UK Championships - in review

The best of British boccia battled it out this weekend at the UK Championships in Largs, Scotland with the tournament favourites making it onto the podium.

In the BC1 category, David Smith OBE, representing Wales, took his 20th consecutive win with England’s Richard Armstrong and Fay Hart seizing the silver and bronze respectively.

England’s Reshad Saraj was crowned the new BC2 champion after overcoming Kayleigh Brown of Scotland 4-2 in the final. James Clowes, representing Boccia England, finished with a well-earned bronze.

In the battle of BC3s, we saw three Paralympians on the podium, with Scotland’s Patrick Wilson delighting the host nation with a close 3-2 win over England’s Will Arnott in the final. Team-mate Sally Kidson, also of England, bagged the bronze, defeating Northern Ireland’s Robyn McBride.

The BC4 category was highly anticipated with Scotland’s Stephen McGuire in action for the first time since becoming Paralympic Champion in Paris. He claimed victory over England’s Sophie Newnham. Louis Saunders, also of England, took the bronze.

Boccia UK’s Performance Director Greg Baker said:

“The UK Championships are always a fantastic shop window of the talent that’s coming through. Competing for home nations builds up some friendly rivalry which makes for a really enjoyable event and, importantly, is a great opportunity for athletes in the pathway to compete against athletes in not only the World Class Programme but also our Talent Transition Squad.”

The event was this year hosted by Scottish Disability Sport and was supported by an army of volunteers and officials:

“Our home nation partners are absolutely vital to the growth of boccia and we look forward to working together in the coming year to further increase the profile of boccia to get more people playing.,” added Greg.

Full results - Saturday

Full results - Sunday

Best of British at UK Championships

The best of British boccia will gather this weekend (16-17 November) for the UK Championships at sportscotland’s national training centre in Inverclyde.

For our Paralympians, it is the first time competing since they graced the courts of Paris 2024. Gold medallist and world number one Stephen McGuire, from Hamilton, is excited to compete on home soil:

“The UK Championships is the showcase event in our domestic calendar. I’m super excited to be competing, especially in Scotland.”

stephen back competing after winning gold in paris

“It’s always great to see the development of athletes coming through to challenge us athletes on the World Class Programme. Last year’s UK Championships saw all Talent Transition Squad athletes reach the podium. This demonstrates excellent depth within the UK and we will all need to perform well to reach the podium once again.”

Hosted by Scottish Disability Sport, Scotland’s Minister for Sport Maree Todd MSP is attending and is set for a masterclass in the sport from McGuire.

One of McGuire’s biggest challengers this weekend is Louis Saunders. Recently graduated, the player from Bognor Regis said:

“I’m excited to be competing as I think we’re seeing a really bright time for BC4 boccia in the UK right now. Stephen’s just come back from Paris with his gold medal, we’ve got Sophie Newnham flying up the world rankings, Tyler’s had a strong first international season as part of the Talent Transition Squad and I’m still in the top 20 in the world as an individual so I’m looking forward to an amazing competition.

“We’ve also got other athletes coming through the performance pathway, across all classifications, and it’s always good to see all four home nations represented.”

It is the first event of the 2028 Paralympic cycle with all eyes now looking ahead to LA. Saunders added:

“It’s a brilliant opportunity for people to put down a marker, show where they’re at, and their ambitions as we now look ahead to LA. Excited to see how everyone’s doing and see what the future holds for British boccia.”

louis says bc4 boccia in great place

Meanwhile, Kayleigh Brown (nee Haggo) – who recently just got married to sports assistant Kevin, also returns to the court:

“It’s been really busy since Paris – we got married, we’ve been on honeymoon and we have moved house – so I haven’t been able to train much but I’m really looking forward to this weekend. It’s always a great competition which brings the four nations together and gives me the opportunity to compete for Scotland. It’s brilliant to see a high number of entries and I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

BC1:

·       Darryl Pye

·       David Smith OBE

·       Fay Hart

·       Michael Halfpenny

·       Rachel Bailey

·       Rhys Sansom

·       Richard Armstrong 

BC2:

·       Alex Medley

·       James Clowes

·       Jason Rolph

·       Jasper MacCall

·       Kayleigh Brown

·       Luke Walsh

·       Reshad Saraj

·       Scott Cromie

·       Sian Jones

·       Tomas Martin

·       Will Hipwell

BC3:

·       Ce Turk

·       Daniel Elliot

·       Georgina Moore

·       Lee Crooker

·       Mark Roderick

·       Patrick Wilson

·       Raf Young

·       Robyn McBride

·       Sally Kidson

·       Will Arnott

BC4:

·       Harrison Smith

·       Ioan Williams

·       Jayne Milligan

·       Lewis Crawford

·       Louis Saunders

·       Paul McIntyre

·       Penny Froude

·       Scott McIntyre

·       Sophie Newnham

·       Stephen McGuire

·       Tyler McLelland

Olbia Challenger beckons

Four boccia talents from Great Britain are now getting set for the World Boccia Challenger in Olbia, Italy.

Matt Berry, Reshad Saraj and Tyler McLelland – all athletes on Boccia UK’s Talent Transition Squad – have been selected for the Challenger in Sardinia which starts on 1 October.

Joining the trio is Cardiff’s Tomas Martin, 30, who is a Boccia Coordinator for Disability Sport Wales.

“I’m really excited to travel to Olbia with the Boccia UK squad. It’s a fantastic opportunity and I can’t wait to just get out there and experience it all.”

From left: reshad saraj, tomas martin, sophie newnham and matt berry

Liz Fisher, Head of Performance Pathway – said:

“This is a great opportunity for our athletes to compete individually at an international tournament. Our Talent Transition Squad have really demonstrated this year that they can be highly competitive at World Boccia’s Challenger events, which are a brilliant stepping stone to World Cup level of competition.”

It will be a welcome return to international competition for Berry, Saraj and McLelland who have all medalled at Challenger events this year.

