CONGRATULATIONS went to Rio Paralympian, Kieran Steer, from Crossgates, who finished third last weekend in his first major boccia competition since returning to the sport, following a short break.

Kieran was competing against the top players in the UK in the first of the Boccia UK Challenger Series at Lilleshall in England. The second in the Challenger Series will be held at Inverclyde's Largs in April.

Kieran competes in the BC4 class and thoroughly enjoyed the competition.

Kieran believes he was relaxed and confident and played to a standard that suggests he is on track to return to the form that identified him as one of the leading players in the UK leading up to the Rio Games.

Kieran’s results were as follows: vs Louie Saunders (GB) 4-3; vs Evie Edwards (GB) 5-3; vs Stephen McGuire (GB) 1-7; vs Alfie Yates (ENG) 6-0; vs Jayne Milligan (IRL) 15-0; and vs Ross Munro (SCO) 3-8

The Challenger Series involves 24 of the leading players in the UK - 8 players from BC3 class; 8 players from BC4 class; 8 players from BC1 and BC2class.

Last year he decided to return to the sport and he has made steady progress, culminating in his selection for the Scottish squad late on in 2018.

Involvement in the Challenger Series is another step towards Kieran’s ambition of being invited to join the UK squad.