Q&A with Claire Taggart

Claire Taggart is a BC2 athlete and will be heading to the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympics this summer. Competing in Rio, she made history by becoming the first person from Northern Ireland to compete at the Paralympics in the sport of boccia.

She currently occupies the no.10 spot in the world rankings and won a silver medal at the European Championships Seville 2019

We caught up with her to talk tortoises, bearded dragons, lockdown and, of course, Tokyo…

How did you first start playing boccia?

I was playing wheelchair rugby for some time but, due to the nature of my progressive condition, I could no longer push myself for any length of time. I started playing boccia at a local community hall, just as a hobby and way to meet more people. I went along to a open day for Disability Sport Northern Ireland boccia, and was spotted by one of the coaches.

What do people need to excel in the sport?

You need an ability to think outside the box, see past the obvious options and choices. A forward-thinking mind is important because you need one eye on the shot you are playing and the other on the next shot possible.

Technical ability and drive to improve is also a must. Boccia is made up of many shots and being able to execute them is vital to improving your skills.

Patience is crucial as improvement can be slow and inconsistent. But stick with it and learn to cope with frustrations and setbacks.

How did you cope with training at home during lockdown?

Training during a pandemic was interesting! I spent four months training in my hallway before I was able to get back to my local venue of which I had sole use. Highlights of training at home included virtual coaching sessions and my dog, Rio, trying to steal the balls or standing in the way!

Why do you love boccia?

Boccia is unique in that no two shots will ever be the 100% the same, so it is very mentally stimulating and engaging.

The tactical challenge and rudimentary drills are then carried across to match-play. Boccia is such an empowering sport, and the boccia community is so welcoming and supportive.

Claire Taggart in action at St George’s Park training camp. Credit: GettyImages.

Let’s talk Tokyo! What are you most looking forward to?

Competing. The highlight of our sport is when the long winter technical season can be converted into medal winning matches. To have our first competition as the Paralympic Games presents a good challenge in that everyone is going into it as an equal, no one has competed in 18 months.

What’s your favourite Paralympic memory?

At Rio 2016, we swapped pin badges with athletes from other nations, something I’d heard of but never experienced. It actually became pretty competitive in boccia. I swapped one with one of only two athletes there from North Korea. Obviously pin swapping is not going to happen this time due to COVID rules etc but I hope that we are still able to connect with athletes from other countries in some way like we did in Rio.

So, come on, tell us Claire about your collection of pets…

I have a dog as I mentioned. I start every day walking him around our local park and have met many new friends (human and dog!) whilst doing so.

I also have six tortoises and two bearded dragons!

Outside of boccia, what do you enjoy doing?

I run my own small business, Nifty Notebooks NI, formed due to my love of stationery!

And I love indie music - my favourite bands currently would have to be The 1975, Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro and recent discovery, Wallows. Although, my guilty pleasure playlist features STEPS, Boney M, George Formby and Spice Girls!

Q&A with Will Hipwell

Will Hipwell is a Boccia UK athlete and will be heading to the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympics this summer. It will be his first-ever Paralympic Games.

We caught up with him…

How did you first start playing boccia?

I first started playing boccia at recreational level after school on Monday evenings at a sports club for people with disabilities called the Upside Down Club. I found that I really enjoyed the sport. Unfortunately, the club had to stop due to a shortage of people to run it and help out at the sessions. This meant that opportunities to play boccia were limited and I didn’t play again for several years. Whilst at university I went to Sheffield to support a friend who was competing in the English National Boccia Championships. Seeing how well run and how competitive the matches were, I was keen to take up boccia again.

After graduating from university, I searched for boccia clubs and found one that was local to me called Camboccia. I joined the club and I really enjoyed playing in the local league matches. I have a competitive nature and was eager to enter some regional tournaments and after some success managed to qualify for the National Championships.

Tell us about your progress and joining the Boccia UK World Class Programme…

After a few years of playing, I was invited to join Boccia England’s talent programme. After two years, I was selected for the Lions Squad, which was a reserve team for the England Boccia Squad.  In November 2014 I was selected to represent England at an International Competition in Poland, which was a very proud moment for me. Whilst I didn’t get past the group stages, the experience was still a huge benefit to my boccia career.

In December 2014, I had the chance to attend an assessment day for the Great Britain Boccia squad. I came away from the day feeling that I’d given a good account of myself. The feedback that I got was positive and I was given the opportunity to join the World Class Programme. I feel privileged every time I put on my Boccia UK kit.

Will Hipwell will represent Paralympics GB at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games this summer.

Which of your achievements are you most proud of and why?

Winning Gold in the BC1/BC2 Team competition at the Boccia Regional Open in the Czech Republic. I liked the way we all worked so well as a team to achieve our goal. As a squad, GB won all seven gold medals available across the different classifications! It was fantastic to be part of it and the party afterwards was a lot of fun!

