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In the last few months, six Playground to Podium (P2P) days have taken place in the North. With over 330 young disabled children taking part so far it’s a great start to the programme.

The children are put through their paces, trying out a range of events. These days have proven a major success in the past, and recently we’ve seen Jamie Carter and Isaac Towers, both P2P athletes, challenging for number one spots. Jamie is now British Record holder and Britain’s number one in the 100m, 200m and 400m Wheelchair Races and was selected for the GB Paralympic team in the recent announcement - a sure sign that P2P is working!

Since attending the Manchester Parallel Success Talent ID day in 2010, Isaac Towers been competing around the country improving his personal best in the 100m T34/35 Wheelchair race to 20.44 in 2012. Still only 13, Isaac is only 3 seconds behind British No 1 Jamie Carter’s PB in the T34. Isaac is now coached by Pete Wyman with the help of Ste Hoskins. He was also successful in the London Mini Marathon, coming 2nd in the Under 15 boys group. More recently he won the Great Manchester Run with a time of 9mis 11secs. Isaac recently won two golds and one silver at the England Senior Closed and Parallel Success Championships in Birmingham. It’s a fantastic testimony to P2P and the work of the Disability Athletics Support Officers over the last few years.

Jamie Carter (pictured top), Humber P2P Athlete from 2010, has been like lightening on the track recently. Not only has he been competing inside the Olympic Stadium, he has stormed to new personal bests in the 100m, 200m and 400m T34 Wheelchair race.  Jamie’s mother Sandra Carter said “this is a fantastic achievement since being spotted at a P2P day in Humber. As very proud parents we cannot believe what he’s done ... all the hard winter training at King George V Stadium, Cleethorpes, when it’s been very wet, windy and freezing cold, is paying off. Jamie travels to Kingston upon Thames to meet up with coach Jennie Archer, an is supported by David Weir MBE too.”. Jamie said “when I race I go out there, I put everything into place that they have taught me and hope I do them proud”.

Without P2P many athletes may have never thought of taking part. At a recent P2P day, run by Sport Cheshire at the University Church of England Academy in Ellesmere Port, 44 young athletes attended, many showing great promise; some had never stepped on a track before.  Each group was put through their paces by England Athletics coaches, and after a fun-packed day 12 were identified as having a greater ability in athletics. One was Nathan Sim, who was outstanding in the Discus.  Nathan had never tried the Discus before but after throwing around 20m on his first go and showing great technique he went to the top of the list of talented athletes.  Nathan has chosen to continue with athletics and we are in the process of setting him up with a club and coach who can take him further.

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