Boccia Championship Results 2025

22nd January 2025

Merton SSP hosted our annual primary school inclusive borough boccia championships on Tuesday 21st January 2025 at Canons Leisure, Mitcham. Thanks to Ashleigh and all the team at GLL Mitcham for hosting us all.

 

Thank you to the following 16 schools for enabling your pupils to take part with over 100 players making up an incredible 27 teams on the day;

Joseph Hood, Melrose, St Mary’s, Bond, Wimbledon Chase 2, Wimbledon Park 2, Hillcross 2, Pelham 2, Poplar 3, Malmesbury 3, Merton Abbey 3, Morden, Lonesome, William Morris, Sacred Heart, Liberty 2

Teams were divided in to 6 groups of 4 or 5 per group across the 6 courts to play their group matches. Each match consisted of 2 ‘ends’ where the score per each end is added together to give the final score.

After the group stages, the top 2 per group plus the 4 best placed 3rd placed teams progressed to the last 16. The remaining teams were placed into 2 smaller groups for an afternoon of furher matches.

Congratulations to our REFSPECT winners Poplar Primary School and well done to our Championship Gold medalists Pelham and to Hillcross with Silver and Malmesbury with Bronze.

Thanks too to the 8 sports leaders from Malmesbury for officiating the matches with great focus and enthusiasm across the whole day, you are all a credit to your school and hope you keep a keen interest in sports leadership going into high school.

We hope all players had a positive experience and welcome any feedback to help improve our inclusive offer for the future.

N.Osborne@harrismorden.org.uk

For more information on the sport of Boccia please see below and via Boccia UK site: https://boccia.uk.com/

History

Boccia has roots in ancient Greece and Egypt and is thought to be one of the first games played by mankind. It is thought that during these times, large stones would have been used. The sport was originally designed for people with Cerebral Palsy but is now played by people with a wide range of disabilities. Nowadays over 50 countries play Boccia, making it the fastest growing disability sport in the world and in 1984 Boccia was introduced into the Paralympics. At recreational level Boccia is also played by people with a range of physical, sensory and learning disabilities.

How Boccia is played

From a seated position, players propel balls to land as close as possible to a white marker ball, known as the Jack. Two sides compete as individuals, pairs or as a team of three over a set number of ends (4 for individuals and pairs, and 6 for teams).

Each side plays six balls (red or blue) each end. After each end, the athlete, pair or team with the ball closest to the jack receives 1 point plus an additional point for each ball closer to the jack than their opponent’s. Points are accumulated over the course of a match to find a winner. Although simple to get started, the tactics of the sport offer both tension and excitement as the game plays out. Balls can be rolled down a ramp, thrown or kicked

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