By using this site you agree to the use of cookies.Let our players tell you what the club means to them. We’d like to wish all our Members, Volunteers, Trustees and Supporters a very Happy New Year. In true Dragons style 2016 has been non-stop, and we’ve no doubt that the next 12 months are sure to bring just as much excitement, fun and success for the Dragons Family! Here are some snaps to look back and smile at, see you all back on the court very soon! Six weeks have passed since the fantastic spectacle that was #DragonsBall16 and we can now reveal an awesome £7000 was raised on the night! How amazing is that! Huge thanks to everyone who took part in organising the event, to the brilliant band, our wonderful sponsors Gowrie Care, and of course to each and every one of you who helped us raise such a whopping amount! DDWSC is a completely volunteer powered charity; we’re run by members for members, so you know that every penny will go back into the club, ensuring we can continue to deliver active wheelchair sporting opportunities to people from all across Tayside.
We’re overwhelmed by this generosity, but as always there’s no time to sit back because there’s always something going on to keep us busy! This weekend we have athletes at national selection events, athletics meetings and British Wheelchair Basketball Junior League, not to mention our regular Tennis training this afternoon – all made possible because of supporters like you! So once again, Thank You from the entire Dragons Family! The club will close for Christmas on Saturday 17th December and will re-commence in the New Year on Wednesday 11th January 2017. That’s a long time to be off the court so it would be great to see a top turnout for the sessions between now and then; the more work you put in the more mince pies you can scoff whilst on holiday! There are 11 days left to vote in the Aviva Community Fund. Please take the time to register and use all ten of your votes for our project; we could receive up to £10,000 funding! Our chairperson Elizabeth Ferris was along to speak to the Dundee Soroptomist International meeting tonight.
At the end of the talk Elizabeth was most pleased to be presented with a generous donation of £562 by SI President Fiona Bullions to take back to Dragons HQ. It’s always wonderful to hear that local groups have chosen to support us; the SI ladies put on a fantastic quiz night to raise these funds, and we’re so grateful to them for their time and hard work! This weekend saw two Dragons head to Glasgow for the penultimate Tennis Foundation National Wheelchair Tennis Series event of 2016. David Birtles was top seed in the Novice Singles, and he took the title 6-2. David then joined forces with fellow Dragon Frazer Smith in the Novice Doubles competition where both men took the runners up spot. Here they are with none other than Paralympic Gold Medalist, Gordon Reid. Now that we’ve moved to our new home at Dundee and Angus College we are able to expand our training slots to provide sessions midweek. The first Wednesday session will start this week 5th October 18:00-20:00.
A woman repeatedly punched a wheelchair user — then tipped her out on to the pavement. Amputee Jacqueline O’Neill hit her head off the ground after Patricia Connelly pulled her wheelchair from under her. Dundee Sheriff Court heard Connelly, 36, launched the unprovoked attack when she passed O’Neill by chance on Brownhill Road on September 1. Fiscal depute John Adams said: “Connelly passed O’Neill on the street and started shouting at her. “She approached O’Neill and began punching her on the face and about the head. “Connelly then pulled the wheelchair back, causing O’Neill to fall out and strike her head off the pavement.” The incident was witnessed by an onlooker, who contacted police. When officers arrived, O’Neill was “crying and inconsolable” and had swelling on her face and a bleeding nose. The attack took place during an active court case against O’Neill — a drug addict who lost her leg as a result of her heroin habit.
Shortly after the assault, O’Neill admitted a charge of culpable and reckless conduct by causing a child to be pricked with a needle and syringe containing heroin and her bodily fluids, while knowing she had HIV. O’Neill was jailed for 16 months for the offence. The court heard Connelly’s attack on O’Neill was in relation to this case. Connelly admitted carrying out the assault by punching O’Neill, seizing her wheelchair and pushing it. Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “Most people don’t go up to an amputee in a wheelchair and punch them, then tip them out of their wheelchair. No matter the character of the complainer — however distasteful her behaviour might be — she is still entitled to the protection of the court.” Addressing Connelly, the sheriff added: “Whatever Jacqueline O’Neill did, you do not assault people in wheelchairs — it’s that simple and it merits a prison sentence. “You have not been to prison before and that is the only reason that stops me from imposing six months’ imprisonment now.”
Connelly, of South Road, was placed on an 18-week curfew as a direct alternative to custody, confining her to her home address between 7pm and 7am.Curling Dates for the 2015/16 season are as follows; Monday 02nd November 18:00-20:00 Monday 23rd November 18:00-20:00 Monday 07th December 18:00-20:00 Monday 21st December 18:00-20:00 Monday 04th January 18:00-20:00 Monday 18th January 18:00-20:00 Monday 01st February 18:00-20:00 Monday 15th February 18:00-20:00 Monday 29th February 18:00-20:00 Monday 14th March 18:00-20:00 All sessions are open to new members, and are held at Dundee Ice Arena. Disabled Dundee United Supporters at Tannadice Dundee United now offer disability season tickets for both wheelchair users and ambulant fans. To qualify for a disability season ticket applicants must receive DLA / PIP at either medium or high level. To apply or for further details please contact Moira Hughes in the DUFC ticket office on (01382) 833166 (options 1 and 3) or email moira.hughes@dundeeunitedfc.co.uk.
Wheelchair capacity: there are 16 wheelchair spaces in the George Fox Stand Lower stand and 11 in the Eddie Thompson Stand. Currently Wheelchair spaces in both of the stands are full with a waiting list. There is availability in the West Stand (Shed) for Category B matches. If you are just wishing to attend the occasional game, application should be made as above prior to the game to ensure appropriate admittance. A Dundee United disability season ticket entitles the holder to all DUFC games at Tannadice for £150 and £19 for U-12s. For Personal assistants, when required to attend, entrance cost is included in the ticket price. Visually impaired supporters can be accommodated in the lower tier of the George Fox Stand where they receive access to match commentary through headphones. This service is provided by the Dundee Blind and Partially Sighted Society and supporters should liaise with this organisation in the first instance. Access: Wheelchair users accommodated in the George Fox Stand enter from the appropriately manned doors at either end of the stand.
Wheelchair users accessing the Eddie Thompson Stand should do so by use of the ramp at the rear of the stand where they will be directed to the appropriate area. The West Stand access is via Gate R which is situated in Sandeman Street adjacent to the stand turnstiles. Parking: There is a facility for disabled parking (12 spaces) at the east side of North Isla Street between Tannadice Street and Fairbairn Street or at the south kerb of Sandeman Street between the east end of the George Fox Stand and Arklay Street. The Club are at present fully subscribed and have a waiting list for both wheelchair and ambulant disabled supporters. Disabled Away Supporters at Tannadice: For smaller games there is a facility for 6 wheelchair spaces situated between the Fair Play and West Stand and at larger games, when the away support is allocated in the West Stand, there are 12 spaces present. Disabled away supporters are requested to contact their own Club to purchase tickets for the game.