|
Press Call: Media are invited to attend the Wigan Borough team’s
homecoming from 6.30pm on Wednesday 12th July. Contact: Chris Dunbar on
07883 014706
England’s sports stars may be failing to hit the heights this summer,
but the future of Wigan Borough is looking healthy.
A record number of competitors from the Borough participated in the
Greater Manchester Youth Games this weekend. Over 450 young people,
representing Wigan Borough joined 3000 of their peers from across
Greater Manchester in a huge celebration of sport and arts.
The team, organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and featuring
performers from all corners of the Borough, put in a sterling
performance, particularly in the female events, taking home gold in the
girls’ basketball, girls’ football and the girls’ tag rugby union
competitions. Wigan’s basketball team were even commended for their
display by former NBA star John Amaechi.
There were also silver medals for our under-13s badminton and tennis
teams, the girls’ B basketball team and for Nick Linfoot in the
Under-14s boys duathlon. Our under-13 girls’ hockey team and our
under-15s tennis team scooped bronze, as did local group Branded A Fool
for their performance in the Battle of the Bands competition, with
medals being handed out in the arts element of the showpiece for the
very first time.
Jane Bent, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Schools Sports Development
Manager, says: “I would like to congratulate everyone on the Wigan team
for their effort. Our young people put in some outstanding performances,
showing the rest of the region that grass roots sport in the Borough is
thriving.
“The performance of the Wigan girls’ basketball team at this year’s
games shows just how valuable the GM Youth Games is for developing sport
at grass roots level. We formed a basketball club two years ago to allow
us to send a team to the event and, as a result, we now have a team of
gold medal winners. We entered badminton and volleyball teams for the
first time this year so hopefully those sports will flourish in the
borough over the coming years.”
The GM Youth Games gives all young people a chance to enjoy success,
personal achievement, engagement in physical activity and the sheer
exhilaration of sport. Elite performance athletes who are already
receiving high quality coaching are not allowed to compete.
Wigan Borough’s team will be presented with their medals by Wigan
Warriors’ Bryan Fletcher and Harrison Hansen at a homecoming celebration
at the JJB Stadium next Wednesday (July 12th).
For further information on Wigan Borough’s team contact Jane Bent on
01942 404986 or see www.wlct.org. For information on the Greater
Manchester Youth Games or Greater Sport please see
www.greatersport.co.uk.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
Greater Sport: For further information on Greater Sport or the Greater
Manchester Youth Games contact Laura Hall on 0161 223 1002 or
laurah@greatersport.co.uk
► Print this page
►
Return to Trust News
|
The Borough's youngsters in action at
the Youth Games
More action from the Youth games |