Saraj won his first international individual gold in Lahti back in May while Berry and McLelland have both earned bronze medals in the individuals. Berry also took gold in the BC3 Pairs with Robyn McBride in July in Poznan.

Working with our foursome will be Talent Transition Coach Michaela Rihackova and Boccia UK is also grateful to Terry Conroy from Disability Sport Northern Ireland who is stepping in to support the athletes.

Boccia UK looks to LA Paralympics

As Boccia UK continues to celebrate success in Paris, Performance Director Greg Baker is already looking ahead to the LA Games in 2028.

The highlight of the performances by Great Britain’s boccia squad at the Paris Paralympics was of course Stephen McGuire’s gold medal – Britain’s first ever medal in the BC4 category:

“Stephen’s performance was exceptional; an incredible gold medal which has been 20 years in the making. His perseverance and that of his coach Claire Morrison is an inspiration to all of us – athletes and staff but also to future generations of boccia athletes. His and Claire’s consistency, determination and vision have achieved something very special. They have shown that it can be achieved and the fact it’s taken twenty years to do that shows how in depth our sport is.”

IMAGECOMMS: STEPHEN MCGUIRE WINS GOLD

But Baker, also looking at the broader results, says the Paris performance augurs well for the future:

“We have come back with our best performance in the individuals in recent Paralympic Games. Five of our seven athletes progressed out of the pool stages into quarter finals. Guided by our performance coaches Claire Morrison, Glynn Tromans and Lauren Kianchehr, we also had three semi-finals and two bronze medal play-offs, and two athletes finishing fourth. All seven athletes – including our three first-time Paralympians - won matches and that’s never happened before in a recent Games.

“We were very close in achieving history-making results which makes us feel confident for the future. We’ve made some fantastic progress as a squad, building on the strength and depth in the squad across all classifications, but we also know there is work to be done if we are to reduce those finer margins that this sport obviously brings. In boccia, you can lose in millimetres and the score can change so quickly. As we head to LA, we will be closing in on those fine margins.”

In the team event, GB also performed strongly, progressing to the quarter finals and narrowly losing to Indonesia who went on to the win the silver medal and have been consistently strong this year. Baker added:

“The BC1/2 Team have put in a huge amount of work and dedication. David Smith, Claire Taggart and Kayleigh Haggo – with coaches Sarah Nolan and Lauren Kianchehr - have performed strongly this year and of course their progression into the world’s top three earlier this year was built on by earlier performances which featured Will Hipwell who has been an integral member of the team.”

IMAGECOMMS: THE BC1/2 TEAM IN ACTION

Great Britain finished joint sixth in the boccia medal table and Baker says that the mission now is to get more athletes onto the podium at future Paralympic Games, and moving up into the top four:

“No European nation reached the semi-final of the Team and Pairs event which was dominated by Asian, Oceania and American nations. There is a challenge there for European countries and one which we’ll be working on in this next cycle.

Credit: ImageComms

“It’s our vision to be one of the world’s top performing boccia nations by 2032 and to do that, we need to work hard to get ahead of the curve. We have a period of rest and recovery but then we’ll be undertaking an in-depth review with UK Sport, ParalympicsGB, our practitioners and of course our athletes and coaches to see what exactly we need to do.

“We’ve worked hard over the last couple of years to build a system where we can train together more often and to increase coaching opportunities within our programme. We’ll be looking at how we can build on the domestic training model and international sparring opportunities. And we’ve also made strides in driving more athletes through the Pathway to compete at the top level – and that’s something we need to keep working on, guided by Head of Performance Pathway Liz Fisher and our Talent coach Michaela Rihackova.”

Baker was also keen to thank athletes within the World Class Programme and Talent Transition Squad for their hard work, coaches and all staff who “work incredibly hard to develop the sport.”

He also paid tribute to those organisations who provide invaluable support:

“Paralympics GB once again provided a first-class environment in which we could deliver optimal performances and they made us feel right at home. Our ongoing partnership working with UK Sports Institute means we have the best practitioners and support. And of course, without UK Sport and The National Lottery, we simply could not do any of this. They provide our athletes with the platform to showcase their skills and to inspire disabled people.”

Baker also thanked the Boccia UK board and Home Nation partners for their “unwavering support.”

Steph 's golden moment

Great Britain’s Stephen McGuire secured a gold medal in the boccia at the Paralympic Games in Paris after a thrilling match against Colombia’s Edilson Chica Chica.

“I've played this sport for 20 years and I've been in every possible final, apart from the Paralympics.I was starting to feel this event was getting away from me - two fourths in London, another fourth in Rio, I didn't even make the semis in Tokyo, it just shows why you should never give up.

stephen mcguire wins gold in the boccia. credit: imagecomms

“I felt really confident in the final. My flatmate here in Paris is David Smith and he's won three golds, he told me to have no regrets and told me not to settle for silver, just go for it.

“The easiest way to qualify is through the pairs but I didn't make it, so I had to focus everything on the individual. It was a lot of hard work, a lot of soul searching and I was the last person to be named on this team, the others knew months ago. It's been an unbelievable season, I've made a final in every competition I've entered.

After winning the semi-finals earlier this week, McGuire, from Hamilton in Scotland, explained it had been a “long, long journey working up to this moment” after breaking his knee and femur in 2022.

In the final, McGuire took the lead in the first end with three points but Chica Chica equalised in the second. With the Scot taking a two point lead in a brilliant third end, he knew his job in the fourth end was to close down the Colombian’s point-scoring opportunities, winning the game 8-5.

Greg Baker, Boccia UK’s Performance Director, said:

“Back in 2022, Stephen suffered a really serious injury. Breaking his knee and femur, he required major surgery. But he really committed himself to rehab and, against all odds, has come back as a really strong player, working his way back up to the world number three spot and earning a late call-up to Paris. He is a master tactician on court and to see him win gold today is just incredible.

“Steph is a great example of persevering and staying in the sport to achieve his dream. We hope his performances and sheer determination to succeed at the highest level will inspire current and future generations.”

On day four of the Games, Britain’s best-ever boccia player David Smith OBE admits he “ran out of gas” as he was defeated in the semi-final and then the bronze medal match.

