PROVING that if you really want to do something you can defy all the odds and do it is wheelchair bound Rita Birch.

Little did the Guiseley woman realise that answering a plea in this newspaper would lead to her making history.

When West Yorkshire Ladies Cricket Association made their historic debut in a boys' league on Sunday at North Leeds wheelchair bound Rita was one of the umpires.

Taking a friend's granddaughter to an inaugural cricket practice for girls at Pool-in-Wharfedale led to Rita defying her disability to join in.

On Sunday she became the first person in a wheelchair to umpire a league cricket match in this country. She is also the first woman in the country in a wheelchair to pass the ECB Level 1 cricket coaching award.

The 46 year-old former nurse sustained her disability as a result of an accident whilst lifting a patient.

She had always enjoyed a sporting life as a youngster taking part in girls and women's football on the Weston Lane estate in Otley where she was brought up. She also enjoyed the odd game of charity cricket played by herself and fellow nurses at Wharfedale General Hospital in Otley.

Rita moved on to work at High Royds Hospital in Menston and that is where 19 years ago she injured her back whilst lifting a patient.

She has subsequently been confined to a wheelchair for the past three years.

"It is so easily done, I have no use in my legs now but although the legs are dead the brain is not," says Rita with a smile.

In fact Rita seems to do most things with a smile. She has shown a great deal of courage and determination to deal with her disability and her sunny disposition shines through as she casts a proud eye over the youngsters she has helped to coach towards making their debut in a boys' league.

"In the eyes of a child you are like them. They don't see the wheelchair. It is like a breath of fresh air being with them. You can go in the local supermarket and people pull their shopping away from you as if you are going to contaminate it but kids don't view you as someone in a wheelchair."

Rita regularly turns up to watch home games at Guiseley AFC whatever the weather and she has this message for people: "Don't write people off because they have some form of disability. Just because we are different from someone else does not mean that we can't do things."

Rita has certainly shown that to be true.

She went along to the try cricket day at Pool being staged by the newly-formed West Yorkshire Ladies Cricket Association. There she met Wendi Bolton and Glenys Peel who were coaching the girls.

"They have been a great help and encouragement to me and Wendi was my able-bodied assistant at my cricket coaching exams. I owe a lot to her encouragement."

The voluntary work the women are involved in has seen a squad of 24 players in practice for the newly launched Under-9 team which plays out of the Pool-in-Wharfedale club in the Airedale Junior League.

It is thought to be the first time in history that an all girls team has competed in a boys' league on level terms.

Of her first experience of league umpiring Rita said: "I have never been so scared in all my life. There was a lot to learn having just qualified as a coach and then having different laws for under-9 and under-11 games. It has been a big learning curve but it has also been one big buzz.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it and was running on adrenaline all day."

Rita approached to play for the Yorkshire Terriers, a cricket team for disabled people.

"It was a challenge and I enjoyed it and from that I was asked if I wanted to go on a coaches course so off I went in March and I have now passed my Level 1 course."

Yorkshire Cricket Board representative Howard Clayton said: "We hope Rita's efforts will pave the way for other disabled people to get involved. She has certainly shown them the way."