Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge 2022 continues to raise the bar
The 2nd Annual Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge, supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation, brought together 12 primary schools: 6 from rural KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and 6 from the Leeds/Bradford area of Yorkshire in the UK.
394 students (aged 9 and 10) participated in a range of six Athletics Challenges in their own schools and then compared performances ‘virtually’ to create competition between the schools. The involvement of 12 schools this year is a significant increase from the 4 involved in the 2021 pilot programme.
The South African schools involved were:
Vumanhlamvu - Nkandla
Makhanyezi - Nkandla
John Wesley - Eshowe
Manyala - Nkandla
Iwangu - Nkandla
Ntolwane - Nkandla
The UK schools involved included:
Sacred Heart - Ilkley
St Joseph’s - Tadcaster
St. Mary’s - Horsforth
Holy Name - Cookridge
Hovingham - Harehills
St. Joseph’s - Pudsey
The Challenge was devised last year in response to various Covid restrictions by the Bambisanani Founder, David Geldart who explained, “The Bambisanani Partnership is about bringing young people together in sport from both countries in order that they can ‘work together and learn together’. Covid made us think more creatively in order to both sustain and develop our work; the virtual Athletic Challenge programme was a great success last year which resulted in more schools being involved this year. We have tried to create a simple and fun programme that reflects the very essence of athletics with an approach that brings relevance for everyone involved regardless of ability. We have provided opportunities for youngsters to compete against themselves and against others, in their own school and between schools, in their own country and internationally. A wide range awards reflect our values with certificates and medals available to learners in all participating schools for excellence, effort, progress and leadership. The Challenge provides multiple opportunities for learners to achieve and succeed; the response from schools, educators and learners has been fantastic and has further raised the bar this year!”
The programme gave great importance to all participants working hard to improve their own personal performance over time in six different events for both boys and girls: 50m run, 200m run, Standing Long Jump, Three Hop Jump, Tennis Ball Throw and Football Throw. Initially students were taught the basic activity and then established their own ‘personal best’ in each of the events. Over the following weeks and months, the children were given the opportunity to practise, rehearse and experiment in order to improve their performances. A remarkable 72% of all learners involved made significant progress over time in at least three different events and were awarded special certificates to recognise this. All schools had their own competitions which created 130 new School Champions with the top three performers in each event receiving a certificate. In addition to this, 25 students were identified as being the best all-round performers across all events, 29 students were recognised as making the most improvement over all events and 25 students were celebrated as Exceptional Leaders for their work during the programme ‘helping, supporting and encouraging others’. Three very exciting 10-person x 40metre relay events (Boys, Girls, Mixed) were also added for the International Competition, making it 15 International titles to be decided. Each school submitted their best three performance in each of the 15 events for the international competition between schools. Inclusive of the relay events, 126 International Competition medals (‘Bronze’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Gold’) were presented to the top three performers/teams in each event.
Mr Agrippa Nxumalo, Headteacher at Makhanyezi Primary School highlighted the significance of the programme in terms of developing the ‘healthy bodies and healthy minds’ of his learners citing improved fitness levels, academic performance (including June Assessment results) and enhanced communication skills.
Mr William Vilakazi, Principal at Vumanhlamvu said, “This is our second year participating in this great competition. It inspires so many learners in so many ways, not just in sports but also in the classroom. With so many opportunities to achieve it helps many learners with their belief and self-esteem. We are also finding learners with real talent in athletics; who knows where this may lead?”
Bambisanani Trustee and teacher at St. Mary’s, Horsforth, Barbara Pounder added, “Connecting children 6,000 miles from each other through running, jumping and throwing is testament to the power of sport philosophy adopted by the Bambisanani Partnership. Providing children with opportunities to connect globally, have fun, learn new skills and experience new feelings of success is one of the greatest contributions that we can make as educators to enhance the human condition.”
