Ysgol Maes y Felin, from Holywell in Flintshire, were crowned champions at our inaugural Welsh Panathlon National Primary Ten Pin Final as simultaneous events were held across the country.
Finishing the day with an average of over 92 points, Maes y Felin’s team edged out rivals across Wales by a three-point average.
Winning teams at each of the locations across Wales were given gold medals – then an overall Welsh winner was crowned after rapid online score comparisons between each event manager.
Zoe Owen, Maes y Felin Higher Level Training assistant, said: “I am super proud, they worked as a team and I am overwhelmed, it will sink in over time what we have achieved. We are a little school in Holywell, North Wales; our school’s vision is Achieve Excellence, Exceed Expectations, we have certainly achieved that today and at Assembly tomorrow, we will be able to give the whole school a lift!”
A major player in the team, Poppy, was the venue’s highest scorer with a score of 104. She said: “That feels brilliant! I feel a sense of real achievement!
“My mum and dad will be really proud of me and what my team has done!”
Runners-up in the Welsh Finals were a Prestatyn school, Ysgol Llywelyn, who competed at the Astrobowl venue in Prestatyn. Mrs Emma Parry, ALNCo and Inclusion Manager, said: “Wow! What a day, it‘s not every day you see our most vulnerable learners thrive to become achievers in a Welsh wide event. They could not wait to come back to school to show their friends and teachers their medals!
“Winning the area championships, coming runners up in the whole of Wales, strike of the day and top scorer awards, we certainly had lots to share on our return!
“The children were so proud of themselves, as are we. We had an excellent group of parents who came to support and offered help with transport for this we are extremely grateful. We continue to appreciate the support and opportunities that Panathlon provide for our learners and look forward to more events in the future.”
Coed Eva, who won the South Wales title at the Cwmbran venue and finished third overall, had the highest scorer in the country – Logan, with 136, and said: “I am very excited to have won the highest score, I have never won anything like this before.”
Pen-y-Cwm, from Ebbw Vale in Blaenau Gwent, were the highest placed Special School. Gemma Rees, Primary Phase lead, said: “This is amazing! I am so proud of our learners! Thank you ever so much for organising such a wonderful event that they thoroughly enjoy.”
Panathlon’s Chief Operating Officer Tony Waymouth said: “We are so pleased that the Welsh National Final was such a success. It allows children in smaller schools the opportunity to succeed and compete against larger areas on a level playing field. We congratulate Maes y Felin and all that competed so successfully to get to the finals.”
The ability to hold this National Final and all the qualifying events has come from Welsh-specific funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Neumark Foundation for North Wales, the Archbishop of Wales
Fund for Children, Thomas Howell Education Fund for North Wales, Moondance Foundation, Welsh
Water, Toyota Manufacturing Charitable Trust and we thank our overall sponsor St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation.
