Disabled student leads the field in sporting excellence (From Redditch Advertiser)

Disabled student leads the field in sporting excellence

3:45pm Thursday 18th November 2010 in News

A STUDENT from Kingsley College has been commended in the Excellence in Disabled Sport category at the School Sport Matters National Awards 2010.

Glenn Scott, 18, was nominated by Kingsley College’s Sport co-ordinator for the award scheme, which is a prestigious national annual event organised by the Daily Telegraph and sponsored by Aviva.

There are 10 award categories, and “Excellence in Disabled Sport” was the selected category for Glenn.

The school wanted to highlight the progress Glenn has made in the last three years, from playing “able bodied” sport to his current status. He is ranked sixth in the world in his categories, which are the 100m and 200m Disability Track & Field Athletics events.

A school spokesman said: “Glenn was born with talipes, or club foot. He has undergone numerous operations to correct the positioning of his feet. He has had his ankle bones removed on both feet and has no movement as his heels and ankles are fused.

“Glenn was nominated to attend the Playground to Podium organisation which enabled him to discover his disabled atheltic potential. Glenn is now an ambassador for the organisation which helps give disabled students the opportunity to become elite athletes.

Glenn was identified through the Playground to Podium scheme, which is co-ordinated by the School Sports Partnership. Each year we encourage Kingsley students to attend this event. Since his involvement Glenn has succeeded in winning medals at the National Schools’ Championships and the UK School Games.

“He now competes at adult level in national and international disability athletics meetings.”

Glenn’s nomination in the School Sports Matters event was judged to be one of the top three in his category. Consequently, Glenn and representatives from Kingsley were invited to the Awards Ceremony held at Wembley Stadium in London on November 3.

The awards ceremony lunch was introduced by senior representatives of the Daily Telegraph and Aviva and included the Government Sports Minister, Hugh Robertson.

The awards were introduced by former Olympics athletes Sally Gunnell and Iwan Thomas.

Glenn received a large framed scroll recognising his personal achievements and was “commended” in his category. This category was judged by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Phil Packer, a former Army major who was injured in service and is now involved in sporting challenges, raising money for Help the Heroes. The award was presented by Duncan Goodhew, former Olympic swimming champion.