BEIJING OLYMPIAN Robbie Renwick took centre stage as Bank of Scotland’s National School Sport Week entered day four in Oban.

Story posted: Friday 11th June 2010

Current World bobsleigh champion Cooke was on hand to witness over 150 Aberdeen youngsters enjoy a mini-Olympics complete with opening and closing ceremonies hosted by St Machar Academy.

The week-long event has seen over 700 schools across the country involved with Friday’s seeing predominantly primary seven pupils taking part in activities ranging from sprint relays to tug of war.

And Cooke – who has also competed in the Commonwealth Games in the long jump – admitted she had been left impressed with the action-packed day.
“It’s been a fantastic day,” said Cooke – also the current Scottish indoor long jump record holder.  “The kids have really had a great doing all the different events and I was really impressed.”

The health benefits and enjoyment of sport in general were the theme of day five of the week-long event with Bank of Scotland research highlighting that “keeping fit and healthy” (68 percent) and “finding a sport I like” (60 percent) some of the chief reasons for children to be involved in sport.

And sportscotland partnership manager for the Grampian Region Robbie Stewart believed events at St Machar Academy epitomised the goals for the week as a whole.

“We have been delighted to be involved in Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week as we think it is a really great initiative,” said Stewart.  “And today was fantastic with the kids trying sports that hopefully they have enjoyed and might continue to play because what is important is that children are enthused by sport.”
Active Schools Manager for Aberdeen City Jo Conlon helped oversee the event on the day and believed the day couldn’t have gone any better.
“It has gone well and the sun was shining which was great,” said Conlon. 

As with the four previous days Bank of Scotland employees turned out in force to put their weight behind the day, and Susan Rice – managing director of Lloyds Banking Group Scotland was delighted to be a part of it.
She said: “Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week has been a great success and we have had the chance to reach out to people around Scotland.
“And I hope some children have been inspired.”

And Bruce Grant, Bank of Scotland branch manager for Deeside said: “It’s been an excellent day.  The kids all had good fun and with there being so many things to take kids away from sport these days, like TV’s and computers, it’s great to have at events like this.”
Aberdeen City Council’s local councillor spokesman for sport Martin Greig took a day out of the office to lend his support and was only too happy to be trackside.
He said: “I am extremely impressed by the marvellous commitment that’s been made by Bank of Scotland and sportscotland and it was clear today that the young kids were enjoying the experience.”

As with the events throughout the week and across the country school pupils themselves have been encouraged to take the lead and help out and organise events for their peers.

And so who better to have the final word on the week than 15-year-old young leader, Esther Dickson: “I think NSSW is really important, it makes people try new sports and get involved a bit more, even if it is just for a week.

“It can start habits that last a lifetime. I am quite a keen rock climber and I first started that at school.
So hopefully some of the younger children can find a sport they like to and carry it on.

“I was lucky enough to be chosen ahead of quite a few other people from Aberdeen and it has been great to help out.”

 

BEIJING OLYMPIAN Robbie Renwick took centre stage as Bank of Scotland’s National School Sport Week entered day four in Oban.

Story posted: Thursday 10th June 2010

Swimmer Renwick, and former Athens Olympian hammer thrower Shirley Webb, were the star guests at the inter-schools event which saw 650 school children from the Argyll and Bute region do battle.

The school children took part in 11 different sports ranging from orienteering to softball and shinty as part of the Bank of Scotland programme that will see over 700 schools across the country involved during the week.

And Shirley - now heavily involved in grassroots sport in her role as an Active Schools Coordinator for the Boroughmuir area in Edinburgh – admitted she picked up more than a few tips in Oban.“It was a fantastic day and it was so great to see all the different kids involved and such a large number of them,” said Webb.

The theme of day four of the week-long event was centred on the social benefits of sport – with research released by Bank of Scotland this week highlighting that 95 percent of children feel sport helps develop friendships. 91 percent also stated that sport helps develop team working skills and Oban event organiser Nicola Hackett insisted the day couldn’t have gone better in that regard.

“With some of the schools being quite spread out up here it makes it difficult sometimes for kids to play against and meet other children and so this day is a great chance to do that,” said Hackett- the Active Schools Manager for Argyll and Bute Council.While the kids were basking in the glorious sunshine on Scotland’s west coast, Bank of Scotland Local Hero Graeme Price – a skier - was out of his comfort zone but enjoyed the day regardless.

