As well as celebrating the performance of Kieran Steer at the Scottish Boccia Championships on Saturday, Disability Sport Fife is particularly pleased with the performance of young Tyler McLelland from Windygates and Auchmuty HS.
The young teenager is still relatively new to performance boccia but he improves with every competition. This weekend h experienced his most dramatic step change since he first became involved in competitions. Tyler trains at the Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre where he has access to a full court provided by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. Tyler is coached by his mum Emma who recently completed her level 1 UKCC boccia award.
Thanks to support from Scottish Disability Sport, Tyler was able recently to experience and enjoy two master class sessions led by one of the world’s leading BC4 boccia players, Stephen McGuire from the West of Scotland. Coach and athlete learned an enormous amount from these sessions and Stephen now takes more than a passing interest in Tyler’s progress in the sport.
When Tyler realised he was playing his first match at the Scottish Championships against Stephen, he was really nervous. Stephen later told Emma that he was a little nervous also which is so typical of this great athlete role model. One day he will become as successful a coach as he is a player. Despite all his many successes in international and Paralympic boccia, Stephen remains a very modest and committed player. So many Scots have been influenced by Stephen over the years.
Imagine the scenario. Novice and master take to the court with lots of spectators showing interest. A new experience for Tyler, par for the course for Stephen. Tyler had ownership of the red balls so first end was his throw and he kept the balls tight making Stephen work to score. First end to Stephen and 1 point.
Second end Stephen threw first and again Tyler played consistently well keeping the balls so close that Stephen only managed 1 point once again.
At the the 3rd end Tyler threw long which tactically was the correct strategy. The tactic paid off because Tyler picked up 1 point and took the end away from Stephen. What a mature performance from the young Fife player. He was playing better than ever.
In the 4th and final end Stephen knew he had to pull something out something special and he did. The master tactician played really short but Tyler again kept the balls close to the jack. Stephen however played a superb drive moving the jack up the court for a five point score and an overall 7 – 1 win. Excellent play and a superb performance by Tyler against the past world champion.
Apart from the two points won by his Fife team mate Kieran Steer, Tyler was the only player to take points from Stephen at the championships. This demonstrates exceptional progress by Team McLelland.
Tyler continued his success at the 2019 Championships in the BC4 class by winning two games comfortably and this set him up for a bronze medal play off against Ross Munro. Tyler won two ends against Ross but just failed to win enough shots for a win. Tyler undoubtedly offered Ross a strong challenge.
On the results recorded by Fife players at the 2019 SDS National Boccia Championships we now have two players in the top four in the BC4 class where Scotland has always enjoyed international success. DSF is proud of the progress made by Tyler and Kieran and would wish to acknowledge the role played by partners who have contributed to this success.
Now that we have strong BC4 players in boccia we are on the look out to identify players in the BC1, BC2 and BC3 classes. BC3 players require a ramp to deliver a boccia ball and BC1 and BC2 players have cerebral palsy and require a manual or power wheelchair for sports. Is that you or do you know somebody? Please get in touch with the DSF office. As well as our performance players we have recreational boccia groups in Glenrothes and Dunfermline.
Photo: Tyler and Mum and Dad, Emma and Mark
Richard Brickley MBE – Chairman DSF (SCIO) Board of Charity Trustees