British boccia stars are gearing up for next month’s European Para Championships which take place in Rotterdam from 8-20 August.

It is the first time the multi-sport event has ever been staged. 1500 Para athletes from 45 European nations will battle it out across 10 sports.

Paralympic Champion David Smith OBE and World Champion Claire Taggart – both world number ones in their category – will be aiming to be among the inaugural title winners.

Larne player Claire Taggart became World BC2 Champion last December. And she says the brand new event is well timed:

“To compete in a multi-sport event just a year before the Paralympics is a great opportunity and the perfect introduction to the environment of a Paralympic Games for those who haven’t experienced it. I’m really looking forward to the challenge of Rotterdam and seeing where it takes me.”

David Smith – who was born in Eastleigh but now lives in Swansea – believes the GB squad can deliver:

“As a squad, we have a good chance to do well. If there is any country that can dominate the medal table, we can but Portugal can also do a really good job across the categories too.”

As well as achieving at the highest levels individually, Smith and Taggart have also set down a marker in the Team event. Together, they clinched a silver medal at the World Championships, along with Cambridge’s Will Hipwell. And, in Rotterdam, the trio will once again be aiming for the podium position. Smith adds:

“I’d love to win my eighth European title after so many years of playing – either as an individual or as part of the Team. In the Team event, we’re the highest-ranking European nation at the moment so we’re looking to go out and do something. Any sort of medal would be a good result but a gold would see us secure qualification for the Paris Paralympics.”

team won silver at world championships last year

Demonstrating the increasing strength in the GB squad of late, Boccia UK will field four BC3 players. Antrim’s Robyn McBride and Salisbury’s Sally Kidson, who both joined the World Class Programme last year, join Patrick Wilson from Edinburgh and Will Arnott from Reading.

In a new partnership, Kidson and Arnott will team up in the BC3 Pairs. For 18-year-old Sally Kidson, who is currently awaiting A level results, the tournament is a huge opportunity:

“I’m really excited for the Euros – it’s my first major event so I’m excited to play some good boccia against strong opponents and learn some things along the way.”

In the BC4s, stalwart player Stephen McGuire from Hamilton leads the line-up with fellow Tokyo Paralympian Louis Smith of Bognor Regis also making the cut for Rotterdam. Fiona Muirhead, also from Lanarkshire, makes up the BC4 contingent and will feature in the Pairs event with McGuire.

sally kidson named in squad as she awaits a level results

Boccia UK Performance Director Greg Baker says the event is an unrivalled opportunity for younger players:

“The European Para Championships is a fantastic addition to our calendar. 40% of our squad named for Rotterdam have never competed at a Paralympic Games before and so they don’t have that experience of a multi-sport event and everything that comes with that. It is a great opportunity, ahead of Paris next year, to soak up all that experience.

“We want to carry on the momentum and the positive results we have achieved this year and at the World Youth Championships last month,” added Baker. “This is a critical competition which we hope will help us with Paris 2024 qualification. It’s the major event of the season and we’re really looking forward to showcasing our performance levels.”

The squad:

BC1 Male – David Smith (IND & Pairs)

BC2 Female – Claire Taggart (IND & Pairs)

BC2 Male – Will Hipwell (IND & Pairs)

BC3 Female – Robyn McBride (IND)

BC3 Female – Sally Kidson (IND & Pairs)

BC3 Male – Will Arnott (IND & Pairs)

BC3 Male – Patrick Wilsom (IND)

BC4 Female – Fiona Muirhead (IND & Pairs)

BC4 Male – Stephen McGuire (IND & Pairs)

BC4 Male – Louis Saunders (IND)