“It’s been a good day and I have enjoyed it,” he said. “It was good to see all of the kids playing a range of different sports and enjoying themselves.”
The Oban sporting extravaganza is in its fifth year and newly-appointed Bank of Scotland Area Director for Dunbartonshire Ricky Diggins was left more than a little jealous at the day’s scope.

He said: “I was brought up down in Norfolk and there was nothing like this when I was a kid so I think it’s a great chance for the children to meet other kids and have some competitive and friendly rivalry.” Renwick – who scooped Commonwealth Games silver in 2006 – battled his way through a traffic nightmare to cast his eye over the budding swimmers on show
“I watched the kids racing and asked them how their swimming was,” said Renwick.  “I never did anything like this and its great fun and one day I hope they can go on to swimming competitively and keep improving as they go.”

And after winning the 50m backstroke and the 100m individual medley as well as meeting Renwick, Hermitage Academy pupil Duncan Anderson was left over the moon with his day.“It’s been really fun and Robbie signed my shirt and it was really inspirational to meet him,” said Anderson.
Regional Director for Bank of Scotland in the West of Scotland Mike Moran was having his second taste of National School Sport Week action having been at day three in Glasgow.

And he admitted for the second day running he had been left in awe.
He said: “Both days were unbelievable.  I was so impressed with the attitude of the children yesterday and again today is fantastic.”

 

THREE-TIME Paralympic gold medallist Simon Jackson and Olympic Silver Medallist Craig MacLean were the stars of the show in Glasgow on day three of Bank of Scotland’s National School Sport Week.

Story posted: Wednesday 9th June 2010

All eyes were on the Scotstoun Leisure Centre for the event, which centred on a Paralympic Pathway Festival designed to both unearth a potential future Paralympian, while also introducing disabled youngsters to new sports.

School children were encouraged to try their hand at events ranging from judo to football as part of the Bank of Scotland scheme that will see over 700 schools across the country involved during the week.

And the prowess of the kids on show did not go unnoticed by some local Bank of Scotland employees who were among the guests on the day.
Jim Kerr, a Client Service Assistant in Private Banking Glasgow, said: “It was such an inspiring day seeing all the kids getting involved.  I’ll definitely be going back to tell people in the office about what I have seen because it has been a great day.”
And his thoughts were echoed by the local branch manager to the event, Marc Weldon, the Scotstoun manager.
He said: “It’s amazing to see all the different kids playing and it certainly puts things in perspective.  Since I have been here the branch has really been out of my mind.”
Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week runs from 7-11 June with the 13 schools from the Glasgow area given the chance to rub shoulders with MacLean and Jackson on Wednesday.

And Fraser Penman, a pupil from Uddingston Grammar School, was left delighted with his opportunity to pick the brains of a Paralympic champion.
“It was great to speak to Simon,” said 15-year-old Penman.  “He gave me the address to his website because I was interested in maybe trying to get involved with judo.” And while Penman was the only representative from his school on the day, he was not the only Uddingston Grammar face with former pupil Michael Kerr, now a GB wheelchair rugby player and a Bank of Scotland Local Hero, also attending.“It’s fantastic for the kids to be down and trying new things,” said Kerr.

The Paralympic Pathway Festival was overseen by a combination of Bank of Scotland employees as well as Scottish Disability Sport and Glasgow Active Schools representatives.

And despite enduring a hectic day at Scotstoun both Becky Bisland, West Regional Manager for Scottish Disability Sport, and Kat Toal, Active Schools Coordinator (ASL) for Glasgow insisted the event had been a success.
“It went really, really well and everyone enjoyed the activities,” said Toal.
“It was important for us to show the kids that there are avenues and clubs that they can play the sports that they had tried out at and I think it worked well,” echoed Bisland.

And what better man to sum up the Paralympic-themed third day of Bank of Scotland’s National School Sport Week than three-time gold medallist Jackson – now bidding to be part of the London 2012 Games as a cyclist. He said: “I think what is great about these events is that it gets lots of people involved and introduced to new sports.  Not just to try and uncover some talented players but also to get kids involved in sport to play at a local level and just enjoy it."

