KOOSA Kids Marathon Olympic Challenge on 16th August

This summer, KOOSA Kids are hoping to run the combined distance from the Olympic Stadium in LONDON to Hampden Park Olympic Stadium in GLASGOW in aid of their chosen charity for 2012, MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION ®

To achieve the Olympic goal, ‘fun run' events have been organised for staff and children throughout July and August. The total distance run by staff and children will be tallied, with the aim of reaching the target of 343 miles between the two Olympic stadiums.

The KOOSA Kids After-School Club Fun Runs have already taken place and were a big success.  There is another opportunity for children to take part in this Olympic Challenge at any KOOSA Kids Holiday Club on Thursday 16^th August.

Lee Partner, KOOSA Kids Director, says ‘We have received a great response to this challenge so far, and parents have been very generous in donating to our nominated charity, Make-A-Wish Foundation.  We really hope that all children will want to take part in the final Fun Run on 16^th August.’

Please visit www.koosakids.co.uk to find your nearest KOOSA Kids Holiday Club and to book your child’s sessions during the summer holidays.  Sponsor Forms are also available to download on-line, or at all KOOSA Kids venues. 

Should your child be unable to attend on 16^th August, but you would like to support Make-A-Wish Foundation, on-line donations will be very much welcome via Just Giving : www.justgiving.com/koosakids

KOOSA Kids Staff are also taking part in the challenge and helping to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The Staff Fun Run takes place on Saturday 11th August at Ash Manor Secondary School.

Rookwood School make Olympic memories at ISA Festival of Sport!

Pupils from Rookwood School had the chance to make their own Olympic memories this week when they took part in The Independent Schools Association’s Festival of Sport- a ‘mini-Olympics’ for the independent sector attracting 32 schools from all corners of the country. 

The event, which opened with a spectacular parade at the University of Nottingham Sports Centre, attracted over 800 pupils and covered an array of sporting events including athletics, swimming, hockey and basketball.

The twenty Rookwood pupils (aged between 14 and fifteen) performed “above and beyond the school’s expectations”, commented Rookwood’s Head of PE, Miss Liz Brown. 

The Under 15 squad competed in the netball and football competitions as well as the swimming gala and the athletics, with the boys’ football squad gaining the U15 bronze.  This was swiftly followed by a resounding success in the swimming gala; an individual bronze for Will Turner in the 50m backstroke was followed by an outstanding display from the Rookwood girls (silver medals in both the girls’ medley relay and the squadron relay followed by a bronze in the girls’ freestyle relay). 

Day two of the Festival brought further triumph with individual golds for Faye Baker (100m & Long Jump), Aaron Criston-Greet (Long jump) and Joshua Chatee (200m). Another silver medal was then awarded to Ella Neil for the 300m with the U15 girls relay team picking up final silver before the day was done!

Miss Brown concluded that the Festival was “an inspiring event that allowed Rookwood pupils to be part of a very unique experience – something that will stay them for the rest of their lives”. 

Gwilym Price, ISA’s Director of Sport, said:

“2012 is an incredible year for British sport and what better way to mark it than by giving all of these children the chance to take part in their own Olympics”.

“The Festival of Sport is the largest sporting event we have ever undertaken and has been the perfect way to celebrate the lead up to the 2012 Games. As ever, we have seen some outstanding performances in all events and have been struck by the levels of sportsmanship and commitment shown by our pupils.”

“We know that each of the 800 young people who took part will take away their own Olympic memories which will stay with them for a very long time.”

Roger Brierly, Chair of ISA’s Sports Committee, commented:

“When London was selected to host the Olympic Games we started to plan for an event which would give hundreds of pupils from up and down the country their own Olympic memories. The Festival of Sport has done just that – and has been a unique celebration of enjoyable sport and Olympic values.”

TAKEPART Brighton & Hove Festival of Sport

FREE Sports Festival for Adults and Children of All Ages

Now ‘the biggest celebration of sport and physical activity in the country‘. 

The exciting programme of events kick start in Preston Park on Saturday 23 June. This year there are over 18 activity zones in the park so if you fancy trying something different like mountain boarding in the Adventure Zone, or want to re-live your school days and enjoy playing cricket or hockey there is something for you.

People of all ages have the opportunity to try out a range of sports in a fun and non-competitive setting. The aim is to help you to find a sport you like, whether it is Nordic Walking or Petanque.  If people are encouraged to increase their participation, they will benefit from a more active and healthy lifestyle.

In this Olympic year of sport the festival hopes to get more of the cities residents’ active and taking part. As a city, 25.2% of Brighton & Hove adult residents are taking part in active recreation compared to the national average of 21.8%. However  41.8% of adults do none at all.

(Sport England Active People Survey 5 Oct 2010 – Oct 2011)

So what can you do?                                                                                       

Brighton & Hove clubs open their doors to provide free or reduced rate taster sessions. Activities range from croquet and windsurfing to table tennis and yoga.

Schools also have plenty to choose from with a range of TAKEPART competitions including athletics and swimming as well as local clubs going into schools offering tasters in sports like karate and street dance.

And if that’s not enough there are also TAKEPART local events taking place on the weekend of 30 June – 1 July in local areas including, Whitehawk, Hollingdean, The Level, Moulsecoomb and Portslade.

The annual seafront festival, Paddle Round the Pier takes place on the weekend of 6,7,8 July. 

Brighton & Hove’s sporting celebrations this summer provide an opportunity for people in the city to share in the Olympic spirit and enjoy a truly memorable moment to shine. On Monday 16 July 2012 Brighton & Hove will proudly host the Olympic Flame as it enters the city on Day 59 of the Olympic Torch Relay.

www.takepartbrightonandhove.com