Youngsters go for gold in County Sport Festival (From Messenger Newspapers)

Youngsters go for gold in County Sport Festival

12:14pm Saturday 7th July 2012 in Trafford Sport

AROUND 2000 students from more than 100 school came together on July 3 to take part in the Greater Manchester Summer School Games.

Trafford schools taking part included Wellington School, Ashton on Mersey, St Hugh’s Catholic Primary, Manor High School, Brentwood, Barton Clough, Broadoak, Stamford Park Junior School, Abbotsford, Blessed Thomas Holford.

The schools made their way to the Regional Athletics Arena where they were greeted by sunshine, Key 103, dance acts, Olympic torches, Sue Smith (England’s woman football team) Sale’s Mike Newman (land speed record holder) and Misha B (X-Factor semi finalist last year) for the opening ceremony.

After this, the 1800 athletes and 300 young leaders who made up the School Games Crew were split across top class facilities in Manchester – the Regional Athletics Arena, National Cycling Centre, Tennis Centre, Wright Robinson Sports College, Belle Vue Athletics Centre and Broughton Park where their events began. The sports that made up these competitions were athletics, goalball, tennis, basketball, golf, football, netball, rounders, rugby and handball.

The event was a great success and medal winners included Ashton on Mersey, who picked up a bronze in tennis, year 7/8.

It was supported by past Olympian Alan Newton, who achieved a bronze medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Alan presented the medals in the Basketball Competition and inspired the budding young athletes with his Olympic medal.

The Greater Manchester Summer Games were sponsored and supported by Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Police Authority, Davies Sports and Manchester College. GreaterSport organised the event on behalf of the Greater Manchester Local Organising Committee with support from the ten local authorities, National Governing Bodies and on the day a 300 strong School Games Crew.

Richard Saunders, chief executive of GreaterSport added, ”With the Olympics starting in less than four weeks there is a real excitement surrounding sport and who knows this could be the start of their own Olympic journey.”