Research released by Bank of Scotland highlights that although awareness for Paralympic sports overall across children and parents are low – there is definite interest from kids to learn more about lesser known sports.

In particular boccia (31 per cent would like to know more versus three per cent awareness) and goal-ball (24.5 per cent would like to know more versus four per cent awareness).

 

VANCOUVER winter Olympian Eve Muirhead took over the mantle from four-time Olympic Gold Medallist Sir Chris Hoy on day two of Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week.

Story posted: Tuesday 8th June 2010

Curler Muirhead was the headline guest at Clackmannan Primary School and got to see first hand the schools very own mini Highland Games.

The primary six pupils spent a month outlining the plans for the day – which ranged from sword dancing to tossing the caber - and ten-year-old Young Leader Rebecca Watson declared the day a success.

“We have been coming in after school on Tuesdays to plan and although I was really nervous at first it all went well,” said Watson.

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week runs from 7-11 June with the Clackmannan Primary School one of over 700 involved nationwide.

While centred on the playing of sport, the visit to Clackmannan worked perfectly as it coincided with the school’s health awareness week – also a key element of the Bank of Scotland campaign.

And while eight-year-old pupil Sophie McKenzie not only got to rub shoulders with Olympian Muirhead, she also learned some valuable lessons about her diet. She said: “It was great to see Eve but I also learned about food too. I never knew how much sugar there was in pizza.”

And at just 19 and not long out of the education system perhaps Muirhead – despite her star status – is best placed to comment on the importance of school sport.
She said: “PE and sport in school is when it starts and if you don’t get involved at a young age you’re never going to get involved so it’s important to get people playing when they are young.”

Clackmannan Head teacher Janette Wieczorek was quick to label the day a success, saying: “It’s just nice to see the kids enjoying themselves.”

And Marjorie Macfarlane, Sports Development Manager for Clackmannanshire Council was delighted with the day’s wide ranging affect.
“We are not looking for talented kids, of which we have many, it is more important that lots of children are involved.”

Also on hand at the school was budding hammer thrower Myra Perkins – one of the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes - and despite her sport being poles apart from Muirhead she admitted she left the day with stars in her eyes. “It was great to meet Eve and see all the kids enjoying themselves,” said Perkins. “She might be a winter Olympian but the Olympics are where I want to be one day so it was great.”

And some of the chief brains behind the operation, Active Schools Coordinator for Lornshill Alison Mackie and Clackmannan PE teacher Karen Grossart insisted some inclement weather hadn’t detracted from a successful day.
“The weather wasn’t great but the kids still had a great day,” said Grossart.
“It was good for the kids to learn about health as well as sport because they are lessons that they can take out into their life,” said Mackie.

Research released by the Bank of Scotland this week highlights the enjoyment factor as an overwhelming motivation for kids to get involved in sport – with 73% of those surveyed answering simply ‘it’s fun’, a figure five per cent higher than the national average.

And anyone who was in the school hall as Muirhead skippered her tug of war team to victory would have seen that research played out at first hand.

FOUR-TIME Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy made sure the inaugural Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week got off to a flying start in Edinburgh on Monday

Story posted: Monday 7th June 2010

Sir Chris was the headline guest of an action-packed first day, which took the four-time Olympic gold medallist to two different schools across the city, Nether Currie Primary and East Craigs Primary, as well as spending time at a multi-sport event in Inverleith Park.

And who better to judge the success of the day and Sir Chris’ impact than nine-year-old St Mary’s Primary School pupil Eilidh Turner.

“I didn’t know I was going to meet Chris Hoy and it was amazing,” said Eilidh. “I really enjoyed the day.”

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week is being run in partnership with sportscotland and takes place from June 7-11, with over 700 schools nationwide involved.

Sir Chris witnessed an Olympic-inspired opening ceremony at Nether Currie Primary School and revealed it was his first experience of such an event.
“I have always missed the ceremonies at the Olympics because I have been competing the next day so it was fantastic to see all the children,” said Hoy.

Over 300 children took part in the multi-sport event at Inverleith Park with the Edinburgh youngsters’ part of four million children who will be involved with the scheme across the UK.

And Gael Logan, Active Schools Coordinator for the James Gillispie’s Clusters said: “It’s been a fantastic day and we got over 300 children trying different things which were great.”