Perth & Kinross Disability Sport - SCIO

Becky Tyler - From Chance to Champion

Originally from West Sussex, England, Becky Tyler moved to Scotland in 2022 to study Applied Computing at the University of Dundee. After graduating in June 2025, she fell in love with Scotland and decided to make it her permanent home.

Becky has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects how her brain controls the muscles in her body. She cannot sit, stand, or walk independently, and she is unable to speak verbally. She also finds eating difficult and receives nutrition through a feeding tube. Using eye-gaze technology, Becky communicates and uses a computer through a specialist communication aid, allowing her to study, participate in sport, and connect with others.

Becky’s sporting journey began when she was 12 years old at secondary school. As part of physical education, she was introduced to a range of sports, but it was a chance opportunity to join the school Boccia team that changed everything. The team needed an extra player for a competition, and although Becky had never heard of Boccia before, she decided to give it a try.

She quickly discovered a love for the sport. The combination of strategy, precision, and teamwork immediately appealed to her, and while she experienced many different sports during school, Boccia was the one that truly stood out. Unfortunately, despite showing a natural ability for the game, her school did not have sufficient staff available to support her in training regularly, limiting her opportunities to develop her skills.

Everything changed after Becky moved to Scotland. In early 2024, she contacted Graeme Doig at Perth & Kinross Disability Sport, who supported her to join Perth Eagles Boccia at the Academy of Sport & Wellbeing, UHI Perth. What had once been a chance opportunity at school soon became a genuine passion. Training regularly with the right equipment, allowed Becky to develop her skills, compete in tournaments, and become part of Scotland’s thriving Boccia community.

Graeme added: “Becky’s smile lit up the room from the very first time I met her, and it’s only grown brighter since. She has been an absolute joy to coach, always eager to learn, develop, and improve. It’s also been a privilege for me to learn from Becky—particularly her communication style and how we can work together to make sure we get things right.

I’m incredibly proud of the journey Becky is on in boccia, and I can’t wait to see where it takes her in the years ahead.”

Becky competes in the BC3 classification, designed for athletes with very limited physical movement who use assistive equipment to play. Rather than throwing the ball by hand, she uses a specialised ramp to deliver each shot. Using a head pointer, Becky releases the ball with precise timing whilst communicating and directing her ramp operator to position the ramp exactly where she wants it. Success in BC3 Boccia relies on strategy, communication, accuracy, and teamwork, making the partnership between player and ramp operator essential.

One of the things Becky enjoys most about Boccia is that it allows athletes with different disabilities to compete on equal terms, with matches decided by skill, tactics, and precision rather than physical strength. Through the sport, she has not only challenged herself but also built lasting friendships and become part of a welcoming and supportive boccia community in Perth and beyond.

Like many disabled athletes, Becky’s journey has not been without challenges. Accessing specialist BC3 equipment, including competition-standard ramps and Boccia balls, is expensive and often difficult, as much of the equipment is manufactured overseas. Finding opportunities to train, travel to competitions, and access the right support has also required determination and perseverance.

Despite these barriers, Becky has continued to pursue the sport she loves, embracing every opportunity to improve and compete.

Throughout her journey, Becky has been supported by an incredible network of people. Her greatest supporter has always been her mum, Fiona who has encouraged her from the very beginning and now serves as her trusted ramp operator during competitions. Together, they work as a team throughout every match.

Becky has also benefited from the guidance and encouragement of dedicated coaches and volunteers. Graeme Doig from Perth & Kinross Disability Sport has played a significant role in helping her develop as a player, while coaches Catherine Carrunthers and Stewart Lobban have provided valuable support. Darren and Sam Thomson from the Tayside Boccia Squad have also been instrumental in her progression, creating an environment where Becky has been able to challenge herself, improve her performance, and grow in confidence. Darren’s work in developing Boccia opportunities across Tayside has helped many athletes, including Becky, progress within the sport.

Darren told us: “Becky and her ramp operator, Fiona have been attending the Tayside Regional Boccia Squad for over 2 years now and her development in the last year especially has been phenomenal! Becky has only recently started using a powerchair to support her movement which has helped improve her skills and timing. This has resulted in both Becky and Fiona’s confidence developing and their attendance at regional national competitions has become more regular.

At the Tayside squad, coach Sam Thomson is extremely proud at the pace of Becky's progress and her eagerness to soak up as much knowledge as possible to make those little improvements to her game.”

The highlight of Becky’s journey so far came in 2026 when she became Scottish National BC3 Boccia Champion. Winning the national title was the culmination of two and a half years of hard work, commitment, and determination, demonstrating just how far she had come since first trying the sport as a teenager.

"Becoming Scottish Boccia BC3 Champion was an amazing feeling. I was really proud and excited, but also a little surprised. Boccia has been a big part of my life for many years, and it was incredible to see all the training, hard work, and support from the people around me pay off.

It was also a special moment because boccia is a team effort. Although I am the person delivering the balls, I couldn’t do it without my coaches, ramp operator, family, and everyone who has supported me along the way.” Becky Tells us as she reflects on what it felt like being crowned 2026 boccia national champion.

Another memorable experience was attending the Scottish National Boccia Squad training sessions during 2025, where she had the opportunity to learn from some of Scotland’s leading BC3 athletes, including Paralympians Scott and Jamie McCowan, alongside Patrick Wilson. Meeting elite players and hearing about their experiences representing Great Britain at the Paralympic Games inspired Becky to continue striving towards her own ambitions. She also valued learning from experienced ramp operators Gary and Linda McCowan, whose knowledge and dedication to the sport were invaluable.

While medals and titles are special, Becky believes some of her greatest achievements have been the confidence, friendships, and sense of belonging she has gained through Boccia. Every competition, training session, and opportunity to represent her club has helped her grow both as an athlete and as a person.

Looking ahead, Becky hopes to continue progressing within the sport. Her immediate goal is to complete official BC3 classification this year, allowing her to compete at higher levels. She also hopes one day to earn a place in the Scottish National Boccia Squad, continuing to build on the inspiration she has drawn from Scotland’s top athletes.

“Looking ahead, I want to keep improving as a player. My next goals are to get official classification, continue developing my skills, and hopefully work towards opportunities with the Scottish national squad. I want to see how far I can take boccia.”

For Becky, however, success is about more than results. She wants to continue enjoying the sport, meeting new people, challenging herself, and remaining part of the Boccia community that has given her so much confidence and purpose.

Her advice to anyone considering taking up sport is simple: try as many activities as possible because you never know what you might discover. She encourages disabled people to seek out the right support from coaches, volunteers, family members, or sports assistants who can help make opportunities possible. Most importantly, she believes that sport is about far more than winning. It is about building confidence, making friends, learning new skills, and discovering what you are capable of.

As Becky says: “Sport has shown me that disability doesn’t define what I can achieve. Boccia has given me confidence, purpose, and a community where I truly belong.”

Her mum, Fiona shares that pride: “Watching Becky discover Boccia has been an incredible journey. What started as a chance opportunity at school has grown into a passion that has given her confidence, independence, and a real sense of achievement. As her mum and ramp operator, I’ve had the privilege of seeing first-hand the determination and resilience she brings to every competition. Becoming Scottish BC3 Champion is something we’re all immensely proud of, but even more importantly, Boccia has given Becky a community where she belongs and the confidence to believe in herself. I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next.”

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