April 1st 2014 marked the first ever Birmingham Panathlon Final. Special guests Louise Sugden who co-captained the GB women’s Wheelchair Basketball team at London 2012 and her Paralympic team mate Jude Hamer were on hand to motivate and present the medals to the four teams who had qualified via hard fought semi-finals.
It was Jude’s first experience of Panathlon. “I didn’t really know what to expect but it was fantastic to be a part of and I enjoyed my first Panathlon.”
The Final took place at Birmingham Metropolitan Colleges’ Sutton Campus and featured sports leaders from Queensbury Special School, Victoria Special School and Hall Green and they worked with BTEC students from the Birmingham Met College. All our Leaders received great feedback and comments on how they had explained the games, been so patient and encouraged the competitors to do their best.
It was a great day of competition involving 72 students from the four schools who qualified from the previous round, with Wilson Stuart dominating winning 4 out of the 6 sports with wins in Table Cricket, New Age Kurling, Field Athletics and Athletic Races. Wilson Stuart win the gold in style and are crowned our first ever Birmingham winners! Hall Green take home the silver medal with Victoria and New Oscott in third and fourth respectively. However It could have been a closer outcome with Wilson Stuart winning the cricket final with the scores tied by virtue of losing fewer wickets. See
here for the full set of results. Over 160 participants have competed over the 3 days of competition.
Jill Armstrong (lead lecturer from Birmingham Met) said,” I was proud to be part of the first Birmingham Panathlon Final and work with the young leaders.”
Ryan Griffiths from Queensbury Special School who told us about winning the Birmingham Inspire Sports Leader Award – Ryan said ‘I get so much fun working with the young people and seeing their faces light up’
Ashlie Caddick from the County Sports Partnership said,”It is great to see so many young leaders from Birmingham supporting the Panathlon Final. All the competitors look like they are having a great time and I hope it continues next year.”
Rami a Birmingham College Leader said, “I was running the table cricket event which all the children really enjoyed and I enjoyed having a go myself. As a sports leader at the event it has helped me to be more patient and understanding. The children loved it”
Schools Involved today-
Hall Green- Baverstock
New Oscott- New Oscott
Victoria- Colmers
Wilson Stuart
Grateful thanks to Deloitte, Garfield Weston and Birmingham Sport and Physical Activity Partnership who sponsored the event.
