Lord Coe waves hello at the event

WINNING pupils were given the chance to meet sporting legend and Olympian Seb Coe last week before they competed in the Sportshall Athletics County Finals.

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Lord Coe has played a crucial role in getting the Olympics to London in 2012 and he welcomed over 400 competitors, aged 10 to 11, to Southend last Wednesday.

As winners of the area stages, children from RA Butler in Saffron Walden were included in the big event and registered a very impressive second place spot.

Headteacher Gayle Mawson said: “We were so pleased to have qualified for the Essex County finals to represent Saffron Walden and the whole of Uttlesford at this event. “In the countdown to the London 2012 Olympics we are delighted with the children’s result and feel very proud of our local sporting talent.”

The schools went head-to-head over a series of indoor track and field events and were coached and encouraged by two current Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, decathlete Martin Brockman and power lifter Adam Alderman.

Sportshall Athletics is part of the Essex Carrying the Flame education programme, which aims to ensure that every child and young person in the county is inspired by the London 2012 Games.

Essex County Council’s cabinet member for the 2012 Games Stephen Castle said: “With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games just around the corner, we are committed to use the power of the games to inspire our young people to get involved in sport and stay active.

“It is my wish that the event today leaves a lasting memory with all of the children and sparks a lifelong interest in sport.”

West Essex school St John’s primary came first but that did not detract from a great performance and every member of the RA Butler team gained a silver medal.

Lord Coe congratulated each of the 14 schools and praised the children for their hard work and enthusiasm and said he hoped to see them compete for Britain in the future. “It was not just a happy accident that they were in Southend for the county finals,” he added.

Information on the education programme can be found on essexlegacy.org and detailed results are available on the Sportshall website sportshall.org.