Flying the flag for county

Saturday 1st March 2008, 1:00PM GMT.

Shropshire’s leading disabled athletes are hoping to prove they are amongst the best in the region at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The county has eight representatives for the annual npower Disability Sports Midlands Awards which will be held at Villa Park on Thursday, April 17.

Telford’s Mickey Bushell – tipped as a future Paralympic medalist – has been nominated for the Male Sports Personality of the Year award for his exploits on the track, while Oswestry swimmer Rachel Thomas has been shortlisted for the female prize.

Table tennis supremo Alex Edwards, also from Oswestry, is in line for the Young Male Athlete of the Year award.

And Shropshire is launching a five-pronged assault for the Volunteer of the Year prize, with Shrewsbury quartet Dick and Fred Wildgoose, Graham Fubber and Ian Halford, as well as Telford’s Ellen Hassie all contenders for their work in promoting and encouraging disability cricket across the county.