Fantastic finale to 2012/13 Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games
The 2013 Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games came to a successful climax at Uppingham School Sports Centre as hundreds of competitors went for gold at the Summer Championships on Friday 28th June.
Despite the quintessential British weather (damp and wet!), nothing could dampen the passion and spirit of the 950+ talented young athletes and disabled athletes from across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.
Nearly a year on from London 2012, the Summer Championships brought back the great memories of last year’s summer of sport as over 125 teams took part in an action-packed day of competitive school sport and celebration, battling it out for the title of ‘School Games Champions’ and ‘Spirit of the Games Champions’, and positioning their Partnership as high up the medals table as possible by the end of the day.
Primary aged athletes (5-11 years), representing over 75 different schools, endeavoured to ensure a legacy from London 2012 by competing in 15 competitions, across 9 sports, in the showcase finale school sport event of 2012/13, which was also part of National School Sport Week.
The Opening Ceremony, compered by Gaynor Nash, Regional Co-ordinator for the Children & Young People’s Legacy from London 2012, introduced young leaders from Uppingham Community College and Catmose College who read the School Games oaths and values. Team GB Paralympic Sprinter Sam Ruddock was present to officially open the Summer Championships and encouraged the young athletes to be the best they can be.
Leicester-Shire & Rutland’s ‘Got Talent’ competition winners Lillia Jamelynec (acrobatic gymnast), Keelan Putnam (diablo tricks) and Evolve (dance group), all put on great performances despite the poor weather, to a rapturous reception from the athletes, spectators and staff watching. School Games Mascot ‘Dazzle’, made an appearance alongside the School Games Torch which incorporated segment designs from the Partnership areas.
The athletes then set off for 4 hours of competitive school sport in traditional British drizzle; competing in their different Partnership coloured t-shirts, all vying to the finish in the gold medal position. All teams set out to give it their all whilst competing to the School Games Values of; Determination, Honesty, Passion, Respect, Self-Belief and Teamwork.
Over 120 young leaders from local schools across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland supported the running of the competitions, after receiving specific training prior to the Championships.
The Awards Ceremony involved School Games Ambassadors Matt Hampson and Sam Ruddock, who presented trophies to each competition winner and ‘Spirit of the Games’ winner. The gold medallists received an impressive victory torch trophy alongside gold medals and the ‘Spirit of the Games’ winners also received a trophy. Silver and Bronze medals also went to 2nd and 3rd place in each competition.
The Summer Championships was the finale to the 2012/13 School Games programme and all of the day’s results were added to the ongoing School Games medals table. The suspense was building as the ‘2012/13 School Games Champions’ and ‘2012/13 School Games Spirit of the Games Champions’ were about to be announced…!
With only 1 point in it; Blaby & Harborough were crowned the overall ‘2012/13 School Games Champions’, winning 11 Gold, 11 Silver and 7 Bronze medals in total throughout the year. North West Leicestershire took the title of ‘2012/13 School Games Spirit of the Games Champions’ after being awarded 10 ‘Spirit of the Games’ Awards over the year, with their displays of Determination, Honesty, Passion, Respect, Self-Belief & Teamwork.
The young athletes represented our 10 School Sport & Physical Activity Networks (SSPANs), all of which will have qualified from Level 2 area finals, to participate in this Level 3 County Final Championships.
Geoff Maltby, Sports Development Manager from Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport (LRS) said: The School Games Summer Championships were yet again another fantastic success. This finale event of the school year epitomised the 2012/13 School Games Programme. The passion and enthusiasm from our talented young athletes to participate in competitive school sport throughout the performance levels, with the aim of becoming the county’s best, is overwhelming. This shows how much our young people want these opportunities available to them and why we must continue to work hard as a partnership to offer high quality competitive sport in our schools.”
Visit www.lrsport.org/schoolgames for more information, to view the photographs and watch videos from the day produced by the Catmose College Media Team.
Ensure your School is involved next academic year visit www.lrsport.org/sgos