What is your advice for someone starting out in the sport?  

Find a local club and see if you like it. I would recommend purchasing your own Boccia set; this will enable you to improve shot consistency. Don’t rush your shots.

What do people need to excel in the sport?

Patience, perseverance and accuracy.

So tell us about lockdown? Where did you train?

My dad is a farmer and during lockdown he converted his grain store into a Boccia court so I could continue to train while the leisure centre was closed!

Outside of boccia, what do you enjoy doing?

In my free time I enjoy watching football. I support Cambridge United and have a season ticket so I try to attend most of their home matches. I love going to stand-up comedy shows; my favourite comedians are Stephen K Amos, Peter Kay, Micky Flanagan, John Bishop and Josh Widdicombe. 

I also enjoy live music gigs; my favourite bands are Jimmy Eat World, London Grammar and Chvrches. 

What are you looking forward to most about Tokyo?  

The chance to be part of such a big event and to play against the world’s best players.

Tell us something that not many people know about you…

 I once met Stephen Hawking at the cinema!

Read more about the GB Boccia Squad. If you have been inspired to play boccia, take a look at our Athlete Recruitment.

Have you got what it takes?

BOCCIA? HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES?

Boccia UK is launching the search for the next generation of Paralympians and is enlisting teachers and sports coaches to help in the hunt.

The governing body of the Paralympic sport is hoping that teachers and coaches can help identify young people who have the potential to compete in boccia at the highest levels.

“To be a world class boccia player, you need technical ability but also a sharp strategic brain that can tactically out-think opponents,” explains Liz Fisher, Head of Performance Pathway.

Boccia UK is looking for young people who:

•          are performing well academically, particularly in STEM subjects?

•          might already be showing strategic ability through playing chess and board games?

•        fit the classification criteria of BC1-4 to compete at a Paralympics?

“We know that there are young people out there who might not even consider themselves as sporty. They may not even have heard of the sport of boccia. But they could be our next stars! Boccia is as much a mental challenge as a physical one so we are looking for players who have the potential to be highly tactical,” adds Liz.

Please visit Athlete Recruitment to find out more.

Louis Saunders is one of Britain's brightest boccia talents. From The Angmering School, he shares his journey from playing at school to being hopeful for selection for the Tokyo Paralympics:

If you have any questions, please get in touch at parispotential@boccia.uk.com .

Reigning Champion David Smith leads nine-strong ParalympicsGB Boccia squad to Tokyo 2020

Reigning Paralympic and world champion David Smith has today been named in ParalympicGB’s Boccia squad set to compete at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games this summer.

Smith heads up a talented team of nine athletes and will be aiming to add to his incredible haul of four medals from across three Games. He jointly holds the title of Britain’s most decorated boccia player with the now retired Nigel Murray:

“I’m not thinking too much about the joint record. I’m more interested in playing well and winning. I could surpass the joint record by winning a bronze but my focus is on the gold,” said Smith.

“It’s crazy to think that this will be my fourth Games and I’m still only 32. That’s exciting because there’s still a lot more to come.”

David Smith leads British Boccia team to Tokyo 2020. Copyright: imagecomms

Smith will be joined by five returning Paralympians: Claire Taggart, brothers Jamie McCowan and Scott McCowan, Evie Edwards and Stephen McGuire.

Set to make their Paralympic debut in Tokyo are Beth Moulam, Will Hipwell and Louis Saunders who, at 19 years old, is the squad’s youngest player:

Louis Saunders in action

Saunders said: “I got the selection call while I was at The Angmering School for hydrotherapy and physiotherapy. That meant so much to me because it’s where I was first introduced to boccia. It was lovely to share the news with my family who have been so supportive. They even let me turn the lounge into a mini boccia court during lockdown. They can’t wait to support me and the team from home this summer.”

Helen Nicholls, Boccia UK’s Performance Director, said:

“The build up to this Paralympic Games has thrown our athletes and the support team so many challenges but they have responded with resilience and determination. In this squad, we have experienced, established athletes as well as three players who will be making their first-ever Paralympic appearance. With less than 50 days to go until the Tokyo 2020 Games, our preparations are on track and we’ll be ready to take on the world’s best boccia players.”

Returning Paralympian Evie Edwards will be back in action in Tokyo

Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission, said: “I’m so pleased to be able to welcome our boccia squad to the ParalympicsGB team bound for Tokyo in less than 50 days’ time. The squad boasts a superb mix of experienced Paralympians and Games debutants who I believe will make the nation proud with their performances in Japan this summer.

“All nine athletes have shown terrific strength and resolve since the start of the COVID pandemic last year and I look forward to seeing just what they can achieve on the boccia court at Tokyo 2020 this summer.”

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

ParalympicsGB captured the imagination of the British public at London 2012 winning 120 medals in front of sell-out crowds with countless memorable performances.

The team eclipsed that performance at Rio 2016 winning an outstanding 147 medals including 64 golds to finish second in the overall medal table. The rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be staged from 24th August to 5th September.

Boccia UK Pathway athletes boosted by Get Kids Going grant

Tokyo may be just around the corner but plans are already being put in place to help the next generation of British boccia stars.

A series of Boccia UK Challenger events – designed to help prepare and propel up and coming athletes – will take place over the next four years and have been boosted by financial support from Get Kids Going!

Get Kids Going is a national charity which gives disabled children and young people, up to the age of 26 years, the opportunity of participating in sport.

Boccia UK’s Performance Director Helen Nicholls says:

“In the next cycle, we will be working towards the Paris Paralympics in 2024. The Challenger events will help ensure that athletes coming up through the ranks are well prepared and well supported to compete at an elite level. The Get Kids Going! grant will help us create the champions of the future. Boccia is a tactical and experience-based sport, and this support allows us to give athletes an environment where they can develop and thrive.”

Jane Emmerson, CEO of Get Kids Going, explains:

“Finance is often a significant barrier for young people when it comes to attending events, particularly disabled athletes where care support is also a requirement for competition, so we are delighted that we can help to remove some of the barriers to participation at the Challenger events. We want disabled children and young people to have every opportunity to enjoy and excel at boccia.”

Get Kids Going also helps equip young, talented athletes with bespoke sports wheelchairs and helps towards the cost of training and equipment.

Louis Saunders is currently Britain’s brightest young prospect and his journey to the Paralympics has been boosted by support from Get Kids Going! This has allowed him to purchase a new seating system which will support him to play in an optimal position.

The 19-year-old from Bognor Regis is hoping to compete at the Tokyo Paralympics and he will be eyeing an individual podium position at the Paris Games in 2024.

Louis says:

“The support from Get Kids Going! has made a huge difference – the new seating system means I am now much more accurate on court and more comfortable. The charity is really helping to fulfil my dreams.”

Clarification on World Boccia ball licensing for domestic competition activity

A joint statement regarding World Boccia Ball Licensing Rule & domestic pathways by Boccia UK & Boccia Home Nations:

Boccia UK/Boccia England/Disability Sport Northern Ireland/ Disability Sport Scotland/ Disability Sport Wales.

 We would like to confirm that there is no plan by Boccia UK or any of the Home Nations to adopt any of the changes regarding ball licensing (www.worldboccia.com) for domestic competition activity, and that use of balls remains subject to the standard equipment check protocols and rules as currently in existence. No pathway athlete is required to purchase new equipment to compete in domestic activity.

We will always strive to to ensure that any barriers to participation are minimised or removed. If the situation regarding domestic competition and equipment rules were to change in the future, we would undertake to collectively consult with our players and members prior to any changes taking place.

We continue to work together to ensure that our athletes representing Britain at international level can compete in a fair and equitable manner. We will also continue to strive to ensure that Boccia competitions within the UK are as accessible as possible.

NEWS: 100 days and counting...

There is now less than 100 days to go until the Paralympic Games and, in recent weeks, Britain’s best boccia players have been busy dialling up their Tokyo 2020 preparations.

For David Smith, Britain’s reigning Paralympic champion in the BC1 category, Tokyo 2020 is the opportunity to confirm that he remains a force to be reckoned with. Since claiming gold at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, Smith cemented his No.1 status in Liverpool at the World Boccia Championships in 2018:

“The season is going fantastically; lockdown has really sharpened my focus. I am most looking forward to putting on a show for the world,” says David. “This pandemic has been tough for so many people. However, if I - and my rivals - can play high intensity, boccia, we have the chance to inspire the next generation to start playing and dream of a brighter future.”

Britain’s boccia squad is likely to feature experienced competitors as well as those who, if selected, will be making their Paralympic debut in Tokyo.

Louis Saunders is a BC4 player and is currently Britain’s youngest player on the World Class Performance Programme:

“It’s amazing how being so isolated in lockdown has given us all an opportunity to improve our technical accuracy. But I’ve missed the team so much. Being back in training has really made me realise how lucky I am to be part of a high performance elite environment. Back together in training, we can push each other on to compete at our best in Tokyo.”

There is tough competition for Paralympic GB spots in the BC3 category. Beth Moulam is among those vying for a place in Tokyo.

The York-based athlete was inspired at the age of six when she watched Great Britain’s Caroline Baird win gold in the 400m at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics:

“Caroline has Cerebral Palsy and was interviewed on TV after winning the 400m. She spoke like me so I knew if she could be an athlete - so could I.”

Beth credits the support of her assistant Christie Hutchings:

“I might be an individual BC3 athlete but I am part of a team with my sports assistant, Christie. We are a unit both on and off court and I could not do what I do without her unstinting support.”

