ATHLETES from the Cheshire Academy of Integrated Sports and Arts, in Crewe, bagged almost 150 medals at the region's biggest disability event.

Forty-two athletes from the Macon Way centre represented South and East Cheshire at the Special Olympic North West Regional Games in Widnes, and returned in triumph.

The Games was the largest event of its type for a decade and saw 250 athletes compete in six different sports.

Athletes from the Academy amassed 80 gold medals, 36 silver and 28 bronze, along with 10 all-round champion titles.

Academy director Iain Chalmers said: 'We believe that children with profound and multiple disabilities have just as much right to compete and train at a sport as everyone else.

'Once again we fielded the youngest team at this competition, which should ensure our continued success for many years to come.'

Academy members were entered in artistic gymnastics, boccia, table tennis, football, rhythmic gymnastics and wheelchair rhythmic gymnastics events.

The Blue Blazers football team took silver and bronze medals at the team events while more gongs were collected at the skills competition, which saw the youngsters demonstrate ball control, speed, dribbling, passing and shooting.

Golds were notched by Adam Audley and Ben Welch, while Leon Meir, William Addis, Thomas Platt, Joseph Harrison, Ben Kellagher and Adam Bloor got silver. Dominic Wyatt and Bradi Minshull won bronze.

Coach Neil Phillips said: 'The footballers were outstanding and were a credit to disability football in the town.'

In table tennis, the Cheshire Academy's small team scored big with medals. Neil Jones and James Ellwood won individual and doubles gold, while Joel Schofield grabbed silver.

Julie Pointon collected fourth place in the female division, a bronze at doubles, and was nominated as female player of the tournament for her excellent sporting behaviour.

In boccia, a game similar to French Boules, 11 Academy players grabbed 13 medals. Coach Kate Atkinson said: 'The wonderful thing about boccia is that it has to be played sitting down which ensures that wheelchair users are not at any disadvantage.'

At rhythmic gymnastics, the Academy took nine competitors and returned with four all-round champions. Top performers included Victoria Perez, who bagged five gold medals in the wheelchair category, and Keighley Phillips, who collected a sliver in the ribbon.

National Special Olympic champion Bethan Collina, 13, took the all-round regional champion title, while Tracey Jones got all-round silver. Amy Halfpenny went home with two silver medals in her first ever competition.

Coach Jeni Tansey said: 'The gymnasts are hungry for success. Gaining four all-round champions is quite remarkable, but they cannot rest on their laurels.'

Highlights of the Level A artistic gymnastics included William Addis, Lauren Whalley, Jamie Hicks and Josh Hitchens performed on vault, bars, wide beam and floor, winning three golds, three silvers and two bronze medals between them.

Daniel Wilson collected gold and Adam Audley collected an all-round gold medal. At Level One Daniel Cooper from Sandbach won all-round gold, with Alex Sinclair getting all-round silver.

Alex Hitchin performed beautifully to win gold, while Jonathan Potter won five golds, a silver and a bronze.

At level Two, Claire Pool warmed up for the European Special Olympic Youth Games in Rome with an all-round gold, while Mark Hughes astounded the audience with ring and bar work to scoop the top prize.

Coach Iain Chalmers said: 'Our gymnasts were technically some of the best at the competition and this was reflected in the medals we won.'

The Cheshire Academy is an award-winning centre dedicated to the provision of disability sport throughout South and East Cheshire. For more information contact 01270 255355 or e-mail specialolympics@disabilitysport.com