Y5/6 Sportshall County Final - News - South Norfolk SSP

Y5/6 Sportshall County Final

Friday 4th of February saw Norfolk’s School Sport Partnerships compete in the coveted Y5/6 Sportshall County Final at UEA Sportspark. 

Over 120 children took their places in School Sport Partnership teams to compete in a series of field and track events, all run indoors as part of Sportshall, a fun, team based introduction to Athletics. 

In the weeks up to the final, children from across Norfolk had been competing in feeder competitions for the chance of representing their partnership at the final and from the glee on the children’s faces as they saw the Obstacle relay layed out upon arrival their excitement and hence noise levels rose as the final got underway. 

After a mass warm up led by MC Adam Burgess, Sportshall Regional Co-ordinator, the County Final got underway admist a volley of cheering, applause and clapping. 

With track events running along side field events, a capacity crowd parents viewing in full swing and team managers preparing their athletes for each event, their was a real sense of respect, excellence, friendship, courage, determination, inspiration and equality; the Olympic and Paralympic values. 

And with Tom Pegg, a young athlete and Sports Ambassador, on hand demonstrating the activities, the children who maybe had one eye on the road to the Olympics, had a real life rolemodel to focus their minds. 

Congratulations to Norwich East for pipping East Norfolk to first place. West Norwich and Dereham and Norwich were 3rd followed by Breckland in 4th, West Norfolk 5th, Norwich 6th and South Norfolk 7th. 

Annie Mooney, team coach for the winning Norwich East reflected, 

‘’ The prowess the kids felt representing the Partnership was also a confidence boost to these children, one boy said to me my Mum is going to be  so proud of me she used to do athletics! .He is now going to be linked with CONAC (city of Norwich athletics club) having the renewed confidence to attend having worked with some of their coaches!’’ 

The event was run as part of Norfolk County Council’s County Competition Calendar which is delivering a number of competitive sporting opportunities for youngsters in Norfolk. 

Stuart Brunton-Douglas, Competition Manager highlighted,

 ''Sportshall is a great introduction to athletics and the beauty of it is it is so much fun it doesn’t matter if you finish last or first, the children are still smiling and have such a positive sporting experience.’’

 Chairman of the Norfolk 3 AAA’s and timekeeper on the day Brendon Bryne added,

“The enthusiasm shown by the pupils attending the Norfolk 5/6 Sportshall final was outstanding. It was obvious to all that the children had tremendous experience. It is clear that Sportshall athletics provides an excellent introduction to the sport. Pupils who want to follow their interest in athletics may well be inspired to join an athletics club in their area. The information about training nights for the clubs and how to join can be found via the Norfolk AAA website.”

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