Fit 4 U
05 December 2012
Southern Area Boccia Tournament (Bowls)
Southern Area Boccia Tournament (Bowls)
23 teams from across the Southern area recently competed in an area wide Boccia Tournament at Newry Sports Centre. Boccia is a chair based version of bowls and the tournament involved people with disabilities from across Armagh, Dungannon, Craigavon, Banbridge, Newry and Mourne localities.
Following the league stages, quarter finals and semi-finals, third place went to Craigavon Fit 4 U Team 2 (Beverly Jory, David Wylie, Christine Weir).
Craigavon Fit 4 U Team 1 (Alan Hollywood and Louise Thompson) and Copperfields (Lauren Myles, Danny Curran, Stanley Fisher) contested a close final, with the Copperfields team emerging as the overall winning team. Prizes were presented to the award winners by the Mayor of Newry & Mourne District Council, John McCardle.
Lauren Myles, member of the winning team said, “I enjoy playing boccia as it is a fun team game. The competition gives me the opportunity to meet other people in the community.” Lauren also explains, “Boccia is beneficial because it helps my hand movements and improves my overall health and well-being.”
Colleen Murray, Disability Sport NI explains “Boccia is a target sport, similar to bowls, which can be played by people of all abilities making it an ideal outlet for people with a disability to get involved in what can be a lifelong sport.”
Rhonda Richardson, Fit 4 U Project Officer, comments on the health benefits “Boccia is a sport that promotes co-ordination and control, it is a team sport that encourages communication and confidence and in terms of social health, provides an opportunity for fun and friendship.”
The event was organised in partnership between the Southern Trust Fit 4 U Project, Craigavon Borough Council, Newry & Mourne District Council, Disability Sports NI, Sport NI Active Communities and Craigavon Sports & Leisure User Group (SLUG). This eventbuilds on the successful work of these organisations in developing the sport of boccia for people with a disability across the Southern Area.
For more information about Boccia in your local area contact Rhonda Richardson, Fit 4 U Project, 028 3741 2129.
