INDEPENDENT NEWS

Dunedin athlete claims regional title

Published: Mon 18 Aug 2014 03:43 PM
Dunedin athlete claims regional title
13 athletes from across the South Island descended on Christchurch looking for crucial ranking points to help their chances ahead of the National Championships later this year.
Despite sending a small team to battle for regional honours this year, the Dunedin Boccia club still managed to take home the spoils.
New Zealand’s longest serving player Henk Dijkstra was too strong for the rest of the competition in claiming the gold medal in the BC3 grade. Dijkstra was crowned the overall best player after beating Rangiora’s Jeremy Morriss, winner of the BC1, 2 and 4 combined grade in the final match 4-3.
“Henk has been around since the sport was first introduced here in the early 90’s and this experience certainly came through in the elimination rounds” said Boccia New Zealand Director Luke Morriss.
Other Dunedin players to compete at the Champs included Karen Menzies, Rosslyn Crutchley and Gordon Dunn. Unfortunately Ken McIntosh was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The talented athletes from Dunedin are currently fundraising for another trip away and hope to enter the New Zealand National Championships in Wellington in October as they will get the opportunity take on players from all over the country as well as Australia.
Boccia is a sport designed for individuals with physical impairments and is best described as an indoor version of petanque with soft leather balls. The aim of the game is to get as many of your coloured balls as close as possible to the jack while preventing the opposition from doing the same.
To get involved with the Dunedin-based club or to find out more information visit www.boccia.org.nz
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