THE search for Yorkshire's top disabled athletes was launched this week -- and Keighley's own 'golden girl' Katie Whitaker could be in the running.

Yorkshire Electricity and the Federation of Disability Sports Organisations have joined forces to reward disabled sports people from across the region.

Katie has been selected for the British Powerlifting team to take part in the 1999 Special Olympics, being held in North Carolina, USA, in June.

She took up the sport five years ago and in 1997 collected four gold medals at the National Special Olympics in Portsmouth.

A ceremony for the Yorkshire FDSO awards will be held at Leeds United's Elland Road ground on march 27 when the winners of a number of categories will be announced.

There will be special awards for top male and female Young Achievers, the top sports team and the Sports Personality of the Year. Last year the personality award was won by 32-year-old Stephen Armstrong who went on to become the World Blind Waterskiing Champion.

The Disabled Sports Organisation has a calendar of 60 events ranging from blind cricket to deaf football and including athletics tournaments for people with physical and learning disabilities.

In total over 5,000 people will be able to take part in events supported by Yorkshire Electricity's 'Power Play' sponsorship. The company's sponsoreship was given an extra boost by a £50,000 grant from Sportsmatch, a Government initaitive to encourage industry to support sport.

Tricia Hall, Chief Executive of the FDSO said: "As well as encouraging disabled people to take part in sport, the scheme had increased the number of athletes from the region who have been picked for national and international teams."

n Nomination forms are available from: FDSO, Tel: 01924-279305.

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