Taggart relishes European challenge

British boccia stars are back in training and gearing up for next month’s European Championships which take place in Seville from 22 November to 1 December.

It will be the first outing for the squad - which includes triple Paralympic gold medallist David Smith MBE - since Tokyo and players will want to measure up to their medal tally from 2019 when every British athlete earned a place on the podium.

It will also be one of the first competitions to launch separate events for men and women. Until now, boccia has been one of the only sports where men and women competed together.

Paralympian Claire Taggart is excited by the prospect:

“It presents a new opportunity and challenge for female athletes which I plan to grab with both hands. Hopefully it will encourage lots of women and girls to get involved in boccia. The Europeans is a huge competition. I’m looking forward to competing again as I wasn’t happy with my performances in Tokyo. I’ve had a long break to recover and reset and am now back on court and in the gym.”

In 2019, the player from Northern Ireland secured BC2 Individual silver and won bronze in the BC1/2 Team with David Smith and Will Hipwell.

Claire Taggart at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

The GB line-up for Seville remains largely unchanged from that of Tokyo. However, Will Arnott from Reading has received a call-up and he will join Beth Moulam (York) and Scott McCowan (Dundonald, Ayrshire) in the BC3s.

The 22-year-old is a relative newcomer to the Boccia UK World Class programme, having joined it during lockdown:

“This is the first major event for me representing GB and it’s a good opportunity to show what I can do. Competition will be fierce in the BC3s – within Europe, we have the silver medallist from Tokyo. All of us British BC3s are playing well at the moment so we are capable of winning a medal.”

Will Arnott will be in action in Seville. @GettyImages

Of course, all eyes will be on David Smith MBE who has been enjoying homecoming celebrations as well as visits to clubs and schools since his return from Japan:

“It’s a bit strange being back in training after all the emotion of Tokyo. However, it’s exciting that  we only have three years until the Paris Paralympics and, having spent two years without any competition, it seems reasonable to have two majors in quick succession.”

It is also worth keeping an eye on Scott McCowan. The 30-year-old Scotsman just missed out on a place in the final at the Tokyo Paralympics and finished fourth:

“I’m feeling good. It was my best ever performance in Tokyo so I’m full of confidence going into the Europeans. This year is unusual in the sense that we have a major championship so soon after the Paralympics but I’m just hoping to maintain my level that I’ve been playing at since the lockdown ended.”