Cleobury Mortimer won the amateur club of the year for their heart stopping and unforgettable journey to Twickenham for the Powergen Junior vase final. Telford's Mickey Bushell claimed the Young Disabled Sportsperson Trophy and with it a £500 donation of sports equipment from the Lady Taverners for a string of national and international medals. And Oswestry's Val Hanover claimed the Unsung Hero Award for her work in arranging the special Olympics in North Shropshire.

CLEOBURY MORTIMER
The final may have ended in defeat to Dorking but few residents of the south Shropshire town will forget the rugby club's moment in the national spotlight. And skipper Paul Harding and his vice Allan Sheilds were on hand to collect the award Sunday. Sheilds admitted: "We were delighted to be nominated, but I thought the best we could get was a good night out.  "The other nominations were clubs who'd won things, and as we'd lost the final I thought it couldn't be us. "But the judges must've recognised what an achievement it was for a little town and a little club like Cleobury to get to Twickenham" Harding admitted the memories had come flooding back as he was invited to accept the award. "The walk up to the stage in front of the TV cameras brought the walk up the tunnel at Twickenham right back. "And to come here and brush shoulders with the likes of Gordon Banks and Graeme Hick is fantastic. The trophy is really special and it'll have pride of place in the Cleobury Clubhouse."

MICKEY BUSHELL
The 16 year old wheelchair athlete from Ketley Bank has proved his versatility in sprint distances on the track and long distance events this year. Bushell won a gold medal in the 100m and two further silvers in the British senior championships and was victorious in three further events at national junior level. A World Junior Championship silver medal also came his way in the 100m while the teenager also completed a hat-trick of successes at the boys wheelchair discipline at the London Marathon. "I'm thrilled to win this award, and it caps a really good year for me," said Bushell. "I'd like to dedicate the trophy to my coach Paul Hunt - who has never stopped showing faith in me and is always pushing me hard to do better - and to my mum & dad who are always there for me, and who've supported me wherever and whenever my sport has taken me."

VAL HANOVER
Her commitment and dedication to the North Shropshire Special Olympics enabled Hanover to claim the Unsung Hero award and receive an invite for the national awards in Birmingham on Sunday. "It was a big shock something I didn't expect to win. I'm thrilled for our athletes who come every week and train with me, and I'm thrilled for our coaches who assist me as well. It's a wonderful achievement for all of them, and for Special Olympics in Oswestry.  "I'm overwhelmed. When my name was announced, I really couldn't believe it. I certainly didn't have a speech prepared, and when I had to stand up in front of everyone infront of the television cameras, my emotions were really churning. "The other four nominations on my table were all very pleased for me too, and I know they were all great servants to their sports too. I'm still pinching myself that I won and that I'm now going to the National awards night on Sunday."

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Born with Lumbar Sacral Spinal Agenysis, at the age of 16 Mickey is already a wheelchair athlete of distinction, having blazed onto the scene in 2003 when he won his first London mini marathon.  

Mickey has since won a string of titles over distances from 100m to 8 miles, on the track and out on the road, including the 2006 B.W.R.A T53 Men’s 100m finals, and Mickey also this year became the under 17 winner of the London mini marathon. Mickey is also Scottish T53 100m mens champion, and D.S.E T53 100m men’s champion.

The Lord’s Taverners recently provided Mickey with a lightweight manual wheelchair, which has enabled Mickey to increase his training and improve on his already outstanding performances.  This is the first time The Lord’s Taverners has invested in a select group of athletes.  Since 1950, The Lord’s Taverners have been raising money to ‘give young people, particularly those with special needs, a sporting chance’. The SRSN Ambassadors have been recruited from across the country from a wide range of sports; the five ambassadors include two Junior Wheelchair London Marathon winners, a British wheelchair tennis champion and a passionate cricketer. The event held at The Lord’s Taverners HQ was attended by the BBC’s Manish Bhasin. As well as meeting Manish, the ambassadors received a video message from Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, the official Patron of The Lord’s Taverners Sports Wheelchair Sponsorship Scheme, commented: “I’m delighted to celebrate the first ever SRSN ambassadors and look forward to working with them in the future, helping them on the road to Beijing and London in 2012.”

Manish Bhasin, star of BBC’s Football Focus added: “It was a real honour to meet some truly inspirational people today. As a member of The Lord’s Taverners, I’m delighted to be associated with a charity that offers a sporting chance to so many.”

The day also marked the presentation of the 250th sports wheelchair. These lightweight-frame chairs are vital for competitive play and have made a real difference to all who have received them.

