HERNE Bay snapped up the last Kent Panathlon place on offer to join Dartford, Ashford, Malling and Sevenoaks in the final on June 28.

The Herne Bay team, made up of St Anselms and Canterbury schools, qualified strongly, winning table cricket, kurling and both athletics field events, while Shepway came second, Dover third and Thanet fourth. In total, 85 disabled children from seven schools took part.

Kelly Bowyer, Herne Bay co-ordinator, said: “It was a fantastic day. We can’t wait for the final.”

Sophie Kettyles, Ursuline College boccia official, added: “It was a great experience.”

via Herne Bay team gains place in Kent Panathlon contest | This is Kent.

Boccia is a game, similar to French boules, suitable for children and adults with physical, sensory or learning disabilities.

The national championships were held in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, for the first time and competitors from across the UK were in action.

Adam defended his title and current regional champion Ian was also in action.

But Daniel trumped them all and is now preparing for the National Special Olympics in Bath at the end of August where he will play singles as well as joining forces with Adam and Ian in the team event.

The Academy’s boccia coach Jane Whetnall added: “This is the first national title since our move to our new premises on Broad Street. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer lad.”

For details on the work of the Cheshire Academy call 01270 255355 or visit http://www.disabilitysport.com.

via Sport for all: Another national victory for Cheshire Academy in Crewe – Crewe Chronicle.

THE town of Northallerton is to get its own multi-sports club for young people and adults with special needs and disabilities.

Hambleton District Council’s leisure apprentice, Joe McKechnie ,who plays football for the England Cerebral Palsy Senior Squad, has secured nearly £700 in funding from North Yorkshire Sport to set up the new club.

It will kick off with an eight-week course offering coaching in recognised disabled sports – including boccia, goal ball, Kwik Cricket, dance, dodge ball, skill based sessions in football and football for the visually impaired.

via  (From Darlington and Stockton Times).

Boccia teams from across the county took part in the 2013 adult boccia competition last week.

Held at Milford Haven Leisure Centre, the tournament was organised by Sport Pembrokeshire – Pembrokeshire County Council’s sports development arm – and Disability Sport Wales.

A record 13 teams entered this year’s event including Portfield Social Activity Centre (2), Young Vipers, Young Vipers (2) , St. David’s Care in the Community (2), Avenue Social Activity Centre (2), Anchorage Social Activity Centre (2), Pembrokeshire College (2) and Crymcyh Panthers.

The competition was won by Young Vipers ‘1’ who beat Anchorage ‘A’ in the final.

Both winners and runners up were presented with trophies by Will James from Valero, which sponsored the event.

Angela Miles, disability sports development officer for Sport Pembrokeshire, said the standard of play had been extremely high.

via TENBY TODAY | SPORT | Boccia teams battle it out!.

A SPORTS club in Sheffield with Paralympic ambitions is going from strength to strength – thanks to a donation from a charity appeal backed by The Star.

Sheffield Smashers, a boccia team for young disabled people, was given a £1,000 grant through the Star-backed 12 Days of Christmas appeal, run by city charity Help A Child Have A Chance.

The cash has been used to buy new equipment including two sets of boccia balls, a ramp, scoreboards, measures and bats, as well as funding coaching for nine people.

Boccia is a sport similar to bowls played by athletes with more severe physical disabilities.

Now, in a move to get more players involved, the Smashers will now be based at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in the city centre, running sessions every Thursday evening.

The club is run for disabled people aged eight to 25.

via Sheffield sports club is on the up – Community – The Star.

In the boccia, Lewisham were looking to win gold and earn the right to compete in the national finals.

They had won the London Youth Games boccia finals at Westway Sports Centre the week before, but second best to Wandsworth on the day and had to settle for a silver medal.

Lewisham were represented by All Saints Blackheath Church of England Primary School in the Year 5/6 tag rugby, who were beaten by Stanley Primary School of Richmond in the semi-final to leave them with a bronze.

via Medals success for Lewisham and Greenwich teams (From News Shopper).

Volunteer sports officials are being sought to help out in a few specialist roles at this summer’s Special Olympics GB National Summer Games in Bath.

Some 1700 athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete in 12 different sports at the Games, which run from 28 August to 1 September.

Hundreds of volunteer positions have already been filled but sports officials are still being sought to help out in a few roles, those of football referees, boccia umpires and short mat bowls umpires.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help out with these roles should have a relevant qualification in their sport, but with the exception of boccia, previous experience of officiating in sports for people with disabilities is not necessary.

Most of the sports at the National Summer Games are taking place at the University of Bath.

“We’d like to hear from anyone with experience of officiating in football, boccia or short mat bowls who would like to volunteer to help out at the Games,” said Ben Coombs, Games Manager.

If you’d be interested in volunteering as an official at the Games, please contact Ben on 01225 384257 or on bjc20@bath.ac.uk

via Calling football refs and boccia & short mat bowls umpires | Team Bath.

WORCESTER’S first club dedicated to the Paralympic sport Boccia is scoring with players in the city.

Boccia is a precision ball sport, related to bowls, which is contested at local, national and international levels by people with physical disabilities.

The Worcester club has just launched at Perdiswell Leisure Centre in Bilford Road on Tuesday afternoons.

As well as Boccia itself, it offers a wide range of games aimed at building related skills to its members.

The club has been launched by Worcester City Council and Disability Sport Worcester for local disabled people aged eight and over.

via Boccia is a big hit with club members (From Worcester News).

A NORTH-East boccia player has been named in the England squad for two forthcoming international matches.

Chris Jackson, 22, has been playing the wheelchair sport, similar to boules, since he was at school.

Now Mr Jackson, who has muscular dystrophy, has been included in the England squad to play Norway and the Czech Republic in Oslo and Prague in late May and early June, respectively.

via Durham lad Chris named in England boccia squad (From The Northern Echo).

A DISABLED sportsman is celebrating being picked for England.

Chris Jackson, who plays a bowls game called boccia, is to represent his country at tournaments in Oslo and Prague.

“I’ve been playing the game since I was 10 years old,” said the 22-year-old, from Carrville, Durham City.

“It was always my dream to get into the national team, so I am delighted to be selected.”

Chris suffers from muscular dystrophy, which means he is confined to a

via Paralympics next? Boccia player picked for England team + VIDEO – All News – Sunderland Echo.