Over 500 primary school pupils from across North
Somerset took part in the North Somerset Festival of
Sport.
Hosted by Hutton Moor Leisure Centre on Tuesday 23 June, the
festival was organised by our Sport and Active Lifestyles team,
Wesport's competition management team and the North Somerset Youth
Sport Network.
Young people participated in ten different sports which included
tri golf, tennis, hockey, handball, basketball, t-ball, ultimate
frisbee, squash, themed festivals and athletics.
Local coaches and sports clubs coordinated each of the sports
events giving participants a pathway into local opportunities if
they wish to continue the sport they have tried out at the
festival. Some of the local clubs involved include Winscombe Ladies
Hockey Club, Clevedon Tennis Club and Hutton Moor Squash.
The festival was a participation event for competitors to play a
new sport against others of similar experience. This year the
festival linked with the new national Sports Unlimited initiative
and from September for the duration of the first two terms
eight-week blocks of sports activity will be organised in the
community. The sports activity will be specifically aimed at those
participants who tried out a new sport at the festival of
sport.
The festival had an Olympic theme and every school taking part
represented a country at the opening ceremony and parade.
Sasha Corbin attended the festival as a sporting guest of honour
giving all participants an inspirational speech about how she
started off in sport. Sasha is an England Netball player aged 21
and plays wing attack for England.
On the day participants received coaching in two different
sports.
Thanks to sponsorship from Bristol International Airport every
participant received a festival t-shirt and medal.
During the event Campus Freerunners and Wyvern Community Schools
dance group provided demonstrations, just some of the activities
which are part of the North Somerset Sports Unlimited scheme.
Students from Weston College, Churchill Secondary School and
Wyvern Community School volunteered at the event.
The festival is also part of North Somerset Partnership's
Go4Life campaign to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.
For further information about the Sport Unlimited programme due
to start in September for young people aged 5 -19 contact Sport and
Active Lifestyles on 01275 810 995.
