Boccia team begins preparation

The Irish Boccia team will today begin their attempts to gain qualification for the The Boccia World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand from October 28 to November 8.

The Irish Boccia team will today begin their attempts to gain qualification for the Boccia World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand from October 28 to November 8.

The outcome will determine qualification for The Paralympics in Athens in 2004. Eight athletes and nine staff from Ireland will attend. Each athlete has cerebral palsy.

The team is managed by Jacqueline Connolly.

The competition will take place in the Westpac Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand. The individual competition starts on Friday, October 31 through to Monday, November 3. A rest day at that stage will be followed by the pair and team competitions on Wednesday, November 5 through to Friday, November 7.

Countries only qualify for Athens on the performance of the Pairs and Team results.

Pairs:

Johnny Cronin from Mallow, Co Cork, Joanne Dowling from Dublin, Gerard O'Grady from Limerick are currently ranked third in the world and won gold in the Sydney Paralympics in 2000.

Team:

Martina Murphy from Wicklow, Roberta Connolly from Dublin, Tom Leahy from Cork, Gaybriel Shelly from Kilkenny, Keith Hayes from Wexford.