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For several years in the late 1990s Margaret Nicholls  at Beacon Hill School, Ipswich took some of her pupils to the Disability Sport England, Eastern Regional Championships. There, bridges were built with UKA officials.

Margaret

When the Suffolk Youth Games came to Ipswich in 2000, the athletics events were split between able bodied and disabled athletes. For the team competition, however, the results were amalgamated so that both teams combined to contest district against district. It felt like a leap forward.

Once the 2003 Youth games were over, it became obvious that there was nowhere for the young athletes with disabilities to continue their new found interest in Track & Field athletics. Several coaches, who had been training    the athletes for the Games (including Ann, Mitzi  and Justin) together with Margaret and Charlotte, started a ‘Summer Club’. 

Beacon Hill School kindly offered facilities for winter training but these were soon outgrown by the very keen athletes and the club moved to the Northgate Stadium in Ipswich and was opened to accept any child with special needs aged 11 and over from any school in the area. Several additional coaches offered their services without which development would have been very limited.

In 2005 the club was invited by the county of Norfolk to compete at the Norfolk Youth Games. A trophy was presented to the winners on the day which was Orwell Panthers AC. So the "Panther Challenge" was born. The Club was awarded the Innovative Club of the year for the Eastern Region by UK Athletics and was also presented with the "Team Spirit (Community)" People Award by the Ipswich "Evening Star".

2006 and the Club has been awarded "Junior Club of the Year" for the Eastern Counties by UK Athletics.  Athletes at Orwell Panthers learn all aspects of track and field athletics to the extent of their ability. They learn self discipline and many are already demonstrating an outstanding improvement to their quality of life and social skills. Children, cruelly labelled as "useless" are turning in Gold Medal winning performances to silence their critics

Gwynn Potts and Peter

The Panther Challenge 2006 took place at Northgate Stadium on Saturday 13th May 2006  with   competition between athletes of all ages competing over 100 and 300 metres, Long and High Jumps, and throwing Shots and Turbo Javelins. It was a truly memorable day and the athletes were thrilled to receive their medals and certificates from Paralympian Lloyd Upsdell.   

Click the photo to see Lloyd's profile

The Autumn of 2006 saw Orwell Panthers break new ground when athletes made up the Ipswich and Rest of Suffolk Disability Teams in the reformed Suffolk Sportshall League. Five Panthers, Emma, Latisha, Ryan, Luke and Sean were all selected to represent the County of Suffolk in the Regional Finals at Norwich.

Always on the look out to be innovative, Orwell Panthers then entered the Suffolk Winter Cross Country League competing directly against clubs from across the county, regardless of ability. In January with one meeting to go the boys stand 7th of 11 clubs and the girls 10th of 11 clubs. An amazing performance and how the athletes are responding! To such an extent that six athletes entered the County Championships for the first time. Sadly only three took part but next year we will see many more.

A frosty start at Woodbridge

Tributes from others are a great advertisement of how far we have travelled and when that tribute comes from your Governing Body its value is priceless. On the England Athletics website in January 2007 was found the following :

"DISABILITY ATHLETICS IN ACTION 

 www.orwellpanthers.co.uk

 Visit this website to see the outstanding work of the Regions leading Disability Athletics Club. Orwell are close to completing their Clubmark application and have provided high quality coaching and competitive opportunities for disabled people from across the area for a sustained period of time."

CLUBMARK ACCREDITATION

In March 2007, it was learned that Sport England and UK Athletics had awarded Orwell Panthers AC the Clubmark Accreditation. A further example of the terrific work undertaken by all involved in this fantastic club. The Clubmark Accreditation gives evidence to the outside world that the club is run on a fair and equitable basis and is a safe place for children and vulnerable athletes. To everyone's great delight, Orwell Panthers A C was presented with its Clubmark Certificate on 19th May 2007, at the Eastern Region Athletic Championships for Disabled People. The presentation was made by Paralympian thrower, Daniel West and by former Olympic thrower, Bill Tancred.

            Club Captain Andrew receiving                                                        Bill Tancred and Mike

            the Certificate from Daniel West

In the 2007 Suffolk County Athletic Association championships, athletes from Orwell Panthers competed with all other county athletes on level terms and as a result, nine Panthers became Suffolk County Champions. A week later would see more qualifying for the National DSE finals at Blackpool. 

In 2007, Orwell Panthers AC was again recognised by its Governing Body when it was awarded the England Athletics - East award for "Inclusivity". 

Margaret and Lis with the Inclusivity Award received from Danny Crates

Many People and Businesses have been extremely generous with sponsorship and donations and the Club is deeply indebted to Ipswich Borough Council, to Suffolk Sport and to England Athletics (East) for their financial, administrative and motivational support. The club needs its volunteer coaches, officials; fund raisers etc. but would always welcome more athletes, volunteers and sponsors. 

Full information about Orwell Panthers A C can be obtained from:

Membership Secretary Colin Hindle on 01473 401555 or email to: info@orwellpanthers.co.uk .

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