Whitburn pupil wins £12k play equipment for school

Play Fitness, based on Forest Road Industrial Estate, South Shields, set a design challenge to celebrate the launch of its new infant range, giving schools the chance to win a trim trail.

Pupils were asked to invent a piece of play equipment, and the winning entry came from Charlie Begg, a Year 4 pupil at Marsden Primary School in Whitburn.

The nine-year-old came up with a design inspired by his love of riding his bike. He said: “Two exercise bikes are put on with wheels on a track. You need two people to work it. You need to try and go all the way round the track by working in a team.”

Mark Carter, sales consultant at Play Fitness, said: “We had a fantastic response to the competition and would like to thank everyone who took the time to enter. He said of the winning entry: “We loved the fact that it involved teamwork, and that it also provided a bit of competitiveness, as they would be racing against each other.”

The school, in Mill Lane, is now hoping to have the trim trail, which features balance beams, hump-back bridge and stepping stones, installed in time for spring.

Headteacher Caroline Marshall is also planning to add a plaque in Charlie’s honour. She said: “We have got such gorgeous grounds, it will be nice to give the children more to see and do.”

Charlie said: “I am really happy to win and I think the other children are going to like it.”

Whitburn and Marsden councillor Tracey Dixon, who is a governor at the school, said: “I think it’s absolutely amazing that Charlie’s entry won.”