Bambisanani Partnership Athletics 2025: Young Athletes inspire each other to run faster, aim higher and dream bigger together
The 5th annual Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge brought together 12 primary schools from rural KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and 3 from Leeds in the UK to enjoy and participate in Athletics together. 346 children enjoyed Athletic challenges in their own schools as well as having the opportunity to participate in Festivals and ‘virtual’ competitions linking schools and learners in both countries.
The South African schools involved were, Mdlelanga Primary School, Mome Primary School, Mvayiza Primary School, Mathiya Primary School, Iwanga Primary School, Silambo Primary School, Kwantshwili Primary School, Ethalaneni Primary School, Sigananda Primary School, Vumanhlamvu Primary School, Mathungela Primary School and Ntumbeni Primary School. The Leeds schools involved were St. Joseph’s Pudsey; St. Mary’s, Horsforth and St Joseph’s, Otley.
There was tough competition in the UK schools and some outstanding performances.
At St Joseph’s, Otley, Beau Woodhouse won 4 of the 6 events coming 3rd in the other 2. In the Boy’s competition Gabriel Barnett won 2 events as did Joseph Hayden.
At St. Mary’s, Horsforth, Florence Dyson won 3 events coming 2nd in 2 and Charlotte Flatman had 2 wins and 3 2nd places. Lucas Canavan won 2 of his 6 events and Alfie Thompson was placed in the top 3 in 6 events.
At St. Joseph’s, Pudsey, Zofia Fortuna had a win and a 2nd place with Emily Young gaining top 3 places in 3 of the 6 events. In the Boy’s competition Owney O’Callaghan gained 4 top 3 places with Joseph Bagshaw and Roman McNaboe both making the podium twice.
The Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge was celebrated in South Africa with the young leaders from St. Mary’s School Menston spending the first day of their volunteering visit to South Africa by organising the festival for primary schools. See St. Mary’s Visit 2025 blog post. Twelve primary schools from the Nkandla region of Kwa Zulu Natal took part in the event which held at the Nkandla Sports Stadium with the help of Mr William Vilakazi, Principal at Vamanhlamvu Primary School.
Standout performances in Nkandla came from Banete Olamia from Slambo Primary School, who was the fastest girl in the 50m and 200m sprint. Nhlengethwa Unathi from Siganda Primary School was the fastest boy in the two sprint events. Shandu Ndalwenhle from Mome Primary School recorded the best overhead football throw at the festival; she recorded 12.5 meters. Congratulations must go to Vumanhlamvu Primary School whose relay teams came first and second in the South African Festival. Furthermore, fourteen students were recognised for their outstanding leadership qualities and were presented with a certificate and a medal. The festival was a tremendous success and credit must go to all participants and the outstanding young volunteers from St. Mary’s, Menston.
The performances from both countries were compiled and compared to reveal the 2025 Bambisanani International Athletics Challenge results.
Results
Bambisanani International Athletics Champions 2025
Girls Events: Top 3 Performances
| 50 metres | 1. Banete Olamia (Slambo) |
| 2. Ntenga Isphile (Siganda) | |
| 3 Amiswa Hadebe (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 200 metres | 1. Banete Olamia (Slambo) |
| 2. Ntenga Isphile (Siganda) | |
| 3. Amiswa Hadebe (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| Standing Long Jump | 1. Biyela Okuhle (Ntumbeni) |
| 2. Florence Dyson (St. Mary’s) & Charlotte Flatman (St. Mary's) | |
| Standing Three Hop Jump | 1. Florence Dyson (St. Mary's) |
| 2. Charlotte Flatman (St. Mary’s) | |
| 3. Sophie Chandler (St. Mary’s) | |
| Tennis Ball Throw | 1. Rue Mtepfa (St. Joseph's Pudsey) |
| 2. Zofia Fortuna (St. Joseph's Pudsey) | |
| 3. Emily Young (St. Joseph's Pudsey) | |
| Standing Football Throw | 1. Shandu Ndalwenhle (Mome) |
| 2. Ntenge Isiphile (Siganda) | |
| 3. Florence Dyson (St. Mary's) | 400m (10x40m) Relay | 1. St. Mary's |
| 2. St. Joseph's Pudsey |
Boys Events: Top 3 Performances
| 50 metres | 1. Nhlengethwa Unathi (Siganda) |
| 2. Mhlongo Seluleko (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 3. Buqa Siyabonga (Ethalaneni) | |
| 200 metres | 1. Nhlengethwa Unathi (Siganda) |
| 2. Mhlongo Seluleko (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 3. James Moss (St. Joseph’s Pudsey) | |
| Standing Long Jump | 1. Sthembokuhle Zondi (Mdlelanga) |
| 2. William Spence (St. Mary’s) | |
| 3. Ernest Phillipson (St. Mary’s) | |
| Standing Three Hop Jump | 1. Ayden Yaqoob (St. Mary’s) |
| 2. Alfie Thompson (St. Mary’s) | |
| 3. Malachy Given (St. Mary’s) | |
| Tennis Ball Throw | 1. Lucas Canavan (St. Mary’s) |
| 2. Charlie Pratt (St. Mary’s) | |
| 3. George Jackson-Gorney (St. Mary’s) | |
| Standing Football Throw | 1. Alfie Thompson (St. Mary’s) |
| 2. Sbukosezwe Zulu (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 3. Agabonga Sthole (Vumanhlamvu) | |
| 400m (10x40m) Relay | 1. St. Joseph's Pudsey |
| 2. St. Mary's |
Mixed Event
| 400m (10x40m) Boys and Girls Mixed Relay | 1. St. Joseph's Pudsey |
| 2. St. Mary's | |
| 3. St Joseph's Otley |
With 15 schools competing, the standard was exceptionally high this year. There was no doubting the International Sprint Champions this year with Banete Olamia, from Slambo Primary School winning both the 50 meter and 200 meters. The ‘Sprint Double’ was also achieved in the Boys event by Nhlengethwa Unathi from Mdelanga Primary School. Congratulations must also go to Florence Dyson, from St. Mary’s Primary School who gained 3 top 3 places in 6 of the international events and to Alfie Thomson from the same school who gained both a Championship 1st place and a 2nd place.
Catherine Chattoe the Bambisanani coordinator at St. Mary’s Menston said, “The Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge is far more than a competition; it is a celebration of unity, determination and friendships through sport which sees young athletes inspire each other to run faster, aim higher and dream bigger together, all whilst having a fun time. In addition to our International, National, School and Festival Champions many other children have worked hard to be the best that they could be by beating their ‘personal best’ – we love this at the Bambisanani Partnership!”
Over the past 5 years 1,554 young people from both countries have participated in the Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge – for many it is their first experience of both Athletics and an International encounter.