Helen Nicholls is Boccia UK’s Performance Director. She has been really impressed by the resilience of the squad during lockdown:

“The majority of the squad has been shielding or in isolation for 13 months and not been able to train as a team until very recently. But despite this, the players have maintained an incredible, positive attitude. They are driven and determined world-class athletes who will do everything in their power to be in Tokyo, and in fantastic shape to compete.”

BLOG: Back to squad training

“It’s been a momentous week for us here at Boccia UK. We have finally been able to host squad training after 13 months of lockdowns and shielding”, blogs HELEN NICHOLLS, Boccia UK’s Performance Director.

Like all sports we have had to manage training throughout the Covid pandemic which has meant that our training and preparation for the Tokyo Paralympic Games for the majority of 2020 has had to be based at home, at individual venues or even in hallways, lounges and even barns for some!

Three players were unable to attend the first camp back but we can’t wait to welcome them back and get the full squad together. It has been a challenging year but one in which the welfare of our team has been at the very forefront. We have managed, however, to continue training and coaching – albeit remotely - and we believe that we enter 2021 in a strong position.

Of course, like everyone else, we have been busy online and we have:

·       hosted 270 online strength and conditioning sessions

·       carried on with individual coaching sessions both in person and remotely

·       held a remote awards ceremony

·       all taken part in a Japanese cookalong (well, we couldn’t let the original Tokyo Paralympic start date pass without marking it in some way!)

·       delivered food hampers to all our athletes and assistants to help lift lockdown spirits

·       put together weekly Spotify playlists to keep us motivated – Scott McCowan has earned legendary status running this every single week for over a year!

·       gathered every Wednesday for a quiz night – and we are still doing this. You’ll see us on The Chase next!

But, despite our online efforts, it felt so good to meet as an almost full squad last week at St George’s Park in Staffordshire. Built in 2012, it is the home of the England football teams – and last week, it was Boccia UK’s home from home too.

The facilities are absolutely outstanding and are first-class in terms of inclusivity. We were able to play on the same surfaces that we will face in Tokyo so it was really useful to become familiar with that.

 The courts, hydrotherapy and gym are all housed under the same roof which allowed for productive and full days of optimal training and recovery schedules. The quality of the training we were able to achieve at St Georges Park was world class and has helped us to prepare for Tokyo in the best way possible.

Working in a world class performance programme, we know that it is not all about facilities. It is also about people and the welcome we received last week from the team at St George’s Park has been first-class. Nothing has been too much trouble and the support we received enabled us to host a smooth-running training camp. We certainly returned to squad training in style - elite athletes in an elite facility.

As David Smith – who will be defending his individual BC1 title in Tokyo – explained, “Final day of an amazing camp. Best ever in my opinion.”

We move on with the 2021 season with heightened confidence in what we are doing and where we are at performance-wise. Next on the calendar is training camps in Nottingham and Birmingham before we head to Portugal in June for our first overseas training camp since BC – before Coronavirus!

We look forward to the next few months and ensuring that all our athletes have the best possible opportunities in advance of Tokyo 2021.

You can find out more about the training camp at St George’s Park on the FA’s website.

Boccia UK Performance Coach Claire Morrison joins UK Sport Coach Leadership Programme.

UK Sport’s new female coaches leadership programme will see 27 coaches from 15 sports coming together as part of a plan to more than double representation in the Olympic and Paralympic high-performance community by Paris 2024.

Eight highly respected and experienced coaches will lead a six-month programme for 19 of the most promising coaches in the UK, all of whom have been identified as having the potential to coach at the summer and winter Olympic and Paralympic Games from Paris 2024 and beyond.

Boccia UK Performance Coach Claire Morrison has joined the programme as a Coach Leader alongside Jane Figueiredo (diving), Paula Dunn (para athletics), Kate Howey (judo), Mel Marshall (swimming), Bex Milnes (para triathlon) and Tracy Whittaker-Smith (trampolining). Karen Brown, who spent over 15 years as a coach for Great Britain Hockey and England Hockey, will act as a mentor throughout.

Claire said: “This is such an exciting programme to be involved in. I have always been lucky to be inspired by so many female role models through my sporting journey from my mum, my PE teacher, coaches and now my performance director. I know how important it is that female coaches have visibility of other female coaches to help show what is possible.”

