Media release
9 June 2014
Regional titles on offer
Talented boccia players from all over the Upper North Island are currently honing their skills in preparation for the
second major boccia tournament of 2014.
Hosted by Boccia New Zealand, with support from Parafed Waikato, the Upper North Island Boccia Championships are due to
be held at Fraser High School in Hamilton on June 28-29.
Currently ranked number 1 in New Zealand, Hamilton’s Maurice Toon looks to retain his number one ranking in the BC2
grade after claiming the national title in 2013.
“Boccia is a highly skilled and strategic Paralympic sport that tests each competitor’s degree of muscle control and
accuracy and can be played almost anywhere,” Boccia New Zealand Director Luke Morriss says.
Seated, athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel six leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball, the
jack.
Other highly ranked players to feature at this years’ Championships include Palmerston North’s Greig ‘the surgeon’
Jackson, Auckland’s Khi Chung Chen and Wellington’s Matthew Henderson who all medalled at the Lower North Island
Championships in April, as well as a bunch of other rising players who look to push for higher honours this year.
“For some players our regional Championships are a great sporting and social opportunity and serve as their first step
into competitive boccia, whilst others such as Maurice use these events as a chance to track their progress towards
success at our bigger tournaments later in the year“, said Morriss.
For a sport that relies heavily on volunteers, Morriss says “the tournament is also highly beneficial for family
members, friends, significant others and volunteers who are interested in becoming mentors / coaches or referees”.
Contact Boccia New Zealand or visit www.boccia.org.nz for further information.
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