Over the May Day weekend the Dwarf Athletic Association UK held it’s National Open Games for the 16^th time. This annual weekend provides 11 different sports for Dwarf athletes to compete in from all 4 corners of the British Isles.

With competitors from as far a field as Glasgow, Newquay and London all converging on Birmingham to enter the biggest Dwarf Games ever.This year saw the largest entry of athletes amounting to133.

The opening event to the games was Power-lifting with personal bests achieved by all 9 lifters, Adam Alderman who is on the British team of lifting produced the heaviest lift and a personal best of 130kg.

In the track and field event a new British Record was set in the Women’s Javelin by Vicky Silk of 17.81 metres and in Men’s Shot Put Andrew Martin achieved a distance of 7.95 metres. In the under 17 age group Sean Clare threw a new record in discus for his age group of 21.32 metres, and his throw was further that the open class gold medallist.

The National Swimming Gala was well attended and included DAA’s own Eleanor Simmonds and Matt Whorwood who are both medallists from Beijing. The young swimmers competing were thrilled to be competing in the same Gala as such famous and accomplished athletes.

These two swimmers are inspiring many others including Michael Thompson who this year set a new British record in his age group and Jack Shephard who won the Margaret Scott Trophy for the 25m freestyle.

The Badminton and Table Tennis tournaments were attended by both the European and British champions and there were thrilling finals in both the men’s and women’s groups.

Finally the weekend finished with team games of Hockey, Basketball and Football which are always great sports to finish with and where friendships and bonds are secured.

This record breaking games has become so important to restricted growth people, non more so than 2009 when Great Britain takes a team of 75 men, women and children to the 5^th World Dwarf Games late July.

This is a week long multi sport experience which takes place every four years, 18 countries will be competing in the hosting town of Belfast, and GB team will most certainly be looking to keep their world record haul of medals ongoing.

Sponsorship is always needed for these events and any help would be most appreciated