson, Tanis Murphy, Paul Coultard, Carrie Anne Smith and Connor Greer won national titles. The Fife Team was led by Carolyn Clunie from East Fife CSS with support from parents, Nicky Blyth (Central Fife CSS) and Ann Malcolm (East Fife CSS). Team Fife ended up fourth in the Inter Area competition with 123 points, behind winners West of Scotland, Tayside and Highland. The performances of the Fife swimmers overall were outstanding.
In addition to the swimmers who won national titles, the 11 other swimmers who represented Fife were Matthew Blissett, Allan Robertson, Shaun Rowcliffe, Mark Walker, Michael Wilkie, Andrew Hunter, Carter Taylor, Gavin Smith, Susan Barrett, Angela Robertson, and Wendy Robertson.
A full set of results will appear on the DSF website shortly www.fifeleisure.org.uk
Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife