Do you fancy playing boccia on 12th Feb 2013 ? (Larne, Scotland)
THE legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games remains prominent in the Larne area with the start of a boccia club at Ballygally Community Hall. Beginning on Tuesday, February 12, anyone keen on getting involved in the sport can come along and simply play!
For those unfamiliar with the sport, boccia is a precision ball sport related to bowls. It is fully-inclusive and anyone can play from young to old. It’s a great opportunity for family and friends to come together to play a new sport. The aim is to throw leather balls (red or blue) as close as possible to a white target ball, or jack. It can be played standing up, or alternatively ramps are available for those who need to be seated.
And to maximise on the opportunity of meeting new people, tea and coffee will be provided at the end of the evening for everyone to enjoy the social side of the club too!
If it sounds like something you would be interested in, come along on Tuesday, February 12 from 7.30pm to 9pm to Ballygally Community Hall.
If you would like to find out more, contact Larne Borough Council’s Sports Development Unit on 02828 260478
Paralympic legacy on show at Boccia event
THE Paralympic legacy was clear for all to see as more than 20 schools took part in a Boccia competition at Next Generation at Kembrey Park.
Pupils travelled from across Swindon as well as from Devizes, Salisbury and Marlborough to compete in the event, which sees players try to throw leather balls as close to a jack as possible in a game similar to bowls.
While Brazil dominated the sport at the London 2012 Paralympics, teams from Commonweal school finished first and second at Kembrey Park, with the winners now moving forward to the regional finals in Exeter.
Swindon Schools Sports Partnership’s School Games organiser Andy Steckbeck helped run the event, which he believes perfectly illustrates what the Olympics and Paralympics have given to this country.
via BOCCIA: Paralympic legacy on show at Boccia event (From This Is Wiltshire).
Jakub in national spotlight for Boccia
A DISABLED Pendle youngster who plays boccia has qualified to play in a national event later this year.
Jakub Drozdzowski (14), from Nelson, has duchene muscular dystrophy. He will take part in the boccia nationals in May at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.
Jakub, along with fellow members of the Pendle boccia team, competed in the Northern championships in Liverpool in early December.
The youngsters were identified as talented in the sport through Lancashire’s Sports Playground to Podium initiative. It was important that they had the opportunity to compete in this high level competition.
Barbara Atkinson, from the Pendle Schools Sports Partnership, said: “I’d firstly like to congratulate Jakub on qualifying for the boccia nationals. He has only been playing the sport a short time and this is a real achievement
via Jakub in national spotlight – Local News – Pendle Today.
Free Taster Session of Boccia
Cambridgeshire Cats American Football Club, Hunts Boccia Club and Peterborough Handball Club are offering free taster sessions to help raise their clubs’ profiles, and to attract new members. The clubs have either put on new specific sessions, or have incorporated them to run alongside their regular sessions with added support from the clubs’ coaches.
Care home residents can continue to enjoy boccia
RESIDENTS at a care home in east Hull have been presented with a special boccia kit after training for seven months.
Elderly people at Berkeley House care home in Bilton Grange have been working with Sportsability.
In June they joined the training programme organised by Hull City Council to prepare for the East Yorkshire Care Home Games.
The sessions continued after the event in July and have proved popular.
Sally Withill, of Berkeley House, said: “Boccia has been a great way to help residents establish new friendships and they have enjoyed some friendly rivalry.
“Those who started training in June have come back every week.
“Boccia improves mobility and dexterity and boosts self- esteem.”
Boccia can be played by individuals, pairs, or teams of three.
The aim is to throw leather balls, which are slightly larger than a tennis ball, as close as possible to a white target ball called the jack.
Adam Rhodes, of Sportsability, said: “Now with their own boccia set they can continue to play and more people will join in.”
via Care home residents can continue to enjoy boccia | This is Hull and East Riding.
“Boccia Inclusive” – a new publication about Boccia interviews Nigel Murray
“
Boccia Inclusive” are very fortune in have Nigel Murray, the most successful British Boccia athlete of all time, talk to us about his remarkable achievements during his playing career, including the Team Bronze Medal he won this year in front of a Home Crowd at London 2012.
This Boccia legend will forever be remembered as the first Briton to win Gold in Paralympic Boccia. The four-time Paralympian has won 2 Gold Medals, Individual in Sydney 2000 and Team in Beijing 2008; a Individual Silver Medal, also in Beijing; and a Team Bronze Medal in recent Home Games.
I would like to begin by thanking Nigel for the opportunity to ask him about his relationship with Boccia and his thoughts on London 2012.
My current relationship with Boccia is that I am a member of the G.B. Squad and compete both individually (BC2 Class) and within the team, of which I am captain. I have also recently joined the board of England Boccia.
London 2012 Paralympic Games was in my opinion the greatest ever games. I feel this was primarily due to the excellent sporting facilities for all athletes and the incredible support we received from the British public, either by coming to watch at venues or through the media.
Before we dive into the latest Paralympic Games I would like to know a bit about your Boccia background. I have been on the Boccia scene for seven years and in all that time you have always been one of the top BC2s in the world. When did you first discover Boccia? How quick was your rise up through the ranks?
I first became aware of Boccia in the early 1990’s when I attended a Disability Sports Taster Day as part of my job role working for Social Services in Warwickshire. I first started competing in 1998, when I attended the Midlands Boccia Regional Championships, which I won, this enabled me to compete at the England National Finals later that year. The following year I was selected to compete for England at the World Cup in Argentina.
In your very first Paralympic Games in Sydney you won Gold in the Individual event, how did it feel being on the podium receiving your Medal? What was your very first International competition with GB? Do you still holds fond memories of it or is it just a haze? Was this the moment that spurred you on to compete in three more Paralympic Games?
In 2000 I was selected to compete for G.B. at the Sydney Paralympic Games where I became the first British Boccia player to win an individual gold medal at a Paralympics.
I have fond memories of my early international competitions, in particular my first Paralympics and first major medal. This was the start of my medal success at major international competitions and at present I currently have a grand total of 17 medals from both individual and team events, so certainly Sydney had a huge impact on my future career.
After disappoint in Athens 2004, you came back strong in Beijing, winning Individual Silver and Team Gold. You have previously described captaining GB to victory in the Team event as your proudest moment in Boccia, could you elaborate on this?
Athens was a huge disappointment for me personally, both individually and in the team. Our loss to Portugal (who went onto win gold) in the semi final, which was by millimetres on the last ball of the game, was the lowest point of my career. However, I believe this gave me the determination to come back stronger 4 years later and make amends in Beijing ! This we did in winning team gold in Beijing, my proudest moment and made even sweeter by the fact that we defeated Portugal in the final – Happy Days ! To win gold alongside Dan, David and Zoe will always be the greatest day of my playing career and to do it also playing for the greatest coach I have had the pleasure to play for, Jacqueline Lynn, made it a special occasion in my career.
Is winning Team Gold in Beijing still you proudest moment? If so, captaining GB in a Home Games must be a close second. The Home crowd were electric; I have never seen so many people watch Boccia before. Did the crowd help or hinder you?
It was always my dream after Beijing to compete in London and defend our team title. Unfortunately, we were unable to win Gold, however, the Team Bronze medal we did win felt as good as getting gold! This was due to the unbelievable support we received on court at the Excel Arena. In all the years I have competed I have never witnessed crowds or support like it at a Boccia competition, it made me proud to be British and represent my country at the greatest ever Paralympic Games. The passion of the support certainly lifted us throughout the competition and as a player I love to play in front of a crowd, which creates an atmosphere to perform in front of. London was also the first time in my career that my family had seen me play and in particular my mum, who saw us win both our pool matches, well, I dare not lose with her watching!
Describe you thoughts and feeling of the atmosphere inside the Olympic Stadium for Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Bet you never experienced anything like that before?
Parading out at a Paralympic Games is always a special moment for any athlete, but nothing could beat the noise when we went out into the Stadium in London – UNBELIEVABLE!!! I was so proud and honoured to be there, representing my country.
The GB BC1/2 Team sailed through to the Semi-finals but was over powered by an unbelievably strong Thailand Team. Was it difficult to pick yourselves up for the Bronze Match after that?
After losing to Thailand we were all gutted, not the fact that we lost, but the fact that we did not play anywhere near to the standard we all know we can. Although down after the loss we knew we had to pick ourselves up for the Bonze Medal match the following day, when our opponents would once again be Portugal! Prior to the game, I told myself this was the Gold Medal match and that I knew we were a better team than them. The rest they say is now history!
After coming through the Bronze Match as victors the Team took away a Medal from a Home Games. What did this mean to you?
Winning the Bronze was unbelievable, as I have already said it felt like the final. The crowd noise when we won will always stay with me, as will going onto the Podium to get our Medal and the celebrations afterwards!
During my time watching the Boccia in the Paralympics I noticed a shift in dominance since Beijing. The Far Eastern countries of China, Korea and Thailand dominated BC1,2 and 3, was this a factor in your shock Quarter-final exit in the Individual event?
The Asian playing countries are certainly now the leading Boccia nations across many of the classes, but I still believe G.B. is right up there with them. I was disappointed to lose my individual quarterfinal game, as I did not play up to the level I know is my usual game. That’s sport I guess, I know there is never such a thing as an easy game and at times the balls do not always run how you want them too, that’s life and you have to move on, but that loss really hurt a great deal!
Before we conclude our interview I like to take this opportunity to inquire your plans for the future. Before the start of London 2012 you vowed it was going to be your last, is this still true? If so, what is next for Nigel Murray? Will you remain in Boccia in another capacity other than playing?
London was certainly my last Paralympic Games as an athlete, however, I have yet to decide whether I will compete at the Europeans next year, but that is a decision to be made in the coming months with team management. So it’s a case of watch this space. Either way, I would love to stay involved in some capacity in the future, otherwise I will be cheering from the side.
Thank you so much Nigel for answering my questions. It is so fascinating to get a personal insight into Boccia from an absolute legend of the sport. It is also amazing to hear you talk about the early stages of your career. Congratulations on you Bronze Medal and I wish you all the best for the future.
*** Did you enjoy this article then why not subscribe, for free, to the world’s 1st Boccia magazine – “Boccia Inclusive” here. Find out more about Boccia Inclusive by visiting its Facebook page here. ***
Boccia arrives at K2 leisure centre next year
Dave Downey, community sports development officer at K2 Crawley, said: “K2 was a Paralympic training camp this year so it is very fitting that we can extend our programme for children with disabilities.”
The first session takes place on January 13 with boccia, new-age kurling, climbing, cricket, football, cycling, golf, swimming, a bouncy castle and street dance planned from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
The day will cost £10, which pays for participation in all the activities for each child and their parent or sibling.
A similar fun day is also planned for March 10.
via More sports sessions for disabled at K2 leisure centre next year | This is Sussex.
Tait may be our new Paralympic star
PRODIGIOUS Tait Jenkins is proof that nothing can stand in the way of sporting success.
The 16-year-old talented boccia player has been earmarked for the highest levels of Paralympic sport – and could be set to earn national honours as well.
Despite only taking the sport up little over a year ago, Tait has been identified by the Australian Paralympic Committee as a candidate for the 2016 Rio Games.
Although he is wheelchair-bound and has a rare genetic muscular condition, Tait, who attends Lismore’s Trinity Catholic College, is determined to enjoy his promising career in the sport.
“It is good to know that even though I have a disability, I am not held back in any way,” he said
Paralympic star celebrates fitness centre’s refurb
Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centre on Warwick Gates celebrated it’s launch following extensive refurbishments on Tuesday. Nigel Murray, Paralympic athlete, seven time national champion, and triple Paralympic medal winner in the sport of boccia, cut the ribbon at 11am.
via Paralympic star celebrates fitness centre’s refurb – Community – Leamington Courier.
Paralympians among winners at disability sport awards
Some of Britain’s young talented disabled athletes have been honoured at a ceremony in Manchester.
Among the winners at the Nationwide Disability Sports Awards were Paralympic swimming champions Ellie Simmonds and Josef Craig.
2012 Paralympians from boccia, athletics, wheelchair fencing and sitting volleyball were also among those honoured.
Other winners are hoping to be part of the GB team at the 2016 Games in Rio.
The ceremony, organised by the English Federation of Disability Sport and attended by Paralympic medallists including Jody Cundy and Shelly Woods, also honoured schools and individuals who took part in events organised by their Disability Sport Events section.
via BBC Sport – Paralympians among winners at disability sport awards.
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