FUN DAY 2007

REPORT & RESULTS

On a gorgeous summer’s day at Northgate Stadium, Ipswich, the athletes of Orwell Panthers and Warren School took part in an athletics match for athletes with disabilities. The performances all round were exciting and well contested in a truly wonderful spirit of good friendship. Everyone present contributed to a superb day from the athletes, officials, parents and carers to the Red Cross team, the Northgate staff and the magnificent Panther parents keeping everyone refreshed.

In the competition itself the athletes competed in four teams with Team D ending the day in front of team A, B and C.

The athletes competed over five events, 60 metre sprint, 300 metres, Long Jump, Turbo Javelin and Shot Putt.

In the male match, there were some excellent performances but Orwell Panther, Michael Davis was outstanding winning the 60 metres and taking Second place in three of the other four events. Another Panther Stephen Foulger won the 300 metres and was in the first three in two other events. Kieron Jessup from Warren School won the Long Jump and picked up two more third places on the day. A newcomer to the Panthers, Hayden Beech won both of the throws and looks an excellent prospect for the future. Three more Panthers, Ollie Minns, Peter Barkley and Matt Howard were also in the places in the throws.

Michael Davis storms home ahead of the field in the 300 metres event

In the relaxing “fun” event of throwing for accuracy, maximum scores were achieved by Panthers, Gavin Harvey, Hayden Beech, Frankie Dixon, Paul Mitchell, Luke Hindle, Peter Barkley, Callum Cochrane, Stephen Foulger, Dan Baltadonis, Michael Davis and Ollie Minns. Warren School boys scoring maximums were, Jonathan Cooper, and Ben Gunton.

The ladies also competed strongly and their athlete of the match was undoubtedly Orwell Panthers’, Emma Jessup who had two first places, two second places and a third. On the track Jessup was outstanding, winning both the 60 metres and the 300 metres in times that compared very favourably with those of the boys. In the field events, wheelchair athlete, Tracey Davidson was unbeatable taking all three events though she had serious challenges from Jessup in the Long Jump and Javelin and from another Panther newcomer, Ruth Dibenga in the Shot. Dibenga was another who had a good day with one second place and three third places.  Warren School ’s Chelsea Wherry took second place in the two track events but her lack of height was against her in the field events. Another gutsy performance was given by Panther wheelchair athlete, Lucy Fairman who picked up a creditable third place in the Long Jump. This competition allows wheelchair athletes to have the distance they can cover with a single push of their wheels, measured and included as a “Long Jump”.

In the throwing for accuracy both Davidson and Fairman scored maximums.

The result of the overall match between Panthers and Warren School was a narrow victory for the home club by a mere 4.5 points.

The biggest winner on the day was the sport of athletics as the thrill and enjoyment obtained by all the athletes was clear to see on the happy faces who made their way home after an exhilarating day’s sport.

A close race which ends with a dead heat between Orwell Panthers Peter Barkley (69) and Emma Jessup (right 66), 

hotly pursued by Warren School's Scott Harvey (53), Daniel Hasnip (48) and Fellow Panther, Dan Baltadonis (74)

TEAM RESULT

(Points calculated as the average points scored by each athlete in each team.)

PANTHER SCORES

* Assisted

WARREN SCHOOL SCORES

FINAL GROUP RESULT

LEADING MALES

LEADING FEMALES