It’s been a scorching success for this year’s Cumbria School Games Mid-Summer Festivals held as part of National School Sports Week.
On Wednesday 26th June, six secondary schools from across Cumbria came together and took part in a Go-Tri festival, aimed at students new to triathlon, held at Keswick Leisure Centre. The event was supported by Young Sport Leaders from last year’s winning school Austin Friars and volunteers from Keswick Triathlon Club.
Austin Friars School in Carlisle took home the medals again after their team beat the 40 minute threshold by just two seconds.
This festival provides a unique opportunity for secondary school pupils in years 7 and 8 to take part in a Go Tri event. The participants swam 80m, cycled 3km and finally ran 1km with a sprint finish in Fitz Park.
Debbie Edginton, a volunteer with Keswick Tri Club coordinated the event alongside Cumbria County Council’s Active Cumbria team, and the Local School Games Organising Committee, with Oliver Heald, North West Regional Manager from Triathlon England also supporting the programme.
Debbie, from Keswick Tri Club said: “Today has been a resounding success. The children who took part put 100% effort in and supported each other in each swim, bike and run leg.”
British Triathlon would like to see the development of beginner activities in schools across Cumbria. It is hoped that this event will encourage more young people to undertake triathlon as a sport and be a catalyst for participation and development. Competitors develop many skills by taking part and we would hope that ultimately many are enthused to continue to explore competitive sport both in school and at local clubs”.
Oliver from Triathlon England said: “It was great to see so many children take part with smiles on their faces. The support they gave each other was fantastic and to complete their first triathlon event is something they should be really proud of.”
On Thursday 27th June Cumbria Rugby Union with the assistance of Young Sport Leaders from premier club Newcastle Falcons facilitated an inclusive rugby event at Kendal Rugby Club. 97 pupils with special additional needs from nine schools took part.
An excellent game was played by all teams involved and there were smiles all round from the pupils taking part. Inclusive tag rugby is tackle-free and enables children with additional vulnerabilities to play, opening up the sport to a whole new population of potential rugby players.
Liam Nicholls, Rugby Union Development Officer at Rugby Football Union said: “The MLD/SLD tag rugby event is a great event which brings together multiple programmes we deliver. A key target of the RFU is to bring the game to new audiences and provide a positive experience.
“This festival allows us to do that whilst developing our young volunteers who volunteer in clubs. Thank you to all partners for providing the platform to deliver this event and we hope to create a sustainable link with clubs going forward.”
Go Tri Schools involved:
| School Name | Team | Results |
| Beacon Hill Community School, Aspatria, Allerdale Silloth Community Technology College, Allerdale (Now Cumbria Futures Federation) | 1 2 3 | 47.51 51.10 47.04 |
| Austin Friars, Carlisle | 1 | 39.58 |
| Richard Rose Central Academy, Carlisle | 1 2 3 | 46.25 50.31 44.41 |
| Settlebeck School, South Lakeland | 1 2 | 41.03 44.07 |
| Cedar House School, South Lakeland | 1 | 50.18 |
Tag Rugby Schools involved: (not point scored)
| School Name | No of Teams |
| Netherhall, Allerdale | 1 |
| Trinity School, Carlisle | 2 |
| Settlebeck, South Lakeland | 1 |
| Whitehaven Academy, Copeland | 1 |
| Cambian Whinfell School, South Lakeland | 1 |
| Kirbie Kendal School, South Lakeland | 1 |
| Sandgate School, South Lakeland | 2 |
| Cedar House School, South Lakeland | 1 |
| Sandside School, Ulverston | 2 |
