Athletes enjoy success at School Games Paralympic Festival 2023

Posted: Wed, 3 May 2023 09:00

Athletes enjoy success at School Games Paralympic Festival 2023

On Thursday 20th April, the School Games Paralympic Festival was back!

We welcomed over 300 young athletes from over 35 schools across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland (LLR) to Loughborough University to take part in a day of activity. Delivered by Active Together in partnership with our School Sport & Physical Activity Networks (SSPANs), the School Games Paralympic Festival was a multi-sport inclusive event, tailored specifically to be appropriate to a range of students from special and mainstream schools across the school sport network.

Athletes qualified from the 10 district areas across LLR to compete against one another in the County Finals of Sportshall Athletics, Boccia and New Age Kurling.

The non-competitive Activity Carousel returned for it's second rendition, and included wheelchair and inclusive sports, judo and archery as it's activities. There was also a Motor Activity Training Programme opportunity on the day for young people with more complex needs to take part in and experience activities that aim to develop their motor and cognitive skills and abilities.

An Awards Ceremony took place for each Sportshall Athletics, Boccia and New Age Kurling County Final, and the winners, runners up and third place were announced as well as a 'Spirit of the Games' winner, for the Team best representing the School Games values of Determination, Honesty, Passion, Respect, Self-Belief and Teamwork.

The event showcased the value of disability sport and provided an exciting and inspiring atmosphere for disabled young people to enjoy and excel within sport. We also had BBC Radio Leicester at the festival interview young people and Active Together staff on the day.

Matt Hackfath, a Sports Development Officer at Active Together, has gone on to say:

"The day was a great success. It was fantastic to bring together so many young people from across the County to take part in a variety of competitive County Finals. Importantly, we also had a large number of participants whp were able to have a go at a variety of different non-competitive activities. This aligns with our vision of inspiring yougn people across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland to become physically active"

A huge thank you to Lutterworth High, Stamford College, Beaumont Leys School and Forest Way for providing Young Leaders for the Sportshall Athletics, Activity Carousel, Boccia and New Age Kurling events. They were all fantastic and did an amazing job with and supporting the athletes.

We also had Team Leicestershire Talent Ambassador Ben Higgins and England Celebral Palsy Development Squad footballer Freddie Lamb in attendance, who spoke to the athletes and took part in the award ceremonies. Please find the results below.

The School Games action doesn't stop there, as Loughborough University will also host the School Games Summer Festival on Thursday 29th June 2023 where we will also announce our winning School Games Partnership!

Results

KS2 Parallel Sportshall Athletics

  1. Beaumont Lodge (West Leicester)
  2. Burbage (H&B)
  3. Woodcote (NWL)
  4. Spinney Hill (East Leicester)
  5. Captains Close (Melton)
  6. Moutnfields Lodge (North Charnwood)
  7. Highcliffe (South Charnwood)
  8. Birkett House (O&W)

Spirit of the Games Winner = Birkett House (Oadby & Wigston)

KS2 Boccia

  1. Avenue (West Leicester)
  2. Abbey (East Leicester)
  3. Stonebow (North Charnwood
  4. Belvoirdale (NWL)
  5. Old Dalby (Melton)
  6. Stafford Keys (H&B)
  7. St Mary & St John (Rutland)
  8. Greenfield (Blaby & Harborough)
  9. Woodland Grange (O&W)

Partnership Winner = West Leicester
Spirit of the Games Winner = Blaby & Harborough

KS3 MLD Boccia

  1. Lutterworth High (Blaby & Harborough)
  2. Judgemeadow (East Leicester)
  3. Wigston Academy (O&W)
  4. West Gate (West Leicester)

Partnership Winners = Blaby & Harborough
Spirt of the Games Winner = West Leicester

KS4/5 MLD Boccia

  1. Lutterworth High (Blaby & Harborough)
  2. Birch Wood (Melton)
  3. Judgemeadow (East Leicester

Partnership Winners = Blaby & Harborough
Spirt of the Games Winner = East Leicester

KS3/5 SLD Boccia

  1. Ashmount (North Charnwood)
  2. Birkett House (O&W)

Partnership Winners = North Charnwood
Spirt of the Games Winner = Oadby & Wigston

KS2 New Age Kurling

  1. English Martyrs (Rutland)
  2. Hugglescote (NWL)
  3. Captains Close (Melton)
  4. Loughborough C of E (North Charnwood)
  5. Woodland Grange (O&W)
  6. Gilmorton (Blaby & Harborough)
  7. Riverside (South Charnwood)
  8. Rushey Mead (East Leicester)

Partnership Winners = Rutland
Spirt of the Games Winner = East Leicester

Activity Carousel Spirit of the Games Winners

Archery - Rutland
Panathlon - West Leicester
Judo - Blaby & Harborough
Wheelchair Basketball - North Charnwood

Motor Activity Training Programme Spirit of the Games Winner = Ashmount (North Charnwood)

You can access the full Paralympic Festival photo album on our Facebook page here.

Athletes enjoy success at School Games Paralympic Festival 2023

Tags: Athletics, Boccia, Disability Sport, New Age Kurling, News, Partner, School Games