Double Paralympic champion joins hundreds at the Telford Games - pictures and video

A double Paralympic champion was among hundred of athletes from across the country turned out for the 37th Telford Games.

With most Shropshire and West Midlands clubs represented, the county’s biggest athletics meeting of the year took place at Telford Stadium, organised by Telford Athletic Club.

But headlining the event was Herefordshire’s Dan Pembroke - gold medallist at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics in the F13 javelin for visually-impaired athletes, as well as holding the world record of 74.49 metres, which he threw in Paris.

Although he didn’t come close to that world record, he bagged himself a Telford Games Masters record for over-35 athletes by throwing 58.87 metres in one of the last events of an action-packed day.

Pembroke is coached by Shropshire's John Trower, who also coaches the GB number one Ben East.

Trower was responsible for the Telford Games when it was held in the Town Park Arena and attracted top athletes including Seb Coe, Steve Cram, Daley Thompson and Geoff Capes.

The event has welcomed other famous names in the past including 2024 Olympic silver medallist Matt Hudson-Smith winning the under-11 boys 60 m in 2005 and another GB sprinter Jason Gardner winning the under-17s 100m in 2005, as well as GB and Welsh international Adele Nicholl competing at the event as an under-13, under-15 and under-20 athlete.

Young athletes joining that illustrious roll of honour included Telford AC's Lottie Barrett, who went home with three gold medals.

She won the under-12 girls 75m sprint in 10.67 seconds, the long jump with 4.13 metres and the howler throw in 28.70m.

Telford's Freddie Christiansen was also impressive as he won the under-14 high jump, clearing 1.52m, and took gold in the long jump with 4.51m.

Shrewsbury AC's Natalia De Silva won the under-18s 100m hurdles in 16.21secs, with Oswestry's Tor Hornett winning the under-16s high jump by clearing 1.60m.

Both athletes are representing Shropshire Schools this coming weekend in the English Schools Combined Events finals.

Athletes at the Telford Games also had the experience of having electronic timing at the first Shropshire meeting this season.

This year was very special as the Telford club founded in 1976 celebrated its 50th Birthday, with the first Telford Games held at RAF Cosford back in 1989 before the Telford Stadium was built and opened in 1991.

Other victories by Shropshire athletes were:

Under-12s: Sophia Williams, Shrewsbury, 600m 1.56.49; Victor Huruban, Telford, 600m 1.50.48; Thomas Gilpin, Telford, howler 41.34m; Jacob Dazell, Shrewsbury, long jump 3.67m.

Under-14s: Georgie Howson Shrewsbury 100m 13.5; Ocean-Rose McGrath Telford high jump 1.27m.

Under-16s: Sion Williams, Wenlock 100m hurdles 15.37; Libby Coss, Telford 1500m 5.01.18, Felix Davis, Telford, shot 9.73m discus 29.26m; Matilda Senior, Telford discus 18.32m;

Lexi Dazell, Shrewsbury triple jump 9.15m; Sebastian Owen 800m 2.17.38.

Under-18s: Kody Gilbody, Telford AC, 1500m 4.16.65; Tristan Stewart, Wenlock, long jump 5.31m; Kadisha Nwachukwu, Telford, triple jump 11.16m.

Under-20s: Zachary Jones, Telford, 400m, 50.56; Kris Greenaway, Telford, 200m 22.76; Kornel Rogaczewski, Telford, discus 27.71m, shot 7.67m and triple jump 9.77m; Emily Hall, Shrewsbury, triple jump 9.05m; Ethan Leonard, Telford, 100m, 11.08.

Seniors: Reece Beddows, Telford, 100m 11.2s; Kim Carter, Telford, shot 9.65m, javelin 18.13m; Matthew Yates, Shrewsbury, long jump 5.86m; Jamie Carter, Telford, javelin 40.18m.

Masters: M35 Simon Brown, Telford, hammer 33.54m, discus 38.61m, shot 11.29m; M55 Mel Bolding, Telford, high jump 1.20m, long jump 4.38m; M35 Alice Bates, Telford, long jump 3.69; M50 Helen Watson, Telford, long jump 3.10m pole vault 1.90m and triple jump 7.46m; M55 David Gibson, Lawley, triple jump 7.82m.