Gareth Cooper and Chris Firmin are the latest stars of Basildon's Disabled Sports Association.

The pair collected seven medals between them at the British Wheelchair Sports Association's junior championships in Reading.

And Gareth, 18, is heading for international recognition after being invited to join the Great Britain powerlifting squad.

Sitting pretty - Gareth Cooper and Chris Firmin scooped the medals from the British Wheelchair Sports Association

Betty Jeffrey, who runs the Basildon group from the Swanmead Centre, said: "He only tried powerlifting for the first time at the event, and not as part of the competition.

"But he lifted 65kg -- 10kg more than his bodyweight -- so they've invited him to join up with the national squad."

At the Reading event he won gold in the hockey as part of an Eastern Region side.

And 14-year-old Chris came back with six medals.

He claimed gold in the archery and 25m backstroke, silvers in 25m freestyle and rifle shooting and bronzes in table tennis and hockey.

Published Friday November 1, 2002

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