Tag: Fife

10/02/2017

Inspirational Fife Wheelchair Racer

Susanne McGrath from Glenrothes has only been wheelchair racing for a couple of years but in that time she has made a very positive impression on Disability Sport Fife (DSF) coaches and fellow athletes. With incredible support from her father Eddie in particular, Susanne has demonstrated regular commitment to training and continuous improvement in her performance.

In 2015 Susanne turned in a few impressive pushes in track racing meets but it was last year that she joined the small band of GB female wheelchair athletes who have completed a marathon. The occasion was the Edinburgh Marathon in May and she completed the course in 3:58:14. Susanne also competed in the 2016 Great Scottish Run. Susanne however is confident that she can improve her 2016 times and she is preparing accordingly.

Susanne will head to the scottishathletics wheelchair racing workshop on Saturday 11th Feb at Grangemouth to pick up some tips from Great Britain’s leading wheelchair racing coaches and fellow athletes. This will supplement the excellent advice she already receives weekly from DSF lead coach Pamela Robson who will also be in attendance with other Fife athletes and coaches.

Susanne came into wheelchair racing late in her career with the aim of completing a marathon before she turned a certain age. Wheelchair racing means much more to her now and this inspirational mum of two has set a challenging schedule for 2017. In addition to her track racing, Susanne plans to compete once again in the Edinburgh Marathon in May and the Dublin Marathon for the first time in October. Father Eddie will never be too far away and trying of course to improve his own marathon and half marathon times.

Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife

07/02/2017

Over 20 years of Working Together in Fife

The members of the Order of St John Fife have been passionate supporters of Disability Sport Fife (DSF) for over 20 years. Successive fund raising committees have supported individual Fife athletes and teams to achieve their full potential in sport. By far the largest project was the provision of a mini bus but for many DSF members it was the training bursaries or equipment purchases that made all the difference when they were starting out in performance sport.

Traditionally the Order cheque is handed over at the annual Carol Service but this year Committee Members travelled to the DSF Office at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre to make the presentation to three generations of DSF athlete members.

Three times Paralympian Adam Morley, 2016 Rio Paralympian Derek Rae and 11 year old Tyler McLelland gratefully accepted a cheque for £500 on behalf of the DSF Chairman and President. Adam and Derek are fully committed DSF sporting ambassadors and young Tyler, who has only been a DSF member for three months, was representing the talented youth contingent that is a feature of DSF in 2017. Already Tyler has shown promise in boccia, swimming and athletics.

DSF President Richard Brickley thanked the Order Chair, Stuart Morris of Balgonie, for many years of generous financial support and friendship. Successive generations of Committee members have demonstrated commitment to individual Fife athletes and they have responded by being successful in competitive sport.

Also in attendance were Order Treasurer Lesley Macdonald, Secretary Findlay Macrae and Committee members Mary Gilmour, Elizabeth Laing and Ewen Macdonald.

Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife

06/02/2017

Fife Bowls Team Maintains Record at Scottish Championships

Fife sections were contested at the 37th Scottish Carpet Bowls Championships organised by Scottish Disability Sport at the Dundee International Sports Centre on Saturday 4th February. Ten players contested the five section finals and 50% of the finalists were representatives of Disability Sport Fife. Last year Team Fife won four titles and the Team of 2017 maintained the impressive Fife record with one title and four runners up medals. Fife Bowls Team Manager John Collins was pleased with the all round performances of the squad of 16 players.

Theresa Wyse from Central Fife CSS lost out in the final of the mixed section for wheelchair bowlers to Evan MacKintosh from Highland by 11 shots to 4. In the all Fife final for restricted bowlers with a physical or visual impairment, Neil Laughlin from Central Fife CSS defeated Eleanor Clark from Kirkcaldy by 10 shots to 8 in a closely contested final. In the mixed non restricted final for physically visually impaired bowlers, Billy Allan from Cowdenbeath lost out to Jimmy Restorick from Lothian by 5-21. Billy was the defending champion and has won the title on four occasions in the past. Jimmy won the title in 2007 and 2009.

Craig Donaldson from Central Fife CSS and Kinghorn BC won the title for bowlers with a learning disability in 1998, 2006 and 2014. Only one other Fife bowler has won the title in 34 years and this was John Kennedy in 1984 and 1985. Craig came up against Andrew Harrison from South Lanarkshire in the final of the 2017 Championships and lost narrowly 19 – 21. This was Andrew’s third title having won it in 2002 and 2008. However this was another outstanding performance by Fife’s leading bowler with a learning disability who has an excellent record outdoors, indoors and on the short carpet.

The SDS National Carpet Bowls Championships were first held in 1981 at the Lochgelly Centre in Fife as part of Fife Regional Council’s contribution to the International Year of Disabled People. The 2017 Championships were the 37th occasion that SDS has held the event in venues throughout Scotland. The Dundee International Sports Centre (DISC) has been the venue for six of the last nine years. All bowlers qualified to compete at DISC by reaching the final stages of their local area Championships. The Fife Championships are supported by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and held at the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes in November.

Richard Brickley MBE
President Disability Sport Fife