THE Northamptonshire Sainsbury’s Winter School Games are designed to build on the magic of 2012 and to enable every school and child to participate in competitive sport, including meaningful opportunities for disabled youngsters.
Delivered for the first time in the summer of 2012, the Sainsbury’s School Games returned to the county for the Northamptonshire Winter School Games last month.
The County School Games for 2014 are split into a winter and summer events, resulting in more opportunities for participants to compete in all levels of the school games programme. The Winter Games included Sporthall Athletics, Dodgeball, Boccia and New Age Kurling, Indoor Rowing, Tag Rugby, Basketball, Badminton, Futsal, Football, Volleyball and Sitting Volleyball, Swimming and Table Tennis) and were held mainly at Kettering Sports Arena, with Corby International Swimming Pool, Kettering Rugby Club and Weavers School, Wellingborough playing host to swimming, rugby and table tennis respectively.
After months of competitions (intra school and inter school) across the county, the winners formed five School Sport Partnership Teams: Team Corby, Oundle and Thrapston; Team Kettering; Team Northampton: Team South Northants and Daventry; Team Wellingborough and East Northants. In total, there were 15 sports being fought out, with 44 separate competitions, including six Project Ability Sports (disability sports) and 11 competitions.
Some 1,400 young people competed during the four days at the end of February and more than 100 young leaders helped ensure the competitions ran smoothly.
Sporting champions watch the action
GREAT excitement was generated among the Futsal teams when England and Arsenal footballer, Kelly Smith, called in to the Northamptonshire School Games to meet the teams.
Smith talked to the Girls Futsal teams (5 a-side indoor football) and gave an inspiring talk to those playing in the finals. Smith said how pleased she was to be at the Games and to see everyone really having fun and enjoying the Games.
She added: “I wish these opportunities had been around for me when I was your age! It’s great to see the talent here and see the growth in Futsal, and girls and women’s football happening now.”
Smith held a Q&A session for schools teams from Wollaston School, Moulton School, The Duston School, Lodge Park Academy Corby, Weavers School Wellingborough and Guilsborough – they were keen to know how she started her career and hear more about her England team experiences.
Rob Richardson, GB Sitting Volleyball Captain, spent a whole day at the Games on Thursday February 27, speaking to the teams, supporting them and giving the sitting volleyball teams impromptu coaching sessions.
Richardson said: “I had a fantastic day and enjoyed watching some great sporting action. After many years of hard work and dedication, I managed to achieve my own personal dream by captaining the GB sitting volleyball team at the London 2012 Paralympics. I now hope some of the competitors here are inspired to become the sporting stars of the future.
“But more importantly, as one of Sport England’s Sporting Champions, I hope I have helped inspire all the young people in attendance to give 100 per cent and to try their very best not only at these School Games, but in everything they do.”
At end of play on Thursday, the South Northants and Daventry School Sport Partnership were narrowly in the lead ahead of the Corby and Oundle School Sport Partnership, with Northampton and Wellingborough & East Northants (last year’s winners) close behind.
The week’s results will be added to those of The Northamptonshire Sainsburys School Games Summer Finals on July 10 for the overall title of Northamptonshire School Games Champions 2014 and the County trophy.
Linda Brooks, chairman of the Local Organising Committee and principal of Manor School, Raunds, said: “The School Games is an incredible opportunity for young people to represent their school and district and to demonstrate to all that school sport still plays an important role in the lives of students, teachers and the school itself.”
