After 51 matches contested by 23 players from five nations, the Disability Sport Northern Ireland Challenger yesterday drew to a close.

The UK Challenger series is designed for up and coming players within the UK performance pathway and teams from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are selected by each home nation. This weekend, they were also joined in Antrim by players from Boccia Ireland.

The first UK Challenger of 2023 saw winners from across the nations. In the BC1/2 category, Boccia Ireland’s Padraic Moran pipped Lewis McConnell of Scotland to the gold on the final throw, winning 4-1. Meanwhile, Moran’s Boccia Ireland team-mate, Dylan Nelson, also made it onto the podium in bronze medal position, having defeated Scotland’s Kayleigh Haggo 9-0.

In the BC3s, it was a win for Boccia England with Rafael Young overcoming Northern Ireland’s Daniel Elliot 7-2. Michaela Hollywood, also of Northern Ireland, seized the bronze, with a 6-3 triumph over Ross Macneil.

Boccia england’s rafael young takes top honours at dsni challenger

In the BC4s, Boccia England’s Sophie Newnham continued her winning ways with a 7-2 victory over Scottish Disability Sport’s Fiona Muirhead. Newnham – a pupil at Treloar School and College – claimed the silver in the BC4 category at the UK Championships in Swansea last October. And Penny Froude made it another medal for Boccia England, winning bronze after a 4-1 win over Harrison Smith, also of England.

There were some other stand-out performances over the two-day event. Three special awards were presented. The Players’ Award was presented to Northern Ireland’s Michaela Hollywood and assistant Victoria McCoy. England’s Caroline Robinson collected the Home Nations Coach Award while the Officials’ Award went to Rachel Ross and Harrison Smith, both of England.

Boccia UK Head of Performance Pathway said:

"The UK Challenger series is driven by the home nation organisations and the collective ambition is to build and strengthen the performance pathway so we have greater depth across all Paralympic categories. I'm really excited by the future of boccia in the UK and these tournaments help lay the foundations to competing at an elite level."

BC1/2

Gold: Padraic Moran (IRE)

Silver: Lewis McConnell (SCO)

Bronze: Dylan Nelson (IRE)

BC3

Gold: Rafael Young, assisted by David Ellis (ENG)

Silver: Daniel Elliott, assisted by Billy Elliott (NIR)

Bronze: Michaela Hollywood, assisted by Victoria McCoy (NIR)

BC4

Gold: Sophie Newnham (ENG)

Silver: Fiona Muirhead (SCO)

Bronze: Penny Froude (ENG)