Keirwins placeat British finals
Strathaven swimmer Keir Buchanan has been selected for the School Games national finals.
The School Games are a multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes and will take place at Loughborough University from Thursday to Sunday.
The 15-year-old, who is a student at Strathaven Academy and is a member of the East Kilbride Amateur Swim Club, will compete for the Scotland North and West squad.
He already has an impressive record of success after winning gold at the Scottish National Age Group Championships and recording a personal best time of 55.72 seconds for the 100m freestyle.
The School Games can be a real springboard for future athletes, with 56 of the 382 competitors representing Britainat the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio having taken part in the event.
Keir said: “Seeing the Olympics held in our country in 2012 made me feel like I could become an Olympian myself one day.
“I’m really looking forward to taking part.”
Around 1600 athletes will compete across 12 sports, seven of which include disability disciplines.
Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, as well as Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Adam Gemili.
Keir will live in an athletes’ village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in the opening ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds.
Ali Oliver, chief executive officer of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “The School Games national finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Keir.
“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University.
“These games are a great way for people to see our future sporting champions in action.”
Six members of East Kilbride Youth Disability Sports Club are celebrating after bringing home an impressive 10 medals from the Special Olympics Summer Games.
Held every four years, the games are one of the country’s largest disability multi-sports events for athletes with learning disabilities.
Around 2600 athletes competed in 20 sports across Sheffield and South Yorkshire venues and the local medal haul included two gold medals.
Badminton players Diane Gillan (one gold, two bronze) and Derek Tomkinson (one gold, one bronze) were in fine form, while Hazel Irvine (two bronze) and Ross McCann (one bronze) also had memorable performances,
Golfers Ross McQuilkin and Ray Malcolmson completed the medal haul for EKYDSC, earning a bronze medal apiece.
They all travelled to Sheffield as part of the 300-strong Scotland West team, accompanied by friends, relatives and supporters. This included golf coach Gordon McQuilkin and badminton coach David Gillespie, who organised gthe badminton tournament along with his wife Dorothy.
Club chair Len Richardson said: ”Everyone at EKYDSC is so proud of what these six members have achieved at the Special Olympics.
“They have all worked extremely hard to reach the standards required to compete at this level and their efforts have now been recognised.
“Every athlete has confirmed that taking part in the Special Olympics has been a tremendous experience, meeting and competing with people from all over the UK, and we’re confident their success will inspire other club members to follow in their footsteps in the future.”
EKYDSC meets on Saturdays from 11.30am to 1.30pm at Universal Connections in East Kilbride. A badminton session is held on Sundays 10am-1130am at Stewartfield Community Centre.
To find out more see Facebook at eastkilbrideyouthdisability sportsclub or contact Len Richardson on 01357 520553 or 07762 567 730.