History was made as the GB men, including Carlisle’s Nat Pattinson, claimed wheelchair basketball gold over the weekend.

GB’s talented youngsters finished on top of the pile in Toronto, Canada, at the 2017 Under-23 World Championships.

In the tournament’s 20-year history, never before had a GB team medalled at a Under-23 men’s World Championships.

But, in what was a dramatic gold medal game against Turkey on Friday, the GB men took the championship title following four quarters of incredible play in their 54-43 win.

The final forced the GB men’s team, including Pattinson who is a part of Cumbria Wheelchair Sports Club basketball team known as the CWSC Panthers, to dig deep and come together to hold back Turkey’s powerful offensive play in the opening quarter.

British Wheelchair Basketball performance director Paul Davies said: “Gregg Warburton said at the close of the game that the team stuck together and this is certainly what they did.

“This title is the result of four year’s hard work by the players and performance staff.

“Head coach Scott Wallace and assistant coach Pete Finbow have worked to bond the players as a team, to have the unwavering belief that they could win a World Championship title.

“The team have had this title in their sights since winning the Junior European title in 2014. The skill of our Under-23 men, apparent on the world stage this week, reflects the wealth of wheelchair basketball Junior talent within the UK.

“Today we are reaping the rewards of the investment of UK Sport, TASS, Sport England and the National Lottery make in enabling us to develop talent pathways so we can deliver performances.”

“What an absolutely amazing result for our world champions,” British Wheelchair Basketball chief executive Charlie Bethel added.

“My congratulations go to all the players, staff and coaching staff as well as the team behind them.

“This was a fantastic demonstration of elite sport, of hard work paying off and an inspiring performance.

“Clearly, this is a testament to all we are doing working with our regions and clubs in building a sustainable talent pathway.”

Cumbrian Pattinson’s GB team-mates Ben Fox and Jack Perry impressed during the world championships, with the pair consistent high points scorers.