Sportsability
Festival
Lancashire MLD
Cross Country
Festival 2015
O
ver 100 children from
Blackpool Primary Schools
descended on Blackpool
Sports Centre for a morning of
fun based sporting activities at
the Key Stage 2 Sportsability
Festival. The event was organised
and delivered by Sport Blackpool
School & Community Team
as part of the School Games
Competition Calendar and was
designed to give the children
who have not had the chance
to represent their school this year
at a sporting event to have their moment
of fame.
The Sportsability Festivals allow children
to experience a range of activities, some
of which may be completely new to
them, in a manner that promotes fun
and enjoyment as well as inclusion and
engagement. Delivering sport in this fashion
aids the development of the children’s
confidence and social skills as well as
having a focus on the development of their
FUNdamentals of movement.
The carousel based event saw children
participate in ten different activities that
ranged from sitting volleyball to speed
stacking and parachute games to new
age kurling. The young participants were
supported on the day by young leaders
from Blackpool Sixth and Blackpool
& The Fylde College which gave the
teachers an opportunity to stand back
and observe the children developing new
skills and more importantly having lots of
fun. As well as ensuring that the young
participants were fully engaged, the
young leaders were keeping close tabs
on individuals demonstrating aspects of
the School Games Values in readiness of
the presenting of the Spirit of the Games
Awards.
T
children gathered to firstly thank the young
leaders for supporting them through the
activities and then sat in anticipation ready
to receive their individual School Games
Participation Awards. One child from every
school was chosen to receive the Spirit of
the Games Awards for displaying high levels
of Respect, Honesty, Self Belief, Passion,
Team Work and Determination.
Dave Rohman, Blackpool School Games
Organiser, said “We have had a great time
this morning and have been able lots of fun
playing different games and activities. It is
great to see so many children looking very
proud as they represent their schools and
interact with children from different schools
swapping stories of what they enjoy about
PE in their own school. Having the young
leaders working closely with the children
helps to create an event for young people
delivered by young people which can
help to ease the fears about sport as the
participants can often relate to the young
leaders due to similar age groups. It was
really good to see all of the children step
forward to receive their School Games
Participation Awards and then turn to face
the crowd for a big cheer. The summer term
is full of lots more exciting events and we
are looking forward for a fantastic summer
of sport for Blackpool schools.”
The event was brought to a close as the
18 On your Marks...
www.lancashiresport.org.uk
he rain on a typical summer’s day
in Blackpool didn’t stop talented
young athletes from across Lancashire
getting into their stride at the Lancashire
School Games MLD Cross Country Festival.
Stanley Park hosted the 4th annual event
and welcomed Great Arley, Pear Tree,
Crosshills, The Loyne, White Ash, Astley Park
and The Coppice to join Park Community
Academy from Blackpool for the athletic
extravaganza. The event formed part
of the Lancashire School Games Stand
Alone Competition Programme for Special
Schools across the country and is designed
to provide a platform for young people
with learning difficulties to access county
level competitions throughout the school
year.
The event saw individual competitions in
the Under 11 and Under 14 races as well
as points being tallied up for the overall
school winners. The event was organised
and delivered by Sport Blackpool School
& Community Team in partnership with
the School Games and Projectability and
supported on the day by
young volunteers from
Blackpool & The Fylde
College.
Ceremony and were treated to a big
sporting cheer from their fellow competitors.
The finishing positions were collated ready
for the schools winners to get their hands
on the champions shields by the speedy
young athletes. Park Community Academy
were announced as both the Under 11 and
Under 14 Champions for the second year
in succession and held the shields aloft with
pride.
Dave Rohman, Blackpool School Games
Organiser, said “We were panicking
about the weather as the schools were
travelling over but the rain wasn’t going
to stop the young athletes having their
sporting moment in the spotlight. It is great
to be able to invite schools from across
Lancashire over to Blackpool to join our
sporting events and join in our celebration
of disability and inclusive sport. All of the
runners should be extremely proud of
the achievements today as they showed
passion, determination and focus until
they crossed the finish line. I would like to
congratulate the Bronze, Silver and Gold
Medallists as well as Park Community
Academy for scooping the champions
shields once gain. I would also like to
thanks Liam and Callum who came over
from Astley Park to support the event as
part of their roles as Young Ambassadors.”
The event was brought
to a close with a School
Games Achievement
Presentation which saw
every athlete receive
their individual School
Games Participation
Award before gathering
for the results of the
individual and overall
school winners. The top
three athletes in each
age group stepped
forward for the Bronze,
Silver and Gold Medals
www.lancashiresport.org.uk
On your Marks...19