Tag: boccia

A photo of Gordon Reid playing Wheelchair Tennis at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, he is wearing his ParalympicsGB kit

Hall of Fame inductees 2026

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), is delighted to announce that Gordon Reid OBE, Samantha Kinghorn OBE, and Stephen McGuire MBE have been inducted into the SDS Hall of Fame.

On Saturday 19th September, SDS’s Branch Conference, Annual General Meeting and Awards took place. The day provided SDS, its member branches, partners and stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on a year of Para Sport, whilst also celebrating some of Scotland’s greatest Para Athletes, who were being inducted into SDS’s Hall of Fame.

 

The Hall of Fame aims to celebrate the sporting careers and achievements of some of Scotland’s most iconic sports men and women with disabilities. Serving as a lasting tribute to the great Scottish champions, it reflects the sporting journeys of those who have contributed to the development and reputation of disability sport within Scotland, the UK and around the world.

 

Hall of Fame inductees 2026:

 

Hailing from Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire, Gordon Reid OBE is being inducted into the SDS Hall of Fame, after an incredible career in wheelchair tennis. Gordon has produced some of his most memorable performances when pressure was at its highest, securing his status as a Paralympic champion, Grand Slam winner and world number one in both singles and doubles.

A keen athlete as a child, Gordon contracted transverse myelitis at the age of twelve, a rare neurological condition which left him paralysed from the waist down. Determined to continue in sport, he was introduced to wheelchair tennis in 2005 and quickly rediscovered the game he loved.

Gordon made his Paralympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games aged only 16-years-old, going on to reach the quarter-finals in both singles and doubles at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Gordon’s 2016 season was career defining, winning his first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, followed by the inaugural men’s wheelchair singles title at Wimbledon, where he also won the doubles title. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Paralympic Games he became ParalympicsGB’s first men’s wheelchair tennis singles gold medallist, adding silver with long time doubles partner Alfie Hewett in the men’s doubles competition.

At the delayed 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympic Games, Gordon added bronze in the men’s singles and silver in the men’s doubles with Alfie Hewett. Three years later, at the Paris 2024 Games, the duo won men’s doubles gold, giving Gordon a second Paralympic gold medal, confirming his place among the most decorated wheelchair tennis players of his era.

Awarded an MBE in 2017 and an OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to wheelchair tennis, Gordon Reid OBE remains an outstanding ambassador for Scottish Disability Sport, British tennis and the Paralympic movement.

Born in the Scottish Borders, Samantha Kinghorn OBE has become a Paralympic Champion, World Champion and Commonwealth Games medallist whose achievements have placed her among the leading wheelchair racers of her generation.

As a teenager Samantha’s life changed dramatically, following an accident on her family farm. During her rehabilitation she was introduced to wheelchair sport, and quickly discovered the speed, freedom and challenge of wheelchair racing.

In 2014 Samantha won three gold medals for Great Britain at the IPC European Championships in Swansea, taking the T53 titles over 100 metres, 400 metres and 800 metres. The same year she represented Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, announcing herself as a major Scottish talent.

Making her Paralympic debut at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games in 2016, she gained valuable experience. She produced a breakthrough performance the following year at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London, winning gold in both the T53 100 metres and 200 metres and adding bronze in the 400 metres.

At the delayed Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games, Samantha won her first Paralympic medals, taking bronze in the T53 100 metres and silver in the T53 400 metres. At the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, she returned to the top of the podium, winning T53 100 metres gold, adding silver medals in the 400 metres and 800 metres.

Paris 2024 became the defining Games of Samantha’s career, winning gold in the T53 100 metres and four silver medals in the T53 400 metres, T53 800 metres, T54 1,500 metres and 4×100 metres Universal Relay.

Her achievements across Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth competitions make her one of Scotland’s most decorated Para athletes.

Stephen McGuire MBE is one of Britain’s leading boccia athletes. From Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Stephen has built an outstanding international career.

Born with muscular dystrophy, Stephen found in boccia a sport that matched his competitive drive and strategic mind.

Stephen’s early international success came alongside his brother Peter in the BC4 pairs event. The brothers won European gold in 2009 and World Championship silver in 2010, going on to make their Paralympic debut at London 2012.

Over the next decade Stephen became the benchmark British BC4 athlete, competing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympic Games, becoming individual BC4 World Champion at the 2016 World Championships in Beijing.

