Highlanders are keeping their fingers crossed for some podium finishes at next week’s National Schools Boccia Finals in Glasgow.
Three Inverness pupils are making the journey to the Scotstoun Leisure Centre on Thursday (27 March) for the Scottish Disability Sport National Schools Boccia Finals following the Highland Schools qualifying event, which took place recently at Milburn Academy.
Students from Milburn, Inverness Royal Academy, Culloden Academy, Grantown Grammar and Kingussie High School competed in three categories to win a place in the national competition. Unfortunately, out of the six Highland pupils who qualified, only three are able to attend the finals in Glasgow.
Qualifying and representing the Highlands next week are Alexander Watmough from Milburn and Dylan Clark from Inverness Royal Academy in the Learning Disability category and Nathan Smiles, also from Inverness Royal Academy, in the Physical Disability Category.
Qualifying but sadly unable to make the journey to the national finals due to other commitments is Sophia Walsh with Aileas Roberston as her ramp assistant. These Milburn Academy pupils qualified in the Using an Assisted Device Category. Also winning a place in the finals but unable to attend is Christina Robertson form Kingussie High School who qualified in the Physical Disability category.
Disability Sports Development Officer at High Life Highland, Fiona Green said: “Well done to all our young sportspeople who took part in the regional heats and a big congratulations especially to Sophia, Aileas, Nathan, Christina, Alexander and Dylan for qualifying for the National Schools Final – we wish the those attending every success and I am sure they will do the Highlands proud.
“Also a very big thank you to all the school staff and High Life Highland’s Active Schools team – including many Young Leaders – who have helped organise our regional heats. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible to host these events.
“Active Schools is about making more children, more active, more often regardless of their ability so we are absolutely delighted to have representation from our local schools at this national competition.”
Boccia is a Paralympic sport introduced in 1984. It has no Olympic counterpart. Athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a ‘jack’ ball. It is designed specifically for athletes with a disability affecting locomotor function. It is played indoors on a court similar in size to a badminton court. For more information about Boccia, please go here: https://boccia.uk.com/about-boccia
Image Credit: Grantown Grammar School
