GB in record-breaking medal haul at Euros

Great Britain’s boccia stars are heading home from the European Championships with a record-breaking medal haul.

Celebrating four gold medals and two bronze, the squad has clocked up its most successful medal haul at the tournament. Great Britain also top the medal table.

Stephen McGuire continues his gold medal winning form from the Paris Paralympic Games, having secured top honours in the individual BC4 category and winning gold in the BC4 Pairs with teenage newcomer Sophie Newnham, who is just 17-years-old.

mcguire and newnham on way to winning gold

Britain’s best ever boccia player David Smith OBE proved he is once again to beat. Having missed out on a medal in Paris, Smith has been working to switch up equipment and technique. Meanwhile,  20-year-old Sally Kidson won her first ever major title as she and ramp assistant Connor Wellfare took gold in the BC3 event.

McGuire on fire

“To come to Zagreb and get double gold at the European Championships is something I’ve never achieved before. To come away with this trophy with Sophie (Newnham) is the icing on the cake and we of course have qualified for the World Championships.

“The tournament has been fantastic for Great Britain,” added McGuire. “To come away with four golds and two bronzes is a terrific haul. Personally, to win two gold medals at my first major event off the back of Paris is more than I thought possible.”

Smith is back

The Swansea talent was denied the European title in 2023, forcing to settle for silver, but he was back on top in Zagreb, reclaiming his European crown.

“I’m feeling really good about the European gold – it was a good tournament for me. It’s nice to be back on the winning step, having not won a final at a majors for a little while. It’s felt good to get a big title under my belt again,” he said.

Smith, who is ranked world number two, said:

smith is back on top

“I felt like I had a good balance in my play. I was scoring heavily, taking chances, being clinical when I got in. There were a few things I could have done a bit better but overall it was positive. The new chair felt good, the seat worked and the new balls were fine. There’s still stuff to work on but it’s a good starting point and it shows I’m heading in the right direction,” he added.

Kidson secures first title

On winning her first major title, twenty- year-old Sally Kidson from Salisbury said:

“I didn’t have much confidence in the earlier rounds,” explains Kidson, who competed at the Paris Paralympic Games last summer. “My first game was a lot tighter than I’d have liked it to have been but once the games got going, I was able to get three wins over the line to top the group.

sally kidson claims first major title

“In my quarter finals, the nerves were immense but I just about managed it again. From there on, it was about riding the momentum and, after winning the semi-final 6-1, I felt very confident going into the final.”

Kidson, in fact, caused a huge upset. Ranked world number 15, she faced reigning campion Sonia Heckel of France in the final showdown. Ranked world number four, Kidson triumphed 3-2.

The result was even more poignant for the Salisbury star, following the death of her boccia pairs partner Will Arnott last December:

“It’s very special to me to be able to achieve something like this after the passing of Will seven months ago. We actually began our Pairs partnership at the Europeans in in 2023 so it’s a special tournament for me.”

Teenage talent is double medallist

Surbiton teenager Sophie Newnham continues her rise up the ranks of the Paralympic sport of boccia this week, becoming European Champion in the BC4 Pairs with Stephen McGuire. She also won a bronze in the individuals.

The 17-year-old is certainly making an impression on the sport, beating world top ten players:

“I’m really, really happy to come to my first major competition – my first European Championships – and to win two medals is an amazing result for me. I’m just glad to have had Steph by my side to achieve that.”

sophie newnham making her mark on boccia

Ahead of the competition, McGuire said:

“Sophie’s awesome – she is an extremely accurate and precise player. She has the ability to secure angles like no one else I’ve ever seen before in the British squad. She is a very intelligent player; tactically very astute. Her delivery is wonderful to watch and she’s still just 17 years old.”

Mum to be Kayleigh wins bronze

Kayleigh Brown (nee Haggo) of Ayr - who is six months pregnant – won bronze in the BC2 category.

"Finishing my last competition before maternity on a high is a good place to be. Being six months pregnant came with some challenges but I'm really pleased with how I was able to adapt this week and push through, even when I've felt exhausted at times.

“My biggest achievement at this competition was not only winning a bronze medal but beating the Paris Paralympic Champion in the quarter finals. Christina (Goncalves of Portugal) is an amazing boccia player so i was excited to play her and it's great to know that I can perform and beat the best in the world.

"I'm not sure what's next for me in boccia but for now I'm focussing on family and my husband Kevin and I can't wait to meet our baby boy in October."

The future is bright, says Baker

Boccia UK Performance Director Greg Baker was delighted with the results:

“Not only have we finished top of the medal table which is a huge achievement to beat nations like Portugal, but we’ve also notched up our best-ever performance at a Europeans. For me, it was fantastic to see three athletes coming through and winning major medals for the first time - Sally Kidson, Sophie Newnham and Kayleigh Brown. The entire squad should be very proud of what’s been achieved. Those athletes who haven’t medalled have put in some solid performances and can be built on as we gather momentum in this Paralympic cycle.”