Cumbria 2011 Schoolympics champions

18th July 2011

700 primary school children from across the county competed in a fun packed day of sport on Tuesday 5th July, competing for title of Cumbria 2011 Schoolympics Champions. Eden took the honourable trophy home with them this year.

The competition element of the day got underway as soon as the rainbow of team colours started to pack out the Sands Centre hall for the Opening Ceremony. It was certain from the offset that all the young competitors were ready to represent their areas from the array of chants echoing across the hall. As Bruce Lawson of Active Cumbria tried to contain the excitement of the young people he introduce the invited guests for the day which included representatives from all of Cumbria's local authorities, Mayors, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust and sponsors of the event including main sponsor The Cumberland Building Society.

The events started early morning with the teams dispersing to 3 different venues across Carlisle, accompanied by a number of Young Sports Leaders.

Years 5 and 6 Orienteering teams went out to Rickerby Park and enjoyed their competition. High 5 Netball competition ran at Bitts Park with years 5 and 6. Sonia Dryden, of England Netball said:

"The netball High 5 was very exciting with all teams showing great skill and determination. Players, team leaders and staff all got into the competition and cheering could be heard from all around. The final was very competative and nail biting to the end. The fun penalty shoot out at the end was a fantastic and was a good way to wind down and our young players. The youngsters showed the VIPS how it was done."

Mini Tennis competitions also took up most of the courts at Bitts park with nearly 250 mini matches played with years 3 and 4. Tri Golf for large and small schools years 3 and 4, ran at the Sheepmount with Quicksticks hockey and multiskills.

As the results started to come in and the teams started to arrive back at The Sands Centre the excitement and atmosphere started to heat up. The Closing Ceremony started with Peter Temple from the Cumberland Building Society, the main sponsor for the event said:

"We are proud to have been part of Cumbria's SCHOOLypmics for a second year. It was fantastic to see so many young people involved from all over the county. This was their Olympics and it was great to see the enthusiasm on children's faces as they were competing and the pride when they picked up their medals."

A special prize was awarded to recognise 'the team showing excellent sportmanship'. Windemere Junior School were identified for showing friendly support to competing teams alond with one of their pupils, Edward Brownell having assisted the event organisers. The school won a selection of sports equipment kindly donated by YPO and presented by Roger Smith.

It was then down to business and applause all round as all the winning teams for each sport were invited to the stage.

PLEASE REFERENCE RESULTS TABLE ON THE SCHOOLYMPICS PAGE

It was them down to Roger Hackney, Vice Chairman of the Cumbria Playing Fields Association to hand over the overall winners trophy, and as Richard Johnston of Active Cumbria announced  'Eden are the champions of Cumbria 2011 SCHOOLympics' the team roared in shear delight! Cllr Joan Raine Chairman or Eden District Council along with Becky Wolstenholme from Eden School Sport Partnership collected the trophy kindly donated by Cumbria Playing Fields Association. The atmosphere was electric, and celebrating got under way. Cllr Raine along with the whole Eden team squeezed onto the stage as Queen's 'We are the champions' blasted through the music system.

Cllr Joan Raine, Chair of Eden District Council said:

"This was a fantastic, well organised event. I am delighted that the Schools in Eden won the splendid trophy. All credit must go to parents, teachers and volunteers who encourage the children to participate in physical activity, may the encouragement of the adults along with the friendly competitive spirit seen today become a part of the youngsters every day life. Physical exercise not only improves fitness levels it has longer term health and social benefits, all linked to a long and healthy life."

Becky Richardson, Partnership Development Manager at Eden Valley School Sport Partnership said:

"I am absolutely delighted that the nine schools representing Eden at the Schoolympics won the County event for 2011.

The Eden Valley Sport Partnership ran 14 events in the rounds leading to the Schoolympics with 30 schools and in excess of 680 young people competing in Eden with a view to securing a place to represent Eden at the Schoolympics. This is a huge accolade to a district with a low population base and huge geographical spread."

Richard Johnston, Partnership Manager of Active Cumbria said:

"The atmosphere was fantastic, a true celebration of sport for young people in a safe and fun environment with Eden coming out on top winning the overall event trophy. Cllr Raine was 'over the moon' and celebrated with the Eden team all around her.
 
The smiles on the childrens faces all day, the fantastic support and excellent comments from the invited guests which included representatives from all of the local authorities, showed why it is important to stage this event for young people leading up to 2012.
 
We could not have staged this without the fantastic sponsorship of £10,000 recieved from the Cumberland Building Society and sincere thanks go to them."