PEN Dragon School from Lewisham were crowned champions of the all London special schools’ cricket festival yesterday.

They were captained by England moderate learning disability team member Chris Lodge, who is hoping to be part of the national squad this year.

The final followed a series of county special school tournaments, with the finalists fighting it out against other county representatives.

Cricket for change’s hit the top programme provides a cricketing structure for young people aged between eight and 19 with visual impairment, learning disabilities or physical disabilities.

It replicates the ECB’s playground to test arena structure of mainstream cricket.

Hit the top offers youngsters with disabilities the opportunity to access cricket in school and at local clubs and to represent their region at inter-county tournaments, as well as a network of in-school coaching, new cricket clubs, county representative sides, county festivals and coaching apprenticeships.

Chief executive of the Lord’s Taverners Matthew Patten said: “Hit the top embodies the work the Lord’s Taverners does within cricket, disability sport and recreational opportunities for youngsters with special needs.

“Funding raised by this year’s Lord Mayor’s Appeal has enabled us support this fantastic project and will help us to give even more young people a sporting chance.”

Former opening bowler of the England blind team and manager of cricket for change’s hit the top programme Andy Dalby-Welsh was delighted with how the day went.

He said: "It was fantastic to have so many of the hit the top schools competing yesterday.

“We are hugely grateful for the support from the Lord's Taverners, which is really assisting us to change young people's lives.

“Pen Dragon School should be incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to defending their crowns in 2010."