MAXINE Moore has described her call-up to the GB Paralympic squad as a “fantastic honour” and cannot wait to compete in front of thousands of spectators inside the Olympic Stadium in Green-wich Park.

The 19-year-old, who resides in Preston , Wey-mouth, is currently ranked fifth in the world in the club throw and holds the UK record for under-20s, and bids for glory on Saturday in the F32 category.

She is also the British women’s champion and holds a personal best of 16.52m, which is a Paralympic qualifying distance. Speaking to Echosport, Moore said: “To be selected for the Parlaympics is fantastic and I am very excited.

“I started out doing this event when I was at school in Poole. I also tried discus but the club event was the one I really enjoyed.

“Basically, the club is like a small wooden baseball bat with a metal handle that you throw backwards over your shoulder.

“The hardest thing about club throw for people with cerebral palsy is releasing the club at the right moment because hand control can be difficult.

“As this is essential for achieving maximum distance, it is something you have to train to do.”

She went on to add: “Having the chance to compete for Great Britain is a fantastic honour.

“I have never been involved in a competition this big before and I cannot wait to get out there.”

Moore, who was born in Yeovil and once lived in Bridport, has been attending Treloar College for physically disabled students in Alton, Hampshire for the past two years and has one more year left to do.

Commenting further on the college’s official website, she said: “Every week I do training at Treloar’s – plus I have physiotherapy, do trampolining and go to the gym.

“I also do walking to strengthen my legs because I have my own throwing technique – I stand up as I throw the club.

“There has been some discussion about this because everyone else stays in their wheelchair, but the rules say your hips have to be no higher than a certain height when you actually throw the club and standing still leaves me within this height limit. Other players might increase the height of their wheelchair seat, so really it’s no different.

“As I said, I train weekly at Treloar’s but I also train in Manchester and in Yeovil.

“My dad, Chris, is my main trainer, but I have others too, including Tim Edwards, who is a top coach.

“We video my training and competitions so I can watch them back and then improve my technique based on what I see. I also have a good friend who I train with which makes it more fun.”

Looking back at her best moment to date in club throw, she added: “There have been several really.

“I think my proudest moment so far was leading the South West team in Preston where we won the team trophy and two gold medals.

“I have quite a few medals now – 30 gold ones as well as silver and bronze ones – and I am the UK record holder for under-20s.

“I like it when I achieve personal bests but I do get annoyed when I don’t think I’ve done as well as I could.”

After the Paralympics, Moore will set her sights on a trip to Rio in 2016 but before that there is also the little matter of the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

She concluded: “There’s always something to aim for in this sport.”

* Moore receives valuable support from Variety, the Children’s Charity, which helps to provide her with funding in the form of financial grants.

A spokesman said: “Dedication to such a high level of sport can be financially strenuous at times for young people and their families.

“The added strain caused by the need for specialist equipment, prosthetics and training increases the weight of the burden and Variety Children’s Charity teamed up with SportsAid to provide Maxine and 54 other Paralympic hopefuls with a financial grant to cover their training, accommodation and travel costs.”

To find out more about the charity, visit its website varietychildrenscharity.org