Hi there!

The end of term is almost here... Our voices are hoarse from cheering and our hands hurt from all the applause! We've been crowning champions left, right and centre, including the first ever winners of the Jack Petchey London Schools' Table Tennis Championships! Enjoy reading this issue of champions - and here's to a great summer.

~ All at the Jack Petchey Foundation

Najae Hackett took the Southbank Centre by storm last Friday with his speech on "Sleep: Our Secret Weapon". In front of an audience of 900 and a stellar judging panel led by The Right Honourable John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, he competed for the title of Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge 2011 champion, and triumphed.

The competition was fierce! Over 19,000 young people took part in the Speak Out Challenge in the 2010/11 academic year alone and so the 15 finalists truly were - as Programme Director Julie Holness said - "la crème de la crème".

Watch Najae's winning speech

More on the 2011 Grand Final

Congratulations to Team Thurrock who defeated reigning champions Harlow at the Panathlon Essex Final on 1 July! An inspiring day of competition in sports including Boccia, Kurling, Polybat, Table Cricket and Athletics saw Thurrock lead by a mere two points. But it was enough to secure them the well-earned title of Panathlon Essex champions! Meanwhile, Team Newham triumphed at the London Final on 16 June, beating Harrow, Haringey, Croydon and Lambeth to lift their own trophy.

Find out more about the Panathlon Challenge

Earlier this year The Jack Petchey Foundation joined together with the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA) to help more young people take part in this fantastic sport. The championships got off to a brilliant start in February with over 500 young people taking part in the regional qualifiers. On Saturday 2nd July, in a nail-biting finale, 61 young people battled it out at Redbridge Sports Centre for the London Schools’ title.

Find out who won!

Want to take part next year?

Register interest for your school to compete in 2011/12 and find out more about the London Schools' Championships...

Visit the ETTA's website