Struijck in line for first medal

Ranked No6 in New Zealand, Wanganui's Diederik Struijck is aiming to improve on his fourth place in the Lower North Island Boccia last year. Photo/Supplied

Wanganui's Diederik Struijck is poised to claim his first medal of the year when he contests the Lower North Island Boccia Championships at Palmerston North in April.

Ranked No6 in New Zealand, Struijck finished fourth in this tournament last year.

Talented boccia players from all across the Lower North Island are honing their skills in preparation for the first major boccia tournament this season hosted by Boccia New Zealand, with support from the Palmerston North Boccia club, at Arena Manawatu on April 5-6.

"Boccia is a highly skilled and strategic Paralympic sport that tests each competitor's degree of muscle control and accuracy and can be played almost anywhere," Boccia New Zealand director Luke Morriss said.

Seated, athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel six leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball, the jack.

The championship this year is also likely to feature Manawatu superstar Greig "The Surgeon" Jackson, who will be the man to beat and Wellington's Hyran Daymond who beat Diederik for the bronze last year.

A swag of other rising players will also look to push for higher honours this year.

Other overseas tournaments beckon with the Australian Nationals scheduled for May. Last year New Zealand reluctantly handed over the Trans-Tasman Shield to Australia after a decade-long stranglehold on the trophy and will look to reclaim this following the championships.

"For some players our regional championships are a great sporting and social opportunity and probably serve as their first step into competitive boccia, while others such as Diederik use these as a chance to track their progress towards success at our bigger tournaments later in the year," Morriss said.

For a sport that relies heavily on volunteers, Morriss said the tournament is also highly beneficial for family members, friends, significant others and volunteers interested in becoming mentors, coaches or referees.