Stephen’s journey to the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games showed his resilience, suffering a serious injury in 2022, breaking his knee and femur, requiring major surgery. Returning to international competitions winning BC4 Individual bronze, and BC4 Pairs silver with Fiona Muirhead at the 2023 European Para Championships.

Being selected late for Paris 2024 after earning a bipartite slot, Stephen seized his opportunity at his fourth Paralympic Games, defeating Colombia’s Edilson Chica Chica 8–5 in the men’s individual BC4 final to win his first Paralympic medal and become Paralympic champion.

Stephen went on to win double gold at the 2025 European Championships, taking the individual title and the BC4 pairs title with Sophie Newnham, before securing the BC4 Pairs title at the 2026 World Championships in Seoul, with Sophie.

Awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours, Stephen McGuire MBE is a more than worthy inductee into SDS’s Hall of Fame.

A photo of Patrick Wilson competing in a game of boccia. He is wearing his ParalympicsGB kit

Scottish boccia players competing at the World Championships

Taking on the best.

Scottish boccia players are getting ready to set off in preparation for the World Boccia Championships 2026.

The selected athletes have an exciting opportunity as they prepare themselves for the World Boccia Championships, which are being held next week.

Being held in Seoul, South Korea, the selected athletes have an incredible opportunity to take on the world’s top players, as they all do battle on the boccia courts, in the hope of being revered throughout the boccia community as the World Champion.

The historic KSPO Dome, in Olympic Park will host the World Championships from Monday 24th to Friday 4th September.

The squad that has been selected to represent Boccia UK has a new feel to it, as it combines emerging talent with some experienced faces from the British boccia scene. However, the Scottish representatives provide a wealth of experience to the group having competed at an astonishing combined seven Paralympics.

None will be more experienced than Paralympic champion Stephen McGuire, who is making his sixth start at a World Boccia Championships, at the event, Stephen will be looking to maintain his status as the BC4 Individual and Pairs world number one. Stephen who won the World Boccia Championships in 2016, will be partnering up with England’s Sophie Newnham, where they will be going back to the KSPO Dome, the site where they won BC4 Pairs gold last year at the World Boccia Challenger, in Seoul.

Kayleigh Brown will be hoping to continue her strong play from throughout 2026, which has seen her win two silvers at the World Boccia Challenger, Pajulathi. So far 2026 has been a whirlwind year for the Ayrshire based athlete, as she not only has to get herself ready to regularly compete at an international level, but also has to tend to her newborn son, Klay. Kayleigh will be competing in the Individual competition, along with joining forces with David Smith of Wales, and England’s Rashad Saraj in the BC1/2 Team competition.

Patrick Wilson has had an amazing return to form, as the two-time Paralympian found himself on the podium at the 2026 Boccia World Cup, in Povoa, winning bronze. Renowned as one of Edinburgh’s finest athletes, Patrick will be competing in the Individual competition, whilst joining up with England’s Sally Kidson in the Pairs.

Scottish boccia players selected to represent Boccia UK at the upcoming World Boccia Championships are:

  • BC2 – Kayleigh Brown
  • BC3 – Patrick Wilson & Merideth Greenwood (ramp operator)
  • BC4 – Stephen McGuire

 

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

A group of people standing and in wheelchairs all smiling and cheering together. Some have medals around their necks. They all belong to the West Dunbartonshire Boccia Club.

Spotlight On West Dunbartonshire’s Boccia Club

By William Moncrieff, SDS Communications Officer 

 

In the west of Scotland, one boccia club is showcasing the power of sport, and the impact it can have on participants’ mental health. West Dunbartonshire Boccia Club are using boccia as a tool to bring individuals together in a social, fun and inclusive setting which provides many benefits.  

Throughout the club’s work, participants are being impacted by sport in many ways. One of the things that the boccia club prides themselves on is the fun environment that they create for all participants and coaches. Alistair, aged 27, is one of the clubs abled bodied members and has noticed the mental and emotional impact that the club has on participants. He said: “The club is an incredibly friendly environment and provides participants plenty of opportunities to take part. I enjoy how happy everyone is throughout the game.” 