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Bushell Enjoys Tyne Up North
Birchfield Harriers Website 5th Oct 2006 By Tom McCook 

Mickey Bushell ended his 2006 season last Thursday night on a high note in the North East of England.  For the second consecutive year, the 16-year old was one of the top two dozen wheelchair racers in the world to have been invited to compete in the prestigious Tyne Tunnel two kilometres race.  The 2005 World Under 16 sprint champion placed eighth in the Men’s event in a time of five minutes 48.06 seconds, which was a particularly impressive performance as he was the youngest competitor by about four years in the elite field which attracted entries from Australia, Canada, Germany and Italy as well as three of the home nations.  In one of the rare occasions in the year when the Tyne Tunnel is closed to cars and lorries for half an hour, the Birchfield Harrier improved by the gigantic margin of two minutes and 35 second compared with his event debut a year ago. 

Mickey commented, “It is a great race for me to end my season. We start at the south end of the Tunnel with a hell for leather 100 metres sprint to the entrance portal.  

It was an exhilarating feeling to know that we were exceeding the normal 30 miles an hour speed limit and the leaders were clocked at much more than forty miles an hour on the one kilometre downhill stretch. However you get a reality check and your arms ache with the second kilometre being uphill which means that you are relieved to reach the sanctuary of the finishing line. I was really pleased with my greatly improved time. I want to continue to move through the field as I get older and stronger so that I can hopefully win this race in the future.”

Paul Hunt who coaches Mickey Bushell placed twelfth in a time of six minutes 34.02 seconds.  The legendary Dame Tanni Grey Thompson who has competed on all five occasions that this race has been staged finished fourth in the Women’s race in six minutes 24.07 seconds, seven seconds behind her husband and coach Ian Thompson.

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County duo are off to Holland
Shropshire Star Wednesday 12th July 2006 

Shropshire duo Deborah Brennan and Mickey Bushell are heading for Holland after being selected to represent Britain in the world Paralympic Athletics Championships.

Brennan is no stranger to the event -which will be held in Assen -having competed in the last two championships in Lille in 2002 and Birmingham four years earlier. 

This time around the Telford athlete will have her eyes on glory in the 100m, T34 category. It will be Bushell's first appearance at the championships and he will race in the 100m, T53 category, and the 4x100m relay. 

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Photo By Mark Shearman athleticsimages@aol.com

Norwich Union GB team for IPC World Championships in Assen
Featured on UK Athletics website Tuesday 11th July 2006 

Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, David Weir, and Kenny Churchill are amongst the athletes named today by UK Athletics to compete in the IPC World Championships in Assen, 2-10 September.

The 49-strong team will have a dual focus on this year’s championships. Not only will they be competing for medals and for World titles, but also to secure qualifying places for Beijing.

UK Athletics Performance Director Dave Collins said: “In selecting this team we considered a number of factors, particularly in light that this is the last global championships to take place prior to the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

“The usual emphasis on medals is there, but so too is the need to qualify as many athletes in the top four places as possible in order to secure as large a competitor quota as we can for the Paralympics.  “After those primary considerations, we have selected a number of developing athletes in order to gain the competitive experience they will need for 2008 and ensuring their classifications are maintained on the Paralympic programme.” In addition to the individual places, Great Britain has also entered two relay events for the first time in recent years; the cerebral palsy 4 x 100m and the wheelchair racers 4 x 100m

“Medals are essential, and it appears we have not previously taken best advantage of the strength we have in some events to explore the relay option,” explained Collins.  “In not even entering relay races we are squandering the opportunity for further podium and top eight places which, in turn, affect the funding received by disability athletics.  “Hopefully this revived move towards relays will prove productive and we can look to learn from our experience in Assen and Beijing and build further in time for London 2012.”

Norwich Union GB and NI Team:

MEN 100m

Greame BALLARD – T36, Michael BUSHELL – T53, Ian JONES – T44 *, David WEIR – T54, Michael CHURM – T37, Lloyd UPSDELL – T35, John MCFALL – T42, Ben RUSHGROVE – T36, Jamie HARDING – T37, Neil FACHIE – T13, Stephen HERBERT – T37 

200m

Brian ALLDIS – T54, Greame BALLARD – T36, Michael CHURM – T37, John MCFALL – T42, Ian JONES – T44, Neil FACHIE – T13, David WEIR – T54, Ben RUSHGROVE – T36 

