NEWS

April 2012

  • Local Paralympian Backs Essex Panathlon

    Posted: Friday 27th April 2012
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    Great Britain Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike was at Braintree College this week to watch 100 disabled young people take part in the northern Essex semi-final of the prestigious 2012 Panathlon Challenge.

    The line-up for the Essex final was completed as north-west Essex, represented by Southview School, and Tendring (Marketfield School) qualified. They will meet Thurrock (Beacon Hill School) and West Essex (Oak View School, Loughton) in the final at Basildon Sports Village on June 28.

    Anne watched the children take part in six different sports, and awarded medals afterwards.

    She said: “It’s great to see young people of different abilities competing and enjoying themselves so much. Panathlon provides an opportunity to enjoy sport and to meet new friends and have new experiences.

    “Sport is for everybody - and it’s great to see young disabled people so fired up and raring to compete.I strongly believe sport is a universal language- that we can all speak, given the opportunity.”

    Panathlon is funded in Essex by London Stansted Airport, Hilton Foundation, the Woodland Group and the Jack Petchey Foundation.

    North-west Essex triumphed with 50 points after victory in the athletics races, Boccia and Polybat events, with Tendring runners-up after finishing with the same points tally but victory in two events, table cricket and field athletics. Harlow Fields were third with 40 points and Colchester (Lexden Springs School) fourth with 28.

    Carol Park, team manager for Southview, said: “It’s fantastic to win and get to the Essex Panathlon final. We have never won the final before so we will be trying our utmost to do so this year. Our students absolutely love Panathlon.”


  • Defending Champions through to Essex Final

    Posted: Wednesday 25th April 2012
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    Defending champions Thurrock have booked their place in the Essex final of the prestigious 2012 Panathlon Challenge.

    Thurrock, represented by Beacon Hill School, triumphed in the south Essex semi-final with 54 points at Chelmsford’s Riverside Sports Centre. West Essex, represented by Oak View School in Loughton, finished as runners-up with 50 points and Castle Point (Glenwood School) were third with 40 points.

    The competition which is funded in Essex by London Stansted Airport, Hilton Foundation, the Woodland Group and the Jack Petchey Foundation.

    Beacon Hill won the Boccia, Polybat and both field and racing athletics events to qualify for the final at Basildon Sports Village on June 28. West Essex also qualified, with two more teams to qualify from Thursday’s northern semi-final.

    Brandon Mullin, PE teacher at Beacon Hill, said: “It was fantastic to start our Panathlon journey again, it is the only competition suited to our students as it caters for all ability levels. “We are proud of our achievements today. It’s always great to go home with a host of medals and we look forward to defending our title on June 28”.

    Students from Great Baddow School were trained as Young Leaders and officiated on the day. Panathlon has also trained staff members from BAA Stansted to be officials and they helped to run the competitions.


  • Panathlons friends compete in Virgin London Marathon

    Posted: Sunday 22nd April 2012
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    Panathlon is proud that it had 5 wheelchair racers on the start line of the Virgin Money Giving London Mini - Marathon today including Michael (who came 1st in his age group) and Sean from Croydon pictured here...

    Also lining up was Jack Binstead, previous winner in the younger age group, now in the U-17's and he posted a PB in coming 3rd ! Jack is one of the new Jack Petchey Young Panathlon Leaders having helped us run 2 competitions this year. Jack is pictured relaxing post race with his pink Snoopy socks on full show..



    Also running was sporting patron Danny Crates and Chair Giles Long. Both Paralympic Gold Medalists, and both now NOT Virgins in the London Marathon runners ! Well done to both, raising thousands of pounds for charity in the process.

    Panathlon also had a runner raising funds for partner St. James's Place Foundation. Amanda Tingley ran her first marathon and did incredibly well. You can still support her efforts by clicking here

    Thank you to all our supporters !

  • Panathletes Relish the Olympic Stage

    Posted: Monday 2nd April 2012
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    Twenty disabled children from five London boroughs enjoyed the experience of a lifetime when they competed in the ‘Mayor’s Race’ at the Gold Challenge Olympic Stadium event on Sunday.

    The children have all taken part in this year’s Panathlon Challenge, which provides mini-Paralympic competition for young disabled people across every London borough and is a charity partner of the Mayor of London.

    Over £250,000 has been invested in Panathlon over the last three years as part of the Mayor’s £40million 2012 Sports Legacy Programme.

    Sunday’s event was staged by Gold Challenge, the UK’s only Olympic and Paralympic sport charity challenge, and featured Team GB ambassadors, celebrities and hundreds of representatives from schools and charities across the capital.

    The children also took part in a special opening ceremony parade around the track, alongside 4,000 adults and other young people.

    Ashley Iceton, CEO of Panathlon Challenge said: “We can't thank Gold Challenge enough for giving the severely disabled children we work with the opportunity to compete on the Olympic and Paralympic track.

    “Our Panathletes had a wonderful day and were proud to be the among the first disabled children competing in the stadium.”

    The Panathlon Challenge is still ongoing, with five London boroughs set to compete in the 2012 All London final at the Westway Sports Centre, Hammersmith on June 14.


    Notes to editors:

        For media enquries please contact Simon Lansley on simonlansley@connectsport.co.uk or 07973 595791

        About Gold Challenge: www.goldchallenge.org. Gold Challenge is an independent social enterprise and works with the British Olympic Association, Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales, ParalympicsGB and the National Governing Bodies of the Olympic and Paralympic sports. The organisation encourages people to take on an Olympic or Paralympic sport and raise cash for charity.

        About Panathlon Foundation: www.panathlon.com. Panathlon Challenge has been delivering competitive opportunities for young disabled Londoners since 1999. It incorporates the sports of Boccia, Polybat, table cricket, new-age kurling, football and athletics, and involves disabled children aged between five and 19.

        During 2012 it will invest £250,000 in sports equipment and coaching funds in 32 London boroughs. Multi-sport competitions take place between January to June 2012. Panathlon will also be working in Kent, Wiltshire, Merseyside and other cities during 2012, involving around 3,000 disabled young people in total. Panathlon is funded by Mayor of London, Jack Petchey Foundation and St. James's Place Foundation.