It’s all about the BC4s next week as Great Britain’s boccia squad head to Poznan for the next World Boccia Challenger event.

The Polish tournament starts on Wednesday 25 June and will see four BC4 players battle it out for the podium.

Louis Saunders is the most established player in the contingent. He says:

“I’m very excited to be heading to Poland next week for my first international competition of the LA 2028 cycle. We’ve got a great group of BC4s competing and I’m looking forward to seeing them all do well.

“This competition should provide a fantastic opportunity to deliver what I’ve been working on since missing out on qualification for the Paris Paralympics and serve as useful preparation for the fast-approaching European Championships. I can’t wait to get out there and have an enjoyable and successful competition.”

Teenager Sophie Newnham will also be aiming to impress. She joined Boccia UK’s World Class programme in 2024. She is 17 years old and has just completed her A-levels, yet has already amassed medals at major events; the highlight to date a silver medal at the Povoa World Cup where she beat the world number two.

“Poznan’s my first competition if 2025 so I’m looking forward to getting back into it after almost a year since my last international.”

While Penny Froude who has recently joined Boccia UK’s Talent Transition Squad will also be competing:

“I’m looking forward to gaining experience as I’m new to the international circuit. In training, I’ve been ooking forward to putting into practice a lot of processes I’ve been working in training since being in transition squad, making improvements in some areas and see if it enhances the game. Big changes to how I throw, position myself in the chair, looking forward to putting training into competition.”

Tyler McLelland, 19, completes the line up. He is also part of the Talent Transition Squad:

“It looks a decent, well-balanced field in Poznan with a couple of new faces and a couple that I’ve come across before. I’m feeling confident that I have every chance of success.”

McLelland has completed his studies and is now able to train and compete full time:

“I’m no longer in education so I can pour all my focus and time into boccia. And I’m starting to see that pay off in terms of results.”