400m 

Brian ALLDIS – T54, Matthew CLIFF – T12, Stephen PAYTON – T38, David WEIR – T54, Lee HUNTER – T36 ** 

800m 

Brian ALLDIS – T54, Danny CRATES – T46, Dean MILLER – T37 *, David WEIR – T54

1500m 

Brian ALLDIS – T54, David WEIR – T54, Tushar PATEL – T54 

5000M 

Brian ALLDIS – T54, Tushar PATEL – T54 

10000M 

Tushar PATEL – T54 

4x100m CP Relay 

Greame BALLARD – T36, Michael CHURM – T37, Stephen PAYTON – T38, Jamie HARDING – T37, Ben RUSHGROVE – T36, Stephen HERBERT – T37 

4x100m Wheelchair Racers 

Tushar PATEL – T54, David WEIR – T54, Michael BUSHELL – T53, Brian ALLDIS – T54, A N OTHER 

Marathon 

Kenny HERRIOTT – T54, Bob MATTHEWS – T11 Guide Runner: Paul Harwood, Noel THATCHER – T12 Guide Runner: TBC, David WEIR – T54, Tushar PATEL –T54, Brian ALLDIS – T54 

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Stephens and Bushell top performers in Blackpool
Featured on UK Athletics website Saturday 26th June 2006 

Nathan Stephens and Mickey Bushell (Birchfield Harriers) were among the young British athletes in impressive form at the National Junior Athletics Championships, organised by Disability Sport Events (DSE) on 24 and 25 June in Blackpool.

Eighteen-year-old Stephens was among the older athletes at the Championships to produce good performances. Stephens from Bridgend followed up his hat-trick of titles at the British Open Athletics Championships in Manchester a fortnight ago with three more titles, each of them in DSE national junior records.

First he took the under-20 javelin title with a throw of 30.65m in the event in Blackpool. He followed that up with another DSE national junior record of 11.73m to win the group 5b under-20 shot. That was a particularly impressive performance as he added 44cm to his title-winning throw at the British Open and also achieved the qualification standard for the 2006 World Championships in Holland. Stephens rounded off his campaign by winning the group 5b under-20 discus with a throw of 29.59m.

Bushell, meanwhile, was in impressive form on the track, collecting titles at 100m, 200m and 400m, each of them in DSE national junior records. The 16-year-old from Birmingham won the group 4 under-17 100m title in 16.6 seconds – just 0.07 seconds outside his winning time at the British Open two weeks ago. 
He also took the group 4 under-17 400m title, clocking a time of 1:08.2 and then completed the set with a group 4 200m title at under-17 level in another DSE junior record of 32.8 seconds.

North West athlete Dean Miller achieved a World Championship qualifying standard for the 800m, winning the group 9 under-20 title in a time of 2:19.2, a DSE national junior record. He also went on to win the 1500m title in 4:44.0, also in a record.
Another North West athlete, Ian Jones, performed well to win the group 9 under-17 events at 100m in 12.4 seconds and the 200m in a DSE national junior record of 24.7 seconds.

Young British sprinter Tom Wilson also impressed, winning the group 6 under-20 100m title in 14.3 seconds and taking the group 6 under-20 title over 200m in 29.6 seconds. Both were DSE national junior records for the East Midlands athlete.
Sixteen-year-old sprinter Katrina Hart, who won bronze in T37 100m at last year’s European Open Athletics Championships in Finland, as the youngest member of the British team aged just 15, collected a brace of titles in Blackpool.

Representing the West Midlands, she won the group 10 under-17 100m title in a time of 15.6 seconds and then added the group 10 under-17 200m title in 32.8 seconds in Blackpool. 

Sixteen-year-old Cambridge athlete Thomas Digney, representing the Eastern region, won the group 8 under-20 shot with a throw of 9.38m, then added the group 8 under-20 javelin title with a throw of 21.53m. 

Athens 2004 Paralympian Steven Leigh collected a brace of titles representing the North West. He won the group 10 under-20 400m in 58.1 seconds and then the group 10 under-20 200m title in 27.1 seconds.

Kathryn Periac, UK Athletics Disability Performance Manager, said: “The championships were a wonderful event, and thanks go to Disability Sport Events, its regional managers and the schools who brought athletes along.

“There were many records and outstanding performances by younger athletes, which is a terrific sign for London 2012 and beyond and also some good performances by some of the older athletes who are approaching World Championships level.”

