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Athletes shine at inaugural School Games SEND Championships

Over 300 of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland's most talented young disabled athletes competed at the inaugural Leicestershire and Rutland School Games SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Championships on Friday 22nd March at Loughborough University.

Kurling Winners Melton & Belvoir with Ozzy O'Shea, Leicestershire County Council Chairman

The Leicestershire and Rutland Sport School Games SEND Championships is a new addition to the LRS Schools' County Finals 2019 Calendar. It's a multi-sport inclusive event, tailored specifically to be appropriate to Moderate Learning Disabilities (MLD) and Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD) students from special and mainstream schools across the network.

As a culmination of local qualifying competitions, the Schools represented the 10 School Sport and Physical Activity Networks (SSPANs). The event ensured that disability sport provision is formalised and accessible across all of our ten SSPANs through the great work of our School Games Organisers.

The Championships provided an exciting and inspiring atmosphere for the young disabled athletes and allowed them to enjoy and excel within sport, as the athletes competed in:

  • Boccia
  • New Age Kurling
  • Sitting Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball
  • Motor Activity Training Programme

The athletes gathered for the opening ceremony, compered by Gaynor Nash and with special guests Wheelchair Racers Hannah Cockroft MBE; 5 time Paralympic Champion, 10 time World Champion and T34 World record holder, Nathan Maguire; European Gold Medalist and three time Bronze Medalist and Hollie Arnold MBE; F46 Javelin Thrower, Paralympic Champion, Gold Medalist, Triple World Champion and record holder. 

After the opening ceremony, teams headed off for three hours of competitive action, in their respective sport and competition. After the action was complete, an awards ceremony took place at each of the competitions sites, as the full results were read out and the winners, second place, third place and Spirit of the Games' winners were announced and presented with their medals and trophies! The Spirit of the Games Award was given to the team who best represented the School Games values of Determination, Honesty, Passion, Respect, Self-Belief and Teamwork.

School Games action doesn't stop there for Loughborough. The University will again host the School Games Summer Championships on Friday 28th June 2019 at Uppingham School Sports Centre.

The Leicestershire and Rutland School Games, now in its eighth year, is part of the national 'School Games Programme'. It aims to keep competitive sport at the heart of schools and provide more young people with the opportunity to compete and achieve their personal best.

Sports Development Officer, Matty Crackell from Leicestershire and Rutland Sport, said:

"The Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Championships was designed to provide a positive, memorable sporting experience for young people with disabilities in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland and inspire our schools to continue developing their internal disability sport/physical activity offers."

For the full list of winners please go to the Leicestershire and Rutland Sport website.