Canvey Island decathlete Dean Macey was among the personalities in action when The Deanes School, Thundersley, held a cross-curricular sports programme involving more than 200 Year Eight pupils.

The scheme culminated in an exciting two days of sporting activities at the school, when normal curriculum activities were suspended and the pupils could focus solely on sport-related activities.

And the highlight came when world championship silver medallist Macey turned up at the school to join in the feast of sport.

The decathlete gave pupils a hand with all sorts of different disciplines, including star-jumps, press-ups.

And the training is sure to come in handy for Macey is in the midst of training for the Sydney Olympics, beginning in September.

His training continues until April 1 when he heads off for America, before returning for his final warm-up with a couple of fine-tuning appearances on the athletics circuit.

The event at Deanes coincided with Sports World Week, which aimed to promote "Sport for All" and make a link between local, national and international communities.

The activities put the finishing touches to a comprehensive programme of earlier events at the school, which had included the production of a sports newspaper.

Year Eight pupils also made the news when three of their lads triumphed in the local Carolyn Boyes badminton tournament at Thomas More school in Westcliff.

Lewis Barr (under-13 singles and doubles winner), Lee Delf (singles runner-up and doubles champion) and Greg Hardes (singles semi-final) were the trio.

Pressing ahead - decathlete Dean Macey puts pupils through their paces with some press-ups at The Deanes School's two-day sports extravaganza

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Louise shines for England

Greensward College student Louise Gammon was in the England under-20 side which took on Holland in an international match.

And Louise, 16, who lives in Rochford and is also an Ipswich Basketball Club member, helped England to victory.

Director of Community Sport at Greensward, Tony Mescall, said: "Louise is an excellent basketball player, favouring an offensive position.

"Her talent and expertise on court made her an ideal choice for the England selectors for the international with Holland.

"We believe she has a bright future in the sport and look forward to her winning further caps in the forthcoming months."

Unfortunately, Louise and her Greensward colleagues tasted defeat in their latest basketball encounter when they lost 82-70 to Sheffield College at home in the semi-finals of the National Cup.

Champions - that's the year eight basketball girls from Southend's Cecil Jones School who have captured the Borough title. The year seven boys have also tasted domestic success with Borough glory and now look for double delight in the Essex Cup. They take on Shenfield in the semi-finals next Tuesday.

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

'Flower close in on big Cup day

The super Year Nine soccer boys of Billericay's Mayflower School are just two matches away from an appearance at the Highbury home of Arsenal - and an appearance on Sky Sports Television.

For, with a magnificent performance at Letch-worth, they won 4-3 against Highfield School in a thrilling encounter to win through to the quarter-finals of the English Schools FA's Heinz Ketchup Cup.

The opposition contained several County and District players, plus star name Dorian Small, rated one of the top young names in the country and currently with the Arsenal Academy.

Mayflower were rocked early on when influential midfielder Darren Skudder was forced off the field with concussion after a fierce drive him hit him on the side of the head.

Mayflower were kept in the game by two great saves from goalkeeper Steven Toogood, and went ahead ten minutes before the break when Paul Turner lobbed home David Martin's through ball.

A superb defensive display from Paul Tredgold, Kevan Groves, David Cole and Daniel Williams ensured Mayflower went into the interval 1-0 ahead.

After chances at either end, James Morkunas turned his marker to shoot home and make it 2-0 after the break. Mayflower then went 3-0 ahead when Greg Lynch, who was outstanding throughout, sent Turner clear to score.

Highfield pulled a goal back and had Mayflower worried when they reduced the arrears to 3-2 with six minutes left.

A long clearance from a relieved Mayflower defence sent Morkunas away and he danced round two home defenders to make it 4-2.

Highfield pulled back a third but Mayflower, to scenes of delight, triumphed after eight minutes of added on time.

Mayflower manager Dean Wells said: "It was an absolutely fantastic performance from the lads. I have never seen a team battle so hard and show so much determination.

"Most schools we have played in this cup have had better individual players than us, but they have been unable to cope with our physical presence and character. I am extremely proud of all of them.

"This cup is an experience the players and myself will remember for the rest of our lives."

The quarter-final draw takes place at Highbury next Wednesday.

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