Dundee Boccia Club

DBC turned up in full force at this year's Wishaw Games:

Margaret Torrie (assisted devices over 18), Hannah Craig (assisted devices under 18), Kristin MacMaster (PD over 18), Tony Hutcheson (PD over 18), Helen Mason (LD over 18) and Kirsten Law (LD under 18).

It was a hard day, but under the refereeing of Jay Anderson, Craig MacMaster and Andrea Law the team proudly came home with a selection of medals.

• Margaret Torrie won Gold
• Hannah Craig won Silver
• Helen Mason won Bronze
• Tony Hutcheson won Bronze

Fabulous effort!

The team travelled up to Aberdeen on the 8^th of May to take part in this year's Aberdeen Games.

All the players gave it their best in their categories: Kirsten Law (LD Female), Helen Mason (LD Female), Tony Hutcheson (PD Male), Alan MacGregor (PD Male), Hannah Craig (Assisted Devices) and Margaret Torrie (Assisted Devices).

And medals were won!

• Alan won Silver
• Margaret won Silver
• Hannah won Bronze

Two members of Dundee Boccia Club attended the National Junior Boccia Championships » in Sheffield on the weekend of the 26^th and 27^th of March 2011.

Both Kristin MacMaster and Kirsten Law played above expectation against the GB squad players. Unfortunately Kristin did not end up with a medal, however

• Kirsten won Gold for the second year running

The team looks forward to next year!

A team of 6 travelled from Dundee to The Peak sports centre in Stirling on the 12^th of February to compete in the ranking tournament.

Those competing were: Kirsten Law (Junior), Tony Hutchison (BC2), Alan McGregor (BC2), Kristin MacMaster (BC2), Hannah Craig (BC3) and Margaret Torrie (BC3)

The team from Dundee Boccia Club played very well on the day and collected two silver medals and a bronze!

• Kirsten Law won Silver
• Hannah Craig won Silver
• Alan McGregor won Bronze

The club also received a shield that was presented to the most improved junior, Jamie McCowan (BC4). Well done!

Allan McGregor attended the British Boccia Championships held in Stirling on 23^rd and 24^th October and entered the BC2 category, which was played round-robin. Unfortunately, he missed out on a medal.

DBC's Treasurer, Andrea Law, attended as a referee.

This year's Discovery Games » landed on Saturday the 18^th of September and was attended by eight DBC players.

The Group A knock-out against ten players was entered by Kristen MacMaster, Allen McGregor and Tony Hutcheson.

The Group B knock-out against 55 players was entered by Helen Mason, Kirsten Law and Rebeka Perry.

The Group C round-robin amongst five players was entered by Margaret Torrie and Hannah Craig.

DBC returned triumphant with three medals!

• Hannah Craig won Gold, improving from last year's silver!
• Margaret Torrie won Bronze
• Allan McGregor won Bronze

The 20th annual Wishaw Games » were held on Saturday 7th August 2010. Seven members of DBC volunteered for the challenge but only four could finally attend: Margaret Torrie (assisted devices), Kristin MacMaster (physical disability), Kirsten Law (learning disability) and Helen Mason (learning disability).

Even with such a small squad DBC were able to return with medals. Well done!

• Margaret Torrie won Gold
• Kirsten Law won Silver

The team travelled North once again to compete in the Aberdeen Games held on 9^th May.

Tony Hutcheson, Allan McGregor and Kristin MacMaster entered the physical disability category; Helen Mason and Kirstin Law entered the learning disability category; Hannah Craig and Margaret Torrie entered the assisted devices category.

The games were first divided into gender categories and ran round-robin so each player was guaranteed at least four games. The top two players from each category then played each other to determine the winners.

At the end of the games DBC returned with four medals:

• Allan McGregor won Gold
• Kirstin Law won Gold
• Hannah Craig won Gold
• Margeret Torrie won Silver

It was a long and well-fought day so well done to the team!

