Huge medal haul comes to Enfield

Recently 20 gifted and talented athletes competed in the annual London Youth Games Disability Athletics, at Mile End Stadium in East London and brought back to Enfield a staggering 29 medals.

The team of boys and girls won 13 gold, 6 silver, and 10 bronze medals. The boys’ team won the overall competition and the girls came in 3rd place.

Pupils from West Lea, Durants, and Oaktree Schools represented the borough in this competition and ensured that they would produce Enfield’s best ever result.

They were competing against 29 other London boroughs in track and field events across a range of impairments including moderate and severe learning disability, blind, deaf, physical impairment, and wheelchair users.

Community Coach Ian Reddington commented, “I am so pleased for the young people who took part. They deserved their results through the hard work and practice they’ve put in this year. We want to create pathways for all young people to succeed in sport, whatever their ability.”

Many of the pupils have been attending Athletics Academy an after school coaching programme at Lee Valley Athletic Centre, which has been funded by the YOFE (Youth Opportunity Fund Enfield) – a fund of government money where youth projects can apply for funds locally to a panel of young people.

Seven pupils from the Enfield team will represent London at the National Disability Junior Athletic Championships in Blackpool later this month.

Cllr Jon Kaye, cabinet member for leisure, culture and Olympics, added, “What a terrific result. It is so well deserved after so much effort that has been put in and it is a great example to us all.”

This document was last updated on 2008-07-02 14:31:59 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_133004