Level 3 Tyne & Wear Indoor Rowing Championships

Yesterday (12.2.2013) saw our fastest Indoor rowers from Yrs 7 - 11 representing Newcastle Schools at the Tyne and Wear Indoor Rowing Championships hosted and organised by Gateshead School Sport Partnership with support from British Rowing and Concept 2 at Gateshead International Stadium.

Each of our Secondary and Middle schools across Newcastle where offered the chance to attend a Level 2 Indoor Rowing competition as well as support to host a Level 1 intra school (Inter house) Competition. The Newcastle team was made up with representatives from the following schools:-

  

 

·                Kenton

·                Sacred Heart

·                Gosforth Central Middle

·                Heaton Manor

·                Gosforth Academy

·                Walbottle

·                St Mary’s

·                Benfield

·                Dame Allan’s

 

A number of individuals broke our City Records during the Level 2 competitions but yesterday saw a number of notable performances by our rowers. Matthew Brooks from Dame Allan’s broke not only the Newcastle Schools record but also smashed the County record for yr 10 boys on his way to a Gold medal. Sydney Martin from Kenton broke her own City Record for Yr 9 girls and last years County record on way to a Silver medal.

Another highlight of the competition was watching the yr 10 boys win the team relay event on way to a Gold Medal with the team made up of Matthew Brooks from Dame Allan’s, Aboubaka Konate from Benfield and Jake Bratley from Gosforth Academy (see below).

Team Manager and Newcastle School Games Organiser, Ian Kendall, commented:

“After some impressive results at the School Games Level 2 Indoor Rowing Final the pupils representing Newcastle Schools have stepped up to the mark and really delivered today and in the process have managed to secure 2 GOLD, 3 SILVER and 1 BRONZE medal in the process. Thank you to all the teachers who supported the day to make this happen and well done to everyone for representing Newcastle Schools to such a high standard in both behavior and performance!”

 

Newcastle School Games L2 Key Stage 3 Boys Badminton

It may be a surprise to some that despite the appalling weather and anticipated travel issues the Newcastle School Games Level 2 Key Stage 3 Boys Badminton competition still went ahead successfully yesterday afternoon at Walbottle Campus.

The following schools from across the city ignored the elements and boarded their buses to make the journey:

Kenton, Gosforth Central Middle, St Cuthbert's, Gosforth Junior Academy, Gosforth Academy, Benfield, Heaton Manor and St Mary's.

The Key Stage 3 Badminton has been well attended in recent years and yesterday's event was no different with 13 teams participating and the standard was really high.

As a result of the fantastic sign up and turn out 3 groups were set up and every team played everyone in their group once.  Staff and participants alike threw themselves into the busy schedule and simply got on with getting down to business.

One thing that's stood out to the School Games team this year has been the atmosphere at every event to date; the Sportshall events were really loud and electric and the Table Tennis last week and the Badminton yesterday had a more relaxed whilst competitive feel about them.  Participants were certainly focused and dedicated to performing to the best of their ability and more importantly displayed some great values such as sportsmanship and respect.

Following the group stages winners and runners up progressed to the next round; group winners went on to play each other once and ultimately decide who took home the Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates whilst runners up did exactly the same to decide final placings after the podium finishers.

The final games were hotly contested and participants continued to perform and conduct themselves brilliantly; and the final standings were

GOLD - Benfield

SILVER - Gosforth Central Middle A

BRONZE - St Cuthbert's A

4th - Gosforth Junior Academy A

5th - Gosforth Central Middle B

6th - Heaton Manor

Congratulations to absolutely everyone who took part yesterday, with a special mention for Benfield and Gosforth Central Middle School who are invited to represent Newcastle at the Level 3 School Games event early next year.

Finally huge thanks to Walbottle Campus for hosting the event and all those teams who braved the anticipated traffic issues and weather to attend the competition, which was appreciated very much by the School Games Organising Team. 

Year 5/6 Girls Football Festival

Today saw Walkergate Primary School take on St Charles RC Primary in a friendly but competitive game of football at All Saints College. The festival is a new School Games initiative for 2012-13 and is aimed at girls school teams who are new to competitive football and not for those girls who already enjoying plenty of regular girls football for a community club.

Each of the festivals has been held outside on 3G pitches and we have been lucky with the weather (although the girls have never complained) with Walbottle Campus hosting the last festival in October. Special mention goes out to Walkergate Primary who have attended both festivals to date.

The festivals are supported by Northumberland FA with Nicola Hepworth, Girls Football Development Officer commenting " this is an excellent staring point for girls keen on testing themselves against other girls of a similar standard. We will work with any of these girls who would like to try and find a community club to play further".

The programme is delivered by the Hatrick Programme, Emma Brown said "We currently run competitive girls football leagues in the East and West of Newcastle and this is the opportunity to fill the gap in competition and give schools a different route for girls football.

Steve Beharall, Lead School Games Organiser commented "We plan to organise the next couple of festivals indoor in March and April with the final festivals outdoors in May and June".

Yr 7 & 8 Aviva Sportshall Athletics

This unique indoor competition is being delivered across Tyne and Wear by School Games Organisers (SGO’s) with the support of sports leaders and teachers with schools in Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland hoping to qualify for the Level 3 County Final on 16^th January at Temple Park Sports Centre in South Tyneside.

Yesterday (15th November, 2012) saw schools take part in the Newcastle School Games Level 2 Sportshall Athletics for year 7 & 8 at 'Centre for Sport' in the inner west of Newcastle.  Over 40 teams competed in what was one of the most exciting competitions we have run so far this academic year. The standard of competition was extremely high and each of the competitors demonstrated the ‘spirit of the games’ values we continually promote which are Respect, Teamwork, Passion, Determination, Self Belief and Honesty.

Gosforth Central Middle School managed to secure Gold medal finishes in each competition with Sacred Heart, St Cuthbert’s and Walbottle Campus finishing in Silver positions. Bronze medal finishes were achieved by Kenton with B teams form Gosforth Central Middle and Sacred Heart.

Our colleagues in PE Departments across the city had the following to say:-

James Barrett, Walbottle Campus said “The overall event has been a fun and enjoyable event. Well organsied and good quick turnarounds”.

David Parker, Benfield School said “Excellent event which was very well organised and ran very efficiently. All pupils seemed to be engaged and enjoying the activities and competitions”.

Paul Lumsden, Gosforth Junior Academy said “Great event and well organised. All pupils thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks”.

Chris Bland, All Saints College said “Well organised, fun for students. Variety of activities allows lots of students to get involved”.

John Bone, St Mary’s Catholic School said “Excellent event, great organisation and opportunity for all students to get involved. They have had a great time, thank you”.

Lisa Burdis, Sacred Heart High School said “Excellent event, well organised as always our girls had a great time, thanks”.

Chris Lee, Kenton School said “Fantastically well organised – as usual! Pupils had a fab time, thank you”.

Ian Beck, St Cuthbert’s said “Pupils thoroughly enjoyed it and well organised, thank you”