Alloa wheelchair racer Meggan Dawson-Farrell this weekend makes her half marathon debut as part of a plan which could see her competing in the 2012 London Marathon.

The race, on the Silverstone race circuit, will be her first of a year which promises much but has already suffered one set back.  A serious bacterial infection meant a lengthy spell of hospitalisation for the Alloa Academy 18 year old.  But, after being discharged earlier this month the first thing she did was head to Glasgow for training, showing stoic determination which has helped her come a long way in a short space of time.

It began two and a half years ago when Meggan attended a come and try weekend at Largs with the Spina Bifida Association.  “Claire Morrison (then SDS Pathways Manager) spotted me and asked me if I was interested in training with the regional squad at Grangemouth,” she recalls.  

“I contacted Lynne Glen (SDS Regional Manager) had a couple of goes at Boccia then went to the Scottish Championships and managed to win it.  But my passion wasn't in it, but I really enjoyed athletics; I like the speed and excitement of it, so I decided to concentrate on that instead.”

In 2010 she won 18 gold and six silver medals, achieving staggering improvements in her times across the board from 100 to 1500m and a good time 10km of 33 minutes in her final event of the season. 

“It was an awesome year and I'm pleased at how my times have picked up,” she said.  “It's all down to training; my coach Ian Mirfin is fantastic and has made a huge difference.”  

Mirfin, the national coach, has worked on Meggan’s technique and designed a training programme, a combination of work on rollers, track, cycle paths and gym work over six days each week.  A new racing chair, funded by Alloa glass manufacturers OI, replaced one that her parents had bought second hand from a male shot putter and was not fit for purpose.    

“She wasn't using very good equipment and she wasn’t training smart,” said Mirfin.  “She was wasting a lot of energy, driving it through the bottom of the chair but not driving it forward.  

“We've done a lot of work on her technique and she is technically very sound now, which has made a big difference, and she's also a bit fitter.  Her body shape has changed and she's become quite a powerful athlete, even for somebody who is 18.

“She has a lot of endurance in terms of how she races and does things, and my assessment of her is that she is going to be better at the longer distances.”  

Meggan’s involvement coincides with a new, improved infrastructure in the sport.  Following a successful Central Scotland pilot in 2006, sportscotland last year began funding a new six strong Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) regional management team.  As a result SDS has identified and brought into the system over 100 new athletes, 15 of whom are either in or heading toward Scottish and GB squads.  At the same time community clubs in the Central region - all offering athletics, Boccia, bowls, curling, football and swimming - have grown from three to 10.   

“SDS has regional officers who pick up youngsters with a disability and point them in the direction of sports clubs and opportunities,” said Mirfin. “They've run Come and Try days and there is a good pathway.  The challenge is always being able to get equipment for people.  

“Lynne has been very good in accessing local support for Meggan (through Clackmannanshire Council’s sports development department) and the main architect of getting sponsorship.   Lynne got me involved doing some mentoring with the coaches through in Central, so that they have skills to assist any athletes coming in.  We also devised and put together the first wheelchair coaching course in Scotland.” 

At the elite level is the National Academy for which Meggan was selected at the end of last season, once she had achieved the times set.   Selection means funding and essential support services such as physiotherapy.  With costs of training and competing alone around £9000 this is a welcome boost.  

Having worked on a reduced schedule because of illness, Meggan is next expecting to produce the sub 90 minute time at Silverstone she had hoped for.  But age is on her side and with the potential to race for many more years there is no need to rush. 

If you or anyone you know has a disability and would like to get involved in Sport in the Central area telephone Lynne Glen, Scottish Disability Sport Regional Manager on 01324 590 720.

RE-J