“I’ve been fighting the floor all week. It transpired against me. I knew I’d lose at some point – it was just unfortunately it was in the semi-final and then playing my biggest rival for bronze. There were five people I could potentially see winning it, and they all got knocked out and the other one won the bronze. It just shows you the depth in the sport. It’s just unfortunate that this time around, it’s not to be but we’ve still got the Team to go. I’m really looking forward to that.”

Likewise, world number one Claire Taggart was unable to secure a podium spot:

“I‘m absolutely gutted. I just feel like I’ve worked so hard for this and I feel like I’ve let my friends and family down. I’m gutted for me, my family and for the community I live in who really support me and are massive advocates of me. I’m absolutely devastated.”

But she, like Smith, now look forward to competing in the Team event along with Kayleigh Haggo:

“It’s always a good opportunity to play in the team and it’s something that definitely picks up my mood so it will be good to do that,” added Taggart.

Will Arnott and Sally Kidson, who were unable to escape the pools in the individual BC3 tournament, are also starting afresh in the Pairs event. The duo won the qualifying tournament in Portugal back in March to seal their spot in Paris.

Meanwhile, Patrick Wilson has completed competition. The Scot performed strongly to reach the quarter finals but was overcome by Poland’s Damian Iskrzycki.

“I’m pretty gutted. I was trying to do the right things but they weren’t coming off. I almost came back in the third end but it didn’t quite happen.”

Greg Baker, Performance Director added:

“Our athletes have all performed strongly. We’ve seen athletes beat highly ranked players. Take Sally Kidson who, at 19, beat the world number three in her opening competition. She is one of three players making their Paralympic debut here and we know this experience will be extremely important as they continue towards LA. We have had five quarter finals and three semi-finals in the individual events, something we have never done before. The athletes should be very proud of their performances. We will continue to work on building breadth and depth into the sport and we are all committed to do just that. 

“We’re now really excited to get started in our Team and Pairs competition so there is little time to celebrate Stephen’s brilliant gold medal. We might have to wait a bit longer to do that properly!”

Your Paris 2024 Paralympic Games boccia preview

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are about to begin. With eight days of boccia to look forward to, here’s a preview of the individual competition.

David Smith on his fifth Paralympic Games

It’s his fifth Paralympic Games and Britain’s best ever boccia player, David Smith OBE, goes into the individual competition – yet again – as world number one:

“I am at the top of the rankings and I’m reigning Paralympic champion but I’ve been beaten by Huadpradit and Syafa recently,” says Smith, who’s dyed his hair in the customary red and blue mohawk. “I feel as if I’m going in as the hunter rather than the hunted this time and I quite like that.

“I feel that I’ve peaked at the right time but it’s competitive sport and you never quite know what people are going to bring on the day. I don’t worry too much about winning these days. I just try and play as well as I can.”

But first, he faces pool matches and he is up against Daniel Perez from the Netherlands who seized Smith’s European title last year. Brazil’s Jose Carlos Chagas de Oliveira could also pose a formidable challenge, having won bronze at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

david smith obe became paralympic champion in bc1 individuals in rio and tokyo

 Taggart and Haggo make history

The Paris Paralympic Games also sees the first-ever women’s only competition. And Claire Taggart has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the sport, becoming World Champion in 2022.

In her pool, the Northern Ireland ace will face Portugal’s Cristina Goncalves – a well-established player who has competed at five Paralympic Games and has won three medals. Taggart is relatively fresh from playing Ecuador’s Joselyn Leon who she beat in the final at the Sao Paulo World Cup in June.

Taggart said: “I’m delighted to be selected to compete at my third Paralympic Games in Paris. It’s a huge opportunity to compete in front of family and friends, as Paris is so close. I’m really excited as well as a bit nervous!”

Kayleigh Haggo of Scotland – who holds several world records in the sport of frame-running, is relatively new to boccia but her swift progress has impressed Boccia UK. She finds herself up against Jeong Soyeong of South Korea, a tough opponent currently ranked world number three, and Portugal’s Ana Correia who won silver at the European Para Championships last year:

“Ever since I attended London 2012 with my mum, I knew that I wanted to become a Paralympian. It’s been 13 years of hard work in the making but it’s been totally worth it and I’m looking forward to going to Paris and seeing what I can do,” says Kayleigh.

And adds, “I’m just looking forward to going there and experiencing the whole Paralympic Games and taking it all in and just the opportunity that it’ll give me. Then maybe in four years, I’ll hopefully have more chances of getting a medal. But you never know, I’m going to see what I can do when I get out there and just enjoy it.”

claire taggart is world no 1

 Brits field two male BC3s

The BC3s – another hotly contested category – sees Will Arnott and Patrick Wilson in Pool A. Leading this pool is top seed and World Champion Daniel Michel of Australia.

Arnott, ranked seventh, demonstrated his talents when he won the qualifying event in Portugal back in March with pairs partner Sally Kidson:

“Preparation has gone really well for Paris. I’ve not long come back from a training camp in Poland. We got to train with the current Paralympic Champion and another couple of players that will be at the Games and that’s definitely helped my preparations a lot. I think I’m peaking at the right time.”

 Meanwhile, Wilson received late call up through a bipartite slot, after excelling on court this season:

“I’m extremely happy and relieved to have been given a bipartite place for Paris 2024. I feel I deserved it given what I’ve achieved this year and also because I really feel I can go and do something special,” says Patrick who is based in Edinburgh.

patrick wilson earned a late call up following impressive season

 Teenager Kidson in Pool C

Sally Kidson from Wiltshire makes her Paralympic debut in Paris, along with Haggo and Arnott. At just 19, she picked up her A-level results this month and is headed to university after the Games.

