Here Jacky tells us about how her involvement in boccia has evolved over time and about all the different boccia hats she now wears! Scroll to the bottom of the page to see Jacky talking about her experiences on video.

I attended an event in June 2015, run by Medway Park Leisure Centre to promote disability sport in Medway. Whilst there I had a go at boccia with Prince Arthur Indoor Bowls Club who were running a boccia club at their location and were looking for more people to join.

I went along a couple of weeks later and thoroughly enjoyed myself! Five of us decided to form a team - Prince Arthur Boccia Knights. We entered our first competition, the Kent Friendly, in October 2015. I think we came last, but it was fun to take part.

The following year we entered the Kent League. We won and went through to the Nationals in Sheffield. We didn’t win but loved the experience.

I entered the Heathcoat Cup four years running. I never managed to win gold but managed to secure bronze and silver, which meant I went through to the Heathcoat Cup Finals each year.  

                

In 2019 I was fortunate to be selected for the Boccia England Cup. Two of my friends, Amy Lewington and Layla Parsons, had also been selected and we thoroughly enjoyed attending all three events. We were all fortunate to qualify for the final! We didn’t win but we had a great time as usual.

The following year we were again selected for the BE Cup. In January 2020 I won gold and if it hadn’t been for Covid I would have been in the finals.

I wasn’t able to take part in the online events during Covid as my puppy Jovita loves running after balls!

Without boccia I don’t think I would have travelled so much or had so many lovely friends which are now very much my “boccia family”.

In March 2016, I went to Liverpool to do my Level 1 Officials (referees) course because I wanted to give back and help at events in my free time. I have been fortunate to line at the UK Championship in Liverpool 2017, and referee at a couple of Challenger Cups run by Boccia UK. I have refereed at every opportunity I’ve had.

I enrolled onto the Level 2 in 2019, which of course was put on hold due to Covid.

I have been extremely fortunate this year to be awarded a Boccia England grant to do my Level 1 Coaching.

I’m involved in helping our new players get competition ready and finding fun ways for the experienced players to improve their game.

I have been lucky to be Amy Lewington’s sports assistant (we think I might be the first sports assistant in a wheelchair) - I attended the Back to Boccia Cup in Sheffield in September 2021, and I have just been to the England Futures Camp at Stoke Mandeville where I was helping Amy to play. On the second day I was drafted in as referee too! I have been invited to assist Amy’s coach fortnightly to obtain my coaching hours.

As I’m classified as a BC5 athlete, unfortunately it doesn’t look as if I will be able to represent my country as a player; so I will follow the refereeing pathway and coaching pathway instead.

  

In this video, created by Medway Sport, Jacky gives an overview of her story.