Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge unites young people in sport

The 3rd Annual Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge, supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation, brought together 15 primary schools: 11 from rural KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and 4 from the Leeds/Bradford area of Yorkshire in the UK. 335 students (aged 9 and10) participated in a range six of athletics challenges in their own schools and then compared performances ‘virtually’ to create competition between the schools. 852 children from both countries have now participated in the Challenge since its inception in 2021.

The South African schools involved were: Vumanhlamvu, Makhanyezi, Mvayiza, Iwangu, Kwa-Mtshwili, Mome, Ntumbeni, Sigananda, Mathiya, Iwangu and Ntolwane. The UK schools involved were all from the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust and included St. Joseph’s, Pudsey; St. Mary’s, Horsforth; Holy Name, Cookridge; and Sacred Heart, Ilkley.

The Challenge was originally devised 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 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 of 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. There was a further development this year with a central venue Athletics Festival being held in South Africa for schools from the Nkandla region. This Festival was supported by young Sports Leaders from St. Mary’s School in Leeds and Eshowe High School. Additionally, three new South African schools joined the Challenge this year.”

The programme gives 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. Students were initially 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 76% 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 held their own competitions, which created 130 new School Champions with the top three performers in each event receiving a certificate. In addition to this, 22 students were identified as being the best all-round performers across all events, 22 students were recognised as making the most improvement over all events and 22 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. There were 42 International Champions.

David Farmer, Deputy Headteacher from St. Joseph’s Pudsey Primary School in Leeds travelled to South Africa with the team of volunteers from St. Mary’s, Menston and supported the Nkandla Athletics Festival said, “The children in both countries enjoyed the idea of an international competition and strived to beat their personal best. In competing against each other they wanted to win, but there was always a sporting camaraderie cheering their classmates to achieve better results. In South Africa the young leaders commented that leading the athletics festival was unbelievably satisfying. They loved seeing the smiles of every child and helping them improve their technique as they grew in confidence. This competition gives a sense of achievement that develops confidence in other academic areas. A true Olympian ethos underpins this work promoting greater understanding of our worldwide community and wanting a fair playing field for all.”

Children from both countries clearly enjoyed the competition:

“I liked competing against learners from the UK and learning about their country”

“I have won an international medal and now want to achieve more in sports and in school.”

“I love running, throwing and jumping and I want to go to South Africa now!”

“This challenge has been so much fun. We worked hard but it was worth it.”

David Geldart concluded, “My sincere thanks to all the schools, educators, volunteers and children involved in this growing event; we have had much to celebrate this year with some interesting new developments. Having student volunteers from Leeds and Eshowe to create an Athletics Festival for the South African primary schools was an outstanding success. 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 in the Olympic year of 2024; possibly involving even more schools, more countries, more festivals, more volunteering and more related learning activities in the classroom – Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together!”

Results and Award Winners

Bambisanani International Athletics Champions 2022

Girls Events

50 metres	1. Ngcebo Shezi (Vumanhlamvu)
	2. Nonjabulo Skhakhane (Vumanhlamvu))
	3. Awande Biyela (Sigananda) & Senamile Ngema (Mome)
200 metres	1. Mary Elizabeth Moran (St. Joseph's)
	2. Kaitlin Brown (St. Joseph's)
	3. Alondwe (Kwa-Mtshwili)
Standing Long Jump	1. Nongcebo Zulu (Iwanga)
	2. Awande Sithole (Vumanhlamvu)
	3. Nolwazi Biyela (Iwanga)
Three Hop Jump	1. Lucy Mathew (St. Joseph’s)
	2. Evelyn Ince (St. Mary’s)
	3. Charlotte Caden (St. Mary’s)
Tennis Ball Throw	1. Lwanda Shezi (Mvayiza)
	2. Thembelihle Kuyene (Vumanhlavu)
	3. Thandeluhle Khumole (Mvayiza)
Football Throw	1. Senamile Ngoma (Mome)
	2. Ayandiswa Mthembu (Mome)
	3. Noluvu Mthembu (Mome)
400m (10x40m) Relay	1. Holy Name
	2. St. Mary’s
	3. Sigananda