Winning gold in with Arnott at the pairs qualifying event in March, she was ensured a place on the Eurostar to Paris. A determined player who has beaten highly ranked players this season, Kidson finds herself up against Evelyn Oliveira. Ranked third in the world, the Brazilian won gold in the Pairs at Rio 2016. Jamieson Leeson from Australia and Sunhee Kang of South Korea, both very strong players, also feature in Pool C.

sally kidson is just 19 and makes her paralympic debut

 McGuire makes comeback to compete in Paris

It will be a dream come true for Stephen McGuire when he arrives on court in Paris. It may be his fourth Paralympic Games, having made his debut at London 2012, but it’s been a rollercoaster couple of years for the boccia ace from Lanarkshire.

Sustaining a serious injury in 2022, breaking his knee and femur, he underwent major surgery and rehabilitation. But McGuire has shown huge determination to make a remarkable comeback, winning silver at the Montreal World Cup and gold at the Sao Paulo World Cup in recent months. This saw him soaring to the world number three spot in the rankings and secured him a bipartite slot in Paris:

“To secure one of the two remaining individual slots for Paris and so close to the Games is incredible. This cycle has been the toughest of my career. Battling injury and dropping out of the world's top ten meant I really had to fight back to secure a world number three spot to earn this selection.”

stephen mcguire comes back from injury to become world no 3

 How to watch

Head to Channel 4 to catch all the Paralympic Games action. Channel 4 will be broadcasting across two channels and Channel 4 Streaming, plus Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel, with up to 18 concurrent streams.

The individual competition draws to a close on 2 September with the Team and Pairs events starting the same day.

The schedule

All the info on what’s happening when is right here so you don’t ever miss watching ParalympicsGB.

More information

Check out the BBC’s Guide to Boccia.

To follow our social channels, head to our Instagram and Facebook page.

Want to play?

We are on the lookout for our next generation of Paralympic boccia players. Find out if you might be eligible or email us. There are also links to other organisations if you’d like to join a club and get involved.

Sally Kidson's Paralympic boccia journey

Sally is 19 years old and has Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2. She is a boccia player on the Boccia UK World Class Programme and is making her Paralympic debut in Paris. In this blog for Genetic Alliance UK, Sally talks about her boccia journey to date and how people can get involved.

I was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 2 when I was just over two years old. A diagnosis with a degenerative condition is not something I feel has affected me too much. Having SMA is all I’ve ever known; I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything because I never really had it in the first place. 

That being said, having SMA has brought me many opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had, the most notable of which is boccia. Boccia is a Paralympic sport originally designed for people with cerebral palsy, but now anyone that fits into the classification criteria can compete. 

WHO CAN PLAY

Those with a condition of non-cerebral origin, like myself, are able to compete in the BC4 class if they are able to throw the balls. If you lack the strength or control to throw the ball, you can compete in the BC3 class where athletes use a ramp to propel the balls onto the court and have a Ramp Operator competing alongside them. The Ramp Operator also receives a medal should the athlete make it onto the podium. 

Even those with severe weakness such as myself can compete in the BC3 class as all you need to do is be able to direct your assistant to line up the ramp and place the ball, release the ball, and – most importantly – think tactically and strategically. 

HOW I STARTED PLAYING

I started playing boccia competitively in 2019, when I was 14. I had a very quick progression in my first couple of months and was able to advance to the top level of domestic competition between March and July of that year. I was able to take a year to develop my skills before the pandemic hit, and that was when I really started to focus on the tactical side of boccia. I spent many, many hours in 2020 and 2021, whilst trying to burn time shielding, watching international boccia players, past and present, to try and get a better understanding of the game at a time when I couldn’t get on a court and play.

In the summer of 2021, I attended a Paris Potential day with Boccia UK and, after a year of individual coaching and more time training, I was invited to attend a few days of a mini-camp with the BC3 Boccia UK squad. At the time, this consisted of Will Arnott, Jamie and Scott McCowan, Patrick Wilson and Robyn McBride. I learnt a lot from such experienced players and shortly after was invited to make my international debut with Boccia UK in Poznan in the summer of 2022. I was then selected to join the World Class Programme at the beginning of 2023.

BOCCIA HAS GIVEN ME INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES

Since then, I have had so many opportunities that I would never have even dreamed of. I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world to compete and will be making my Paralympic debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. A lot of people with a condition like SMA may struggle physically to travel long-haul or be able to cope with long training or competition days, but playing a sport like boccia at international level places you in situations that can benefit your everyday life. I believe my involvement in boccia helps me manage fatigue and other everyday issues. Plus, it has given me incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

I think my story proves that you don’t have to start doing something straight out of the womb to be able to progress to a high level. You truly can start at any time, and Boccia UK is actively looking for people who might meet one or more of the international classification criteria:

• Impaired muscle power (for example as a result of spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida);

• Limb deficiency (total or partial);

• Hypertonia;

• Ataxia;

• Dyskinesia (including Athetosis and Dystonia);

• Impaired passive range of movement (for example as a result of arthrogryposis and contractures).

So if you, or somebody you know, meets any of that criteria and is a critical thinker and fancies a challenge, do get involved. Take a look at the Boccia UK website and get in touch. And if competing in boccia isn’t for you, then you can be sure to catch us at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games from 29 August 2024 until 5 September 2024.

Boccia UK supports Equal Play

Boccia UK has today welcomed the launch of Equal Play which highlights the need for equal access to school sport for disabled children.

A short documentary from ParalympicsGB and Harder Than You Think Productions has today been launched and stars Paralympian Hannah Cockroft.

• Equal Play shows that PE at school is an opportunity for disabled joy - the uniting and universal power of sports, the desire for young people to thrive, and ultimately, the determination for a more equitable present and future

• 45 percent of the crew who worked on the film identified as Disabled.

Stars of the film, equal play

Winner of the Audience Award at Lebron James’ Uninterrupted Film Festival, EQUAL PLAY is a powerful documentary that highlights the need for equal access to school sport for disabled children, with just one in four saying they currently take part in sport at school.

The story focuses on two British children, Marley, a teenager from London whose life has been profoundly changed by sport; and Tammy, who struggles from barriers to physical activity at her school and experiences daily exclusion.

