Lucker scoops disability honour

Lucker is hoping to be part of the GB team for the 2012 Paralympics

Wheelchair racer Daniel Lucker has scooped the top prize at the Nationwide DSE Sports Awards in Manchester.

The 15-year-old from Abergavenny was presented with the Rising Star award and a prize of £6,000.

Earlier this year he won the adidas Mini Wheelchair Marathon and claimed the Under-16 1500m and 5000m titles at the Junior World Championships.

"I'm shocked but delighted to have won this and it will mean a lot to me and my development," he told BBC Sport.

"Next year as well as competing again at the Mini Marathon, I want to go to Switzerland and compete at the Under-18 World Championships so the prize will help me do that.

"The standard of wheelchair racing in my age group in Britain is not very strong so it is a great chance to race against the rest of the world and see what I can do and what I need to work on.

"It would mean everything to me to compete in London 2012 and that is a realistic aim for me so I have to continue to work hard and train well."

Lucker, who has spina bifida, was presented with his award by Manchester City footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips.

He is studying for his GCSEs at Cricahowell High School and is coached by two-time London Marathon winner Chris Hallam.

He also took part in this summer's DSE National Junior Athletics Championships, winning six golds and setting a couple of national records.

"Chris has been a huge inspiration to me. He has got so much experience and it has made a big difference to me," the teenager added.

"Seeing what he has done as well as the achievements of Tanni Grey-Thompson and Dave Weir has really helped me. Watching the coverage of the Beijing Paralympics has also been a great inspiration."

The National Sports Person of the Year award went to Paralympic swimmer Heather Frederiksen, who came back from Beijing with a gold, two silvers and a bronze.

Frederiksen, a former able-bodied open water swimmer before an accident left her with restricted movement, made her Paralympic debut in China.

"I've fulfilled what I set out to do in 2008 and I'm living the dream," she said afterwards.

The National Volunteer Award was presented to Leicestershire swimming coach Jill Stidever.

National Junior Sports Awards: Hollie Burrows (East), James Hollis (East) Lauren Steadman (East) Jack Spencer (North West), Alexandra Adams (South East), Ben Procter (South West), Becca Chin (Wales), Bilat Shoukat (West Midlands)

Regional Sports Person: Jo-Jo Cranfield (East), Chris Martin (East Midlands), Leonie Buck (London), Hazel Simpson (North East), Laurence McGivern (Northern Ireland), Heather Frederiksen (North West), Sean Fraser (Scotland), Tobi Green (South East), Dan Cook (South West), Liz Johnson (Wales), Sascha Kindred (West Midlands), Hollie Arnold (Yorkshire)

Volunteer: Oliver Christian (East), Jill Stidever (East Midlands), Dervis Konuralp (London), Georgia Moat (North East), Claire Briggs (Northern Ireland), John Dunne (North West), Gordon Robertson (Scotland), Bronwin Carter (South East), Clive Brown (South West), Wendy Thomas (Wales), Sheena Ball (West Midlands), Steve Welch (Yorkshire).