Staffordshire Pupils Take Part In Special Schools Sports Festival

The athletes took part in coaching sessions and competed in events including zone hockey, badminton, tag rugby, cricket, football and athletics as the recent poor weather gave way to sunshine and smiling faces.

Jane Kracke, Sports Manager and festival organiser from Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent (SASSOT) was thrilled with the success of the day. “A massive ‘thank you’ to The Trentham Estate for sponsoring the event and to Inside Right for providing bottled water for the participants; also to the volunteer helpers from Stafford Grammar School and Burton College who helped the day to run smoothly but the real stars of the day are the athletes and the support staff who’ve made the festival such a success. We hope to be able to follow up the event with the provision of coaching in some of the special schools to build upon the interest generated today and hopefully encourage more clubs to provide pathways for these athletes to continue to participate in sport.”

During the lunch interval, the athletes and supporters were treated to a hand-cycling demonstration by former GB Paralympian, Marcus Asbury. Marcus, who works as a Sports Development Officer, has had first hand experience of competing at the highest level in the Barcelona Paralympics in 1992. “Today has been all about participation. Despite disabled children experiencing a number of barriers, there are still opportunities, in terms of sport, for access and inclusion” he commented. “Who knows? We may have seen a budding 2012 Paralympics medal winner in the making here today.”

The Mayor and Mayoress of East Staffordshire, along with a number of civic dignitaries from across the county, attended the festival and made a number of presentations to the successful teams. Councillor Cedric Insley CBE, Mayor of East Staffordshire commented, “The whole concept is exciting and worthwhile. It helps to bring children together for team sports and hopefully generates interest in sport that will last a lifetime.”

The enjoyment on the faces of the young athletes was clear, especially those of the Tag Rugby team from Two Rivers School, Tamworth who won the Tag Rugby Competition for the fourth consecutive year.

Further details of the festival and the winners of the individual sports are available on SASSOT’s website at www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk