Pupils on track at athletics extravaganza
Local youngsters have competed for sporting glory in two
athletics events over three days of action at Jenner Park Stadium
in Barry.
Boys and girls from primary schools in Cardiff and the Vale of
Glamorgan strived to achieve personal best and local records in the
Cardiff and Vale Athletics competition while teams competed for the
honour of overall school winners at the Vale of Glamorgan Primary
Schools Athletics and Parallel Festival.
Organised by the Sports Development Unit at the Vale of
Glamorgan Council and Bethan Frost, PE Advisor for Cardiff Council,
the athletics extravaganza was sponsored by 'New Directions
Education'.
Idris Power, Business Development Officer for New Directions
Education, said: “It is great to see so many children having the
opportunity to represent their school. We are pleased to be able to
support the organisers and give something back to the schools.”
The Vale's Dragon Sport co-ordinator Rachel McGuinness added:
“Finding a sponsor has ensured that not only can we offer exciting
opportunities for children to compete in sport, but it allows us to
invest in teaching staff and volunteers' personal development by
using the money for coaching education and training, which is in
line with New Directions Education's idea of supporting the
education community.”
The event
also encouraged children with a variety of different needs to
compete against those with similar abilities in the Parallel
Festival. Pupils took part in wheelchair slalom, overhead throw for
distance, target throw for precision, as well as javelin and
sprints.
The Vale Council's Disablity Sport Wales Officer Linda Ruston
said: “A Parallel Festival provides inclusive opportunities for all
primary school children to compete in athletics and show their
potential. We have had a great deal of interest in the event and
are keen to encourage all pupils and teachers who may have
difficulty finding suitable sporting competitions to get involved
in the future or contact us.“
The overall winners of the Vale Athletics team competition were
Sully Primary School (pictured above right) while the winning teams
at the Parallel Festival were from Palmerston and Gwenfo C/W
primary schools (pictured above left). Prize plates were presented
by the Vale of Glamorgan's Deputy Mayor Cllr Emlyn Williams.
For further details regarding athletics, Dragon Sport, or sport
for people with disabilities in the Vale of Glamorgan, please
contact Rachel McGuinness or Linda Ruston on 01446 704681/728. You
can also view further photos from the events at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/dragonsports.
23/07/2008