David Geldart concluded, “My sincere thanks to all the schools, educators and children involved in this growing event; we have had much to celebrate. Great credit must go to William Vilakazi and Alan Stuart for coordinating everything in South Africa and to Catherine Chattoe and David Farmer for organising things in Yorkshire. Special thanks also the KZN Department of Sport and Recreation for their help and support; we look forward to further partnership work with them in the future. We are already thinking about developing the Challenge further for 2023 and indeed for the Olympic year of 2024, possibly involving even more schools and more countries!”
Results and Award Winners
Bambisanani International Athletics Champions 2022
Girls Events
| 50 metres | 1. Ayanda Ngcobo (Vumanhlamvu) |
| 2. Sinokwethemba Cebekhula (Makhanyezi) | |
| 3. Uyaphila Zulu (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 200 metres | 1. Amiswa Hadebe (Vumanhlamvu) |
| 2. Enhle Hlongwane (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 3. Sinothando Maduna (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| Standing Long Jump | 1. Amanda Khuzwayo (John Wesley) |
| 2. Amelia Wood (St. Mary’s) | |
| 3. Amelia Cooper (Holy Name) | |
| Three Hop Jump | 1. Eve Best (St. Mary’s) |
| 2. Julia Ciula (Holy Name) | |
| 3. Alana Lawton (Holy Name) & Allegra Sandova (St. Mary’s) | |
| Tennis Ball Throw | 1. Mnyanda Yandiswa (Vumanhlamvu) |
| 2. Smimanyo Lethiwe (Vumanhlavu)) | |
| 3. Emily Hall (Sacred Heart) | |
| Football Throw | 1. Emily Florence (Sacred Heart) |
| 2. Olivia Middleton (St. Mary’s) | |
| 3. Martha Jones (Sacred Heart) | |
| 400m (10x40m) Relay | 1. St Joseph’s, Tadcaster |
| 2. John Wesley, Eshowe | |
| 3. St. Mary’s, Horsforth |
Boys Events
| 50 metres | 1. Bandile Biyela (Vumanhlamvu) |
| 2. Mhlongo Ayakhula (Makhanyezi)) | |
| 3. Mhlongo Ayakhula (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 200 metres | 1. Sikhanyiselwe Qwabe (Vumanhlamvu) |
| 2. Mhlongo Ayakhulu (Makhanyezi) | |
| 3. Amukela Maduna (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| Standing Long Jump | 1. Aphelel Sigwaza (John Wesley) |
| 2. Melikhayo Mthiyane (John Wesley) | |
| 3. Jack Jones (St. Joseph’s, Tadcaster) | |
| Three Hop Jump | 1. Jack Kilvington (Holy Name) |
| 2. Malachy Appleyard (Holy Name) & William Ward (St. Mary’s) | |
| Tennis Ball Throw | 1. Sipho Ngcobo (John Wesley) |
| 2. Siqalo Thembe (John Wesley) | |
| 3. Charlie Moss (St. Josephs, Pudsey) | |
| Football Throw | 1. James Armitage (Sacred Heart) |
| 2. Jacob Walker (Holy Name) | |
| 3. Malachy Appleyard (Holy Name) | |
| 400m (10x40m) Relay | 1. St. Josephs, Tadcaster |
| 2. John Wesley, Eshowe | |
| 3. St. Mary’s, Horsforth |
Mixed Event
| 400m (10x40m) Boys and Girls Mixed Relay | 1. St Josephs, Tadcaster |
