Disability Latest News
Scots Selected for Paralympics
01/05/2008
Four Scots have been named in British Swimming’s thirty-six strong squad heading for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in September.
Jim Anderson, Sean Fraser, Andrew Lindsay and Mhairi Love’s selections were confirmed earlier today by the British Paralympic Association as was the selection of Charlotte Henshaw who is based at Stirling University.
For Jim Anderson (Broxburn/Stirling Swimming) it will be his fifth Paralympic Games while for Sean Fraser of Warrender Baths Club, this was his first selection and the 18 year old was clearly thrilled:
“I am so delighted to make the squad for Beijing. I have been working towards this all season and I will now be targeting a podium finish at the Games.
“I had good results at the two selection meets, achieving the qualifying time in the 100m backstroke, although the final decision was always in the hands of the selectors.”
The British Swimming Disability Coach, Anthony Stickland who is based at Stirling, said,
“It has been a long four years and a lot of hard work has been put in since Athens.
“To qualify is just the first step; to compete at this level on the biggest international stage; well the hard work really begins now and will continue for the next 20 weeks.
“These swimmers work incredibly hard and are put through their paces day in, day out, and I am sure, like me, they would wish to thank the Scottish Institute and Area Institutes of Sport for their help with performance focused physiotherapy, the University of Stirling for athlete scholarships and the systems and programmes in place at British Swimming. This is a real team effort.”
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6th and closes on September 17th. The swimming events at the Games take place at the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, from 7th to 15th September.
The swimming squad nominated to the BPA comprises:
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Name
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Category
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Club
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Coach
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Jim Anderson
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S2
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Broxburn/Stirling Swimming
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Anthony Stickland
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Sean Fraser
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S8
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Warrender Baths Club
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Laurel Bailey
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Charlotte Henshaw
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S6
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Stirling Swimming
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Anthony Stickland
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Andrew Lindsay
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S7
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InCAS/Stirling Swimming
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Anthony Stickland
|
|
Mhairi Love
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S6
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Blantyre/Stirling Swimming
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Anthony Stickland
|
For further information about ParalympicsGB, please contact Sian Davies in the Press Office on 0207 211 5240 or 07721 892686 or by email at sian.davies@paralympics.org.uk. For news updates visit the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk
N.B ParalympicsGB is the trading name of the British Paralympic Association.
SplashNews Online - April 08 edition
25/04/2008
The April edition of SplashNews Online is now available to view and/or download from the Scottish Swimming website, or by following the link below:
Thanks to everyone who sent in articles and photographs for use in this edition.
If you would like to contribute an article please send the copy to Kirsten Baker, Marketing & Communications Manager at Scottish Swimming. (k.baker@scottishswimming.com)
Details on article deadlines and publication dates can be found on the back page of the document.
Scottish Swimming seeks Executive Officer for Performance Team
03/04/2008
Scottish Swimming is looking to employ an experienced Executive Officer to support the Performance Team.
The role will include supporting the Director of Performance in the organisation of Performance Weekends, Training Camps and International Competition, along with the implementation of selections for all National Squads.
Additional information including details on how to apply can be found in the recruitment section of the website (Under 'About') or by following the link below:
Closing Date: Friday 25th April
Interviews: Friday 9th May
Scots Secure Nominations for GB Olympic & Paralympics Teams
01/04/2008
The British Swimming Championships, incorporating the Olympic Trials have started at Ponds Forge in Sheffield with Caitlin McClatchey, David Carry and Gregor Tait being amongst a number of Scots to secure a nomination to compete in Beijing.
The trio met the Olympic qualifying time during the heats of their selected events and then finished in the top two of their respective finals, which are being swum in the morning to mirror the format of Beijing.
Carry (City of Aberdeen Swim Team) only just achieved the qualifying time by four hundredths of a second during yesterday’s heats of the 400m freestyle, finishing in 3:49.92 and knew he needed a better swim this morning.
The 26-year old dug deep and won his final this morning in 3:49.78 and was very relieved.
“I had a bad swim yesterday and left it rather fine with the qualifying time. I did not sleep well last night but knew what had to be done this morning and am delighted to have effectively secured my place to Beijing, which at the end of the day, is all that really matters.
“Everyone is swimming very well and the Olympic spots are going to be fiercely contended all this week. The Games are something very special and a lot of people here want to be part of it.”
Robbie Renwick (City of Aberdeen Swim Team), Robert Lang (City of Edinburgh Swimming) and Lewis Smith (Warrender Baths Club) also made it to the 'A' final of the 400m Freestyle and finished in 3rd, 6th and 7th place respectively.