Boys Events

50 metres	1. Ngcebo Shezi(Vumanhlamvu)
	2. Siphesihle Zulu (Vumanhlamvu)
	3. Amekelo Maduna (Vumanhlamvu)
200 metres	1. Milo Long (St. Joseph’s)
	2. AJ O’Connor (St. Joseph’s)
	3. Oscar Enright (St. Mary’s) & Njabulo Kunene (Mome)
Standing Long Jump	1. Aphelele Biyela (Iwangu)
	2. Bonga Mkhize (Iwangu)
	3. Cebo Thusi (Vumanhlamvu) & Oscar Enright (St. Mary’s)
Three Hop Jump	1. Fabio Zeqiraj (St. Mary’s)
	2. Oscar Enright (St. Mary’s)
	3. Beau Smith (St. Joseph’s)
Tennis Ball Throw	1. Stan Bates (St. Mary’s)
	2. Mhlengi Lindu (Kwa-Mtshwili)
	3. Aphiwe Khangile (Mathiya)
Football Throw	1. Sfundo Ntuli (Mome)
	2. Njabulu Kunene (Mome)
	3. Siphosethu Mhlongu (Mome)
400m (10x40m) Relay	1. St. Mary’s
	2. Holy Name
	3. St. Joseph’s

Mixed Event

400m (10x40m) Boys and Girls Mixed Relay	1. Mvayiza
	2. Holy Name
	3. Sigananda

School Champions

Senamile Ngema, Mahaye Kwazi, Lwanda Shezi, Sifundo Ntuli, Ayaandiswa Mlhembu, Senamile Ngema, Siphosetha Mhlungo, Ayandisiswa Mthembu, Amiswa Hadebe, Ngcebo Shezi, Asimonge Shange, Siyemukela Cebekhulu, Awande Sithole, Cebo Thusi, UyaphilaUkristu Zulu, Amkelo Maduna, Nonjabulo Sikhakhane, Lukhona Mpungose, Cebile Khanyile, Sibukosezwe Zulu, Dludla Okuhle, Sbiya Lethokuhle, S’nqobile Biyela, Alwande Qwabe, Bonga Mkhize, Okuhle Dludla, Subusiswe Qwabe, Nkonzenhle Mhlongo,Mary Elizabeth Moran, Milo Long, Harriet Spillane, Ed Third, Lucy Mathews, Beau Smith, Daisy Burton-Nickson, Oliver Maskell, Mia Hefferon, Beau Smith, Lauren Spence, Stan Bates, Emily Stokey, Oscar Enright, Tiffany Yip, Fabio Zeqiraj, Evelyn Ince, Stan Bates, Callum Gaughan, Alexandra Koroma, Joel Odeyo, Rene’e Elliott, Tommy Joy, Mollie Warburton, LilyMae Bootland-Freeth, John James McDonagh, Emelia Holmes, Ethan Cadogen, Lottie Dalton, Finnbar Kennedy, Lorcan Doherty, Emily Oddy, Edward Wade, Lucy Mason, Jack Thompson

Most improved Athletes

Mia Hefferon, Ed Third, Mthembo Noluvu, Ntuli Sifundo, S’nqobile Biyela, Nonjabulo Sikhakhane, Amkelo Maduna, Ayzah Hussain, John James McDonagh, Evie Dyson, Findlay Shaw, Emily Oddy, Elijah Helliwell Del Pino

Best all-round Athletes

Amiswa Hadebe, Amkelo Maduna, Mollie Wharburton, Joel Odeyo, Lauren Spence, Oscar Enright, Okuhle Dludla, Alwande Qwabe, Mary Elizabeth Moran, Milo Long, Ngoma Senamile, Kunene Njabulo, Lucy Mason, Finnbar Kennedy

*Special mention to Joel Odeyo from Holy Name Primary School who finished in the top three all six school-based events: three 1st places, one 2nd place and two 3rd places

Outstanding Leaders

Cyaba Mpendulo, Uyaphila Ukristu Zulu, Siphesihle Zulu, Alexandra Koroma, Joel Odeyo, Mthembi Ayandoliswa, Phoebe Busch, Callum Gaughan, Nolwazi Biyela, Lethokukle Sbiya, Olivia Massie, Rocco Hamill, Emma Dowling Cunningham, Edward McNally