Pupils compete in community sports event (From The Northern Echo)

Pupils compete in community sports event

5:03pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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UP to 500 school children have taken part in the third Darlington Community Games.

The pupils from 23 primary schools descended on the Eastbourne Sports Complex today to compete in a day-long programme of sporting events.

It has been designed to improve the health and fitness of children by encouraging them to take part in tag rugby, cricket, tennis, athletics, football and climbing.

There was also an activities tent featuring representatives from clubs and societies operating in the town, in order to persuade the youngsters to take part in sport on a regular basis.

Darlington Borough Council’s Sports Development Team, Darlington Schools Sports Partnership and the borough’s PE co-ordinators organised a training programme to prepare the pupils for the competition.

Paul Foreman, Darlington Borough Council’s sports and physical activity development programme, said: "It is basically a festival of sport were all the children have received coaching beforehand by all our sports development coaches to get them ready to compete and to get them to engage in sports and physical activity.

"It has been sponsored by the PCT so obviously it’s a chance to get them healthy and its a real opportunity for the kids to come down and really enjoy the day."

He added: "We have done evaluations in the past, last time 80 per cent of the children joined a sports club or did our Summer sports programme."

All the children received medals for taking part, which were presented by female England rugby player Tamara Taylor.

The international star spoke to pupils about sport and the importance of keeping physically active Darlington’s director of public health, Miriam Davidson, said: "We see the games as an important part of the wider strategy to improve health and well-being of young people.

"As well as having fun, young people are increasing their physical activity which has many health benefits."

The Darlington Community Games first took place in 2007 and have since become a part of the Darlington School Sports Partnership event schedule.