National title for teenager
A Sunderland teen with cerebral palsy has come out on top in a national competition of disability sport boccia.
Thomas Ferry took home the Heathcoat Cup after competingatthefinalinHertfordshire against the top players from across the country.
The 15-year-old has come a long way since he and twin brother Jack were born 16 weeks early, weighing just 3lb between them, back in 2001.
The pair were kept in intensive care, where they were hookeduptomachinestohelp them breathe while their internal organs finished forming.
Now15,Thomas,fromNortonRoad,hastakenupboccia, a sport designed for athletes withsevereimpairments,and hasalreadycameoutontopin his first competition.
Similar to bowls, the targetballsportisplayedindoors with soft leather balls.
The Sandhill View Academy pupil only took up the sport last year and has now triumphed in the national final, held at the University of Hertfordshire Sports Village.
He made it through to the finalafterwinningagoldmedal in the regional competition heldatGatesheadLeisureCentre back in March.
And mum Helen Morgan, 38, couldn’t be more proud of her son, who she says has grown in confidence since taking up the sport.
“Thomas was playing against the top players from across the country,” she said.
“He played against others in his ability level, who were a mix of ages.
“Wearesochuffedforhim. “Wegetnervouswatchinghim but he just gets on with it.”
Now Thomas is set to take partintheBocciaEngland(BE) CupFinalsattheEnglishInstitute of Sport in Sheffield this weekend.
As part of his training, Thomas goes to group Vipers BocciaAcademyinNewcastle and also takes part in Smiles Through Sport, as disability sport group, where he takes partindifferentsportsinclude boccia,atSandhillSportsCentre.
Mum Helen added: “It was a long day, but he really enjoyed it and came away with a medal and cup.
“We are really proud.”