Jackie, aged 73, is another club member. He grew up with cerebral palsy and recently had a heart attack. Getting involved in the club and being active has had a positive impact on Jackie. He shared: “My mental health took a massive dip when I had my heart attack and by continuing with boccia it has allowed me to keep the friendships I have developed. The club is so warm and inviting and full of fun. It makes you forget the negative thoughts.” 

Andrew, aged 38, has a learning disability and has found himself to have been positively impacted by boccia, always looking forward to the sessions. He said, “I am very happy playing boccia. 10 out of 10 from me.”  

Andrew’s mum, Elaine, has taken a huge amount of enjoyment from watching Andrew participate in and grow through boccia. She commented: “As Andrew’s mum I can see how happy he is at boccia. It is not only playing that he enjoys but the meeting of new people. Boccia is a safe and stimulating environment. It’s fun and helps focus your mind.” 

Alistair originally joined the club so that he could spend more time with Andrew, his brother. Since joining the club, Alistair has been able to experience first-hand the positive impact the club and sport can have, along with being able to see the impact it has on those closest to him. “I love taking part in boccia with my brother, I love to see how happy he is playing,” Alistair said. 

Playing boccia has man benefits, including physical. This is something that Jackie has found to be important to him. “My biggest change is confidence in my fitness. Boccia helps with any level of fitness, and it makes such a difference,” he said. 

To ensure that all members have plenty of opportunities to spend time together and socialise, they have a break halfway through the session. This social time is something that Andrew really enjoys, commenting: “I love having my coffee and sometimes cake. I can chat to my friends and find out what is going on in the community.” 

Starting at the club as a participant and experiencing the impact it can have, Alistair has decided to become a volunteer at West Dumbartonshire Boccia Club. One of his favorite elements of volunteering is the feeling of serving the community around him. He said, “It gives me joy knowing that I am giving something back to my community.” 

Perhaps the most impactful element of boccia which makes it so special is its inclusivity.  

“Boccia is the most inclusive group I have come across. You can alter the play to fit any individual,” Jackie said. 

 

To get involved in boccia, please contact SDS’s Boccia Development Officer: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com

To keep up to date on all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

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Alex Medley about to throw a boccia ball overarm.

National Boccia Squad Confirmed

With Returning Talent and New Additions 

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the recognised governing body for the sport of Boccia in Scotland and is tasked with developing players capable of domestic and international success. SDS is also responsible for progressing the best Scottish talent to a UK Boccia World Class Programme where players represent Great Britain at European, World and Paralympic level.  In order to achieve this, a competitive national squad is a vital element.  

After the selection process, 8 players have been re-selected onto the squad after a successful 2025 season. They are being joined by two new players, Layla McCloskey (East Renfrewshire) and Rachael Page (Fife), who have impressed in the 2025 year with their recent results and long-term potential.  SDS is also delighted to have coaches Claire Morrison, Jenny Nethery and Peter McGuire coaching the national squad.  

Please see the squad selection below – 

 

 

Players 
 
Name  Classification  Local Authority  SDS Branch 
Alex Medley  BC1  Perth and Kinross  Perth and Kinross Disability Sport 
Kayleigh Brown  BC2  South Ayrshire  Ayrshire Sportsability 
Layla McCloskey  BC2  East Renfrewshire  Disability Sport Glasgow 
Rachael Page  BC2  Fife  Disability Sport Fife 
Patrick Wilson  BC3  City of Edinburgh  Lothian Disability Sport 
Fiona Muirhead  BC4  South Lanarkshire  South Lanarkshire Disability Sport 
Paul McIntyre  BC4  Stirling  Forth Valley Disability Sport 
Scott McIntyre  BC4  Stirling  Forth Valley Disability Sport 
Stephen McGuire (MBE)  BC4  South Lanarkshire  South Lanarkshire Disability Sport 
Tyler McLelland  BC4  Fife  Disability Sport Fife 
Meredith Greenwood  Ramp Operator (Patrick Wilson)  City of London   
 
 

Coaches 
 
Name  Local Authority 
Claire Morrison  Fife 
Jenny Nethery   Renfrewshire 
Peter McGuire  South Lanarkshire 

 

 

If you would like to find it any more information, please contact SDS’s Performance Development Lead and Boccia Development Officer, Jonathan Kennedy on email: Jonathan.Kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport, or call: 0131 317 1130

 

Latest News can be found here: Latest News Latest News. 

