Slick displays at Greenlight Boccia Championships

The Greenlight Boccia Chamionships, hosted by Cross & Passion College and facilitated by Moyle District Council Sports Department turned out to be a resounding success.

The outright winners were the “Slick Chicks” from the Base in Ballycastle awarded with Gold Medals and St Patricks and St Brigids won the Schools Cup and Silver Medal position. Bronze medals went to the Integrated Primary School and runners were the “The Quiet Men” from Greenlight Gateway.

The competition had seventeen teams taking part and enabled athletes of all abilities to compete against each other. Awarded the much sought after and coveted London 2012 Inspire Mark – the badge of the Inspire Programme which recognises innovative and exceptional projects and events. The Inspire Programme aims to use the Olympic Games as a catalyst to inspire change at individual, community, regional and national level. Moyle is proud to be part of this legacy and are happy to introduce the sport of Boccia to its schools and communities.

Not only has the competition raised awareness of Boccia it also raised awareness of disability sport generally and of the 2012 Paralympic Games. A training program took place in all thirteen Primary Schools in the Moyle District Council area where the children got the chance to learn the game of Boccia and then compete against the best in Ulster - athletes from Greenlight Gateway and The Base.

The nature of Boccia enables joint participation and we hope that the social aspect of the event has encouraged a greater understanding of disability and will go some way to counteract commonly-held negative attitudes and misconceptions.

MORE PICTURES IN THIS WEEKS TIMES.