GB wheelchair basketball teams dominate World Championships

Congratulations to the GB Wheelchair Basketball teams who dominated the 2018 World Championships held in Hamburg – with the men’s team crowned World Champions and the women’s squad claiming silver with no fewer than 16 players having come through the Lord’s Taverners Junior League and National Junior Championships programme.

With six members of the triumphant gold medal winning men's squad and 10 of the silver medalist women's squad having benefited from the charity's support of the sport at a junior level, the programme is paying dividends.

Gregg Warburton, James Macsorley, Harry Brown, Phil Pratt, George Bates and Jim Palmer helped the men's wheelchair basketball team created history with victory over the USA in the final. The GB team claimed a 79-62 win over the Rio Paralympic champions for their first global gold medal. Bates and Brown led the GB scoring with 17 points apiece.

Joy Haizelden, Charlotte Moore, Kayla Bell, Siobhan Fiztpatrick, Maddie Thompson, Amy Conroy, Laurie Williams, Helen Freeman, Sophie Carrigill and Jude Hamer were in the women's squad that finished runners-up to Holland - losing 56-40.

The Lord’s Taverners Junior League and National Junior Championships (U15 and U19's) make significant contributions to the continued development of junior wheelchair basketball by creating multiple opportunities for young and aspiring athletes who use a wheelchair in the UK.

Since 2008 the competitions have evolved to meet the needs of players, which has resulted in higher levels of participation within the sport.

Both competitions are essential to the development of wheelchair basketball, providing the opportunity for young players from across the UK to compete against each other.

Lisa Pearce, CEO of British Wheelchair Basketball, said: "At the World Championships in Hamburg, we were justifiably proud of our junior athlete talent pathway in the UK. Through the Lord's Taverners continued investment in British Wheelchair Basketball, we have created a sustainable model for the emergence of new talent onto the GB squads.

"The opportunity to nurture junior talent through the Lord's Taverners Junior League and Championships has significantly contributed to British Wheelchair Basketball being home to the best wheelchair basketball squads in the world - Great Britain now holds the World Championship titles for both junior teams and the men's senior team, as well as the silver medal for our GB Women's team."

The below athletes played in both Lord’s Taverners Junior League and Junior Championships (unless stated): 

Men’s Squad
Gregg Warburton
James Macsorley
Harry Brown
Phil Pratt
George Bates
Jim Palmer

Women’s Squad
Joy Haizelden
Charlotte Moore
Kayla Bell
Siobhan Fitzpatrick
Maddie Thompson
Amy Conroy
Laurie Williams
Helen Freeman
Sophie Carrigill 
Jude Hamer (only Junior Championships)