Students with disabilities from six schools in Barking and Dagenham have won the first round of the East London Panathlon Championships.

The competition is a multi-sport event including Table Cricket, Polybat, Boccia, Kurling and Athletics.

The event, which took place at Frenford Club in Ilford, was for students in Years 7 to 13 and they were competing against other young people from Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. 

The young people will be hoping to replicate previous years where Barking and Dagenham were the London Champions for three years in a row. They have started well, by achieving 54 points out of a possible 60 in the first round.

“We are extremely proud of their achievement and wish them all the best for the east London finals later in the year.”

 

Up next for the Barking and Dagenham team is the east London finals. They take place in March at the UEL Sports Dock and will see the team go up against other borough winners.

Councillor Evelyn Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement said: “Our Panathlon teams over the last few years have done incredibly well, and it is great to see the young people this year are continuing this winning tradition.

“We are extremely proud of their achievement and wish them all the best for the east London finals later in the year.”

The six schools represented were Trinity, Riverside Bridge, Eastbrook Comprehensive, Sydney Russell, Dagenham Park Church of England and Jo Richardson Community School.