A TEAM of disabled youngsters from Chadsgrove School in Bromsgrove represented Worcestershire in the West Midlands regional final of the Panathlon Challenge- a mini Paralympics for children.

The 11-strong team - who won the Worcestershire Panathlon in February to qualify for the event - battled it out with two teams from Birmingham and one from Warwickshire in the regional final of the multi-sport competition, which took place at Nechells Community Sports Centre in Birmingham recently.

Carina Taylor, head of PE at Chadsgrove School, said: “It's really important that all kids, no matter what their ability level, have the opportunity to compete against other children of similar ability on a fair level.

“Every child has a right to take part in sporting activity and enter competitions.

“The best thing about Panathlon is that it caters for children with a wide range of severe learning difficulties and severe mobility issues.”

The Worcestershire team were pipped to third place by Warwickshire by just two points after putting in a determined performance receiving bronze medals in relay races and the new age kurling and polybat - Panathlon sports played with adaptive equipment.

Student Grace Kempson, aged 15, who competed in the table cricket and wheelchair slalom rounds, added: “I like the atmosphere of it all. It's very loud - you can't hear yourself think. There's a lot of responsibility to be representing Worcestershire, but it feels good.”

“Some of the other competitors are a bit hard to play against but, apart from that, I've had a really good day. My favourite event is the wheelchair slalom.”