Kayleigh makes boccia return after having baby Klay

After months of winter training, Great Britain’s boccia stars are preparing for their first tournament of the season.

The 2026 opener is Boccia Challenger Finland in Pujalahti which will see 88 athletes from 20 different countries compete for medals. Competition kicks off on the 9th May.

It will see the return of Kayleigh Brown who has been on maternity leave since July.

KAYLEIGH WITH BABY KLAY

The 27-year old Ayrshire athlete, who has several world records in frame-running, setting her first at the age of 12, made her debut for Boccia UK in 2022.

She has gone on to compete at the Paralympics. After just two years in the sport, she reached the quarter finals in Paris. Last season, she won bronze at the European Championships while six months pregnant.

Kayleigh, who is married to Kevin, her sports assistant, said:

“There’s a good line up for in Finland with 16 BC2 females attending. My goal is to enjoy the competition and find a good balance with Klay being there. This is my first tournament since having Klay and it will be great to have him at a tournament – but I’m sure it will be a learning curve. I’m a bit nervous about the lack of sleep but I have assistants to help and hopefully I can have some day time naps to catch up.”

She will play individually before joining up with David Smith OBE, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist – and Reshad Saraj from London in the BC1/2 Team event.

David – who lives in Swansea and is currently ranked world number three – said:

“My aim this season is to win the World Championships and set a marker for my rivals. In the BC1s, I'm looking forward to playing everyone inside the top 10 and especially those above me in the rankings. In the Team, we are looking to play lots of different opposition and refine how we play together.”

IMAGECOMMS: DAVID SMITH COMPETING AT PARIS PARALYMPIC GAMES

Paralympic gold medallist and world number one Stephen McGuire, from Lanarskhire, is also aiming to build on an excellent 2025 season, ahead of the World Championships later this year:

“I’m looking forward to kicking off my season in Lahti. It’s an important chance to get competitive matches under my belt, while testing new equipment and applying the work I’ve put in over the winter.”

He competes in the BC4 category and he will be joined by West Sussex player Louis Saunders and Fiona Muirhead, also from Lanarkshire.

LOUIS SAUNDERS FEATURES IN gb’S SEASON OPENER - CURRENTLY RANKED WORLD NUMBER 15

Wiltshire’s Sally Kidson is Britain’s only representative in the BC3 category in Finland. She is the reigning European Champion and is currently ranked world number nine.