Gregor Tait (City of Edinburgh Swimming) broke the Scottish Record for 100m backstroke twice on his way to securing a nomination for Beijing.
The 28-year old was one of three athletes to get the qualifying time and with only one place remaining for the event (Liam Tancock has already secured his place thanks to his bronze medal at last year’s World Championships) the pressure was really on.
Tait was second fastest going into the final with 54.22 (Scottish Record) but knew he needed a fast first 50m to be in with a shout. Tait turned in 26.44 and fought hard to touch home first in 54.20 to better his Scottish Record and secure a nomination.
While there was disappointment for Matthew Clay and Marco Loughran, Tait was clearly delighted,
“I was not aware of where they other guys were in the race. I just knew that three of us were competing for one spot and I had to concentrate on what I was doing rather than on what anyone else was doing.
“My training has focussed a lot more on the first part of the race and I knew I had to go out fast during the first 50m. Being a 200m backstroker I was always going to have more in the tank for the second 50m but had to be near the front to use that to my advantage.
“I am competing in the 200m backstroke heats on Wednesday evening, but I do feel that the pressure is now off a bit, and I am can now look forward to the rest of the week and the rest of the year.”
Caitlin McClatchey also secured a nomination for the 100m freestyle by breaking the British Record during the heats and winning the final ahead of race favourite Fran Halsall.
Scot McClatchey, who is also trying to qualify for the 200m and 400m freestyle events, looked very sharp yesterday winning her heat in a new British Record time of 54.31, which surprised the 22 year old from Loughborough University.
“I am really pleased with that. I was only after the qualifying time but didn’t expect the record as well.
“I have been swimming well and am looking forward to the rest of the week.”
During this morning’s finals Halsall pushed McClatchey all the way but McClatchey held on to secure the British Champion crown and book her nomination for Beijing.
"Today was just about making sure I qualified," McClatchey said. "I knew it was going to be a tough race as everyone is swimming so well. It's a really exciting time at the moment and I'm glad to be a part of it."
Garioch’s Hannah Miley was also in the record books yesterday taking over three and a half seconds off her current 200m butterfly Scottish Record.
Although Miley swam within the Olympic qualifying time she finished fourth in the final in 2:11.15. The heats of Miley’s preferred events, the 200m IM and 400m IM, will take place on Wednesday and Saturday evening respectively.
The British Championships will also help British Swimming identify athletes for the European Junior Championships and Lucy Ellis (Dunedin Swim Team) and Eloise Barber (Carnegie) will be worthy of consideration for the 100m freestyle and 4x100m relay with the girls finishing in 57.85 and 58.45 respectively.
The Championships also feature the first of two Trials for the GB Paralympic Squad.
Jim Anderson (Broxburn/Stirling Swimming) swam the second fastest time ever for the 200m Freestyle finishing in 4:50.59, well inside the qualifying time of 5:06.44 for the S2 category.
Andy Lindsay (InCAS/Stirling Swimming) was pipped into second place in the S7 category for the 400m Freestyle but his time of 5:08.77 was still within the qualifying standard.
Mhairi Love and Charlotte Henshaw rounded off an excellent set of results for Stirling Swimming by meeting the qualifying standard for the 400m freestyle and 100m breaststroke respectively.
The British Championships (50m) 2008 take place at Ponds Forge, Sheffield from 31st March to 6th April.
For further information please contact Kirsten Baker, Marketing & Communications Manager for Scottish Swimming, on 07730 661788 or by email, k.baker@scottishswimming.com
Glasgow 2014 - Delivering a Lasting Legacy - Have Your Say
14/03/2008
You are invited to have your say on what the lasting legacy should be from Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Scottish Government has always made clear that hosting the Commonwealth Games is not just about hosting a two-week sporting festival. It presents Scotland with great opportunities to make material improvements to people's lives.
The Games may be over six years away but it is important that potential benefits are identified at an early stage.
With this in mind the Scottish Government has produced a consultation document setting out the framework for ensuring that Scotland, as a nation, benefits as much as possible from Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and, where possible, from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The thinking is that the legacy planning should fit broadly into the Scottish Government’s own 5 strategic objectives which reach across key areas of government; Wealthier and Fairer; Healthier, Safer and Stronger, Smarter, Greener).
In particular, replies are wanted to four key questions at the end of the consultation document:
- are the benefits you would like from the Games covered in the paper?
- is there anything else the Government should be doing?
- how can we, individually or collectively, best achieve these aims?
- do you have any other comments to offer on what should feature in the final games benefits and legacy plan?
Your thoughts for the legacy can be submitted online, and a copy of the consultation document found by following the link below:
Submissions should be made by Friday 9 May 2008.
