Inaugural biathlon
The College hosted its inaugural biathlon on Tuesday 26 September. This event saw
over 70 pupils take the plunge for a sea swim, followed by a five-kilometre run
along the seafront and up to the South Downs. The biathlon was not only a
healthy addition to the College’s busy athletics programme but also its blue
health policy capitalising on the mental health benefits of being located by
the sea. The event was a great success and attracted a number of spectators
from the College and local community.
The race
was split into two categories, inter and senior. Aimée Wood and Annie Wilson
won the girls inter and senior respectively. Noah Canby took the boys senior
race, coming in an impressive nine minutes ahead of second place. Adam Armitage
won the boys inter race. House winners were Craig and Nugent.
Headmaster,
Tom Lawson, commented:
‘At
Eastbourne College we believe that our location is an advantage. The sea air,
the infinite inspiration of the horizon, the opportunity to swim or enjoy the
beach are all proven to enhance mental health and wellbeing, a concept known as
‘blue health’. At Eastbourne, our philosophy has always been that happy,
healthy pupils who enjoy outdoor activity every day among their other
opportunities will go on to be successful academically and, more importantly,
be shown some of the best ways to prevent anxiety and stress. Mindfulness in a
stuffy school theatre just doesn’t do the job. We take the best of contemporary
methods to promote adolescent mental health, combined with the blue health
available through the inspiring outdoor life. The biathlon gave our young
people the unique opportunity to go to a beach just 500m from their school,
swim without wetsuits off the British coast, and run in a national park.’
