Up and coming young sports stars from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight lined up in their own sporting competitions over the weekend on Friday 15th & Saturday 16th June just weeks before the world’s best athletes head to London for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Over 3000 young people competed in the Hampshire Games across a range of sports, including squash at the Aldershot Military Facilities in Aldershot.
In attendance at the Games opening ceremony on Friday 15th June were Great Britain Goalball player, Adam Knott and England Netballer, Mia Ritchie.
Mia Ritchie and Helen Turner, Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball player, opened the ceremony on Saturday 16th June along with Latin and Ballroom dancing stars Kai Widdrington and Natalia Jeved, finalists on Britian’s Got Talent.
The squash competition took place on the Saturday of the Games, where 13 teams of children battled to take home the Hampshire Games gold medal for squash.
Two competitions ran alongside each other on the fantastic 6 glass backed squash courts at Aldershot. There was a great atmosphere at the courts all day, with fantastic squash being played and some very close games.
In the year 5 & 6 competition Eastleigh were victorious, with Basingstoke & Deane as runners up and Test Valley finishing 3rd.
In the year 7 & 8 competition Southampton were crowned the winners, Eastleigh finished 2nd and Basingstoke & Deane finished 3rd.
Everyone had a fantastic day; playing some excellent squash, cheering on their team mates and meeting some new friends. Even Wenlock, the Olympic mascot, was there enjoying the squash and joining in!
Thank you to Edd Pooley and his two fantastic volunteers, Ella Brown and Bryony Perham, who ran the squash competition and well done to all who took part.
Gary Hales led ‘come and try’ sessions of squash on the mini-squash wall in the challenge zone for children to have a go at squash in between their sports competitions. Lots of children took advantage of this and thoroughly enjoyed the chance to play squash on the mini-wall. We hope that they will join a local club and continue playing.
The Hampshire Games is backed by National Lottery funding through Sport England. It is fully inclusive and increases the opportunities for young people to take part in sport throughout the year; offering some young people their first taste of county-wide competition. The Games uses the inspiration of London’s Olympics and Paralympics to transform competitive sport in schools and the community and get more young people playing sport.
For further information about how schools can become involved in the School Games go to www.yourschoolgames.com