A YOUNG man with celebral palsy has received the high honour of being chosen to play wheelchair rugby for Great Britain.

Ed Larkin, 17, from Bere Alston, took up the contact sport when he was 14 years old and has since shown great promise — to the point that he is now known far and wide as 'pocket rocket' due to his size and speed.

Ed, who attends Tavistock College, has diplegic cerebral palsy which means he has no muscle tone in his legs but has full strength in his upper body, but he has been determined to never let his condition stop him from playing the sport he loves.

He recently heard that he had been chosen for the regional squad for Great Britain, after which Ed he be chosen for the development team and then on to the elite team competing in the Paralympics.

The news was warmly welcomed by Ed who has tried for a place in the development GB team once before.

'I went to the development trials but didn't get in last year due to my age. This year, due to my age and due to it being a lot of commitment, I didn't go for a place as I wanted to focus on my A-levels. But I have since been selected for the regional side which sees me play a minimum of ten weekends a year at training camps to develop and enhance my skills — my plan is to one day get into the elite squad.'

Ed first took part in the sport in Year 9 after he found that playing tennis was 'not for him' and wanted to be involved in a team sport.

His passion for the sport started during a six week trial, facilitated by the people who later formed the West Country Hawks, Ed's current team. When the trial ended, Ed was eager to get back on to the court — a passion which has not ended even after three seasons with the club.

Ed said that the roles in the sport were 'difficult to explain' but it was a full contact sport played on a specially designed wheelchair on an area the size of a basketball court.

Ed, who was recently voted as 'most valuable player' out of players from all over the country in the division, said: 'The sport has seriously taken off and I find I am much fitter than when I first started — I really enjoy the sport and how much fun it is.'

Taking Ed to the West Country Hawks matches each weekend is his father Ian, a chief petty officer in the Royal Navy. And it was thanks to Ian's connection with the military that has enabled Ed to have his very own specially made wheelchair for the sport.

The wheelchair Ed uses was moulded to his shape and purchased thanks to forces charity SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families' Association), which provides lifelong advice and support for service men and women and veterans of all ages who are serving or who have ever served in the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force and their families.

Ed praised the charity: 'The wheelchair from SSAFA helped me and they were amazing — they fitted it to me and customised this one for me and it is light, which helps for when I go through to the next level.

'The sport is expensive but it is worth the money.'

Ed's mum Gill thanked SSAFA and the community for their continued support to the family. Gill and Ian have twin boys Ed and William. William has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which affects all muscle groups in the body.

Gill said the community in Bere Alston had always been supportive and thanked everyone for their kindness: 'The community is amazing and people always say hello to the boys. We have strong links with Bere Alston United Church and everyone there is so supportive and have been so helpful.'