Future of boccia is in great shape

As the Boccia UK Challenger event draws to a close, Performance Director Helen Nicholls says the future of the sport is in great shape.

The Challenger event has been held over three days in Largs, Scotland and has seen Pathway players from across the Home Nations compete alongside World Class Programme athletes. The event has been designed to help prepare and propel future boccia talent.

Helen explained:

“It has been a delight this week to spend time with our up-and-coming athletes. We haven’t been able to see anyone outside of the GB squad over the last two years because of Covid. It’s been fantastic to see a vibrant and progressive boccia pathway in action.

“What I’ve seen this week certainly augurs well for the future of the sport within the UK. Elite sport is about winning but, most of the time, it’s actually about learning and becoming the best player you can be. This week has been about leaving the court with skills and tactics you didn’t start with.”

The winners of each classification were:

·       BC1 - David Smith (1st), Jabe Peake (2nd)

·       BC2 - Claire Taggart (1st), Lewis McConnell (2nd)

·       BC3 - Patrick Wilson (1st), Robyn McBride (2nd)

·       BC4 - Louis Saunders, Tyler McLelland (2nd)

Special awards were also handed out:

·       Highest placed Pathway athlete – Robyn McBride (Northern Ireland)

·       Coaches’ award by Glynn Tromans – Lee Maddison (England)

·       Coaches’ award by Claire Morrison – Paul McIntrye Scotland)

·       Performance Director’s award by Helen Nicholls – Robyn McBride (Northern Ireland)

·       The Largs Plate for the overall winner – Louis Saunders (World Class Performance programme)

Coaching awards were awarded to Lee and Paul for demonstrating an ability to engage in coaching and apply feedback in matches while Robyn received the Performance Director’s award and the award for the highest placed Pathway athlete:

“We were delighted to welcome back Robyn after seeing her at one of our Challenger events a couple of years ago. The progress she has made since then has really paid off. She is committed to being the best boccia player she can be and thoroughly deserved this award,” added Helen.

Robyn McBride wins Performance Director’s Award and Highest Placed Pathway Athlete.

Finally, Louis Saunders – the youngest member of the Great Britain boccia team in Tokyo – was named the overall winner across all classifications:

“Louis was one of three athletes in the squad in Tokyo who had never been to a Paralympics before. That experience is always a learning curve and a challenge. I’ve been really impressed by Louis’ attitude – he has returned from the Games and is embedding changes to his game. He continues to learn and grow as an athlete.”

The Challenger event has been supported by funding from Get Kids Going, a national charity which gives disabled children and young people, up to the age of 26 years, the opportunity of participating in sport.