Boccia: Title bid drains wallet

Northland Boccia president Scott Burdett has had to dip into his own pockets to get Northland to the Boccia Nationals in Christchurch this month. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Northland Boccia are no strangers to cashing in their silky skills for medals at nationals.

However, the jingling of precious metals in his pocket prior to the 2015 New Zealand National Boccia Championships has Northland Boccia president and player Scott Burdett casting a weary grin.

Digging deep into his personal finances to get himself and fellow Northland representative Andrew Phillips to this year's event in Christchurch, Burdett said this year has been "difficult" on the funding front.

"It just seems to be this year we're on the bad side of things," Burdett said.

"It's been quite hard this year but apparently everybody else has been putting in for funding applications as well.

"We tried pretty much everywhere that we know ... we've got our usual sources we've tried but everybody's come back this year and said 'no, not this year unfortunately'."

A cross between bowls and petanque, Boccia is played in a wheelchair and ideal for people with disabilities.

But because of the extra hands needed for Burdett and Phillips to make an appearance at nationals, the funding more than doubles by the time carers, ramp assistants and family support come into the equation.

"It's a real bummer I tell ya," Burdett said. "We used to be able to take at least four players, if not more. But it's dwindled over the last few years which is really hard.

"Because of Andrew's disability he needs a ramp assistant, who is his coach, [and] his mum's going down, and a carer."

Adding that he had to take out a $2500 loan from his bank to help fund the trip south, Burdett said he could not recall having to resort to such desperate measures in the past.

"Not for a big trip like this. It's the first nationals that I've actually had to dip into my own pocket."

Noting a few future prospects are rising through the ranks on the Northland scene, numbers could well increase in the next few years according to Burdett.

However, he admits a pro-active build up and approach to fundraising is needed if more Northland representatives are to be taking part at the 2016 edition of the Boccia nationals.

"We've already got a funding calendar up and running, with what we can apply for and who we can apply to, which should be done by the end of the month. That's going to make things a bit easier.

"It's just trying to get the players back to the club and building it up from the grassroots again," he added.

"This year we've been going into different places to recruit new players. We've had a little bit of luck. It's fantastic to see how much talent is actually out there ... getting them to club is the main thing - if we can do that, the sky's the limit."