Thanet competitors go national
Five young people from Thanet have won the chance to compete at
a national level of a new project by former British athletes
Linford Christie and Darren Campbell.
Street Athletics aims to prove that anyone can take part in
sport without the need for either expensive equipment or training
costs. Following trials in Thanet, the Kent finals were held in
Folkestone, with 150 children and young people taking part,
including 15 from Thanet.
Thanet District Council’s sports development team supported the
event by putting on transport for local competitors and their
families. All ages were able to have a go at running a 60 metre
stretch, with parents also invited to join in races at the end of
the day.
Both Darren Campbell and Linford Christie were on hand and
signed autographs and posed for photos with those taking part.
Five competitions from Thanet qualified in the top three of
their age group and now have the chance to go on to the national
event in Manchester in September. The five were Hadley Pressley
(17) from Broadstairs, Megan Cavell (16) from Ramsgate, Shaun Kirby
(16) from Ramsgate, Luke Humpries (16) from Ramsgate and Amber
Curries (11) from Margate.
Sports Development Officer, Martyn Cassell, said: “We have to
continue to find new ways of inspiring young people to take part in
sport or exercise and these couple of events have been fantastic.
We hope to have a bigger event in Thanet next year. It was great to
take some keen competitors from Thanet to this event and we even
managed to get some of the parents into a race!”
ENDS