 

Jim Anderson celebrates on the podium at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. He has a wearing Laurel wreath on his head, his gold medal around his neck and his arms are out to the side in triumph. He is holding a bouquet in his right hand. He is sitting in his wheelchair and a woman claps in the background.

The Power of Sport: Jim Anderson’s Story

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer 

Since taking up sport in the 1970’s, Jim Anderson OBE has made himself a household name throughout the Scottish sporting landscape. Jim’s incredible career saw him compete in swimming at a staggering six Paralympic Games, where he had great success, earning him the affectionate nickname of ‘Jim the Swim’. 

Jim’s swimming career spanned two decades, where he competed against some of the best in the business, filling up an impressive trophy cabinet in the process. Now at the age of 63, Jim hasn’t loss his competitive edge, often taking to the boccia court to show his athletic ability. 

Initially trying sport 50 years ago, it would have been impossible to forecast the lifelong impact that Jim would have on Scottish sport. However, like many athletes Jim didn’t take up sport to be in the spotlight, it was something a lot simpler. 

Growing up with cerebral palsy, sport provided an opportunity of independence and inclusion. He said: “I really enjoyed it, just because I was able to do something.” 

In his twenties, Jim set his goals and ambitions firmly on becoming a Paralympian and at the Barcelona 1992 Summer Paralympic Games, his dreams were answered. Jim wasn’t willing to stop there though, going on to compete in the next five Paralympics, to retire after the London 2012 iteration. 

Throughout his Paralympic career, Jim found himself on the podium a total of 17 times, winning six golds, nine silvers and two bronze medals which all added to his legacy as one of Great Britain’s most prolific swimmers. 

 Undeniably though, Jim’s highlight came at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, when competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle S2 and 50m Backstroke S2. He commented: “I am most proud of my four gold medals in Athens, it was great.” 

Arial shot of Jim doing the backstroke during competition at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

Another element of his Paralympic career that Jim looks back on with an immense amount of pride, was managing to perform at the highest level, in  front of those closest to him: his mum and dad – John and Brenda – and brother, Stuart. “To see me on the podium was wonderful for my family,” he said. 

Although Jim no longer finds himself competing in swimming, he has made sure to still stay involved in the sport, saying, “I retired after London 2012, but I am still involved with the Scottish Disabled Swimming Team.”  

Working once a month with some of Scotland’s emerging talent, has been providing Jim with a deep sense of enjoyment as it takes him back to what it first meant to him to be included in sport. One of his favorite elements, is playing a role in developing the next generation of Scottish athletes, saying: “I like helping the new swimmers coming up, it is great.” 

Along with being a keen volunteer in swimming, Jim has been working hard to provide individuals in the east of Scotland with an opportunity to take part in boccia. Helping to found a drop-in session in Broxburn, Jim has opened the door for many individuals to try boccia in a fun, friendly, inclusive and accessible setting. A main reason for starting the club, was because of the incredibly inclusive nature of boccia. Jim wanted to provide as many people as possible with an opportunity to enjoy the sport: “Boccia is great, because anyone can play it,” he said. 

Furthermore, boccia provides Jim with opportunities to get out and compete in sport. He said: “I like that I still get to compete.” 

Jim throws a boccia ball during a game at the Scottish Championships. It is a side-on photo showing Jim in his wheelchair - which has a yellow frame -  wearing a blue fleece with a bright red bag around his shoulder that sits on his lap. He has white hair and wears glasses. 

 

Having received countless accolades and winning a total of 57 medals across the Paralympic Games, World and European Championships, Jim is a great role model in sport – showcases what is possible if you have a disability.  

Being a role model is something that Jim is extremely proud of, for it: “makes people realise that they can do it, and that nothing is a barrier,” Jim said. 

To find out all about the sport and physical activities in sport within your local area and community, reach out to your Regional Development Manager.  

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Fiona Muirhead with her award from the Boccia Challenger 2026

Scottish Athletes Shine at DSNI Boccia Challenger in Antrim 

By Jonathan Kennedy

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is delighted to celebrate the outstanding performances of three national squad athletes who competed at the DSNI Boccia Challenger in Antrim, 6th – 8th the March 2026. All three players delivered impressive results and represented Scotland with distinction throughout the event. 

