Learning Disabled Badminton: Ireland v The Flying Scots

On Friday 30th November, 6 Scottish LD (Learning Disability) athletes (3 female and 3 male) will travel to Lisburn, Northern Ireland to play a badminton match against 6 Irish LD athletes. This is a pilot development project  that we hope will one day develop into a 4 Nations Quadrangular event  featuring all 4 Nations.

However, at this stage this is not a SCOTTISH, Badminton Scotland, selected team and the team members have been invited based on ability levels and geographical criteria that are consistent with making the match competitive.

The match on the Friday evening will consist of 6 singles matches, 1 women’s doubles, 1 men’s doubles and 1 mixed doubles matches. The following day, Saturday 1st December, the athletes will compete in the Irish 4 Nations Para-badminton Championships.

The team plus 2 coaches (1 female and 1 male) will fly from Glasgow to Belfast on Friday around midday and return Belfast to Glasgow on the Saturday around 8pm. The team will stay overnight at the Chimney Corner Hotel dinner, bed and breakfast for one night. The costs per athlete/coach to attend this experimental first event will be entirely funded by themselves.

We are extremely grateful to David Gillespie for managing and co-ordinating the team as well as creating a positive link with the Irish representatives. Good look to all involved in the exciting project.

The Flying Scots
Women’s Singles: Diane Gillan, Tammy McDonald, Hazel Irvine
Men’s Singles: Michael McCraw, James Pert, David Adie
Level Doubles: Diane Gillan and Tammy McDonald, James Pert and David Adie
Mixed Doubles: Hazel Irvine and Michael McCraw

Report and image courtesy of Lyndon Williams