FOLLOWING on from a successful 12-week taster course leading up to Christmas, a Farnham Boccia Club is being planned for the new year.

Boccia was originally a sport designed for athletes with severe impairments, though nowadays it’s a sport played by both able-bodied and disabled people of all ages.

It’s one of only two sports that has no Olympic equivalent but the new players in Farnham have picked the game up really quickly.

It is a target ball sport similar in principle to bowls or petanque but played indoors with soft leather balls.

In 1984, it became a Paralympic sport and is nowadays practised in over 60 countries worldwide.

David Gill, chairman of Farnham Sports Council, said: “The sports council in Farnham has been very keen to add the Paralympic sport of boccia to the town’s sporting portfolio, we’ve got it under way and we’re at the point where, with everyone’s support, the participants themselves will take it over and establish and grow a flourishing community club.

“It’s an enjoyable activity for all ages and abilities and, once you try boccia, you’ll be hooked.”

The regular boccia sessions take place each Sunday evening between 6pm and 7.30pm at the David Lloyd Club and everyone is welcomed to come along and have a go.

The club has a qualified coach in Trevor Seal, whose daughter, Kate, is a competent player. There is also an interim chairman in Steve Winslade who commented: “All of the participants have had a lot of fun at the boccia taster sessions and we’re now very keen to establish a strong boccia club in Farnham.

“To do so, we want more players and also some volunteer officials, including a treasurer and secretary, to help run the club.”

He added: “Anyone who is interested in playing, please join us at the David Lloyd Club on a Sunday evening. We’re lucky, their sports hall is the perfect venue to play the sport and establish a club.”

The boccia activity re-commences after the holidays on Sunday, January 8.