The 19 participating coaches will be offered key support and development opportunities, including times to observe an assigned coach leader in their environment. The programme will focus on three key areas, leadership, environment and transition, all of which are fundamental to the coaching development journey. The 19 coaches and their pairings are:

·       Paula Dunn: Nicola Benavente (rowing), Hannah Brown (canoeing)

·       Jane Figueiredo: Christine Bloomfield-Harrison (athletics), Jody Kime (artistic gymnastics), Lisa Letchford (hockey)

·       Kate Howey: Jenny Leeming (diving), Shani Palmer (athletics), Jo Ryding (alpine skiing)

·       Mel Marshall: Leah Crane (climbing), Monica Greenwood (cycling), Sarah Kelleher (hockey), Coral Nourrice (athletics)

·       Bex Milnes: Danielle Brayson (swimming), Naomi Johnston (cycling)

·       Claire Morrison: Katie Arup (fencing), Lysa Jones (golf)

·       Tracy Whittaker-Smith: Emma Trott (cycling), Laura Turner-Alleyne (athletics), Christy Mackinnon (alpine skiing)

Sally Munday, CEO at UK Sport, said: “It is really exciting to see such a large number of coaches from right across our high-performance community involved in this programme. We have an amazing group of coach leaders, who are the trailblazers and the people doing it now, and the opportunity for the 19 promising coaches to learn from them – as well as each other – is going to be incredible.

“UK Sport is determined to see greater diversity across the high-performance community and I know the role that I can play in championing this programme. I believe that each of the participants will become role models for the next generation of coaches and will truly enable us to reach our aims and ambitions for female coaches.

“I want to be able to reflect back that this was a turning point of truly making our workforce, in particular our coaching workforce, in the high-performance community far more diverse and a lot more equal from a gender perspective.”

At present, approximately only 10% of coaching positions within the high-performance community in the UK are held by women. The leadership programme forms part of UK Sport’s long-term plan to address the current under-representation of female coaches at all levels of the talent pathway within the high-performance community.

The first target of this long-term plan is to ensure that by the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024, the number of female coaches available to Team GB and ParalympicsGB has more than doubled to 25%.

UK Sport collaborated with Performance Directors, Coach Developers and Talent Pathway Managers within the Olympic and Paralympic high-performance community, as well as UK Coaching, on nominating female coaches to be part of the programme.

It arises from UK Sport’s People Development Team, working in partnership with sports and stakeholders to address diversity and inclusion ambitions, removing barriers and introducing bespoke programmes with gender the first characteristic and other initiatives to follow.

POTENTIAL FOR PARIS?

Boccia UK is looking to select and support up to three athletes who have the potential to target Paris 2024.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent postponement of Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and cancellation of BISFed sanctioned events, we will be approaching invitation to the World Class Programme (WCP) selection in a new and exciting way.

We are looking to select athletes who possess the skills and ability to progress through the UK Player Pathway and with the highest potential to perform at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, LA 2028 and beyond. Applications from female athletes are particularly welcome due to the new BISFed rules which will come into operation post Tokyo 2021 and incorporate female only individual medal events.

If you believe that you have what it takes and are looking to commit to a Paralympic campaign, we would welcome your application to join Boccia UK’s WCP.

Applications open on Friday 16th October and close on Friday 30th October at 1700h.

Boccia UK announce cancellation of UK Championships 2020

Boccia UK have announced the cancellation of this year's UK Championships because of the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Championships, which see the best Boccia players from across all four home nations compete for the honour of being UK Champion, had originally been due to take place in June but were postponed in the hope that they could be rescheduled safely in December. 

However the Boccia UK Board met on 6th October and concluded that it would not be possible to stage the Championships given the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Boccia UK Chair, David Richmond said: "The safety of the Boccia family is paramount. Many of our athletes are still shielding, or training in a highly managed way to minimise risk, and also with many facilities still closed, we are some way off a return to training normally for everyone. Whilst I'm sure that this will be a disappointment for some players, equally it may come as a relief to others. We will continue to plan to hold a UK Championships in 2021 when it is safe to do so."

Boccia UK strengthen Board with two new appointments.

Following an extensive recruitment campaign, Boccia UK have announced two new Independent Directors who will join the Board, taking the total number of Board members to nine.

Explaining the decision to increase the size of the Board, Boccia UK Chair David Richmond CBE said: “Although we are a small sport, we have big ambitions. We recently developed a new Vision and Mission as part of a review of our strategic plan and having also undertaken an assessment of the current board’s skillset, we decided to bolster the board by adding two new positions.

One position is for a Governance expert to ensure that we continue to uphold the highest standards across everything that we do, the other is for an expert on the World Class Performance system.  We had many highly qualified candidates apply and after a robust recruitment process, I’m delighted with the two chosen candidates. They bring a wealth of experience from the high-performance sport and charity sectors that will be invaluable in helping us drive Boccia UK onto the next level.

Nik Diaper, Head of Para-sport at Loughborough University, has been appointed to the position requiring World Class Programme expertise. Nik has over 18 years of experience working in elite Paralympic sport, during which time he has attended six Paralympic Games as part of ParalympicsGB. Prior to joining Loughborough University, Nik worked for the British Paralympic Association as Head of Performance, and for the Tokyo Paralympic Games he will again be part of the British team in the role of Deputy Chef de Mission for the BPA.

