County News

Gartmore Country Code Gallops to success

 

Gartmore Riding School presented "The Country Code" on Tuesday 13th September 2011. Gartmore held a fun packed day learning about the importance of respecting our countryside and how to safely follow the Country Code.

 

Several of the schools were invited to follow Old McDonald and his animals on an exciting adventure throughout the day by taking part in activities, culminating in the evening with a musical performance by over one hundred children & adults who ride or help at Gartmore.

 

Many individuals and organisations pledged their support for the day.

 

Martin Clunes - Chairman of the British Horse Society attended the events during the morning. Martin unvailed a plaque for the new Sensory Shelter which will give children and adults the chance to interact with ponies without having to ride. This will be an area where they can learn to groom, feed and lead ponies. Contributions were gratefully received from many sources including Aiming High.

 

Alec Evans - G8way, Martin Clunes, Mark Fosbrook - Disability Sport & Physical Activity Officer

 

 

The evening event was attended by Ricky Balshaw, Silver medalist from Beijing 2008 Paralympics for dressage who presented some awards and gave us an insight into his training.

 

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South Staffordshire Star is Finalist for The Black Country Sport & Physical Activity Awards

 

Jayne Hinnett is a Tennis gold medalist that we know little about. Jayne from South Staffs represented Great Britain this summer at the Special Olympics Summer Games and was shortlised as Disabled Sports Person of the Year at the Black Country Awards 2011 held on 6/10/11.

 

We will be looking forward to running an artile on Jayne for the Staffordshire Stars section shortly. However in the meantime Congratulations Jayne.

 

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Inspired Project Spitfire takes off for London 2012

 Project Spitfire, a Big Lottery Reaching Communities funded project, has been granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire Programme.

 

The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

Project Spitfire is a five year project which will deliver disability awareness training to 400 young people aged 11-16 year olds and will them the opportunity to try their hands at sports which will be included in the 2012 Paralympics, including wheelchair basketball.  The Paralympic Games are one of the few absolutely positive images of disability that we see in the media. We see inspirational , dedicated athletes achieving their absolute best. We mainly ignore the disability and focus on the person and what they have achieved. London 2012 embodies what Project Spitfire is trying to achieve on its smaller, more local scale. The project aims to take the “difference” out of disability, valuing the achievement of the individual and fostering respect for others, regardless of background.

 

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “We want to use the power of the Games to inspire change.  The Inspire programme is recognizing the work our partners all round the UK are doing to help us achieve this vision now – one year away from the start of the Games.  I congratulate everyone involved in Project Spitfire for securing the Inspire mark and wish you every success with your work”.

 

Project Spitfire events will be run jointly by Stoke Spitfires and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.  Lindsay Leighton of Stoke Spitfires said: “Stoke Spitfires are proud to be involved in this innovative project. We look forward to sharing our experiences as disabled people and as sports men and women".

 

A programme of Project Spitfire events will run until 2015, and will be advertised city-wide.  Anyone interested in the project can contact 01782 236667 or spitfire@stoke.gov.uk 

 

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