In the BC4 category, Fiona Muirhead produced a standout performance characterised by consistency, composure, and determination. With the event played in a round robin format, the competition came down to the final match, where Fiona faced Penny Froude of Boccia England in a decisive showdown for the top medals. After a tense and keenly contested match, Fiona secured a 3–2 victory, claiming the gold medal and marking a fantastic start to their 2026 campaign. 

In the BC1 category, Alex Medley competed in an exceptionally close and competitive field. Despite delivering high quality play throughout the round-robin stages, Alex narrowly missed a podium position, finishing in 4th place. 

Layla McCloskey was the third member representing SDS where she competed in the BC2 category. This was Layla’s first event competition as a member of the SDS National Boccia Squad. Building on strong momentum after finishing 2025 on a high at the UK Boccia Championships, Layla continued her impressive play by reaching the 5th/6th playoff matches in a highly competitive field. 

Squad group photo, consisting of (from left to right) Peter McGuire, Layla McCloskey, coach Claire Morrison, Fiona Muirhead, SDS boccia development officer Jonathan Kennedy, Alex Medley. They are all looking to the camera and smiling. Peter, Fiona and Alex are in their wheelchairs, Layla is sitting on her frame whilst hugging Claire. Claire and Jonathan are standing up.

 

The DSNI Boccia Challenger offered invaluable experience for all three Scottish athletes as they continue their progression within the national programme. Performances of this calibre help build important momentum as they embark on their 2026 season. A big thank you to Disability Sport NI for hosting the event.  

SDS is the national governing body for Boccia in Scotland and is dedicated to the growth and success of the sport at all levels. 

If you are interested to learn more about boccia and your local opportunities, please contact Jonathan Kennedy, the Boccia Development Officer, via email on Jonathan.Kennedy@Scottishdisabilitysport.com; or call on 07830158253.  

Podium photo of silver medallist Joe Driffield and his ramp assistant, at the 2026 National Schools Boccia Championships. They are both wearing their silver medals around their neck.

Medal Moments from the 2026 National Schools Boccia Championships 

On Thursday 26th March, 48 pupils from schools across the country attended the Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) National Schools Boccia Championships, which was supported by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors.  

The annual event attracted young people between P5 and S6 with a learning disability or physical disability, all vying for a spot on the podium, with participants travelling as far as Shetland.  

SDS’s Boccia Development Officer, Jonathan Kennedy remarked on the day: “It is fantastic to see so many participants coming to compete to be Schools Championships. With 48 participants here, it has made for a very busy and competitive event. There are players from all round Scotland, including Shetland, Borders, Ayrshire and Highlands which means players can meet others from all around the country and put their skills to the test against other regional champions.” 

The morning session was filled with pool games which decided who would advance to the knock-out games and medal matches after the lunch break. The morning session provided a lot of action, with just two ends deciding the winner of each game.  

Intensity rose in the afternoon session, with finals decided for the three medal categories: learning disability, physical disability and players with an assistive device (ramp).  

Kennedy Masamuna (Glasgow) faced off with Bilal Shakoor (Perth and Kinross) in the gold medal game for players with a learning disability. The pair were equally matched after the two ends and so a tiebreaker was needed to decide the medals, with Kennedy taking the win to top the podium.  

A tiebreaker also decided the results of the bronze medal game, with Julian Smolinski (Highland) taking the win over Glasgow’s Lucja Kostrzewska.  

Three young boys stand together at the podium with medals around their neck. Pop up Scottish Disability Sport banners are in the background.

In the physical disability category, Perth and Kinross’ Emma McManamon just missed out on gold, losing 2-1 to James O’Brien (South Lanarkshire), with Cole Harvey securing the bronze for Highland, with a 3-0 win over Hannah Crookes (Highland).  

A young girl (left) and two young boys are together at the podium with medals around their neck. Pop up Scottish Disability Sport banners are in the background. The girl and the boy in the middle are sitting in wheelchairs.

 

Gold belonged to Zac Cameron (Forth Valley) in the assistive device (ramps) category, after sealing a 2-0 win over Joe Driffield (Ayrshire). Ibrahim Ismail (Glasgow) and Hareth Al Jaffa (Glasgow) faced off in the bronze medal game. It was a convincing win for Ibrahim, who booked bronze with a lead of 4-0.  