Amongst the GB Juniors aiming for this summer’s World Junior Championships in Beijing, Alex Smith (Hull Achilles) threw a personal best by over 2 metres in Hungary over the weekend, his throw 73.81m secured third place in the competition. Amir Williamson (Blackheath & Bromley) threw 64.89m, both athletes have been named in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the Mannheim International. 

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LOCAL ATHLETE ON TRACK TO SUCCESS
Shropshire Star Friday 26th May 2006 By Yvonne Rush Npower Press Office 

Young wheelchair athlete, Mickey Bushell (15), from Telford produced a great performance in the 100m at the Npower Regional Athletics Competition for Disabled Athletes at the Alexander Stadium last Sunday, despite having to deal with relentless rain.  

Mickey is training hard for the London Paralympics. He is currently the UK’s fastest T53 racer over 100m and that’s in both junior and senior categories. He’s working hard to collect a medal in 2012.  The event is fast becoming the leading regional competition for disabled athletes with 34 clubs and schools taking part this year.  

There were track and field disciplines with athletes competing across all levels up to Paralympic standard – Richard White took to the track as part of his preparation for a place in the GB squad at the 2008 Beijing games.  

The event has become an important milestone for young athletes with physical or visual impairments as results are key to the selection process for the National Championships held in late June and athletes with learning disabilities record their official times and distances as a precursor to the Special Olympic National Games.

This year, the event’s importance was highlighted by the attendance of international shot putter, Kim Minett, who was invited as a guest by organisers, the English Federation of Disability Sports.  The event was supported once again by npower, one of the UK’s leading energy suppliers, who joined with Birmingham City Council, qualified England Athletics officials and a host of volunteer helpers to make a success of the day.  Kevin Rodgers, community involvement executive for npower comments: “Despite the rain, it was an amazing day. The athletes were undeterred by the adverse weather conditions, which is testament to their commitment and enthusiasm. npower is all about energy and we certainly saw a lot of that at these regional games – Mickey’s success in what can best be described as adverse conditions was admirable.”  Dennis Hodgkins, regional development manager of the EFDS, is hoping the annual event will continue to grow, he explains: “This is the largest participation event for disabled athletes in the West Midlands. It’s an opportunity for serious regional competition and serves to raise the standard of disability sport to even higher levels.”

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Mickey's Win
Telford Journal 12th May 2006 

A Telford teenager has been crowned the British Wheelchair Racing Association Men's T53 100m champion in the first track meet of the season. Lord Silkin School pupil Mickey Bushell also won the 13-17 boys category in the Adidas Mini London Marathon, completing the 2.65km course in 13 minutes and 16 seconds, a minute and 10 seconds ahead of the second place.  

Mickey, who is 15-years-old, entered the 100m 200m and 400m in the first track meet of the season, held at Stoke Manderville, and won the 100m in a time of 15.99, which was also a personal best for Mickey over that distance. Last weekend he was also taking part in the British Athletic League wheelchair Grand Prix. This is five races spread over the season at different venues. Not only is Mickey doing exceptionally well here in the UK, but in August he flies out to Switzerland to compete in the Swiss Nationals. 

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It's Another Capital Gain for Mickey
Great Barr Observer 28th April 2006 By Tom McCook 

Mickey Bushell completed a hat-trick of victories in the Adidas London wheelchair Mini Marathon on Sunday. The Birchfield Harrier completed the 4.2km course in 13:16mins to win the under 18s boys race, 30 seconds quicker than when he had finished third 12 months earlier. It was the 15-year-old's third success on the streets of the capital, having won the 12/13-years category in both 2003 and 2004. Ominously for his rivals, Bushell will be eligible for the under-18s race for another two years before progressing to the adult ranks. Bushell, who was born with a rare paraplegic disorder, led from gun to tape to win by 71 seconds from fellow stagbearer Andrew Tongue, who took silver in 14:27mins. "I had a good start and the crowd were very supportive on the embankment and the Mall," Bushell said. "I would like to continue to improve and win two more gold medals before I become a senior. "However, I prefer sprint races on the track and will compete over 100m, 200m and 400m this Saturday at Stoke Manderville," Sixteen-year-old Jenny Hill, who was born with Spina-Bifida, took 2:22mins off her winning time from 2005 but had to settle for silver this time round in the girls' race. Paul Hunt, who coaches all 

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Mickey is the top boy again
Birmingham Mail 26th April 2006 By Tom McCook

Mickey Bushell completed a hat trick of victories in the Adidas London wheelchair Mini Marathon.  The 15-year old completed the 4.2Kms course in 13mins 16 seconds to win the under 18 boys race.  His winning performance was half-a-minute faster than he achieved 12 months ago in third place in the same event.  The teenager, who makes the journey from his home in Telford four times a week to train at the Alexander stadium, completed a hat trick of victories on Sunday having won the 12-13 races in 2003 and 2004.  

