Kelso Gliders have been crowned 2017 Borders Boccia League Champions following a dramatic final day at the Queens Centre Galashiels.
Contested over five successive days, five teams, Eyemouth Pirates, Hawick Hawks, Peebles Bears, Gala Gladiators and new addition Kelso Gliders took part in this year’s tournament with each fixture comprising of six single matches, three pairs and two triples games.
The final round, on Friday, proved to be the pinnacle day, as Peebles Bears and Kelso Gliders were the only two teams to have won three matches and after a count back on games points for, the Tweedsiders were proclaimed eventual winners with the Bears taking the well-deserved runner-up spot.
Alan Oliver, Disability Development Officer, Live Borders, said: “The playing standard of this year’s league has improved dramatically and the majority of the matches went to the wire.
“To create a league structure for the Borders Boccia Club members is an honour and testament to how well the sport has developed throughout the region in the past four years.
“It is also a further testament to how well the league format works and the success and self-development it brings to all players.
This is the second season of the Borders Boccia League, which is made up of teams within the Borders Boccia Club. The organisation of the league is conducted by Oliver and support is provided by the club’s committee, Scottish Borders LAC Team and local volunteers.
Oliver added: “The league again demonstrates the need for a competitive element, as it provides players in the Borders with the opportunity to compete as a team in a competitive environment, but more importantly it brought all players from the club to socialise.
“It is our ambition for our players to progress up the Boccia pathway and have the opportunity to be selected for regional and National squads, but also to encourage players to attend competitions further afield.”
Quite possibly the only Boccia league in Scotland, over 48 players ascended to the Queens centre for every league fixture to play multiple games against each area.