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Boccia boss wins Czech Open gold at first attempt

Andy HowardYate
BBC Georgina, who has long, dark red, curly hair, smiles while sitting in a wheelchair next to her two gold trophies. She is wearing a dark-coloured Boccia England T-shirt. She is pictured in a sports hall.BBC
Georgina Moore has only been playing boccia with a ramp for four years

A boccia player has won an individual gold medal for England at her debut overseas tournament.

Georgina Moore returned from the Czech Open with two trophies after adding a silver in the pairs category.

The 42-year-old, who runs her own boccia club in Yate, South Gloucestershire, said the achievement "means the world". She said she was hoping to be selected to represent her country again in the future.

Boccia is a paralympic sport similar to bowls in which coloured balls are launched by competitors towards a target jack.

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'Hold my nerve'

Held in Prague, the tournament brought together experienced competitors and emerging talents in a series of individual and pairs matches over a weekend.

Moore won a gold medal in the BC3 individual event and a silver medal in the BC3 pairs.

"I didn't have any expectation of winning a medal," she said.

"I was playing with high level players so I was just going out there to have a good time and represent my country... so to come away with gold, I still can't believe it's real."

Winning the title seemed a long way off in the early stages of the competition when she lost her first match but she then went on to win the rest.

"My heart was beating out of my chest," she said.

"In the final I was 4-0 up and then it ended up 4-4. It was the scariest thing I've ever been through.

"Luckily I managed to hold my nerve."

Georgina looks up at he top of her ramp, as a red boccia ball is launched from the top. Her ramp operator stands opposite Georgina.
Georgina set up GEM Boccia Club in Yate in 2017

The debut international victory came as no surprise to Moore's parents.

"When she was a baby there were things she couldn't do but she was determined," said Georgina's mum, Jan Moore.

"I think we always knew she would do something special."

Dad Terry Moore said they were both "very proud" of their daughter.

"She has worked very hard and dedicated her life to boccia," he said.

Jade sits in the middle of a gymnasium. She is wearing glasses and a red T-shirt and she is smiling at the camera. There are some chairs behind her.
Jade says Georgina's club, and the sport of boccia, has made her feel welcome

Georgina is currently back coaching at the GEM Boccia Club in Yate which she set up in 2017.

The club helps young adults with additional needs to take up the sport and meet new friends.

Club members said the trophies Moore had brought back were an inspiration to them.

"She's absolutely amazing," said one member, Jade. "I want to be like that one day - I want to be like Georgina and get that far."

Another member of the club, Luke, described Moore as a "legend".

He said: "She's good and so friendly."

Luke sits in the middle of a gymnasium. He is wearing a blue top with the red and white GEM Boccia logo on it. He is smiling at the camera.
Luke said he had met a lot of new friends at the club

Moore said boccia had made a huge difference to her life.

"It means the world to be accepted in something," she said.

"Obviously throughout my whole life it's been hard to prove myself and be on an equal level with everybody else.

"In boccia I am on an equal level and I could prove that I have a talent in something and I'm recognised for that."

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