Overall there it was a top day for Britain’s athletes who won eight golds, nine silvers and three bronze medals at the Manchester Regional Arena/

 

Grey-Thompson took silver in her final race in a GB vest – the T53 200m - finishing behind Jessica Galli of the USA- who crossed the line in 34.40sec ahead of Dame Tanni, who finished in 35.01.

 

Dame Tanni was relieved her racing career was over.

 

"It was a really, really emotional day,” she said.

 

“It wasn't a bad race apart from the final 50m. 

 

"It's probably the only time in my life I didn't mind coming second. I can actually say it was the taking part that counted.

 

"I don't have to do another sprint start again and I'm really pleased about that.

 

"I never, ever, want to do that again.

 

"I never really do that great in the rain and so I knew it was going to be really tough, but Jessica Galli had a great race."

 

Meanwhile Bath teenager Ben Rushgrove led GB’s top performances in his Paralympic World Cup debut – comfortably taking gold in the T36 200m, while also setting a world record of 24.86 lowering the previous standard of 25.04.

 

He then followed this up with a second gold in the T36 100m.

 

The 19-year-old, who is a student at the University of Bath, said: “I have no idea where that came from.

 

"I knew I was looking for the world record sometime this season but this is my first time out this season and to do it in these conditions is amazing.

 

“The crowd here are amazing they really helped to spur me on.

 

"This is my first race of the year but obviously shows I’m in pretty good shape.”

 

Britain’s John McFall, also making his Paralympic World Cup debut, got GB off to a winning start by picking up Britain’s first medal in the first event of the day – gold in the T42 200m.

 

The 26-year-old Cardiff athlete bettered his bronze in the 200m at the World Championships, crossing the line in 26.84 to take the victory. 

 

McFall was also on form in his second event - the T42 100m  - where he finished behind France’s Clavel Kayitare to win silver in a time of 13.02 seconds. Kayitare crossed the line in 12.80.

 

Another British youngster competing at this event for the first time was Manchester’s Ian Jones.

 

The 17-year-old won silver in both the T44 100m and 200m just behind South Africa’s top sprinter Oscar Pistorious in both.

 

He said: “I got two PBs today so can’t really ask for more.

 

“Running against Oscar is an honour.

 

"He was even helping me set up my blocks in warm up but he is the best.”

 

Scottish teenager Libby Clegg, took bronze in the T12 100m and 200m but was forced to run with a different guide because her usual guide Lincoln Asquith sustained an injury earlier in the week. 

 

David Weir, fresh from winning the London Marathon last month, was again on top form winning golds in both of his events – the T54 200m and 400m.

 

He said: “That’s the fastest I’ve ever been on this track by about two seconds, so it’s a big improvement and shows how well everything is going at the moment.

 

“I’m just loving every distance at the moment. I’ll train for every distance from 400m upwards but I love the 400m most. It’s such a good event.”

 

Anne Wufala Strike, who has recently been moved into the T54 category, won bronze in the 400m before just missing the medals in the 800m – finishing 4th in an event she does not usually contest.

 

“I was really pleased with medalling in the 400m,” she said.

 

“I’m not too pleased with the time but it’s the first time I’ve pushed in this weather so was a new experience.

 

“I wasn’t expecting to get a medal because I’m still fairly new in the T54 category so it’s really good.”

 

London Marathon winner Shelly Woods, just missed out on the medals in the T54 400m, finishing fourth behind Wufala Strike, but pushed to silver in the 800m, crossing the line in 2min 10.54sec just behind Tatyana McFadden of the USA.

 

“My 400m today was not so good but the 800m was much better.

 

“It’s so hard to get a grip when your rims are wet because you have to adjust your technique and at the moment I’m still trying to find my wet technique – some athletes can do it some can’t.

 

“This event is such good preparation for the season because you get to race the best in the world.

 

"It’s a good meeting.”

 

Paralympic, world and European champion Danny Crates retained his T46 800m title, beating Algeria’s Hamza Rahouni into second place.

 

Crates, the oldest in his field by six years, said: “They don’t make it any easier do they.

 

"We’ve got fantastic athletes in that event and it was a great race.

 

“I’m six years older than the next oldest in that race so I’m a bit of a grand-daddy in that group.”

 

Athens 2004 Paralympic Games bronze medallist Lloyd Upsdell picked up two silver medals, finishing second in the T36 100m and 200m.

 

There were also plenty of medals for GB athletes in the field events – Bev Jones and Dan West led the way both winning gold medals in the shot put for their respective classifications.

 

While Stephen Miller won silver club – a multi-disability contest for athletes in F32 and 51 classifications - with a throw of 31.59, just shy of his own world record.

 

He said: “I’ve got mixed emotions about that because I obviously came here to win gold but I think I threw okay.

 

"It was really close though – there was only seven points in it.”

 

There was also a silver medal for Hampshire’s Kim Minett in the F40 shot, who threw 6.76 metres to finish behind world record holder Laila El Garaa of Morrocco, who threw 7.49 for the gold.