Roundtable Discussion Highlights Volunteer Opportunities for 2012 & 2014
14/03/2008
Scottish Swimming this week played host to representatives from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS).
The National Governing Body for swimming and aquatic disciplines in Scotland was nominated by VDS to host a meeting, to highlight current volunteer developments, which could relate directly to London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.
This was primarily due to:
- Scottish Swimming being the only National Governing Body (sport) in Scotland to have a Volunteer Development Manager in post
- The success of Scottish swimmers and coaches at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
- Scottish Swimming member Lesley Prentice being selected to officiate at Beijing in the Open Water events
- Scottish Swimming having launched successfully a Volunteer Development Strategy
Among the delegates for this meeting were Margaret Riach (National Events Convenor) and Board Sponsor for Volunteering, John Mason.
Following a tour of the National Swimming Academy, the party attended the roundtable discussion at VDS HQ in Stirling where LOCOG’s volunteering plans for the London Olympics and the wider education and cultural legacy were discussed.
At the conclusion of the meetings, George Thomson, Chief Executive of Volunteer Development Scotland, commented.
''We are extremely grateful to Scottish Swimming for giving senior colleagues from LOCOG such an excellent insight into the advances in volunteer development being made for swimming in Scotland and the role of volunteers in its success.
“Their work is a credit to us all, and will help Volunteer Development Scotland contribute to maximising the benefits of 2012 and 2014 for Scotland and the engagement of volunteers in the exciting times ahead.''
Richard Gordon, Director of Coaching & Development at Scottish Swimming, was equally pleased with the Governing Body’s involvement.
“We are delighted that VDS selected Scottish Swimming to meet key LOCOG personnel.
“Scottish Swimming had a very constructive discussion with LOCOG and VDS on issues involved in volunteer development relating to London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.
“We are confident that this will lead to closer working relationships with a view to increasing the number of volunteers both within our sport and at these two major events.”
For any additional information about volunteering with Scottish Swimming, please contact Eilidh McCall, Volunteer Development Manager, on 01783 466520 or by email: e.mccall@scottishswimming.com
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SplashNews Online
12/03/2008
SplashNews online is finally up and running with version 1 available in the downloads section of the Scottish Swimming website, or by following the link below:
If you would like to contribute an article please send the copy to Kirsten Baker, Marketing & Communications Manager at Scottish Swimming (k.baker@scottishswimming.com)
Details on article deadlines and publication dates can be found on Page Four of the document.
New Project Funding Opportunity
10/03/2008
Save the Children and British Gas have announced the next funding round of the Help Yourselves Awards. Help Yourselves Awards of £1,000 are available to fund projects inspired by young people. Examples given on the Help Yourselves Awards website include sports events.
Higher-level Awards of up to £5,000 and £10,000will be available in future funding rounds - so keep an eye on the website for updates.
The £1,000 Help Yourselves Awards will fund projects that have a positive impact on the circumstances and experiences of children and young people.
Guidance suggests successful bids will be for projects that:
- have a positive impact through the improvement of life chances
- are strongly young-person led
- benefit vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
The next deadline for completed applications is FRIDAY 28th MARCH 2008 – with £1,000 funded projects expected to take place betweenJune and the end of August 2008.
Guidance notes, an online application process and the option to download a hard-copy of the application form are available on the website.
Help Yourselves Awards - http://www.helpyourselves.org.uk/helpyourselves/
All enquiries about theHelp Yourselves Awards can be e-mailed to: helpyourselves@savethechildren.org.uk
Notice of Structure Review Information Meeting
04/03/2008
Following on from the AGM presentations given by Allan Fletcher (President) and Maureen Campbell (Chair), an information meeting on the structure review project of the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association will be held on Sunday 14th September 2008 and is open to all SASA members.
Details of venue and time will be confirmed shortly.
AGM 2008 Presentation from Staff, President and Chair
15/02/2008
Two copies of the presentation are now available to preview on the website prior to the AGM being held on Saturday 23rd February at the Aberdeen Thistle Airport Hotel. The first part of the presentation is from the Scottish Swimming staff, reviewing 2007. The second part is from the President and Chair of Scottish Swimming on the structure review project.
Please note that the full colour version is large in size (15MB) and may take some time to download. With this in mind a low resolution, black and white copy has also been posted on the site, which is easily downloadable, although rather pixilated to view.
Please follow the link below to locate the files:
If you experience any problems downloading either of the presentations please contact Kirsten Baker, Marketing & Communications Manager on 01786 466533 or by email, k.baker@scottishswimming.com
