Eighteen students from Billericay's Mayflower School set sail on a trip of a lifetime this weekend when they depart for Indianapolis in America for an eight-day stay.

Those making the trip are the years nine and ten soccer and basketball teams and during their time in the States they will be playing both sports within the Fishers, Indianapolis, area.

They will also be shadowing the students around the Hamilton Junior High School and sampling the American school day and their style of education. They will also sit some end of year exams with the American students.

The highlight of the tour is the opportunity to attend the world famous Indiana-polis 500 car race, which takes place soon after the Billericay students arrive.

The tour was organised shortly after the twinning agreement between Billeri-cay and Fishers back in September and it is hoped that students from the other side of the Atlantic will have the chance to make a return journey.

There have been many events organised to raise cash for the tour and Trevor Stansfield, of the Twinning Committee, sponsored a set of basketball vests.

Tote Isotoner donated money to the fund which helped buy sweatshirts and football strips.

Most of the organisation for the trip has been shared between Roger Norris, principal of Hamilton South-eastern Junior High, and Mayflower PE teacher Dean Wells.

Dean said: "It is a great opportunity for the boys to go America and sample their style of education as well as playing basketball and soccer against schools within the Fisher area.

"With basketball being one of America's national sport and football ours, it will be very interesting to see the standard of matches we will be playing," the teacher added.

America bound - Mayflower students with Twinning Committee member Trevor Stansfield

Picture: NICK ANSELL Best of British

Deanes School proved themselves the best of British when they competed in a top gym competition.

Having qualified by winning the regional competition in Chelmsford, the Thundersley school's pupils stormed to victory at the Riverside Sports Centre, Stafford, to take the British Schools under-13 Boys Floor and Vault title.

Team members were year eight's David Burrows and year seven's Lee Delf, Danny Purches, Paul Samuels, Matthew Coles and Greg Ward.

Team coach Viv Willis said: "The team arrived in high spirits and began their competition by performing individual floor routines and then showed their skills by performing two vaults each.

"Every team member executed their gymnastic moves very well and thoroughly deserved to win this most prestigious competition."

King John's School, Thundersley, were also involved in the national finals.The team of six were taking part in the under-19 competition.

They all put in excellent performances with Kelly Martin and Amanda Parker collecting the highest floor marks for the whole competition. They scored 9.23 and 9.36 respectively.

This was the first time that the team had entered the competition and they ended up in third spot to take a bronze medal.

We are the champions - that's the proud boast from the Deanes School, Thundersley, gym boys who won a national title

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD Garner skills on courses

Former Southend United and Chelsea soccer star Bill Garner is holding courses for youngsters aged six to 14 in soccer, golf and tennis over next week's half-term holidays.

They will run from May 31- June 4 with soccer based at Thorpe Hall School. Golf will be at a nearby course with courtesy buses taking participants to and from Thorpe Hall, where instruction will be carried out by PGA coaches.

Tennis is also at Thorpe Hall with LTA coach Chris Morton and his team of assistants in charge.

Full details of all courses are available by ringing 01702 582340. Schools share final spoils

In the searing heat of a Southend summer's day, Wickford's Bromfords School took to the Roots Hall pitch for their London Schools FA under-15 Dewar Shield final with an enthusiastic 200-strong crowd cheering them on.

It was always going to be a hard-fought contest between the excellent teamwork of Bromfords and the individual brilliance which most of the opposition, from St Thomas More School, Wood Green, displayed.

St Thomas More had most of the early possession, but Bromfords defended very strongly. Defence turned to attack in the 16th minute and the Wickford outfit forced a corner.

Matthew Smallbone, the Bromfords' "Beckham" struck the set-piece close to the near post and opposition goalkeeper Stephen Torre-Lopez misjudged his clearance with the ball ending up in the back of the net off his own shoulder.

The next 10 minutes belonged to Bromfords with some very skilful and attractive football leading to goal number two.

Barry Mead and Craig George set up the chance for Tony Crate to finish in clinical fashion. The heat was now taking its toll on Bromfords and St Thomas More raised their game to score three goals through Ambrose Idaewar, Lloyd Opara and Stephen Berthier in a seven-minute spell just before the break.

Bromfords introduced substitutes Billy Sharp and Matthew Brewer after the interval and their brave battle for an equaliser was rewarded when Paul Hayes grabbed made it 3-3 two minutes into injury-time.

All players were now suffering from the effects of the sun and there was no further scoring in extra-time so the two proud teams shared the trophy, which was first presented in 1898 and is one of the oldest in the country.

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