Our Welsh National Ten Pin Bowling Final on the 13th February will see 25 schools compete for the right to be the champion – right across the country, from Newport in the south to Conwy in the north, and from Pwllheli in the west to Wrexham in the east.
Qualifiers from our local competitions earlier in the academic year progress to our National Final, split over multiple venues across the country – Cwmbran, Flint, Prestatyn, and Glasfryn, near Porthmadog.
Winning teams at each of the four locations will be given gold medals – then an overall Welsh winner will be crowned after rapid online score comparisons between each event manager.
In Prestatyn, Emma Parry says: “Ysgol Llywelyn is thrilled to be able to take part in the Welsh National Bowling Finals, our children are so excited! Giving our most vulnerable learners the opportunity to challenge themselves, and take part in sport at a competitive level, against other schools, is so valuable. It always amazes staff when they see children with additional needs in a different context, other than the classroom, away from the school, and how they become so much more confident and engaged through sport. Promoting inclusion through sport is something I will always feel very passionate about.
“We can’t thank the Panathlon team enough for their support in helping us to raise the profile of inclusive sports in our school. We wish all teams involved the best of luck.”
Helen Bishop of St Woolos School in Newport, South Wales, says: “It has been a fantastic opportunity to take part in this fully inclusive event. The children selected often struggle in the classroom setting and so having the opportunity to be part of something totally different has made them so content. They are often still stopping me around the school asking when the final is! They are all eager and motivated, and most of all happy and smiley at the thought of going again as they have achieved something.”
Tamsin Nellist of Ysgol Maes y Felin in Holywell says: “We are so pleased to have been invited to take park in the Welsh National Finals Day! The children can’t wait to represent Ysgol Maes y Felin with pride. It’s such a fantastic opportunity to showcase our skills, have fun, and make memories together!“
Tony Waymouth, COO of Panathlon, says: “We can’t wait for the Welsh schools to have their own opportunity to become national champion. The development of work in Wales means we now can provide these opportunities to allow their own identity and tradition to take hold in the country. The geographical spread we have means rural schools can compete against higher density population areas, meaning that we can give many ALN children a chance to achieve.
“We aim to give Welsh ALN children Equal Play.”
The increase in participation 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 Tennis Wales.