Nik said: “I’m delighted to take on this role as Boccia is such an important part of the Paralympic movement. I look forward to offering my specific experience, knowledge and skills to help drive Boccia UK forwards and to ensure continued success on the international stage.”

Steve Maiden, Executive Director of Governance, Risk and Assurance at Action on Hearing Loss has been appointed to the position requiring Governance expertise. His previous roles include being Head of Governance at Scope where he was closely involved in the charity's development of a transformational new strategy.

Speaking of his appointment, Steve said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Independent Director at Boccia UK. As a keen sportsman with a background in disability charities, I look forward to bringing my experience to the Board and supporting the ongoing focus on good governance at the organisation. I'm particularly excited about meeting some of the athletes and seeing Boccia up close when circumstances allow."

The two new Board members will take up their positions immediately and will join the first Boccia UK Board meeting at the start of October.

Nik Diaper

Steve Maiden

A tribute to Jacob Thomas

Jacob Thomas, who died peacefully at the weekend, was a true great of Boccia and will be sorely missed by all of those that knew him. Boccia UK send our deepest condolences to his family, particularly his dad and Assistant Mike, his mum Caroline and sister Polly.

Tributes have come in from around the world to a player who retired back in 2016. Current BC3 World Champion and World Number 1, Grigoris Polychronidis described Jacob as his friend, a gentleman, and one of the greatest boccia players. Jacob of course was World Number One himself in the BC3 category in 2015/2016. Cheol Hyeon Kwon, former South Korea Head Coach; and coach/assistant to the current Paralympic Champion Howon Jeong said that the world had lost one of the greatest BC3 Athletes.

Jacob’s career as a BC3 spanned from 2009 to 2016 and in that time, he made all seven British Championship finals, winning four in a fantastic domestic rivalry, primarily with Scott McCowan and then also with Patrick Wilson. Scott described Jacob as a great of the boccia game and a genuinely nice guy. This sentiment of a young man who was a friend to many and a legendary boccia player is one that has been repeated at home and from around the world.

Jacob also had a huge impact on other classifications. David Smith, the worlds greatest BC1 player was a regular training partner and described him simply as a legend, and the most talented BC3 player he had ever seen. Another legend of the game, Nigel Murray said that Jacob was a fighter and a delightful young man to be in the company of.

Jacob was genuinely loved; and touched so many peoples’ lives on his own life journey. Coach Glynn Tromans worked closely with Jacob from their first meeting in 2009 to his retirement from the sport in 2016. Glynn said “He was an absolute joy to coach because he and Mike were so full of ideas and innovations. He saw things on a boccia court that nobody else did and was so influential in the development of the BC3 game. He made friends wherever he went but his dedication; willingness to work hard; and drive for high attainment made him a ferocious and formidable opponent.”

Jacobs sister Polly completed her degree this year with a dissertation titled: ‘A critical analysis of how past major sporting events have impacted on the perception and awareness towards disability sport’. Jacob’s first Major Event was in 2011; he became a Paralympian in London 2012; he won medals Individually and in the BC3 Pair at European and Global Championships; and he undoubtedly had a positive impact in sport and as a human being. We are all better for knowing him.

All at Boccia UK send our heartfelt condolences to Jacobs family and friends at this sad time.

Boccia UK Independent Director positions.

An opportunity to contribute to the continued success of a unique Paralympic sport at Board level

Boccia UK is currently looking to recruit two suitably qualified candidates to undertake the following key Board positions:

·       Independent Director (with Elite Sports/World Class Programme specialism)

·       Independent Director

Building on our achievements at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, at the BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships in Liverpool, and with confidence for strong performances at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, now scheduled to take place in 2021, the successful candidates will join a highly experienced Board to help steer Boccia UK to continued future success.

For a detailed recruitment pack, please click here

Closing date for applications: 11th September, 2020

Interviews to be held in London or on-line (tbc) on: 23rd September, 2020

To apply, please email a CV and covering letter clearly stating which NED position you are applying for and detailing your suitability for the position to:

louisebrimacombe@positivedynamics.co.uk.

Boccia UK statement on postponement of Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Boccia UK welcomes the decision announced today to postpone the Tokyo Paralympic Games until 2021 and thanks the IOC, IPC and Organising Committee for making this announcement now.

The decision rightly prioritises the health and well-being of all athletes, staff and spectators and ends the uncertainty that has been stressful for our athletes, coaches and staff.

We have a robust plan in place that prioritises the physical and mental well-being of all our athletes and staff and this will continue whilst the country fights the COVID-19 virus.

We look forward to refocussing our efforts on making the country proud in 2021.

Paralympian Jess Hunter announces her retirement

Paralympian Jess Hunter has announced her retirement from Boccia, the precision ball game unique to para-sport.

