PRODUCING THE GOODS
Steph (33) aiming for Euro gold after great year so far
Hamilton boccia ace Steph Mcguire has enjoyed a glittering year so far and hopes the European Championships in three weeks makes the 2018 Paralympics a realistic aim.
Mcguire (33) will head to Portugal hoping to succeed at the BISFED European Championships from October 25-November 2, and put himself high enough in the world rankings to set up his season for 2018.
The BISFED World Championships are in Liverpool next year, and success at that could open the door for the Tokyo Paralympics.
Should Steph maintain his form that shouldn’t be a problem, having this year won gold at the BISFED World Open in Kansas, USA, gold at the UK Championships in Liverpool – in which brother Peter took a bronze – bronze at the World Open in Seville, Spain, and at the BISFED European Regional Open in Barcelona back in April, he took individual and pairs gold in BC4.
Despite changes to the rules and equipment involved in the sport, Steph admits it has been a great year for him and hopes that continues in Povoa.
He said: “It’s a great feeling and it has been a really productive year so far, which is incredible when you consider the uncertainty caused by changes to rules and equipment. It seems to have affected everybody, but them more than me.
“So far so good, I’ve medalled in every competition and there have been three internationals, in Barcelona, Seville and Kansas, and it’s the European Championships in Portugal in three weeks.
“In Barcelona I won double gold in pairs and individual, in Seville I got individual bronze but it was a World Open event, and in Kansas I got individual gold, with the British Championships tucked away in August as well.
“I was ranked second in Kansas and had to do it the hard way, there were some tricky opponents and it was a tough route through.
“I’m adapting to the rules and the equipment changes and I seem to be doing a lot better than a lot of other people, but I’m older and more experienced, so maybe it has a lot to do with that.”
It has been a challenging year, and Steph admits another crack at the Paralympics has always been on the horizon.
He said: “It has been exhausting but also a lot of fun. There has been a lot of travelling and competitions, and after Portugal I then get a bit of a break, although with training camps it’s going to be non-stop.
“The Europeans is the competition with the most ranking points, so that is really the key. I’ll probably go into it ranked second and with the best in the world involved in that it will be tricky, but I’m really looking forward to it. With everything that I’ve won lately I also go into it with a lot of confidence.
“At the moment I’m fifth individually and I hope I can get higher. I think the final ranking places are issued in December but I’m certainly in a good position going into the World Championships next year, so that will tell me where I’m at, and then I can look to Tokyo.
“The Euros are important; where I finish in that will affect a lot of what I’m doing over the next year, and maybe the Paralympics, so it’s pretty key.”