The film follows both children as they are sidelined in school and demand their right to be treated equally in access to sports and PE. Marley discovers his confidence and social skills through boxing, while Tammy is inspired by ParalympicsGB star, Hannah Cockcroft to take up wheelchair racing and explore her competitive side on the racetrack.

By capturing the nuanced joy and empowerment that sports can bring to disabled individuals, EQUAL PLAY highlights the positive change that inclusion can create. Directed by Lily Ahree Siegel, the film was produced by Emmy award winning Harder Than You Think Productions [Rising Phoenix] and Robert Ford [Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story].

Britain’s best ever boccia player David Smith OBE has thrown his weight behind the film:

“Currently, thousands of disabled children in the UK are missing out on the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. It’s 2024 and it’s high time that PE became more inclusive. I’d love to see boccia played in every school - it’s super inclusive and gives the opportunity for disabled children to play alongside their non-disabled school friends.”

EQUAL PLAY will air on Channel 4 on Monday 26 August at 6pm.

Sophie gets Paralympic boost

Sixteen year old Sophie Newnham from Surbiton is too young to compete at the Paralympic Games in Paris this summer, but she is certainly heading in the right direction to make an appearance in LA in four years time.

And the Surbiton ace has now been invited onto Boccia UK’s World Class Programme, which is supported by UK Sport, The National Lottery and DCMS.

“Being selected for the World Class Programme is a huge milestone for me and it can only improve my performances with all the additional support I’ll now receive like physiotherapy and strength and conditioning.

“Ever since I was eight years old, it’s been a big dream of mine to compete at a Paralympic Games. It was only when I was about 14 that I realised it could be possible. Missing out on qualifying for the Paralympics because of my age is gutting but I want to use my emotions now to fuel my determination going into the next Paralympic cycle and work towards qualifying for the LA Games in 2028.”

Newnham steps up from Boccia UK’s Talent Transition Squad which supports promising athletes on their way to the top.

sophie won a silver at povoa world cup earlier this year

She made her senior international debut earlier this year and has impressed by winning medals at major events and competing against highly ranked athletes. The highlight to date was a silver medal at the Povoa World Cup last month, where she beat the world number two.

Boccia UK Performance Director Greg Baker explains:

“To achieve selection to the World Class Programme, an athlete needs to demonstrate realistic medal winning capabilities for future Paralympic Games. We are really excited to welcome Sophie onto the programme – she is a seriously talented player and is definitely one to watch.

“To be successful at the highest levels in boccia, we look for athletes that are good problem solvers and can play strategically. It’s a demanding and exacting sport but we believe Sophie’s got what it takes and we’re excited to see what the future holds.”

Povoa shows we're on track for Paris

The GB Boccia squad confirmed it is on track for the Paralympic Games after a solid performance at the Povoa World Cup.

Returning home from Portugal with four medals. David Smith OBE received a boost to his Paralympic defence in Paris by winning gold while Claire Taggart secured the bronze. The duo also secured silver in the BC1/2 Team event alongside Kayleigh Haggo.

“My individual competition went as well as I could have hoped,” said Smith. “Semi-final, I started playing nice and free, exciting and energetic boccia which was good and then the final where I took a bit of a backwards step in terms of performance but I got the result I needed so I’m pretty satisfied with that.”

smith wins gold and also silver in the BC1/2 team

“Going into the Team, we had a great result against the Netherlands and then we played a very strong Brazil team who had revenge on their minds after our win in Sao Paulo and we lost to them in the pool. Fortunately, we’d already secured our spot in the semi-finals.”

“We played a really good game against Slovakia in the semi-final. Getting into the final was great but we didn’t play as well as we did in Sao Paulo a couple of weeks ago. But it’s good to get into that major final and we know we can play better so we’re going to rest up, recover and build up for Paris. We’re raring to go and enjoying the journey.”

Perhaps the highlight of the British performance, however, came from 16-year-old Sophie Newnham. The Surbiton teenager isn’t yet old enough to compete at the Paralympic Games but she certainly made her intentions very clear by winning silver.

Beating Canada’s Alison Levine, the world number two, en route to the podium, she is certainly a name to note for the future.

“I feel really proud to have won silvber at World Cup level, having beaten some of the best players in the world. Finishing my international debut season and bringing back an individual gold and two individual silver medals is a big achievement for me and hopefully I can keep this momentum going into next season and the next Paralympic cycle.”

sophie impressed in povoa

Performance Director Greg Baker says:

“The Povoa World Cup was the final tournament ahead of the Paralympic Games and now all our attentions over the next five weeks turn to Paris and our final preparations which includes domestic and international training. It’s an exciting time and everyone is feeling ready for the challenge ahead.  

“Povoa was a good tournament for us - it attracted a very strong field so to come away with four medals was a very solid achievement. It is particularly pleasing to see the BC1/2 Team consistently deliver at world class events.

“Of course, I must mention Sophie Newnham who has made her senior debut this year. To win silver at World Cup level when you’re just 16 is a brilliant result and I look forward to seeing her continue to perform in the next cycle, as we build towards the LA Paralympics in 2028.”

All to play for in Povoa

 It’s the final tournament before the Paralympic Games and Great Britain’s boccia stars are still in the hunt for ranking points.

David Smith OBE, Claire Taggart and Kayleigh Haggo will all be back in action in the individuals and together as the BC1/2 Team.

Claire, david and kayleigh ready for povoa

It’s certainly a busy summer for Haggo who, after the Games, marries her fiancé Kevin Brown, who also happens to be her boccia assistant and will also travel to Paris.

Great Britain is currently ranked world no 3 in the BC1/2 Team which puts them in a great position for a good seeding, come Paris.

Sally Kidson, the youngest member of the squad competing at Paris Expo, and Will Arnott also feature in the GB line up for Povoa.

sally and wi ll also aim to be match fresh for paris

Arnott is fresh from winning gold in the individuals at the Poznan Challenger and both BC3s will be vying for the podium again in Portugal.

