A Bradford schoolboy is celebrating after winning gold in the British Transplant Games.

Ryan Siddall beat off stiff competition at the games in Medway, Kent, to bag the gold medal in table tennis. He was also a medallist in the ball-throw competition, bringing home a bronze.

The 11-year-old, who is about to start at Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College, also missed out on a medal in swimming by a fraction of a second.

Ryan, who lives in Buttershaw, was born with kidney damage and underwent a transplant six years ago, receiving a kidney donated by his dad Ian, who was a perfect match.

A keen sportsman, Ryan has competed in three Games so far, in Edinburgh, Sheffield and Coventry, winning a clutch of silver and bronze medals for activities including the obstacle race, ball throw and 50-metre dash. But until this year, he had not won a gold.

He said: “I’m really happy, it is amazing. I didn’t think I’d get a gold. It has been hard work practising but it has been worth it.”

He added: “I’m a bit disappointed about the swimming – it was so close.”

Ian and Rose, who travelled to support their son, are very proud. “We are thrilled to bits. He had not been very well last week, but he has really pushed himself. He didn’t want to do the long jump, but we gave him some medicine and he came round.

“Ryan competed in a few heats for swimming, so he did really well. He was so near. It is all about taking part and giving children confidence.”

She added: “I hadn’t watched Ryan play table tennis – I didn’t realise he was so good. He practises in the garage with his dad, yet there were other players whose parents paid out a lot for coaching. Ryan won all his heats and the other parents kept saying how good he was. It was great to see him achieve a gold.”

Rose thanked all those who sponsored the Leeds hospitals’ children’s team, including Ryan’s old school, Home Farm Primary off Cooper Lane, which held a non-uniform day to raise money, and Tesco, who donated inflatable Queen’s Diamond Jubilee memorabilia for the team to wave. Altogether, the team won 23 medals.

Already, Ryan is knuckling down to practise for the next transplant games to be held next year in Sheffield.

Rose stressed the importance of registering for organ donation, by visiting organdonation.nhs.uk, or ringing 0300 1232323.

  • To donate towards the team’s expenses, contact rosesid19@hotmail.co.uk.