A young Pembrokeshire Boccia player has come closer to achieving his Paralympic dream.
Jacob Thomas from Bethesda has been picked for the GB Elite Boccia squad.
He is one of four players who will now represent Britain at international competitions.
Three players will be picked to play at the 2012 Paralympics in January 2012.
“I’m thrilled for Jacob. It’s his dream to attend the Paralympics and this news shows that he is now well on his way,” said Councillor Huw George, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet member for Children and Young People.
“He’s an outstanding sportsman and has worked very hard to get where he is today.”
Angela Miles, Disability Sport Development Officer for Sport Pembrokeshire – Pembrokeshire County Council’s sports development arm – said she was delighted.
“I’m so pleased for Jacob. He is an outstanding sportsman,” she said.
The 16-year old, who attends Ysgol y Preseli has only been playing boccia for five years but has already played for Wales on several occasions.
He won the Welsh championships earlier this year and only last week won his BC3 category in the British Boccia Championships at Stirling.
In June he became one of two Welsh players to progress to the GB Boccia Federation’s World Class Transition Squad with whom he has since been training.
Having now moved up yet again to the Elite Squad he will represent Britain in international competitions with matches in Holland, next year’s World Cup in Ireland, and possibility Canada, already lined up.
“We’re really chuffed about his achievement,” said Jacob’s father Mike Thomas.
“It’s been a long 12 months of hard training for him but it’s all paid off.”
Based on boules, boccia was originally developed for people with cerebral palsy but is now played by people of all abilities and disabilities.
So popular has it become in Pembrokeshire that there are now two clubs – the Young Voices and Crymych Panthers – plus several 5×60 school clubs and an estimated 30-plus players.
Crymych Panthers and the Young Vipers meet together every Wednesday at the new Haverfordwest leisure centre from 5-7pm, if you are interested in playing Boccia please come along.
