Golden treble for Diane

Dec 19 2012 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

Diane Gillan celebrated a golden treble at the Special Olympics West Midlands Open Badminton Championships recently as she helped the Scotland West team take home a total of 12 medals.

The Whitehills woman was the star of the show on November 24 as five other athletes – Karen Lyttle (Cumbernauld), David Adie (Stepps), James Pert (Glasgow), Kevin Dobson (Glasgow) and Diane’s fellow East Kilbridian Ross McCann from Gardenhall – also put in stellar performances.

Diane’s golds came in the top divisions of Ladies’ Singles, Ladies’ Doubles with English partner Julie Goldsac and Mixed Doubles with Kevin.

Kevin won a second gold with James in the top Men’s Doubles division and James added a silver in the top Men’s Singles division.

Meanwhile, Karen took silver in her Ladies’ Singles division and added a gold with Ross in their Mixed Doubles’ division. Ross also added a second gold to his tally with David Adie in their Men’s Doubles division.

All came home with at least one gold medal and even coach David Gillespie, who hails from St Leonards, was pleasantly surprised when he received a participation medal to add to his Disability Coach of the Year award received from Sport Scotland and Highly Commended Certificate received from the Sports Council for Glasgow in the previous week.

The athletes train at least twice a week with Special Olympics Scotland West at the Firhill Complex, Glasgow, and with Glasgow Disability Badminton Club at Haghiill Community Sports Centre as well with East Kilbride Youth Disability Sports Club at Stewartfield Community Centre.