Tag: world championships

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

 

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Photo that says Silver for Scotland at World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2025. It is white text on a light and dark purple background

World Silver Medal and Paralympic Spot Secured

Scotland sealed a silver medal on home ice at the weekend (16th March), finishing second behind Japan in the Mixed Doubles Competition at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships.  

The silver medal for Charlotte McKenna (Central) and Hugh Nibloe (Dumfries and Galloway) has also guaranteed the pair a spot in ParalympicsGB squad for the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Milano-Cortina 2026.  

Following the silver medal win, Charlotte said: “It feels great. It’s amazing to get a silver medal. A bit disappointed obviously and it hurts now to not get the gold.” 

“I think we can be proud of what we did,” concluded Charlotte.  

Qualifying for the Paralympics was, “the absolute goal,” said Hugh.  

The Championships took place at Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in Stevenston, Scotland. Charlotte and Hugh battled for gold against Japan’s Nakajima Yoj and Ogawa Aki. 

The Japanese duo took the lead following the first end (0-1) but Charlotte played a perfect take-out to put Scotland in front, 2-1, heading into the third end.  

Japan wasn’t rattled though and led the break, 5-2. Their momentum continued which forced Scotland to concede the game, with the finish score being 11-2.  

More information can be found on the British Curling website here.