Panathlon Challenge Starts in Essex!

The first ever Panathlon Challenge involving around 50 disabled students in five sports took place at Braintree College sports hall on Thursday 20 November 2008. Five special schools took part in total from the school sport partnerships of North West Essex, Colchester and Colne. The winners of the first Panathlon event were Southview special school, from the North West Essex School Sports Partnership.

Ten Braintree College sports students assisted the disabled young people taking part and officiated the sports being played. The event enabled the Year 2 BTEC National Certificate and National Diploma students to get involved in a variety of sports and gave them the opportunity to develop and use their skills in a competitive environment. Participation will count towards their course unit on Exercise for Specific Groups.

The Panathlon Challenge has bought specialised sports equipment including Polybat, New Age Kurling and Athletics equipment generously paid for by a grant from the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation. The disabled young people will go on to receive coaching over the next few months before they compete in their first major Panathlon Challenge like the Paralympics) in April 2009.

Danny Crates, Paralympic gold medallist and local Essex boy, was on hand to award medals to students and take in the action. Danny carried the Great Britain team flag into the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing and is also a sporting patron of the Panathlon Challenge Charity.

Ashley Iceton from the Panathlon Challenge said: "The first Panathlon Challenge in Essex was a great success! The young people competing showed talent and much enthusiasm. We look forward to involving more disabled young people in Essex throughout 2009. "