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On a weekend of river pageants, celebrity concerts and royal carriage processions, a Jubilee celebration of another kind took place on Monday when Havering Mayesbrook AC hosted a QuadKids competition at Raphael Park Romford as part of the London Borough of Havering’s Diamond Jubilee Sports Festival.

Almost a 100 youngsters aged 8 to 11 entered the four-event competition and most donned red, white or blue clothing with some wearing all three colours to celebrate the festive royal occasion.  And unlike some of the royal events the rain stayed away just long enough for the last race to be timed and the certificates to be handed out.     

The competition had a festive air as it was held as part of a family day of sporting events which also included a 5k Fun Run, cycle polo and an inflatable sports zone for children’s football and basketball games, as well as a friendly tennis tournament and “easy cricket” event.  The QuadKids races were held on a specially marked out grass track which was damp from the heavy overnight rain.

Havering Mayesbrook’s Doug Tierney, who organised the event along with Essex Athletics Network Activator Tony Benton, said, "This was our second QuadKids competition at this venue and the much-increased numbers taking part showed that the format is growing in popularity. Many parents came up to me at the end to say how much they and their children had enjoyed it. The club's 20 or so volunteers did a great job in making it such a success and it was good to see several of our Under 17 and Under 20 athletes helping out at a club event for the first time."

There were two competitions going on – one for pupils in Years 3 and 4 and the other for those in Year 5 and 6. Overall winners were:

• Years 3 & 4:
  Boys: Jeb Punter (Branfill Primary) 191 points
  Girls: Ayesha Anderson (Parkland Primary) 166 points 
• Years 5 & 6:
  Boys: Thomas Troubridge (Hylands Primary) 232 points
  Girls: Megan Penfold (Oakfield Primary) 176 points

All competitors received an Aviva Awards certificate recording which step on the 13-step Awards ladder they had achieved, with badges awarded to those at Steps 8 or above – some 26 of those taking part.

Tony Benton, the Essex Network Activator, concluded, "The conditions were far from ideal as the grass track was damp (and none too flat in places!), with the sprinters also running into the wind – both factors affecting their times and points score, so it’s impressive that so many high scores were still achieved.  Many of these youngsters will be taking part in the Havering Primary Schools QuadKids Championships at Hornchurch Stadium in a few weeks – some 40 schools and 1300 pupils over five sessions – so they’ll be aiming to improve their scores in better conditions."
 

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