Students get Outlaws tips (From Echo)

Students get Outlaws tips

1:50pm Tuesday 20th December 2011 in Schools

STUDENTS at Seevic College got a taste of wheelchair basketball thanks to the Essex Outlaws team.

The Outlaws, a wheelchair basketball team from Chelmsford, visited the Thundersley college as part of its equality and diversity awareness day.

And with the Olympic and Paralympic Games happening next year, it gave students from the college in Runnymede Chase an opportunity to experience wheelchair basketball at first hand.

Players from the Outlaws spent the day explaining the rules of the sport and gave students a thorough workout in competitive games.

“It has been an absolutely fantastic day and a great experience for the students,” said Seevic organiser and sports lecturer Hannah Austin.

“Paralympic sport does not receive the same profile as the Olympics but the ethos and the dedication of the students is as great as any athlete anywhere in the world.” Seevic student Ryan Earley, 17, from Corringham, said: “Today showed us that wheelchair users are equal and in some cases better than everyone else. I’ve really enjoyed myself.” And fellow student, Bradley Pyner, 17, from Basildon, added: “As the competition progressed throughout the day, people got better and it became more competitive. “All in all it’s been an amazing experience.”