CWMBRAN'S Dave Phillips has taken another step towards his dream of the Rio Paralympics after being selected to represent Great Britain at the European Para-Archery Championship.

Phillips, who has multiple sclerosis, will be part of the team at Challans next month after winning the qualifiers at Lilleshall.

The shoot out featured 26 archers and the Llantarnam Archery Club man won both rounds in the recurve open to book his spot with a score of 642 from 72 arrows.

Phillips said: "I am grateful to Disability Sport Wales and their Academy sponsors, General Dynamics UK, for supporting in me over the last few months.

"Additionally I'd like to thank my coaching team around me to make this a reality. The hard work has paid off, and shows a disability does not stop you having the ability to be a champion."

The top three individual finishers in each event in France will win one Rio 2016 qualification spot for their national Paralympic committee.

Pippa Britton, chairperson of Disability Sport Wales and a former Paralympic archer, said: "It's great news to hear that Dave has been selected for this event.

"Following his removal from the World Class programme we engaged Dave on our Academy programme to reinvigorate his training and passion for the sport.

"With the support of Sport Wales practitioners at the Welsh Institute of Sport we put together a focused training and competition programme, with the ultimate goal of securing his place at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

"This event in France is the first stepping stone to reach that goal, and we'll continue to work with Dave and Archery GB on his progress to Paralympic selection."