Sports award for nine-year-old Beccles pupil Riley
Riley Barber, right, from Albert Pye Primary School, who received the Emma Holloway Foundation Outstanding Achievment Award. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
A nine-year-old boy from Beccles has been given an outstanding achievement award as an event for children with disabilities and special educational needs was held.
Disabled children from schools across the Lowestoft and Beccles area taking part in a Panathlon event at East Point Academy PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Riley Barber, who attends Albert Pye Primary School in Beccles, was given the Emma Holloway Foundation Outstanding Achievement Award at the North Suffolk Primary Panathlon held in Lowestoft.
When Riley was a toddler, his parents were told that his dyspraxia and learning difficulties would prevent him from reaching many physical milestones unaided.
But his participation in Panathlon events has helped him exceed medical expectations.
Riley said: “I am really pleased – I was nearly crying with joy. I am going to keep the trophy on the side and my mum is going to keep it clean. I will take it into school to show my friends.”
His mum, Clair Webb, added: “I am extremely proud of Riley. He has grown in confidence ever since he started doing Panathlon events and this has been the first chance for him to represent his school in sport.”
Stuart McKenzie, sports instructor at Albert Pye, said: “Riley loves all sports and has previously turned up for every trial in every competition.
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“He has always been very competitive and always wants to improve.”
It was a day of double celebration for Albert Pye, as their A and B teams secured first and second place respectively, with Lowestoft’s Elm Tree finishing third.
The Panathlon Challenge saw pupils compete in events such as boccia blast, parachute popcorn, volleybat and tennis time trial. Also competing were Beccles Primary, Warren School from Lowestoft, Hall School from Norwich and John Grant School from Great Yarmouth.