| 2. John Wesley, Eshowe | |
| 3. St. Mary’s, Horsforth |
School Champions
Wanele Myende, Blessing Jeremani, Lwazi Mbuli, Kuhlekonke, Amanda Khuzwayo, Melikhaya Mthiyane, Aphelele Sigwaza, Asiphe Mthethwa, Sipho Ngcobo, Nolwwazi Mbuli, Siqalo Tembe, Ayanda Ngcobo, Bandile Biyela, Amiswa Hadebe, Sikhanyislwe Qwabe, Nonjabulo Sikhakhane, Aphiwe Khanyile, Mawande Biyela, Siphiwokuhle Bhengu, Yandiswa Mnyandu, Ayabonga Shandu, Aphelele Majozi, Talia Knox-Walker, Willow Noble, Fletcher Mathews, Jack Jones, Kellend Lawford, Leah Fleming, Frances Reidenbaugh, Emily Hall, Emily Florence, Joe Mutton, Ollie Davidson, Florence Hands, Evie Bent, Amelia Dodd, Olivia Middleton, William Ward, Amos Foster, James Conley, Kyla Jacobs-Legister, Faizan Qaisar, Maria Avadani, David Gandal, Orlagh Dean, Zander Norton, Sophia Duffield, Oliver Gill, Amelia Cooper, Ruben Norton, Julia Ciula, Jack Kilvinton, Chase Wilson, Jacob Walker, Emily Turbull, Tom Hurley, Steph Holden, Tom Hurley, Alys Keighley, Shay Godfrey, Charlie Moss, Eliza Horsman, Shay Godfrey, Lwande Mpungose, Nkanyezi Gina, Hlelonkosi Gina, Aphelele Majolica, Smelo Ndlazi, Malwande Mnomiya, Sphephile Khumalo, Ayabonga Ntuli, Ayabonga Mkhize, Nontelthelelo Mthabela, Nsika Majola, Aphele Biyela, Nqubeko Mathenjwa, Abahlenge Biyela, Mthobisi Biyela, Nolwazi Biyela, Ayabonga Biyela, Sbiya Lethokuhle, Dludla Okuhle, Ntombela Siyamthanda, Snqobile Biyela, Mkhize Bonga, Aphelele Biyela, Msawande Biyela
Most improved Athletes
Minenhle Kunene, Sihawukelo Sibiya , Sihanukele Ntomela, Alwande Zulu, Asiphe Mthethwa, Blessing Jeremani, Florence Hands, Amos Foster, Sophie Utley, Jacob Hinchliffe, Emily Florence, Hughie Quinn, Francesca Parlour, Riley Clinnon, Elena Decaro, Finley Appleyard, Connie Scofield, Coby Walton Adams, Thobeka Biyela, Landile Gasa, Isiphile Shandu, Sqalo Ntombela, Nkanyezi Gina, Skhakhane Mnqobi, Sibya Lethokuhle , Nhlalenhle Nzuza, Sanele Mthembu, Dludla Okuhle, Nolwazi Biyela
Best all-round Athletes:
Uyaphila Zulu, Sikanyiselwe Qwabe, Wanele Myende, Siqaio Tembe, Cebekhulu Sinokwethemba, Ayakhula Mhlongo, Evie Bent, James Conley, William Ward, Talia Knox-Walker, Jack Jones, Frances Reidenbaugh, Joe Mutton, Amelia Cooper, Zander Norton, Eliza Horsman, Tom Hurley, Alys Keighley, Charlie Hart, Thobeka Biyela, Mathobisi Biyela, Sqalo Ntombela, Abahlenge Biyela, Aphelele Biyela, Nqubeko Mathenjwa
Outstanding Leaders
Amiswa Hadebe, Sikhanyiselwe Qwabe, Nolwazi Mbuli, Kwandile Gazu, Thembeka Dlamini, Manqoba Majuzi, Ava Quinn, Liam McDermott, Esmee Vince-Morgan, Nathan Munday, Eva Joyce, James Armitage, Ellie Jade, Jack Kilvington, Hannah Whiting, Luke Jackson, Iona Rogers, Charlie Hart, Sindiswa Biyela, Lwandile Gasa, Lungelo Ntombela, Khuzwayo Melokuhle, Siyamthanda Ntombelo, Bonga Mkhize, Ayabonga Biyela,
