Three students from NEW College, Pontefract are Boccia County Champions after taking part in The Lord’s Taverners Under 19s Team Competition at Huddersfield last month.
Boccia, played in the Paralympics, is a similar sport to bowls in which teams aim to get their balls as close to the jack as possible. The team with the most points after a number of rounds wins the game.
This was the first ever team NEW College had entered in a Boccia competition, and the team, containing students Sophie Weaver, Aaron Hirst and Jacob Bramley Shaw, are all members of the Wakefield Able 2 Club.
The team won their semi-final and final against two teams from local rivals The Kings High School, Pontefract, making NEW College County Champions. Fifteen teams took part in the competition, and winning means they can compete in the next stage, as they strive to be National Champions in the New Year.
Team captain, Sophie Weaver said: “It was a fantastic day and the team spirit was amazing. We worked really well as a team. Everyone played to the best of their ability and gave 100 % concentration to every ball thrown. It was amazing to win the county title as NEW College. I’m really overjoyed with the result and can’t wait for the next round.”
NEW College Sports Teacher, Andy Green said: “I was delighted with the performance of the team and hope it will be the start of a series of successes.”