The championships held on Saturday 30^th of January 2010 were attended by a strong DBC contingent:

Hannah Craig (BC3), Margaret Torrie (BC3), Kirsten Law (Junior), Kristin MacMaster, Tony Hutcheson and Allan McGregor.

The competition was tough. As well as the Scottish team, four GB team members and two European champions competed against the club. It was another round-robin contest, meaning everyone played in at least two games, depending on the category.

Despite the fierce opposition, DBC claimed two medals:

• Kirsten Law won Gold

• Allan McGregor won Silver

The national event was once again held in Sheffield, on Saturday 28^th and Sunday 29^th of November 2009.

The club was represented by Kirsten Law (BC7/8) and Kristin MacMaster (BC1/2).

• Kirsten Law (Under 18s) won Gold

Unfortunately, Kristin was unsuccessful in reaching the semi-finals this year. The event is attended by members from across Britain and every player competed in at least two games over the weekend, so she had a chance to hone her skills for next year.

Held in the Invercarse Hotel on the 25^th of November 2009 were the SportDundee Awards »

Hannah Craig and Kirsten Law were named in the top three for the Jenny Wood Allen Award and Hannah won the award!

Andrea Law and Mhari McMasters received other nominations.

A number of participants from DBC entered the Discovery Games » on the 19^th of September 2009.

Those representing the club were: Hannah Craig (BC3), Margaret Torrie (BC3), Kirsten Law (Junior), Kristin MacMaster, Tony Hutcheson and Helen Mason.

• Congratulations to Hannah Craig who won Silver

DBC took part in force in this year's competition in Lanarkshire on Saturday 8^th of August 2009.

Hannah Craig and Margaret Torrie entered the assisted devices games.

Kristin MacMaster and Alan McGregor entered the physical disability games.

Kirsten Law and Helen Mason entered the learning disability games.

By the end of the afternoon we had won three medals — well done to the team!

• Margaret Torrie won Gold
• Alan McGregor won Silver
• Kirsten Law won Gold

This year's competition was held at the DISC centre in Dundee on Saturday 13^th June — usually players meet in Easterhouse in Glasgow for this national event, but the venue was a success story for the local team.

Margaret Torrie (BC3), Hannah Craig (BC3 – despite being a junior she was playing against seniors), Tony Hutcheson (BC1), Kristin MacMaster (BC1), Martin Cassidy (BC4), Alan McGregor (BC1) and Kirsten Law (Junior) all took part this year.

Both the Scottish team and the Special Olympics team were in attendance, yet the following medals were won by the DBC:

• Kirsten Law won Gold
• Margaret Torrie won Gold
• Martin Cassidy won Silver
• Alan McGregor won Bronze

Also to note, a trophy volunteered by the DBC a few years ago for the most improved junior was awarded to Joshua Rowe from Perth and Kinross, a member of the Scottish Boccia team.

The team attended the SDS event in Glasgow on 31^st January.

This is a tough championship — and important, since it is through this event members of the Scottish and GB teams are chosen — but the following participants did their best and the medals were well-earned:

• Alan McGregor (Senior BC1/2) won Gold
• Kirstin MacMaster (Senior BC1/2) won Bronze
• Tony Hutcheson (Senior BC1/2)
• Margaret Torrie (Senior BC3)
• Hannah Craig (Junior BC3) won Gold
• Kirsten Law (Junior) won Silver

The team saw ample praise on Wednesday 26^th November 2008 when the following nominations were announced:

• Andrea Law — Coach of the Year
• Kirsten Law — Jenny Wood Allen Award
• Kristin MacMaster and Alan McGregor — Team of the Year, for their trip to Montreal last year
• Dundee Boccia Club — Club of the Year

November saw Kristin MacMaster and Kirsten Law entering the DSE National Junior Boccia Championships in Sheffield. On Saturday 22^nd and Sunday 23^rd the two Dundee members played through the levels in their individual groups.

• Kristin MacMaster came 5^th
• Kirsten Law came 4^th, despite this being her first time in the competition

DBC showed up in full force at this year's Discovery Games » held in Dundee on Saturday 20^th September.

