Sir Thomas Picton School’s Inclusive Zone Basketball (IZB) team came second in the Welsh National finals in Cardiff recently.
 
Their achievement is all the more remarkable given the county’s first ever IZB competition was only held in February.
 
IZB is cross between running basketball and wheelchair basketball.
 
Teams are made up of four players with two wheelchair users and two running players
 
It was first introduced to Pembrokeshire schools last year from a successful Local Authority Partnership Agreement (LAPA) Sport Wales grant which funded the purchase of four sport wheelchairs for each Secondary school in Pembrokeshire
 
Sir Thomas Picton, coached by Sport Pembrokeshire volunteer Nicola Hayton, won four, drew one and lost one in the finals and qualified for the event after winning the Pembrokeshire competition that was held at the Dome, Tasker Milward School in February.
 
All nine secondary school participated in the Pembrokeshire event and played in two groups.
 
The games were refereed by Jack Woods, coach at Pembrokeshire Hurricanes wheelchair basketball club, who was assisted by Nicola Hayton.
 
Ysgol Dewi Sant and STP progressed to the final which STP won 4-2. 
 
Angela Miles, the Disability Sport Development Officer, was delighted with the response from the schools participating in the Pembrokeshire event.
 
“Inclusive Zone Basketball is a fast paced sport that is great to play and watch.
 
“It’s fairly new to Pembrokeshire and Sir Thomas Picton’s achievement in coming second in the Nationals is a great advert for the sport in the county.
 
“It’s a sport that is growing in popularity and the wheelchairs provided to each school from the Local Authority Partnership Agreement (LAPA) Sport Wales grant has made a big difference to the players and to the game in Pembrokeshire.”
 
 

PHOTOS:
 
Pic 1. STP’s Inter Zone Basketball squad that finished second in the Welsh nationals finals recently.
 
Pic 2. Action from the Pembrokeshire IZB event.
 
Pic 3. All of the competitors who played in the Pembrokeshire IZB event.