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Sporting message from paralympian

Pupils from a Bristol school were put through their paces by one of Team GB's most charismatic paralympians yesterday.

Ade Adepitan MBE won bronze at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens with the British basketball team and has graced TV screens in various acting and presenting roles since. And with his striking dreadlocks, broad grin and tales of daring-do, he held a captive audience at Elmlea Junior school before showing them some tricks.

The retired athlete has been in a wheelchair since contracting polio aged three and hopes to inspire the next generation of sportsmen to break down barriers both in and out of sport.

Elmlea won the visit through a Lloyds TSB-sponsored competition after convincing judges with a 100-word reason why they should be selected.

Head of PE Katie Atkins said: "We do a lot of sport and encourage students to try all sorts of sports. We try to be very inclusive. It's really all to do with achieving your goals and it's not just for the children with special needs."

Head teacher Clare Galliers described the visit as "very inspirational" for the youngsters.

"We hope the kids get the message that disability is no barrier," she said.

Adepitan talked to the students before holding workshops alongside Lloyds TSB "local hero" Emily Hollis, one of the UK's up and coming badminton stars. Hollis, 16, from Congresbury is ranked 5th in the country and has her sights set on the 2016 Olympics. "I never had anybody like Ade come to my school when I was their age," she said. "He's very inspiring."

Charlotte Higgins, 11, who dreams of representing her country at eventing had her first sight of an Olympic medal, while Robbie McCulloch, 10, was amazed that Adepitan had scaled a volcano.

Adepitan said: "If they can just take one thing, one message, maybe 'never give up', something that can open up a little seed of light inside them, then I'll be very happy."

Hale hot on Hamilton's heels

Note the date and note the name, Mitch Hale, Bristol’s very own Formula One prospect.

As Lewis Hamilton lines up on the grid at Silverstone this weekend Bristol teenager Hale will be tearing up the record books in Spain and has turned down a test ride with Ferrari to do so.

The former Clifton College pupil has his eyes set on following Hamilton’s footsteps and making the transition from an apprenticeship in karting to the giddy glamour of Formula One.

The 14-year-old privateer only took up the sport two years ago but has now turned semi-professional and is making unprecedented progress through the ranks with Italian team JRP, who he signed for earlier this year.

Speaking from Spain, Mitch said: “I want to follow Hamilton and race in F1. You need commitment and discipline and I think I’ve got that. It will take about seven years working through KF2, KF1, Formula Renault and F3 before making F1 but I know what I have to do.

“My friends know that I race but they don’t really understand. Hopefully in seven years they will be paying a bit more attention.”

Chris Walker of Karting Magazine said: “He’s doing a lot of racing internationally where all the top F1 drivers have raced in the past. He’s probably in the top 10 in the world for his age and is definitely a future F1 prospect.”

Ayrton Senna, Fernando Alonso and Hamilton all commenced their careers in the electric world of karting and in the case of Senna it was a love affair which he never truly relinquished.

The former F1 World Champion cited the best driver he had ever raced against as Barnsley-born Englishman Mike Wilson, who pipped him to the Karting World Championship six times.

Today’s F1 teams keep a watchful eye on the category and Hale has already received amorous glances from Ferrari.

Hale was asked to drive in a karting event for the Italian constructors at Silverstone this weekend but had to withdraw due to racing and testing commitments in Spain.

The Bristolian youngster, who first tasted the sport at the indoor karting track in Avonmouth, drew plaudits with a podium finish in the Spanish Open Championship last month and on July 13 competes in the European Championship qualifiers at Alcaniz in Spain ahead of the finals at Braga in Portugal on August 3.

Last year he finished 20th overall out of 150 in the finals. “This time I’d like to be at the front,” he said. “I’ve now got the car and the kit to do it.”

His agent, Adam Jones, said: “It’s as far removed from the karts you can drive on an indoor track as you can imagine. All hell breaks loose when you put your foot down. It’s very technical and very fast. Mitch is racing at well over 80mph against kids with five years experience - and beating them. You just don’t do that.”

His father, Nick, a former professional speedway racer turned successful businessman, is bankrolling Mitch’s progress.

He said: “For a privateer to be mixing it with the best in the world is phenomenal. He’s competing against guys with budgets of £200,000. You need the edge and he’s got it.

“In 18 months Hamilton wouldn’t have won anything. [Mitch’s progress] is a bit like playing county tennis and then going to Wimbledon.

“Mitch wants to live with the cars, sleep with the cars and learn as much as he can.”

Mitch spends four days a week at his team’s camp in Lake Garda, Italy, and three days with a private tutor at home in Bristol.

His father said: “It’s a frantic schedule for a 14-year-old but that is what is required for racing at the top. There’s nothing else on this earth that matters to him more. This is not a family decision, it’s his decision.”

Nick is all too aware there are only 20 places on an F1 grid and Chris Walker was also circumspect about Mitch’s statistical chances, but both were in agreement there is more to success than raw talent.

“It’s not necessarily about who wins the races,” said Nick. “It’s about the right time and the right place and the right personality for sponsorship.”
Walker said: “Mitch certainly has the determination and the family support to succeed.”

Mitch is yet to compete at Silverstone but has got to know the track on his Xbox. His tip for Sunday’s race? BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica. “It’s all about consistency,” he said.

To follow Mitch’s progress go to: www.kartlink.com.