Hannah Craig, Margaret Torrie, Kirsten Law, Martin Cassidy, Sandra Mitchell, Kristin MacMaster, Tony Hutcheson, Derek Stewart, and Alan McGregor attended.

Several medals were picked up over the Boccia categories:

• Hannah Craig won Gold in the assisted devices category
• Margaret Torrie won Silver in the assisted devices category
• Martin Cassidy won Gold in the learning disabilities (section B) category
• Derek Stewart won Silver in the plate competition

The standards have truly been set for next year. Well done to everyone who took part!

Four members of the club travelled to Easterhouse on Saturday 16^th August to take part in this year's intense competition: Tony Hutcheson (BC2), Kirsten Law (Junior), Martin Cassidy (BC4) and Margaret Torrie (BC3).

They were up against the Scottish team and a couple of members from the GB team so it was a challenging day of Boccia! However, one member returned with a medal:

• Kirsten Law won Gold (in the plate competition)

Well done to the team!

On Saturday 9th August 2008 three members of DBC took part in the annual competition in Wishaw »: Kristin MacMaster, Kirsten Law and Margaret Torrie.

Playing skills were really put to the test this year — as junior, senior, physically-disabled and learning-disabled players were all mixed together — but DBC came back with two medals!

• Margaret Torrie won Gold
• Kristin MacMaster won Bronze (in the plate competition)

The Dundee team went North to take part in the Aberdeen Games on Sunday 11^th May and proudly returned with three medals.

Players in this event from Dundee were Margaret Torrie and Hannah Craig in the Assisted Devices category, Tony Hutcheson and Derek Stewart in the Physical Disabilities category and Helen Mason, Kirsten Law and Martin Cassidy in the (Female and Male) Learning Disabilities category.

• Martin Cassidy won Gold
• Kirsten Law won Gold
• Hannah Craig won Silver

The team attended the CP Championships, held at Easterhouse, on Saturday 16^th February and came back triumphant!

Kirstin Law, Tony Hutcheson, Derek Stewart, Kristin MacMaster, Alan McGregor and Margaret Torrie attended the event and took away the following medals in the BC2 category:

• Alan McGregor, Glamis, won Gold
• Kristin MacMaster, Dundee, won Silver
• Derek Stewart won Bronze

Thirteen members of Dundee Boccia Club took part in Discovery Games » on Saturday 15^th September. Three players came back with medals.

• Alan McGregor, Glamis, won Gold in the physical disabilities category
• Martin Cassidy, Kirriemuir, won Gold in the learning disabilities category
• George McHendry, Dundee, won Silver in the learning disabilities category

Well done to all who took part!

Eight members of Dundee Boccia Club travelled to the 17^th Annual Wishaw Games » on Saturday 11^th of August 2007. Four came home with medals after fighting through some very tough opposition.

• Martin Cassidy, Kirriemuir, won Gold
• Alan McGregor, Glamis, won Silver
• Kristin MacMaster, Dundee, won Bronze
• George McHendry, Dundee, won 4^th Place
• Margaret Torrie, Forfar, won Gold, the only medal awarded in the assisted device class

Club officials were delighted with the team's success and the fantastic performances on the day.

Two players from DBC went to the DSE National Junior Boccia Championships » in Liverpool with the Scottish Squad.

Kirstin MacMaster lost her first match, coming back with two wins, but unfortunately she did not have enough points to compete on Sunday, even though she played very well on Saturday.

Martin Cassidy won both his matches on Saturday, got through to Sunday, won both of Sunday's matches and came out winner of his group.

They both played well and should be proud of their performances.

Dundee Boccia Club was nominated for Club of the Year but came runner up.

Robert Cassidy was nominated for Volunteer of the Year and won the award.

Kirsten and Hannah were nominated for the Jenny Wood Allen Award and were both runners up for the award.

They should be proud of their achievements and well done to them.