Three young boys in wheelchairs are together at the podium with medals around their neck. The boy on the left and right, are accompanied by an adult man each, who were their ramp assistants. They also have medals around their necks. Pop up Scottish Disability Sport banners are in the background.

 

 

Jonathan Kennedy said: “The National Schools event is in its fourth year of being run and is set up to introduce young people to a national competition whilst also allowing for a learning opportunity. A lot of players in this hall today may play a little in school and had a regional qualifier before coming here. Whereas a few participants are regulars and already compete across Scotland in the regional events. So, having an event like this where newer players can come and develop their skills whilst also meeting others who are already competing, is a great opportunity to develop new players to the regional events across Scotland to start developing our players of the future.” 

 

The SDS National Schools Boccia Championships is one of many SDS boccia events supported by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors. Their support plays a significant role in supporting the development of boccia across Scotland.   

Ian Fergusson, Senior Partner at Shepherd Chartered Surveyor, said: “Events like the SDS National Schools Boccia Championships are vital in giving young people the chance to compete, connect and show what they can achieve in an inclusive and supportive environment.” 

Shepherd Chartered Surveyor will also be supporting the second instalment of the Family Boccia Day in Moray (May), following the great success of the inagural event held earlier this year (Central).  

Full results from the National Schools Boccia Championships are available here: National School results 2026.xlsx  and the full photo gallery is available below. 

If you would like to find out about opportunities to take part in boccia, please contact SDS’s boccia Development Officer by email (jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com) or phone (0131 317 1130).  

 

Two families playing boccia together. There are two young girls in wheelchairs using boccia ramps and two mums and one dad.

Boccia Brings Families Together During Bespoke Family Day

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) hosted its first ever Family in Boccia Day which proved to be a resounding success, on Saturday 21st February supported by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors.  

SDS’s Boccia Development Manager, Jonathan Kennedy, organised the event which aimed to create an opportunity for families to come together, try and play boccia in a non-competitive environment.  

Jonathan said, “It is great to see so many young people and their family attend this event. The Family Boccia Days are all about introducing new young people and their family to boccia and enjoying themselves. Letting them experience the sport and signpost them to their local club or session if they want to play more.” 

He continued to say: “Today, some of the deliverers are local coaches who have already linked in with the participants and their family about attending their local boccia session which is what this day is all about.” 

The Family in Boccia Day allowed for families in central Scotland who had a child under 18 years-old with a physical disability as their main disability, to learn about boccia, practice skills and play some fun games with other families.  

For many children with a disability that attend a mainstream school in Scotland, their access to physical education (P.E) is limited. This has so far been the experience for 6-year-old Amber, according to her mum Leanne, who attended the Family in Boccia Day. 

“We find it really hard to find activities for her to do that are suitable for her”, said Leanne, who further commented: “In school she gets taken out when her class are doing P.E, when they’re doing gymnastics or other stuff that she’s unable to do, so this upsets her a lot. So having sports that she is able to do is just great.”  

The event also provided Amber to socialise with other children with a disability: “Because she is in mainstream (school) it’s really good for her to be around other kids who are in a wheelchair, just like herself. It’s perfect, it’s ideal.” 

Amber was an enthusiastic participant throughout the day, with Leanne remarking that: “I think this will be really good for her confidence, to do a sport that she’s also really good at.” 

Boccia is a fantastic sport in bringing people together. It is the most inclusive sport that there is and this accessibility aspect did not go unnoticed.  

Thomas, father of Ethan, said: “I thought it (Family in Boccia Day) was brilliant because of the accessibility aspect and the ramps because Ethan doesn’t have a lot of mobility, so it’s good for kids of all disabilities. People with mobility issues are able to play so it’s great.” 

Ethan thoroughly enjoyed the day, commenting: “It was really fun and the social interaction was fun, we had a laugh. It was all good.” 

Furthermore, the day proved to provide a welcoming environment for all. Participant Michael was quite anxious ahead of the day but his mum, Mary, said the relaxed setting prevented Michael from feeling overwhelmed and supported him to take part.  

Mary said, “When he first walked in he (Michael) liked the atmosphere in the hall – the fact that he could wander about and he wasn’t ‘stuck’ somewhere before it started. Also, the games, they’re just so accessible. Sometimes when he plays things he can’t pick it up quickly and he finds that quite difficult and disheartening. Whereas today, he was able to do it and was scoring points.” 

