UK School Games 2008
The UK School Games kicks off in Bath and Bristol from 28 to 31 August 2008, showcasing the UK’s finest school-age elite athletes. This is the third UK School Games to be staged and it looks set to be the biggest and best yet. This year record numbers of young athletes will compete with the event expanding to include nine sports. Alongside the new sport of hockey, competition will take place in badminton, judo, volleyball, athletics, fencing, gymnastics, swimming and table tennis, with disability events in athletics, swimming and table tennis. Visit www.ukschoolgames.com
Weymouth & Portland set to be first venue ready for 2012
Construction work has begun on the first venue outside of the Olympic Park for the London 2012 Games. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and its contractors Dean & Dyball have now started work to enhance the existing sailing facilities with the construction of a new permanent 250m slipway and new race-boat parking, lifting and mooring facilities. The enhanced facilities are due to be completed by the end of 2008. Read more.
Inspiring others - Dave Padgen, EFDS
40% of people who attempt it fail. Trekking up Kilamanjaro, Africa's highest mountain is not for the feint-hearted. And for Dave Padgen, Regional Development Manager of the English Federation of Disability Sport in the South West, the challenge was even more difficult because he suffers from cerebral palsy. Three years of planning and preparation were rewarded when Dave successfully completed the feat on 22 January 2008. Visit his weblog www.stumbling.co.uk and view the news coverage on ITV Local.
Nationwide National Junior Swimming Championship 2008
Over 200 young Paralympic hopefuls competed at Ponds Forge, Sheffield on 1/2 March 2008 in the DSE competition sponsored by Nationwide Building Society. The weekend belonged to 17 year old Ben Procter from Cornwall who is too old next year to compete in the junior event and so was determined to have lasting memories. He did that by breaking two world records in the S14 50m and 100m Butterfly. The new times of 27.85 and 01:02.03 respectively were enough to beat Craig Rodgie from Scotland on both occasions for the top spot. Two further European records were broken by Louise Watkin in the 50m and 100m Freestyle events. The Kelly College swimmer beat both of Claire Cashmore's records in the S9 class, with new times of 30.31 and 01:05.14 respectively. View DSE press release.
New qualifications for community sports workers
Two new qualifciations have been launched to support colleagues working in the exciting environemnt of comunity sports. The new 'Award in Community Sports Work' and 'Award in Managing Community Sport' are set to be extremely popular and will be a great resource for developing the capacity of the Single System for Sport, particularly at Community Sports Network level. The download a brochure outlining the courses click here, (Pdf 1.5MB) and to download a registration form click here. (Pdf 315kb). Also, SkillsActive is undertaking the largest ever survey of sport, outdoors, health and fitness employers. To be involved, click here.
Team England athletics team announced for Melbourne 2006
The Commonwealth Games Council for England today (Wednesday) ratified the AAA of England’s selection of the athletics team to compete at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. The team was announced by Chris Carter, Chair of the AAAs of England selection committee, at a press conference at the Sports Café in London this morning. The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games – the XVIII Games - run from 15th to 26th March and a full list of athletes is available by clicking here.
Sisters are doing it for themselves!
Sailing sisters Jody and Emma Warner of Barnstaple claimed the title of Laser 4000 Female European Champions, in the annual sailing event at Bandol in Southern France in July 2005.
Jody, 26, and Emma, 28, fought off tough competition from crews from across the UK and Europe, to win the title in their boat which is entitled "On All 4's" because its sail number is 4444. Their main rivals came from Italy, but Jody and Emma managed to keep their noses in front to claim Gold.The European Championships were held over four days and attracted around 80 competitors.
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Graeme Smith steers Somerset to Twenty20 Cup victory in the final against Lancashire at the Brit Oval.
Somerset’s departing captain Graeme Smith left west country supporters something to remember him by when he lifted the Twenty20 Cup at the Oval tonight after helping his adopted county to victory over Lancashire in the final of the 2005 competition.
The skipper hit Flintoff’s last ball for six over long on giving young James Hildreth the chance to hit the winning runs, which he duly did by hitting a boundary to give Somerset victory by seven wickets with eleven balls to spare. At the end Smith was unbeaten on 64 whilst Hildreth was 16 not out.
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Young south west rower wins world cup place
Young Cornish rower Annie Vernon was named in the GB squad for the BearingPoint Rowing World Cup at Dorney Lake, Eton on May 26-28. The 22 year old from St Ninver, near Wadebridge, becomes the first Sport England-funded World Class Start athlete to make a senior GB Olympic class boat and will compete in the double scull with Elise Laverick, who won a bronze medal in Athens last year.
Inspired by her father and brother, who both rowed at University, Vernon first took up rowing at Castle Dore Rowing Club, based on the River Fowey in South Cornwall. Prior to that she played a number of sports at school, represented Cornwall at hockey and was a member of the Pony Club.Her rowing career flourished at Downing College, Cambridge, where she read History. In her second year she trialled for the University Women's Boat Club and rowed at number 4 in the Blue Boat that lost out to Oxford in the women's Boat Race in 2003.
Following a good result in the GB National team trials in Hazewinkel, Belgium last month, where she won the B Final, she was given the opportunity to trial for the double scull and clinched her place in the squad after some impressive performances.
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