Hunter, from Staines in Middlesex, took up the sport when at Treloars College aged 13 and quickly progressed to the England Squad. In 2010 she was invited to attend a UK Boccia Talent Day where her decision-making skills and aggressive style of play quickly became apparent and led to her joining the first Fast Track Talent Programme. After graduating from this, she joined the World Class Programme and made her international debut in 2011 at the World Cup in Belfast.

Aged just 20, she was selected for the ParalympicsGB team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games and, with teammates Jacob Thomas and Scott McCowan, finished fifth in the BC3 Pair event. Her skill and engaging personality meant that she was also one of the athletes chosen to help promote the sport in the lead up to the Games, including taking on Channel 4’s Jon Snow in a match.

In 2013, Jess was part of the same Pair that finished 3rd in the European Championships, and also delivered her best individual performance, finishing 4th in the Individual Event. These performances marked the emergence of Great Britain as a serious contender for medals and at a global level. Jess remained an active member of the World Class Programme, and in 2019 returned to competitive action as part of the BC3 Pair that won bronze medals at the European Championships in Seville, this time alongside Jamie McCowan and Patrick Wilson.

Reflecting on her time in the sport, Jess said: “I’ve loved the sport and it has given me so much. I’ve travelled around the world and met many fantastic people. Being in an elite sport is challenging and sometimes tough but it has been an honour to represent my country and I’ll take with me many happy memories”

Glynn Tromans, UK Boccia Performance Coach said: “I first met Jess in 2010 prior to the first UK Boccia Fast Track Talent Programme. This led to almost a decade on the World Class Programme but it was clear from the start that she was both very determined and very strong. Her attitude was one of fearlessness. Guiding Jess through her first World Cup; the London Paralympic Games; and subsequent European and World Championships was a pleasure. Her presence in the sport will be missed.”

Helen Nicholls, UK Boccia Performance Director said: “Jess has been a key athlete in the Boccia UK World Class Programme for over 10 years.  Her ambition, drive and ability have moved the sport forwards and Jess had been an example to her fellow Teammates. She has changed perceptions about disability both within and outside of the World Class Programme and it has been a pleasure having Jess as an athlete within the sport. We wish Jess every success with her future endeavours and will always remain part of our Boccia family.

Scots top the table at the UK Boccia Championships

A gold medal apiece for Scotland’s Scott McCowan (BC3) and Stephen McGuire (BC4) ensured it was their country on top of the medal table when the two-day UK Boccia Championships came to a close in Antrim Northern Ireland on Sunday (16 June).

In the BC3 category, two-time Paralympian McCowan had finished second in his pool which meant that in the semi-final he was pitted against his brother Jamie who had topped his. In a tight match, Scott edged out his younger brother, winning 4-3 and setting up a Scotland v England final against Matt Berry. Berry had recently taken the silver medal at the Boccia England Cup in Sheffield in May and was hoping to take home a different colour this time.  However, even though he forced a tie-break, it was the more experienced Scott McCowan who claimed gold, giving his father Gary, who is his ramp assistant, the perfect Fathers’ Day present. 

It was Scotland v England again in both medal matches in the BC4 category. Scotland’s Stephen McGuire beat England’s Louis Saunders 7-2 in the Gold medal match, maintaining his 100% record in these championships. The battle for bronze also went Scotland’s way with Ross Munro beating Evie Edwards 6-3.

However, the standings were reversed in the BC1 category with reigning World and Paralympic Champion David Smith MBE in commanding form, winning his semi-final 11-0 against fellow English player Dan Bentley, a score which he repeated in the final against Scotland’s Reegan Stevenson. In the all-England bronze medal match, it was Daniel Wain who came out on top, beating Dan Bentley 6-4.

But it was Northern Ireland’s Claire Taggart who got the biggest cheer from the home crowd when she beat England’s James Clowes 4-0 in the Gold medal match. The home crowd were also hoping that their countryman Scott Cromie could also bag a medal in the bronze medal match but it wasn’t to be as England’s Reshad Saraj finished on top 3-2. 

Commenting on the event and the results, Boccia UK Performance Director Helen Nicholls said: ”We have seen some outstanding Boccia played here this weekend and I’ve been really impressed with the performances and the attitude of all the players. Playing against the world ranked players has been a great experience for the pathway players and they have shown that they are pushing hard to improve. With just over a year to go to Tokyo, being tested on home soil is great for the World Class Programme athletes too.

“The Championships were played in a great spirit so a huge thank you to the volunteers and Disability Sport Northern Ireland for all their hard work in making it such a success and enjoyable weekend.”

The championships were hosted by Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI) were sponsored by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and TBC Conversions.

UK Boccia Championships 2019 to get underway in Antrim, Northern Ireland

The UK Boccia Championships will get underway in Antrim, Northern Ireland on Saturday with competitors from the four home nations taking part.

