School Games High Five Competition July 14th 2011

Thursday the 14th July 2011 saw the pilot of the Lincolnshire School Games. 9 counties across the country have been tasked with hosting the pilots prior to them being rolled out nationwide next year. The new competition is one of key parts of the Governments plans to create a lasting sporting legacy from holding the 2012 Olympic Games, creating a range of new opportunities for young people to get involved in competitive sport.

The top 10 teams from the Lincolnshire County School finals were invited to attend. The children were treated to a spectacular opening ceremony with parachutists dressed in the Olympic colours dropping into marked out coloured Olympic rings and a welcome by the Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville .

Olympic Gold medallist Jonathon Edwards CBE and Andrew Lansley, MP and the Secretary of State for Health, addressed the spectators and competitor’s and officially declared the Games open. Other VIPs included East Midlands Regional manager Anne Henderson.

A hot sunny day saw some inspirational netball from the year 5 & 6’s playing High Five. Each team played four matches within their groups. All the players rotated at each interval as per the rules of High Five. The excitement rose as England International Olivia Murphy arrived to talk to the children and sign autographs. The Regional Excel Coach Rosie Port and Talent Scouts from the county handed out ‘you’ve been spotted’ cards to invite potential athletes to the county screening day in September 2011. In all five young players were spotted.

The umpires, volunteers from Lincolnshire’s CAPs clubs, were asked to choose a team which displayed all of the Olympic values of Respect, Inspiration, Courage, Friendship, Excellence, Respect, and Determination.
Olivia was asked to identify an individual that also displayed those values.

 St Hugh’s just beat Saxilby 4 -3 in an exciting and tense semi final and went on to meet Grimoldby who beat St Johns
5 – 1 in the other semi-final. The final saw an early break give a half time score of 4 – 3 to Grimoldby. The half time rotation however went in St High’s favour and saw the County champions and Regional Runners up, carry on their winning streak by winning the final 11 - 4

The day ended with Olivia presenting the Olympic Values Individual Medal to Zaki Thomas from the Benjamin Adlard School, Lincoln and thank you gifts from Lincolnshire County Netball Association to the umpires.

Winners of the tournament St Hugh’s and ‘Olympic Values’ team winner, Kirkby La Thorpe received their trophies at the presentation ceremony in the main arena alongside all of the other sports.

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