Kurling and boccia sessions prove very popular
A taster of two fully-accessible sports was highly popular on Sunday.
Run by Guernsey Sports Commission and Guernsey Mobility, Let’s Go, there was a no entry fee for the event at Beau Sejour and all ages and abilities were welcomed.
Paul Wheatley of Guernsey Mobility Let’s Go said there was a diverse group of people trying out the sports, which had been run for the past three years.
‘Every week for the last three years we’ve been running these sessions for people with disabilities,’ he said.
‘Sure funded the equipment so anybody can play. We’ve had about 40 Year 5 children from St Martin’s Primary run lots of sessions over the last six years.’
One half of the Sir David Ferguson Hall was set up as a game of boccia, which came from the Paralympics. Participants would throw, kick or use a ramp to propel a ball on to the court and aim to get as close to a ‘jack’ ball as possible.
The other half was designated for kurling, which was based on the ice-rink based sport of curling. Kurling stones have round bearings on the bottom and are rolled on to a target much like an archery board, but on the floor.
A pusher or a ramp can be used for those who may not be able to reach the floor.
Nicky Will of the Guernsey Sports Commission felt the session went well.
‘We had about 200 people attending and they were a real mix of families, children, older people and people with disabilities,’ she said.
‘Lots of people were playing boccia and kurling for the first time. It was great to see how engaged they were and how much fun they were having.’
She said that the Guernsey Sports Commission believed everybody should have the opportunity to play sport.
‘By partnering with Guernsey Mobility, Let’s Go we were delighted to offer these free sessions that may be new to many people.
‘2024 is also an Olympic and Paralympic year so we wanted to introduce the parasport of boccia to as many people as possible,’ she said.
She thanked Beau Sejour’s staff and the volunteers who came along on the day to help. Ms Will said it was a great success.
The commission wanted to raise awareness of the accessible sport and wanted to allow families and groups of friends to enjoy some time together and is looking to run similar events in the future.