 Across two days of competition, the best 32 players from across the UK will compete for the top spot across the four classifications BC1-BC4. Eight Paralympians will be in action, including Rio Gold medallist and reigning world champion David Smith, and local favourite Claire Taggart.

 The championships are being hosted by Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI) for the first time and are being sponsored by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and TBC Conversions.

 Speaking ahead of the Championships, Boccia UK Performance Director Helen Nicholls said:

“It’s great to take the championships to a different country and venue so a big thank you to DSNI for hosting and giving Northern Ireland the opportunity to experience elite Boccia. The UK Championships see world-ranked players compete against up-and-coming players from across the UK so the games can be unpredictable which adds to the excitement. I’d like to wish all the competitors the best of luck and to remind some of the newcomers that everyone starts on an even playing field, so my advice is to be fearless and remember, every ball matters.”

The full list of competitors is below with Paralympians in bold

David Smith England BC1

Daniel Wain England BC1

Tia Ruel England BC1

Caroline Robinson England BC1

Dan Bentley England BC1

Will Hipwell England BC2

James Clowes England BC2

Reshad Saraj England BC2

Will Arnott England BC3

Beth Moulam England BC3

Jess Hunter England BC3

Matt Berry England BC3

Lee Maddison England BC3

Louis Saunders England BC4

Evie Edwards England BC4

Will Graham NI BC1

Claire Taggart NI BC2

Scott Cromie NI BC2

Robyn McBride NI BC3

Jayne Milligan NI BC4

Reegan Stevenson Scotland BC1

Lewis McConnel Scotland BC2

Jamie McCowan Scotland BC3

Scott McCowan Scotland BC3

Stephen McGuire Scotland BC4

Kieran Steer Scotland BC4

Ross Munro Scotland BC4

Ricky Stevenson Wales BC1

Sian Jones Wales BC2

Gareth Stafford Wales BC3

Spectators are welcome to go along to Antrim Forum on 15th and 16th June between 10am - 4pm to see Boccia at its best. Anyone unable to attend in person can watch a livestream. Details of how to do this will be on the Disability Sport NI Facebook page from 9am on 15 June

Boccia UK announce new Chair to lead organisation through to Tokyo 2020 and beyond

David Richmond CBE was today announced as the new Chair of Boccia UK, taking over from John Dowson who was in post for six years.

Boccia UK is the National Governing Body for the Paralympic sport of Boccia in the UK. Their primary role is running the World Class Programme and, using funding from UK Sport, they send players to sanctioned international competitions to qualify athletes to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Paralympic Games.

David has a background in the military and charity sector and most recently as an independent consultant. He served as an Army officer for 26 years and was seriously wounded in 2008 whilst on operations in Afghanistan. After being medically discharged in 2012, he joined Help for Heroes as their first Director of Recovery and was responsible for developing the vision for their Recovery Services and turning it into an operational reality. He was also Team Director of the UK Invictus Games Team for the first three Invictus Games.

Outgoing Chair, John Dowson commented: “It has been a privilege to have worked with everyone at Boccia UK over the last six years where there have been so many highs and very few lows. This is a sport which has the power to inspire and engage people widely. More can and will be done over the next few years to develop the sport and its profile further and I’m delighted that someone of David’s calibre and experience has been recruited. Alongside his fellow Directors, I am leaving the board in very good hands.”

David Richmond said: “My personal experience has shown me the power of sport to transform lives and I know that this is also true for the athletes who play the unique Paralympic sport of Boccia. I’m excited to be appointed Chair of Boccia UK and look forward to working with colleagues across the home nations to drive the sport forward in the UK and to continue to challenge for medals at the Paralympic Games.”

In addition to the Chair, the Boccia UK Board is made up of representatives of organisations responsible for Boccia in the four home nations and two Independent Directors. The full list is

·       David Richmond CBE (Chair) - Independent

·       Abby Laybourne - Independent (Senior Independent Director and Finance Committee Chair)

·       Jane Jones - Independent

·       Chris Ratcliffe - Boccia England

·       Gavin Macleod – Scottish Disability Sport (Performance Development Committee Chair)

·       Fiona Reid – Disability Sport Wales (Equity & Safeguarding Lead)

Kevin O'Neill – Disability Sport Northern Ireland

Boccia UK appoint new Board member

Boccia UK are delighted to announce that Jane Jones has been appointed as a new independent Board Member.

Jane has a wealth of experience in Advertising, Communications and Marketing.  As Director of Communications and Marketing for the British Paralympic Association (BPA) she led the commercial and communications strategy for the British Paralympic Team at London 2012.  She currently works freelance advising sports organisations on marketing and commercial strategies.

She is also a member of the IOC communications Commission, a trustee of the British Para-Orchestra and sits on the Franchise Board for a Super league Netball Team.

Jane will officially take up her appointment in March 2019. Welcome to the world of Boccia Jane!