Completing the line up are two promising players from our Talent Transition Squad. Surbiton teenager Sophie Newnham, who has already made quite an impact on the international circuit, winning four medals – three golds and a silver - since her senior debut in Zagreb in April.

The 16-year-old said:

“It’s my second World Cup of the season and my final competition of the year so I’m really excited to get started. As always, it’s a good opportunity to put my hard work in training into a competitive environment, and this will help prepare me ahead of next season.

“As well as playing individuals, I’m teaming up with Tyler in the BC4 Pair. It’s really exciting to see Talent Transition Squad athletes being given the opportunity to perform at a World Cup.”

And 18 year old Tyler McLelland from Fife, who won his first international medal at the Lahti Challenger in May, will be ready to soak up all the valuable experience of his first-ever World Cup:

“I’m really looking forward to Povoa – it’s my first World Cup event so it’s my first real opportunity to play against literally the world’s best players and hopefully I can try and show what I’ve got against that level of players. Maybe even beat them!

“It’s really important that we get these sort of opportunities because we learn so much. There’s a brilliant player who has the same condition as me so it’ll be really good for me to see him play and hopefully compete against him too.”

Stephen and Patrick earn Paralympic slots

Stephen McGuire and Patrick Wilson have been added to ParalympicGB’s boccia squad for the Paris Games this summer.

The pair, both from Scotland, earned their spots through bipartite applications to World Boccia which studied world rankings, outstanding results in major events and recent results.

It will be McGuire’s fourth Paralympic Games, having made his debut at London 2012 and since competing in Rio and Tokyo. It’s been a rollercoaster couple of years for the boccia ace from Hamilton, Lanarkshire however after he sustained a serious injury in 2022.

the paralympicsgb boccia squad in full

Breaking his knee and femur, he underwent major surgery. But he has achieved a positive comeback, having won silver at the Montreal World Cup in May and gold at the Sao Paulo World Cup in June. This saw him soaring to the world number three spot in the rankings

“To secure one of the two remaining individual slots for Paris and so close to the Games is incredible. This cycle has been the toughest of my career. Battling injury and dropping out of the world's top ten meant I really had to fight back to secure a world number three spot to earn this selection.

stephen mcguire has overcome injury to achieve a spot in paris

“I'm extremely proud to represent ParalympicsGB at my fourth Paralympics - there's no greater privilege that being trusted to wear the nation's kit and showcase our skills at the highest level.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Patrick Wilson can now look forward to his second Paralympic Games. He competed at Rio 2016 where he helped the BC3 Pair finish sixth. He too has enjoyed good form in 2024, winning a bronze medal at the Sao Paulo World Cup and gold at the Lahti Challenger.

“I’m extremely happy and relieved to be given a bipartite place for Paris 2024. I feel I deserved it given what I’ve achieved this year and also because I really feel I can go and do something special. And everything in the next six weeks will be geared towards being ready and prepared.”

patrick setto make his second paralympic appearance

Greg Baker, Performance Director of Boccia UK, said: 

“I’m thrilled for Steph and Paddy. They thoroughly deserve these spots, having demonstrated at recent World Cup events that they can achieve medals. We’re really grateful to World Boccia and now look forward to our continued preparations for Paris with a seven-strong ParalympicsGB boccia squad.”

ParalympicsGB announces Boccia squad for Paris 2024

Three-time Paralympic champion David Smith and reigning world champion Claire Taggart head up a five-strong squad of brilliant British boccia players who will line up for ParalympicsGB at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games this August.

Smith – who became Britain’s most decorated boccia player after successfully defending his Paralympic title at the rescheduled Tokyo Games three years ago - will head to the French capital looking to add to his current tally of five Paralympic medals from four Games.

Northern Irish athlete Taggart heads to Paris as the world number one in her class. The 29-year-old, who claimed her first global title in 2022, will compete in the new individual female category introduced for these Games - mixed events had been on the schedule when she competed at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Taggart said: “I’m delighted to be selected to compete at my third Paralympic Games in Paris. It’s a huge opportunity to compete in front of family and friends, as Paris is so close. I’m really excited as well as a bit nervous!”

Former frame runner and swimmer Kayleigh Haggo will meanwhile make her Paralympic debut after an impressive season which saw her win her first major international medal in Zagreb in April.

The Scot, who won several world titles in frame running before switching to boccia in 2022, will also compete alongside Taggart and Smith in the BC1/2 Team event; the trio fresh from winning silver at the Sao Paulo World Cup last week.

Smith said: “I’m really excited for my fifth Paralympic Games and it will be great to play in front of a crowd again, after the Tokyo Games was limited by Covid. While I do love playing individually, the team event has always been a strong passion of mine. The team medal was my first at a Paralympics, so it’s kind of where I learned my craft. Our team then went into a bit of a transition, so it’s always been my ambition to return us to where we were.”

Haggo, who has dreamt of competing at a Paralympic Games ever since she attended the London 2012 Paralympic Games aged 12 with her mother, said:

“I cannot wait to represent ParalympicsGB. After 13 years of competing internationally across three different sports, my dream has finally come true. From the first time I played, the tactics and excitement of boccia had me hooked. And in Paris, I want to enjoy every moment and play the best I can.”

Fellow Paralympic debutants Will Arnott and teenager Sally Kidson complete a stellar squad and will line up in the BC3 Pairs event having won gold at the qualifying event in Japan earlier this year.

Kidson – who is supported by ramp assistant Hannah Stewart - is the youngest athlete in the boccia line-up. 2023 was a breakout year for the young star from Salisbury, beating the likes of World champion Ana Costa and European champion Sonia Heckel.

The 19-year-old said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to have been selected to represent ParalympicsGB. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am grateful beyond words to be a part of such an incredible group of people. It’s been a crazy journey so far, filled with challenges, triumphs and many, many hours of hard work, but I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”

Arnott, 25, is supported by ramp assistant Connor Wellfare and they both live in Reading. Together, they secured a silver medal at the 2023 Para European Championships.

Arnott said: “I am so proud to be part of this squad. It feels as if the hard work that goes on in the background is starting to pay off and I’m thrilled to make my Paralympic debut in Paris. For me and my assistant, Connor, it really is a dream come true.”

ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said:

“I’m really excited to see the ParalympicsGB team taking shape with today’s addition of David, Claire, Will, Sally and Kayleigh - our boccia squad for Paris 2024. We have a superb depth of talent among our five selected athletes, across individual and team disciplines, and I can’t wait to see them all in action this summer.”

Greg Baker, Boccia UK’s Performance Director, said:

“I’m so proud of the five athletes headed to the boccia court in Paris. Since Tokyo, we’ve seen some key players retire and it’s been more difficult to qualify than ever before, so to see new players coming forward, delivering on the world stage and making their Paralympic debut is fantastic for our sport. It is also testament to our staff – the team behind the team – who have worked incredibly hard to support the squad.

“We’ve also got very experienced players in David Smith, Paralympic champion, and Claire Taggart, World champion. Of course, it is the first time that the male and female individual events will be separated at the Games, which is helping to grow the sport globally.

“We’ve had a very productive season with increased competition and international training opportunities to ensure our athletes and staff are as ready as possible for the Games. Our focus now is making sure that the next couple of months offer further great preparation for the squad, giving them the best chance to deliver great performances in Paris.”

A total of around 230 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, with further names to be announced by ParalympicsGB in the next few weeks.

At Tokyo 2020 ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports - the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze.

ParalympicsGB boccia squad

David Smith - BC1 (Athlete Competition Partner: Misel Kranjcec)

Claire Taggart - BC2

Kayleigh Haggo - BC2

Will Arnott - BC3 (Athlete Competition Partner: Connor Wellfare)

Sally Kidson - BC3 (Athlete Competition Partner: Hannah Stewart)

GB field nine in Poznan

A nine strong team start competing tomorrow at the Poznan Challenger.

 For Will Arnott and Sally Kidson, it will be vital preparation ahead of the Paris Paralympic Games.

 “I'm looking forward to competing for the first time since the selection for Paris," says Arnott from Reading who will compete individually before teaming up with Kidson, Salisbury's teenage sensation, in the BC3 Pair.

"Every competition between now and the Games is so important, not just in terms of preparation but it's also key for improving my world ranking going into the Games.”

will arnott competes in poznan

Robyn McBride, 26, from County Antrim will also feature in the BC3 competition with Dad Davy on court as ramp assistant as will Matt Berry, with Mum Sue operating the ramp. McBride will also team up with Berry - a member of Boccia UK’s Talent Transition Squad - in the Pairs event.”

 Louis Saunders leads the BC4 classification which will also see two other members of the Talent squad challenge for medals. Saunders, who won his first ever international gold at the Lahti Challenger in May, will be joined by Sophie Newnham and Tyler McLelland.

sophie newnham will be aiming fior the podium again

 All three Talent members are fresh from success. Newnham secured two gold medals at the Zagreb Challenger; her first-ever World Boccia sanctioned event, while McLelland and Berry both won bronze medals in Lahti.

 Following the individuals, Saunders and Newnham will compete in the BC4 Pair.

 Will Hipwell, who turned 37 last weekend, will be competing in the BC2 class along with Reshad Saraj, who is the fourth member of the Talent Transition Squad. Saraj will also be looking to build on recent form, having won gold and adding to the bumper medal haul in Lahti.

reshad saraj will be aiming to build on recent form

 Liz Fisher, Head of Performance Pathway, says fielding a nine strong team of World Class Performance and Talent Transition Squad athletes demonstrates the strong position of Boccia UK:

 "We're really beginning to see the hard work pay off in terms of setting up the Talent Transition Squad and providing more coaching and more international opportunities for athletes who are demonstrating potential. With the support of our home nation partners, we're in a much stronger position. Never before have we had this strength and depth across the different classifications."

We're off to Sao Paulo

There’s no rest for the Boccia UK squad as six athletes jet off to compete at the Sao Paulo World Cup in Brazil.

Fresh from winning gold in the BC1/2 Team event at the Lahti Challenger earlier this month, Great Britain will be keen to make a return appearance on the podium.

David Smith OBE, Claire Taggart and Kayleigh Haggo will grace the courts once again in both the individual and the Team event.

The Team won gold in Lahti

Patrick Wilson and Louis Saunders – who also won individual golds in Lahti – will also be looking forward to squaring up against the world’s best boccia players.

Meanwhile, Stephen McGuire makes a return welcome to the court after he soared back into the world’s top five following his silver medal earned at the Montreal World Cup.

steph gears up for sao paulo

Greg Baker, Performance Director, explains:

“Sao Paulo offers us the opportunity to hone our skills in such an important year, The World Cups offer us the opportunity to play against the world’s best. We’ve seen in the last 12 months that Great Britain is excelling right across all classifications. We’ve worked hard to increase our strength and depth and we can see that our hard work is paying off.”

Bumper medal haul in Lahti

Great Britain’s boccia squad return home with a bumper medal haul from the Lahti Challenger in Finland, winning five golds and two bronze medals.

For Louis Saunders, Kayleigh Haggo and Reshad Saraj, it was their first-ever international gold medal:

“I’m over the moon winning the gold medal,” said Saraj, who is part of Boccia UK’s Talent Transition Squad. “I feel my hard work is starting to pay off and I am still learning all the time. I feel I have more to give but I feel this is the starting point to what’s to come. I’m just excited to continue working and improving and be on this journey to develop further,” the BC2 player added.

Meanwhile, Saunders is hoping the win augurs well for the Sao Paulo World Cup in a couple of weeks:

“I’m delighted I’ve reached this level of performance so soon after a disappointing Montreal World Cup. I’m looking forward to building on this success in Sao Paulo in just a few weeks’ time. It would have been good to have seen more BC4s in this competition and I hope more players come to Finland next time. It was a great place to play with amazing views and brilliant accessibility.”

Haggo returns home with two gold medals. After winning the BC2 women’s event, she went on to secure top spot in the BC1/2 Team with David Smith OBE and Claire Taggart.

