Boccia UK is set to commence its 2025 competitive season at the Pajulathi Challenger in Finland, scheduled from 9th to 17th May. This marks the first international outing for the team since the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Seven British athletes will participate, aiming to build momentum for the upcoming European Championships in Zagreb this July.
Stephen McGuire returns to international play
Stephen McGuire MBE, fresh off his gold medal victory in Paris, will return to international competition in Finland.
Reflecting on his hiatus, Stephen stated, “I absolutely needed a break after Paris to clear my head and refocus… The European Championships in Zagreb is high on that list so Finland is a really good warm-up for that.”
He added: “I’ve always done well at Europeans and it’s one of the tournaments I really look forward to. The biggest motivation for me this year is to qualify as a Pair for the World Championships next year.”
Boccia UK stars set to shine again as newcomers and veterans return to action
David Smith OBE will also be back in action. He will be joined by Kayleigh Brown (formerly Kayleigh Haggo) and Reshad Saraj in the Team event following the individual competition.
For Reshad, it will be his first tournament as a member of Boccia UK’s World Class Programme.
Meanwhile, Kayleigh recently announced in an Instagram post that she and her husband and competition assistant, Kevin, are expecting a baby in November.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in Finland and the Europeans before I take a break from the boccia court to focus on family,” explained Kayleigh.
Finland will also see a return to court for BC3 player Sally Kidson. The Bristol University music student was Britain’s youngest boccia athlete at the Paralympics. Robyn McBride of Northern Ireland will also be vying to get through the knockout rounds of the BC3 class.
And after a period of injury last season, Fiona Muirhead will also be back in action in the BC4 class.
New leadership and strategic focus
This event will also serve as the first major tournament under the guidance of newly appointed Head Coach Rikki Bingham. Formerly with Archery GB, Rikki brings extensive experience coaching Paralympic athletes and is expected to make a strong impact in her new role.
Speaking about her appointment, Rikki said:
“There is so much potential with the Great Britain boccia squad and the vision of becoming the world’s leading boccia nation is absolutely achievable. To be a part of that journey – along with highly experienced coaches, talented athletes and exceptional practitioners – is very exciting.
“It’s not very often that coaches have the opportunity to change sports and that’s something that really attracted me to the role. Archery and boccia have many similarities in the way that athletes are required to remain calm and execute shots under pressure and tactical decision making is also paramount. But I’m looking forward to looking at the sport with fresh eyes and new ideas.”
Performance Director Greg Baker emphasised the strategic importance of the Finnish tournament. “It’s a good chance for us to see where everyone’s at, and it’s also excellent preparation toward the European Championships in July, which is our major event this season.”
The upcoming European Championships are particularly significant, as they also serve as a pathway to qualification for the World Championships in 2026.
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