English athletes enjoyed success as the Czech Boccia Federation welcomed athletes to the Prague Open competition.
Held in the national capital, the tournament brought together experienced competitors and emerging talents in a series of individual and pairs matches. The event provided valuable competitive experience for athletes while strengthening relationships between participating nations ahead of future international competitions.
Throughout the weekend, spectators witnessed high-quality performances and displays of precision, strategy, and sportsmanship that highlighted the growing standard of boccia across Europe and beyond. In attendance were Talent Coach Lauren Kianchehr and Assistant Coach Harry Kianchehr, who supported the England squad throughout the competition.
Lauren Kianchehr reflected on the experience, saying:
“The Czech Open was a great opportunity for some of our pathway players to put their hard training into practice against a different calibre of opponent.
For many of the athletes, this was their first time representing England overseas, and it was a fantastic opportunity to gain new experiences, overcome different challenges, and come together as a team.”
The competition concluded with an excellent set of results for the England team, including a gold medal in the BC3 Individual event for Georgina Moore and her ramp operator, Katie Price, which followed their silver medal in the BC3 Pairs competition alongside compatriots Rafael Young and David Ellis.
Lauren added:
“Massive thanks to the organisers for their support; to the athletes and assistants who made the trip so memorable; to their home coaches for their hard work day in, day out; and, of course, to Harry Kianchehr for his on-the-ground support and leadership of the team.”
Head of Sport Sarah Gray praised the team’s achievements, particularly Georgina Moore’s breakthrough international success.
“Winning the Prague Open is a significant milestone in Georgina’s career and a deserved recognition of the commitment she has demonstrated throughout the season. This was the first international competition Georgina had entered, and it will undoubtedly set her up well for the remainder of the year.
It is an outstanding achievement, and we congratulate Georgina on her victory in the Czech Republic. We also extend our sincere thanks to the Czech Boccia Federation for hosting such a successful event.”
The Prague Open provided valuable international experience for England’s emerging athletes and demonstrated the strength of the nation’s developing boccia pathway, while further strengthening sporting ties between England and the Czech Republic
Congratulations to all of those that travelled to the competition to represent England, including
- Georgina Moore & Katie Price
- Rafael Young & David Ellis
- Cameron Coxall & Connor Welfare
- Lee Madison & Kalab Yohans
- Ruby Curtis & Charlotte Scurr
- Michael Halfpenny & Mick Halfpenny
- Nicola Taylor & Colin Taylor