Patrick Wilson also added to the bumper gold medal haul, triumphing in the men’s BC3 category.

Talent Transition Squad athletes Matt Berry and Tyler McLelland also had reason to celebrate. They both won bronze and, for McLelland, it was his first individual medal at this level:

“It felt good to be at another international event and getting my first individual medal at this level. It was quite an experience and I really enjoyed the competition.”

Steph soars to world's top five

Hamiltion’s Stephen McGuire has rocketed into the top five of the World Boccia rankings after securing silver at the Montreal World Cup.

It marked a comeback for the BC4 player who last year suffered a devastating injury, forcing him off the court and into physiotherapy and rehabilitation. And he is now hoping that the result puts him in contention for a bipartite spot at this summer’s Paralympic Games:

STEPH WINS SILVER IN MONTREAL

“My last World Cup final was back in 2019, just before Covid. In fact, I played the same player back then too, Yuk Wing Leung from Hong Kong. We are great friends and have battled for 20 years together on court.

“It's been an incredible start to my individual competition season,” he added. “To reach my first World Cup final since my injury gives me confidence that I'm getting back to the standards that are capable of winning world level events. This silver medal will move me into the world's top five, the highest I have been post-injury.”

Earlier in the year, McGuire’s hopes of selection for Paralympics were dashed when he didn’t qualify through the rankings. With tougher selection standards than ever before, the Hamilton boccia star is now hoping that he might be able to secure travel to Paris through a bipartite place:

“It's basically an application process for athletes who have not qualified, but have demonstrated why they should be at the Games,” explained McGuire. “A World Boccia selection panel take a holistic view, looking at rankings, results and circumstances such as injury or illness. There are only a couple of bipartite slots per classification and it’s up to the panel as to who gets the slot.”

Meanwhile, Will Arnott and ramp assistant Connor Wellfare secured bronze in the BC3 men’s individual, overcoming Greg Polychronidis of Greece. The success follows on from victory in the Pairs event with Sally Kidson at the Paralympic qualifiers in March.

Next up for Boccia UK is the Lahti Challenger in Finland. Competition starts on Saturday and Britain is fielding a squad a eight.

David Smith, Claire Taggart and Kayleigh Haggo will all compete in the Team event. Haggo will also compete in the individuals along with Patrick Wilson, Louis Saunders, Matt Berry, Reshad Saraj and Tyler McLelland.

Performance Director Greg Baker says Finland offers a great opportunity for Britain’s up and coming players:

“We’ve never competed in Finland before – this event is brand new to the Challenger circuit so we’re really looking forward to it. It’s also a good chance for our established players to keep themselves match sharp. We’re really pleased to be taking our Talent Transition Squad out to Lahti too. We set up this squad last year to help bridge the gap between domestic players and those on the World Class Programme.

“Being able to give more players these kind of international opportunities will really strengthen our boccia pathway and we thank our home nation partners for all their support.”

First World Cup of 2024: Montreal

Fresh from securing Great Britain that all-important Paralympic slot last month, boccia stars Will Arnott and Sally Kidson begin their Montreal World Cup campaign on Tuesday.

The BC3 Pair will appear in the first World Cup of the 2024 season and, for Sally Kidson, it’s a good opportunity:

“We’ve had a few weeks at home to rest and recuperate from Coimbra and the buzz from winning the qualifiers still hasn’t faded. Paris is out of our heads for now and I’m ready and excited to start the the rest of the international season.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to international competition and hoping Will and I can continue some of the success in the Pair.”

sally kidson

Elsewhere in the BC3s, Patrick Wilson teams up with ramp assistant Meredith Greenwood in the individuals.

Britain’s BC4 players will also be keen to build on their performances at the Zagreb Challenger earlier this month where GB won all gold medals available in the category. Sophie Newnham, just 16, returned home from Croatia with two gold medals, having excelled in the individuals and in the Pairs event with Stephen McGuire.

steph and sophie both won double gold in zagreb

McGuire also secured the top spot in the men’s individuals with Louis Saunders taking the bronze.

Sophie makes impressive debut as GB win eight medals in Zagreb

Sophie Newnham certainly knows how to make a debut. It was the Surbiton teenager’s first ever senior appearance at a World Boccia sanctioned event and she returns with two gold medals.

At the Zagreb Challenger, Great Britain’s boccia squad secured eight medals: four gold, one silver and three bronze.

sophie wins gold in the individuals and in the pairs

The sixteen-year-old topped her pool in the BC4 women’s event, booking her place in the semi-final against Ukraine’s Nataliia Konenko. Winning on tiebreak, Newnham went on to defeat Slovakia’s Kristina Vozarova to secure the gold.

Teaming up with Lanarkshire’s Stephen McGuire, the Treloars college student went on to win a second gold in the BC4 Pairs.

Following the win, she said:

“I’m over the moon with the win today. It was the first time playing with this bossman (Stephen McGuire) which was a privilege. And to win a gold in the individuals too and get the double gold was fantastic. So, I’m very happy with how the week’s gone.”

In fact, Great Britain completely dominated the BC4 classification in Zagreb with McGuire winning gold in the men’s individuals and teammate Louis Saunders from Bognor Regis taking the bronze.

Swansea’s David Smith OBE also started his season on a high, cementing his World number one spot with a 5-1 win over Daniel Perez from the Netherlands in the BC1 class.

Great Britain again featured heavily on the podium of the BC2 women’s category. World Champion Claire Taggart from Larne seized silver while Ayrshire’s Kayleigh Haggo took the bronze; her first ever individual medal at international level.

And finally, the BC1/2 Team featuring Smith, Taggart and Haggo further added to Great Britain’s medal celebrations winning bronze after a 15-0 defeat over Czech Republic.

Team win bronze

Haggo explained:

“I’m really happy to be coming home with my first international medal and second international team medal. In the individuals, I was seeded ninth and finished third, winning four matches against higher ranked players.

“In the team competition, we didn’t quite reach our full potential, but that’s ok – we can and we will learn more from our losses than our wins.