Annual Report 2012 - 2013 Jul 2013 | Page 33

ScotlandAs1 - MakeItHappen Scottish Wheelchair Cup Final Scotland’s 2 National League Clubs, Lothian Phoenix and West of Scotland Warriors, battled it out for the third successive year for the Wheelchair Basketball Cup Final. In a closely fought game, in what was to prove to be a very successful day of basketball, Lothian Phoenix emerged the victors - 47 v 41. Scotland U23s The Scotland U23s squad made the trip down to South Wales for The Lord’s Taverners Celtic Cup. For the third year in succession, Scotland retained the Cup, beating Northern Ireland, 70 v 48, and fiercely contested final against Wales - 50 v 41. During the event, Steven Ross was inducted as a Lord’s Taverners Sports Ambassador, proving to be a valuable role model to up and coming developing young players in the future. Scotland U19s Scotland joined forces with North East England to achieve 10th place at BWB’s Lord’s Taverners National Junior Championships. The final placing did not truly reflect the achievements of the squad as many of the games were 2 point games. Scotland U15s Development Squad Scotland’s U15s linked together with Wales for The Lord’s Taverners National Junior Championships in November 2012, achieving 8th place. In July this year, Scotland was able to source its own squad for the Championships, gaining 7th place, a great achievement within only 7 months. Scotland U15s Captain, David Beattie, at just 13 years of age, was one of the youngest players to be invited to the training camp and trials for the GB U17s squad for the Paralympic Youth Festival in Utrecht, Holland in July, narrowly missing out on selection. Junior Development Scottish Disability Sport’s Paralympic Pathway Days have been run in West Lothian and Paisley, together with their annual Summer Camp in Largs, and the wheelchair basketball taster sessions have proven to be very popular. In total, over 60 young people have had the opportunity to try wheelchair basketball. As a direct result, 2 new young players have been recruited into the Scotland U15 and U19 squads. Women’s Development We have four women coaches in Scotland holding qualifications ranging from Grade 1 to Grade 3. The Scottish U23 National Squad Head Coach and Assistant Coach are both female, and Lothian Phoenix, Grampian Flyers and Dundee Dragons all have female coaches and players within the clubs. A Women’s League squad of players from a number of teams (Scotland Select, Carlisle Panthers, Newcastle Eagles, and Wrexham Warriors) will come together as the ‘Angels of the North’ team, participating in BWB’s Women’s League 2013-14. Newly Established Grampian Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Cluib Responsibility - Dedication - Teamwork - Progress Warriors’ Gary Davidson scores over Phoenix Robert O’Rorke 30