Hi everyone! I’m Nicola Taylor, and I’m excited to share an update on my journey in the incredible sport of boccia – a Paralympic sport that I only discovered in September 2023 but has already become a huge part of my life.
Getting Started
My boccia journey began just under a year ago, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. I entered my first competitions in February 2024, joining the Heathcoat Cup series run by Boccia England, which is their entry-level competition pathway. I was thrilled to win both my qualifiers, and then go on to win my classification at the finals – a dream start to my competitive career.
I also had the chance to take part in the Boccia England National League, playing as part of a team and even captaining some matches. Alongside playing, I’ve qualified as a referee, and volunteered and officiated at various competitions – something I’ve really enjoyed. It didn’t take long for me to get completely hooked on boccia!
On the Competitive Circuit
Over the past few months, my focus has been on the National Championships qualifiers. I’ve seen great progress over the season, finishing 7th, then 3rd, and finally 1st in the three qualifiers – a fantastic trajectory that secured my place at the National Championships Finals.
March was a particularly memorable (and hectic!) month. I won gold at the final qualifier, and the very next day returned to the same venue to volunteer and cheer on friends at another competition. Later that week, I was incredibly excited to attend my first training day with Boccia GB. Getting feedback from some of the top coaches in the country was an amazing learning experience – even if it left me pretty exhausted! That same weekend, I was back in Ipswich for a team competition with ActivLives, where my team took home another gold medal.
Training and Preparation
Since then, I’ve been focused on preparing for the National Championships and my next GB camp, both happening in the same week – it’s going to be another intense but exciting boccia week!
Access to training facilities through IpswichFit has been a game changer – the regular practice is really paying off. Every session helps me grow as a player and gets me closer to my goal of competing internationally.
Off the Court
Boccia isn’t just about competing for me – I’ve also enjoyed being part of the community in other ways. I’ve officiated at several competitions and recently had the chance to coach at one event too. I’m also proud to be a member of the Boccia England Player Panel, helping to shape the future of the sport.
And finally, I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to help launch a new boccia club in Suffolk. We’re hoping to get things up and running before the summer holidays, so if you’re curious about boccia – the world’s most inclusive sport – now’s the perfect time to give it a try!
Thanks for following along with my journey so far – I can’t wait to see what’s next!
– Nicola Taylor