Play boccia Talent Pathway England Performance Group (EPG) Lee Maddison BC3 About me: I very competitive and I feel this is a good trait to have while playing boccia. However, I am humble in victory or defeat. I volunteer at the Percy Hedley Foundation once a week working in the sports academy with individuals with learning and physical disabilities, where I deliver sports sessions and contribute to the essential paperwork. Hobbies: I enjoy following football and darts. I also participate in pub quizzes with my family and friends. Interests: I enjoy socialising with my friends and family. Boccia is a very big part of my life but when I'm not training, competing, or coaching I like to see my niece and nephew. Career highlights: National championships 2000; Holland Pairs Open 2007; Vienna Pairs Gold 2008-2009 Tatra Cup individual Bronze 2018; Scottish Open Pairs International Bronze 2017; BE Cup medals 2011 to present; BE cup finals 3rd 2019. Why do you love boccia? Anyone can play and it’s a sport I can thrive in. What is your advice to someone starting out in the sport? Dream big, anything is possible. If you want to - you can achieve it. James Clowes BC2 About me: I have been playing boccia for 15 years and competitively for 12 years. Boccia was part of my PE lessons at Treloar’s School. When I was 15, I was chosen to participate in a GB talent cycle. It was then that I realised I loved the competitive side of the sport and I wanted more of it. From 2011-2015 I was a member of previous England set up and I was pleased to have been invited back this year to first compete in Poland in June and then join the squad fully. Hobbies: I have had a season ticket for Portsmouth Football Club for 16 years. I also love meeting up with friends for a meal, going to the cinema and the theatre. Interests: Having graduated from university with my Masters, I have now set up my own business - Star Support For You Ltd, which is focused on helping disabled people employ their own Personal Assistants / Carers and delivering bespoke training to ensure our clients’ needs are fully met. Career highlights: Competing in eight internationals in Holland, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, and several home internationals. My greatest Boccia moment so far was coming second in the UK Championships in June 2019. Why do you love boccia? I can play and compete at a high level, visit places I have never been before and I have made friends for life through my boccia journey. What is your advice to someone starting out in the sport? Keep training and stay focused. Set achievable and realistic goals, so you get the sense of steady progress. Above all, enjoy what you do. Caroline Robinson BC1 About me: I have been playing Boccia for about nine years and this is the second time I have been part of the EPG. Originally I saw Boccia being played on Granada TV and went to find a club. I found the tactics easy but the control of movement was much harder. A competitive outlet was the reason I started to play plus it’s great for fitness, for making friends and it gives you a target to get out of bed for, to show skill and achievements. Hobbies: Watching live bands, reading and the cinema, I also like to get readings from spiritualists. Interests: I am a published poet. Career highlights: Getting individual gold in Poznan in 2014 and guesting for Boccia UK in 2019 in the Czech Republic and contributing to team gold. Why do you love boccia? Competing, strategy, to be good at something on an equal playing field. To be part of a Boccia community. What is your advice to someone starting out in the sport? Decide what you want from Boccia, Find a club that meets this need. Eg, some clubs are mainly social rather than competitive Jabe Peake BC1 About me: I’m a nineteen-year-old, going to university in September 2019 to study Maths and Economics. As well as playing boccia, I love to spend time with friends and family, play board games and relax. Boccia has become a big part of my life; it’s a great game and the people that I’ve met are really important to me. Hobbies: playing board games, going out with friends and family and relaxing. Interests: Politics, Maths, and of course Boccia! Competition success: I’m the BE winner in 2017 and 2018. I’ve received a medal in friendly tournaments in Poland, Slovakia, and Russia. Why do you love boccia? It’s a combination of physical fitness and a tactical game. What is your advice to someone starting out in the sport? Above everything else, enjoy the game. Matt Berry BC3 About me: I’m 24, have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and have been playing Boccia for 10 years. I am currently part of the England squad and play internationally. I graduated with a 2:1 BSc Honours Degree in engineering from Portsmouth University. I have designed two websites and' I am often involved in design consultation work. I have travelled extensively including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brazil, Europe, Africa and Thailand. Hobbies and interests: Star Wars, sport (Arsenal fan}, film and TV, comedy and Music, website design. Competition success: Individual Bronze Russia 2016 Individual Gold Slovakia 2017 Individual Bronze and Pairs Gold Russia 2017 4th BE Cup 2018 Individual Gold Scottish Open 2018 2nd BE Cup Finals 2019 2nd UK Championships 2019 2nd UK Challenger 2019 4th Polish Open 2019 Scottish Open Pairs Gold 2019 Super League Champions 2018 and 2019 4th UK International challenger 2 Why do you love boccia? I love the competitive nature of boccia. What is your advice to someone starting out in the sport? Always work hard and keep improving. Penny Froude BC4 Hobbies - Craft especially card making and Crystal Art. I enjoy building advanced LEGO models. I also love going for country walks and attending country fairs. Interests - Nature and Animals. Documentaries on Human Science, Crime Thrillers and TV Competition shows. Music. Career Highlights - Becoming National Champion in 2016 and 2019. Winning my first match for England in Poland. Why I love Boccia - It is tactical as well as physical. You get to meet and play such a huge variety of people. The game can be very unpredictable at times and forces you to constantly change tactics and plans. I love the fact that you have so many options within the sport such as your choice of balls, choice of equipment, the coin toss and what shots to take. It is the only sport I can be competitive in due to the severity of my disability. My Advice to Someone Starting Out in the Sport - Be patient and persevere. Don't compare yourself to other athletes. 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