Britain’s David Smith was given a standing ovation at the boccia gold medal final on Saturday – and that was before the 23-year-old had even thrown a ball. A sell-out crowd screamed their appreciation for the competitors, some of the most severely disabled athletes competing at these Games, as a tense contest unfolded in a sport best compared to boules or petanque.

The final had been billed as a grudge match, a chance to make amends for the 18-1 battering Thailand had inflicted on defending champions Britain in the team BC1-2 semi-final. Both Smith and his opponent, Pattaya Tadtong, had played in that match, but the Briton was determined to put aside any sense of pressure from that defeat, “baggage” as he put it.

Smith had been tipped with a good chance to come away with the gold but in the event Tadtong, a 2004 bronze medallist, proved just too powerful for him, executing a comprehensive 7-0 defeat (2-0, 1-0, 3-0, 1-0) over four ends. Still the aerospace engineering student refused to be downbeat. “Hey, I got a silver medal and I played my best at a Paralympics for once,” he said referencing his 14th place finish in the individual competition in Beijing four years ago. “I’ve rectified a few things with this one … I’m chuffed to bits to be honest. I played a good match and I gave it my best shot I think, I executed really well so I’m happy with that. It’s easy to focus on the reward and not the performance.”

via Paralympics 2012: David Smith happy with silver on boccia’s big day | Sport | The Observer.

BEFORE London 2012 few people knew what boccia was and even fewer knew how to pronounce it, but despite twice agonisingly missing out on a medal on his Paralympic debut, Scot Stephen McGuire believes the future is bright for the sport in the UK.

Having finished fourth in the doubles competition alongside brother Peter, McGuire returned for another shot at a medal but ended up going down 5-3 to Brazil’s world No.1 Eliseu dos Santos, who produced a miraculous shot in the second end to assume an unassailable lead.

But while both the McGuires end their London 2012 campaigns empty-handed, they leave with a hatful of memories, having been roared on by a partisan home crowd at the ExCeL, which also witnessed David Smith seal silver yesterday to add to the team bronze he won with Nigel Murray, Dan Bentley and Zoe Robinson.

And as a result, McGuire was keen to focus on the positives.

“It’s all done now with two fourth positions but I’m proud of what I have done at my first Paralympics,” said the 28-year-old

via Paralympic Games: Boccia has arrived says McGuire – Sport – Scotsman.com.

Wheelchairs

I compete in a sports-specific wheelchair, although some of the other boccia athletes just use their day chairs. My sports chair is a manual wheelchair and is nothing special.

It is a standard type of sports chair that gets me closer to the flow and allows me to bend forward easier. It gives me greater mobility than my day chair. I can’t compete in my day chair, but it is electric so it gets me around the venue pretty quickly.

Food

Each athlete will bring some little extras like sport drinks, nutritional bars, biscuits and Jaffa Cakes along with them. The added complication for me is that I have diabetes so I have to be careful with very sugary things while also remembering to bring my medication with me.

via Paralympics 2012: ParalympicGB boccia player Nigel Murray on his kit for the Games – Telegraph.

How you took up Boccia

I got introduced to Boccia when I was 6 but there was nowhere locally that I could play. At 13 I was re-introduced to Boccia at a Scottish Disability Sports Summer Camp, from there I got invited to attend a Scottish Squad training session.

What you enjoy about Boccia

I like the fact that from the outside the game looks simple, but when people try Boccia they realise that there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. I’ve also met some really nice people through playing Boccia.

Proudest moment in Boccia

Being selected to join the London 2012 GB Boccia Squad.

Ambitions in Boccia

To win a Paralympic medal

Role models in Boccia

Nigel Murray

Currently doing outside Boccia

Studying Sound Production at Perth Collage UHI

Interests outside Boccia

Music, TV and PS3 (and I love a good curry!)

via BC2 Joshua Rowe.

SO successful they had to move from their Melbourne base to New Earswick Bowls Club, First York Boccia Club are hoping the Paralympics will shine a bright light on their tactical sport.

Boccia, pronounced botcha, is played by wheelchair athletes with cerebral palsy and other conditions.

It is likened to boules with the aim to throw, or drop, either red or blue balls as close as possible to the white jack.

Athletes can play individually, in pairs or in teams. Those with a high level of impairment can use a ramp and a guide, who must face away from the play.

First York Boccia Club hosts an invitational tournament each year with teams coming from Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Huddersfield. Having already gone through difficult times, with volunteers having to take charge of their own affairs from the council, it has continued to thrive.

And, with around 30 regular members, the club are always willing to take more, said chair Carol Walker.

“We would like to get more youngsters to come,” she said. “When we take the sport into primary schools, children absolutely love it. We hope the Paralympics will give people the insight into what the game is. We include everyone and we have lots of members with different abilities.”

To find out more, log on to http://www.firstyorkboccia.co.uk or email firstyorkboccia@hotmail.co.uk

via York’s Paralympic field of dreams (From York Press).