Oban athlete to compete in National School Games

FINBAR Dunne from Oban has been selected to be part of the athletics squad at the 2017 School Games national finals.

The School Games are an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented schoolage athletes and takes place at Loughborough University from August 31 to September 3.

Fifteen-year-old Finbar, who is a student at Oban High School and is a member of the Inverness Harriers Athletic Club, will compete for the Scotland squad in the athletics. He already has an impressive record of success and has previously won the English National Championships.

Disability

Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the School Games, seven of which include disability disciplines. The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

Finbar will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success.

Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.

The School Games are the springboard for future athletes: 56 of the 382 athletes representing Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio competed at the School Games.

At the event Finbar will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level. He will live in a dedicated athletes’ village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in an Opening Ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.

‘Being a rural athlete can be challenging as I have to travel 100 miles to see my coach,’ said Finbar. ‘But watching sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, which was so close to home, keeps me inspired.’

Great opportunity

‘The School Games national finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Finbar,’ said Ali Oliver, chief executive officer of the Youth Sport Trust. ‘Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action.’