Boccia: Team returns from champs with gold

Whangarei's Bill Henry had a standout debut at the Boccia New Zealand National Championships. Photo / John Stone

Whangarei's Bill Henry may have been making his debut at a Boccia New Zealand National Championships, but that didn't stop him from making his mark.

The newbie finished the event in Wellington as runner-up in the Kiwi/Open class, returning to Northland with the winner's trophy after an Australian beat him in the final - who was unable to claim the mantle of New Zealand's best.

While Henry was the surprise package, everyone in the four-strong Northland team returned with a medal of some sort from the event earlier this month.

Henry combined with teammates Scott Burdett and Alex Dickson to win gold in the Kiwi/Open class teams' section. Meanwhile, Kawakawa's Andrew Phillips won bronze in the BC3 pairs' category, combining with Terry O'Hagan from Wairarapa.

Northland co-coach Burdett said Henry's achievement was one to be proud of, saying he actioned skills and techniques from training throughout the nationals.

"It was fantastic to see him finish second, he only started this year and to see him come along this far, we're all proud of him.

"He was pretty consistent all the way through, he was extremely focused and did everything he was taught."

Burdett himself was the defending champion in the Kiwi/Open class, and was going for a five-peat of wins, so it is fair to say Henry has had good support since picking up the sport.

The co-coach explained his efforts for a five-peat were derailed by a 14-year-old from Canterbury, with the youngster forcing Burdett to play a long game, as he was knocked out in the quarter-finals.

Joining Burdett on the sidelines after the quarter-finals was Dickson, although the pair were satisfied to have won gold in the teams' section earlier in the competition.

Burdett said: "I guess I was a bit bummed I didn't make it through to the final, but coming away with something is better than nothing."

"Alex was knocked out in quarters also. He played really well, the guy he played in the quarter-final went on to win but said, when he played Alex, it was his toughest game of the competition."

Burdett paid tribute to the Northland support crew who made the trip to Wellington with them, saying they couldn't have competed without them.

As a sport, boccia is best described as a mix of lawn bowls and petanque and is a sport that allows participants to compete equally regardless of age, gender or level of physical function. It offers an opportunity for individuals with disabilities like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, motor neurone disease or spina bifida to play on equal terms.

The object of the game is to propel as many of your coloured balls as close as possible to the white target ball - the jack.

Players with enough function throw or kick the ball whilst others with less function use a ramp and pointer to guide the ball into court.