The frightening prospect for the opposition is that the Birchfield Harrier will be eligible to extend his treasure trove for another two years before progressing to the men's race.  Mickey, who was born with a rare paraplegic disorder, led from gun to tape to win by 71 seconds.  Andrew Tongue from Coleshill completed a Birchfield Harriers one-two, winning the silver medal in 14:27.  Bushell said: "I had a good start and the crowd were very supportive on the embankment and on the Mall. I would like to continue to improve and win two more gold medals before I become a senior."  

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Mickey on track for Olympic Gold
The Birmingham Mail 8th February 2006 By Brian Halford

Birchfield Harriers youngster Mickey Bushell has his sights firmly set on Beijing 2008 and London 2012 after his selection for the UK Athletics World Class Performance plan development squad.  The squad comprises athletes considered by UKA to be potential medal-winners at the next two Paralympics.  

The selection of 15-year old Bushell, who hails from Telford but trains and races with at Birchfield Harriers, continues his remarkable progress since taking up competitive sport just 3 years ago.  First persuaded to take up racing by Keith Brennan, father of Paralympic champion Debbie, within a month Bushell had won the 60m and 100m sprints at the Regional championships.  And he has never looked back.  Despite his youth, Bushell is already ranked 18th in the World adult 100m standings.  He holds the British junior record for 100m, 200m and 400m -but is now aiming for the biggest stage of all.  And according to coach Paul Hunt, who is also targeting Beijing as a competitor, Bushell has the potential to go all the way.  

They also train and race together, which makes for some hard-fought battles between mentor and apprentice.  "It's about 50/50 in races between us," Hunt said.  "Mickey's beaten me a few times quite convincingly over 100m but at 200m it's about 50/50 and over 400m I've got the edge!  "But whoever wins, every day everything we do is all geared to the Olympics,"  The challenge ahead is simple - how best to maximise Bushell's abundant talent.  And that means exploring every option in terms of finding the best in facilities, equipment and coaching.  And that's an expensive exercise, A top-quality racing wheelchair alone costs around £3,000.  Throw in all the travelling and accomodation and costs quickly mount up.  Some backing is received from sources like the National Lottery, the FA Community fund and the Lady Taverners, but more sponsorship would only smooth the path to the Paralympics.  "You can have all the talent in the world but you still need financial support to get up to that next level,"  said Hunt.  "The situation has got better with the Lottery coming in but really it's the gold medal winners that attract support - the question is: How do you get to that level without it?"

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Stags trio picked out as Paralympic stars of future
Great Barr Observer 6th January 2006 By Tom McCook

Teenage athlete Mickey Bushell has been identified as a future Paralympic star by UK Athletics.  The 15-year-old Birchfield Harrier has been named in a 34-strong squad to take part in the Disability World Class Development Programme, which will aim to prepare athletes for the Paralympics in Beijing and London.  

Bushell, who won the under 14's wheelchair event at the 2003 London Marathon, will be joined in the elite squad by fellow stag bearers Iftakhar Hussain and Deborah Brennan.  But there was disappointment for Bushell's coach Paul Hunt who was overlooked, despite being selected for the programme in past years.  "I am delighted for Mickey,"  said Hunt, aged 27. "He  richly deserves his selection.  "He has huge potential and is improving by leaps and bounds.

"But from my point of view, I am bitterly disappointed to have been left out of the squad," added Hunt, who is now being advised on his training by Paralympic legend Tanni Grey-Thompson.  "I feel that the process and communication of the decisions could have been better than it was on this occasion.  "I have requested a personal meeting with UK Athletics Performance Director Dave Collins to discuss my concerns.  "But despite the setback, I still have the potential to improve as a competitor, as well as a coach.  "Tanni is now advising me and that arrangement is already paying dividends - I improved my personal best performance over ten miles at the Great South Road Race recently."  

Former Wilson Start school pupil Hussain, meanwhile, was surprised by his inclusion in the British squad.  The 29year old, who is being coached by former 100m European champion Lincoln Asquith, said: "I am obviously chuffed to have been named on the list and must have just got in.  "I'm looking to focus on sprint races, having achieved a personal best over 200m in Atlanta last March.  "I would like to move up in distance to 400m during the coming season."

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