Schools show the way in New Championships!
2nd April 2008

Ruskin, Covingham and Wanborough Primary Schools lead the way in competition that has involved thousands of Swindon children

Stratton based gymnastics club Esprit, recently hosted the inaugural Swindon Schools Gymnastics Championship and the event was a runaway success. The event was part funded by Swindon Borough Councils Grass roots Grant, several sponsors and Esprit itself, in an effort to encourage more children to get involved in gymnastics and sport in general.

It is widely acknowledged that building school to club links is the key to future sporting success and it is the participation of the schools and of course teachers who give up their time, that makes an event like this possible. Esprit coaches themselves dedicated a great deal of time to the cause to ensure it all went well and was the success it deserved to be.

On the day the event began on time at 8:30am, with various age groups contesting the 3 levels, based on age groups, level 1, 2 & 3 were based upon the established ‘Key Steps’ programme, which is designed to encourage the very youngest school age children to enjoy physical activity.

15 of Esprit’s gymnasts, between the ages of 13 and 15 were involved in rigorous training and exams to pass their ‘Young helper’ awards, leading up to the event, which enabled them to not only help coach the children, but judge the routines as well.

They were put to the test by more than 200 children, from over 30 schools that were invited and even though the day was long, finishing at 5:00pm, everyone put in maximum effort to ensure the day was fun for everyone.

Every child that took part was a winner on the day taking home a commemorative certificate and cloth badge in recognition of their achievement. It was also interesting to see that no one school dominated the event, with three different schools sharing the spoils and very impressive trophies.

In Level 1 Covingham Primary School ran out Champions, with Ruskin taking the Level 2 title and for the eldest Primary School age children Wanborough won at Level 3.

Senior Esprit Coach and organiser of the event Gemma Blewden said, “The event was a great success and we can now look forward to it growing every year. Over the last 6 months we have held lessons for more than 900 children directly and at least 70 teachers, at schools throughout Swindon, but the effect will be much wider, with more schools in Swindon now actively including gymnastics as part of their PE lessons. It is likely this competition will eventually see thousands of children enjoying a sport that is a key part of the National Curriculum”.

“A really big well done must go to all the schools who chose to take part, especially to those from Covingham, Ruskin and Wanborough, who took the 3 titles, it was a great effort from them all, in the face of stiff competition”, she concluded.