The social aspect of the sport plays a huge part within the boccia community and contributes greatly to player satisfaction and emotional health and wellbeing. Thomas commented on this, saying: Thomas: “The social aspect is really, really good because every kid is having fun and the time just flies by.” 

The opportunity for families to connect was appreciated throughout the day.  

Amber’s mum said, “It’s good for them (Amber and her sister) to play this sport together because her sister goes to dance and gymnastics and so again, Amber gets upset that she can’t do that and so this is nice that they can do this together.”  

Ross, a young boy with cerebral palsy, was joined on the day by his mum and brother. His mum, Fiona, said: “He’s really enjoyed it. It’s something that the boys can do together and that’s great. There isn’t really a lot of things that they can do together and we three always come as a family.” 

Next month (May) is set to host the second Family in Boccia Day in Moray, targeting families based in the north of Scotland. If you would like to register for this event, you can do so via the link below. 

For more information about how to get involved in boccia in your local community, please contact: Jonathan.Kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com or call on: 0131 317 1130.  

An image of Rachael Page, wearing a red Disability Sport Fife top next to Claire Morrison, the Performance Coach from Boccia UK in a game hall. Both are smiling for the photograph.

Women and Girls in Boccia: Rachael Page’s Story

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer

Rachael Page started playing boccia around 10 years ago, through one of Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS’s) member branches, Disability Sport – Fife. She started playing boccia as a means to meet new people, play a new sport and experience the benefits that come with getting physically active. Rachael has cerebral palsy which affects all four of her limbs and so boccia provided the ideal opportunity for achieving the above.

It wasn’t long though until Rachael realised that she wanted to play boccia in a competitive environment: “I have wanted to play boccia competitively since I was a wee girl when I was still at high school. I absolutely love my boccia,” she said.

Alongside playing weekly in Glenrothes, Rachael also trains alongside the Tayside regional team. This has resulted in her being coached by some of the best available coaches, such as Darren and Sam Thompson.  Rachael remarked on how this has positively impacted her, “They’ve been brilliant, they really have. It’s good as it is showing me loads of things, for example how to throw the balls with different techniques.”

All of Rachael’s hard work and commitment to her craft, came to fruition in early 2026, as she won Senior Sportsperson of the Year at Disability Sport – Fife’s awards ceremony. She reflected on this achievement: “To have been selected for the national Boccia Squad, and to win this award, I’m just over the moon, it’s a great way to start the year.”

One of Rachael’s favorite elements of the game is the social aspect, allowing her to meet and socialise with new groups “I enjoy it and it’s a good way of socialising and making friends with new people,” Rachael said.

The impact of role models is something that Rachael has started to notice recently.

Rachael told SDS that: “My goals are to follow in the footsteps of Kayleigh Brown.”

She believes that Kayleigh is a fantastic ambassador for the sport. “I think Kayleigh is a great role model because she has a great personality and is a great player.”

In 2025, Rachael was successfully classified as a BC2 athlete. This along with her consistent levels of performance has resulted in her being selected to be part of the Scottish National Boccia Squad in 2026. This resulted in her attending a training camp that was hosted in Sportscotland’s National Centre Inverclyde. Rachael really enjoyed her experiences with the squad, and can already see it impacting her positively “It was an amazing experience, I learnt a lot in terms of my posture when throwing the ball.” Said Rachael. Alongwith the training camp providing Rachael with opportunities to develop on the court, Rachael enjoyed having an opportunity to meet other members of the squad, including her role model Kayleigh Brown “I got the chance to eventually meet Kayleigh, and we got the chance to play each other in our drills. She is amazing, and to see how she plays, obviously I have a long way to go, but it just shows where I could end up.” Rachel explained.

Along with having her own role models, Rachael feels strongly about the importance of female role models to inspire the next generation of women and girls, commenting: “I think it’s important to have more female role models in boccia because there aren’t many females that compete in boccia and I think that it would be great to see more females play competitively in boccia as well.”

Rachael has learnt first-hand how boccia can help people to overcome barriers “You can never say no to anyone from boccia. It’s amazing what people can do, it really is.”

Rachael has become extremely grateful for all of her experiences; from training weekly and regionally to taking part in events and making friends.

“A lot of these things are things I didn’t think I would do and I am really grateful for the opportunities that I have had.”

