Team Tendring have been crowned 2012 Essex Panathlon Champions !
Tendring, comprising pupils from Marketfield and Shorefield Schools, defeated 2011 champions Thurrock (Beacon Hill School) by the narrowest of margins at Braintree Sports Village, claiming victory in the last race of the day.
The final was part of Essex County Council’s School Games and involved 100 disabled young people, who had all qualified through earlier rounds.
Tendring won the boccia and athletics events to collect 50 points, two ahead of Thurrock who won new-age kurling and polybat. In third place were West Essex (Oakview School, Loughton) with 38 points and North-West Essex (Southview School, Witham) were fourth with 32 points.
“Panathlon was a fantastic experience for all our students,” said Joanne Caley, a teacher from Marketfield school in Clacton who was helping coach the Tendring team. “It is such a valuable and worthwhile competition.”
Panathlon in Essex this year was funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation, who helped to fund the Young Leaders programme. This enabled 12 students from Great Baddow School to be trained by Panathlon earlier in the year and they officiated in the final as sports officials.
Panathlon founder Ashley Iceton said: “It has been a fantastic climax to the Essex Panathlon year which started last November.
“All the hundreds of disabled young people in Essex should be proud of their performances. As a charity, we need to thank our supporters for enabling us to carry out this much-needed work.”
Additional support came also from BAA Stansted Airport and Hilton London Stansted who provided funding and staff to officiate at the competitions, with further corporate sponsorship from the Woodland Group. The local branch of Asda in Witham provided refreshments for all the competitors.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Contact simonlansley@connectsport.co.uk for more details
- The Panathlon Foundation (charity no 1072638) has been delivering competitive opportunities for young disabled people since 1999. It has invested £250,000 in sports equipment and coaching funds across London, Kent, Essex and other areas since October 2011. Panathlon will involve around 2,500 disabled young people in competitions during 2012.
- The Jack Petchey Foundation was established in 1999 and gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25. The Foundation is eager to help young people take advantage of opportunities and play a full part in society. In the last 10 years, in excess of £65 million has been given to a wide range of organisations and schools. http://www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk
