MORE than 150 participants and volunteers gathered at River Park Leisure Centre last Wednesday to take part in the annual Paralympic Personal Bests event.

First organised in 2012 to celebrate the London Paralympic Games, the event, organised by Winchester City Council and Winchester GoLD’s, provides a day of sports activities to children and adults with a wide range of disabilities - the aim being to beat their own personal best scores.

Cllr Malcolm Prince, cabinet member for sport, leisure and communities said: “The Paralympic Personal Bests day highlighted all that was good about the people of the Winchester district. The energy and enthusiasm of the participants was amazing across the many sporting events of the day. It emphasised the council’s commitment to sport and leisure notably its focus on health and wellbeing for all. When I got home I simply had to go for a run!

“I was most impressed by the commitment of the many volunteers who had given up a day to plan and organise the events and also the event sponsors who had provided the facilities and awards.”

Simplyhealth sponsored the event and provided medals, t-shirts, certificates and trophies which were presented by the Mayor, Cllr Eleanor Bell.

The event was facilitated by volunteers from Santander, Simplyhealth and Winchester GoLD.