If you like the sound of some of the experiences that Rachael has had, and you would be interested in trying out boccia, contact SDS’s Boccia Development Officer on: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com to find out what opportunities there are to take part in the sport as a player, volunteer, coach or official.

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of Fiona Muirhead within a light purple frame. A text box is overlayed which says, Fiona Muirhead: My Boccia Journey. The photo of Fiona is of her sitting in her wheelchair, wearing a dark blue Scottish boccia top and looking over towards the camera.

Fiona Muirhead Inspiring the Next Generation of Boccia Players

By William Moncrieff, Communications Officer 

What a journey it has been for Fiona Muirhead in boccia, starting the sport as a hobby and now being a mainstay in both Scotland’s and Boccia UK’s boccia squads. 

The 43-year-old started playing the sport in 2018. Little did she know at the time that she would go on to pick up a handful of podium finishes on the international stage, on her way to becoming one of Scotland’s many brilliant female role models. 

Over the past eight years, Fiona has been showcasing her abilities in boccia and in the process, she has made herself a household name on the Scottish boccia circuit. This has resulted in Fiona becoming one of Scotland’s most visible female role models in sport.  

She said: “There aren’t many women, we are still very much a minority in the sport. We were at Scottish camp last weekend, and it was really nice for all of the new women to see myself and Kayleigh Brown, it’s nice to see the way that things could go.”  

Fiona is also very proud of her journey in the sport, coming into it later in life. This is a further reason why she thinks she is a good role model for aspiring athletes. 

“I think also, I came in quite late in life, I am the eldest in both squads, so it is nice to say to the other females that you can start later”, Fiona said.  

One of the most recent additions to the Scottish Boccia Squad is Rachael Page. Being able to look up and see Fiona competing has been hugely inspirational and helpful for Rachael 

“Fiona has been amazing, she is so kind. If there are things that we are not to sure of, we can go to people like her and get some help. Being part of the squad is great. They are all such a lovely bunch”, said Rachael.  

Before becoming one of Scotland’s brightest shining lights on the boccia circuit, Fiona started her boccia journey at the sessions in Hamilton. She reflected on this, saying: “Initially, playing was just a social thing. I had no ambitions; I didn’t really appreciate where it could go.”  

“It’s been very exciting. It’s been quite sudden. I started it as a hobby and then I progressed through the Scottish talent squad,” she said.  

Throughout her journey in school, Fiona was not always involved in sport and physical activity, due to her school not delivering inclusive physical education classes – an issue which still remains throughout schools in Scotland. 

This resulted in Fiona seeking opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity later in life, looking to gain many of the attached health benefits. 

Fiona commented on how it has benefited her, saying: “I have Muscular Dystrophy, so it not only helped to stabilise it but it has also helped me through allowing me to exercise.” 

As Fiona has developed in the sport, she has found herself further benefiting from increased physical activity. A further factor in this, is due to Fiona’s involvement in the UK’s World Class Programme, and the support that she has had access to.  

“I have been able to access physio and strength and conditioning, and it really has impacted how well I can be, compared to before when I wasn’t training,” Fiona commented. 

Fiona has been heavily impacted by the psychological and physiological benefits of boccia. Since her first international tournament in 2022, Fiona has found herself having many life changing experiences through competing. 

Fiona said: “I hadn’t done a lot of traveling without my family before, and I was now going to places I wouldn’t have expected. I went to Canada, Brazil, Croatia. It was really nice, and doing it with international athletes, it was really a dream come true.” 

A further reason why Fiona has been making herself a role model for any up-and-coming athletes, is due to the BC4 classified athlete’s success whilst competing on the international stage. In terms of podium finishes, 2023 was by far Fiona’s most successful year, winning BC4 Pairs at the Montreal World Cup, followed by a silver in the BC4 Pairs at the 2023 European Para Championships in Rotterdam. 

Fiona then went one better, taking gold at the Heraklion Challenger event in Crete. 

These podiums are something that Fiona looks back on with a huge amount of pride, saying, “A real highlight would be those podium finishes. Being on the podium and hearing the British national anthem alongside Stephen (McGuire).” 

 

If you are interested in trying out boccia, contact Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS) Boccia Development Officer on: jonathan.kennedy@scottishdisabilitysport.com 

To keep up to date with all things disability sport across Scotland, follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.