The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
School kids ready to step up in class
Six athletes from Aberdeen City and Shire will take part in the School Games at Loughborough University and Sheffield next month. More than 1,500 athletes will compete in 12 sports in the four-day event, which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and starts on September 1. The young athletes will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s elite sportsmen and women who have competed at the event before going on to senior international success. Previous competitors include Olympic gold medallist and world-record breaking swimmer Adam Peaty, Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, heptathlete Katarina JohnsonThompson and sprinter Adam Gemili. Ethan Chapman, 16, from Westhill Academy, will represent Scotland in table tennis. He said: “I’m extremely proud to be selected. I have been working years to take part in an event like this.” He will be joined by fellow Westhill Academy pupil Hannah Dryburgh, who will represent Scotland North and West in the 200m backstroke. She said: “I’m excited and feel lucky to have been chosen.” Ellon Academy pupil Kate Mackay will represent Scotland in the high jump. The 16-year-old, who trains at Aberdeen AAC, said: “Four years ago, I became aware of the School Games, when an athlete from my training group was selected. “From the start of this year, getting selected for the Games has been one of my main goals so I was delighted when I
“Looking forward to competing against the best athletes”
received the email confirming I was selected.” Cults Academy pupil Katie Forbes, 16, will represent Scotland in the 100m and 4x100m relay. She said: “I’m excited about attending such a prestigious event.” Robert Gordon’s College pupil Rebecca Eggeling, 16, will represent Scotland in the 800m, while Aberdeen Grammar’s Shona Fraser, also 16, is part of the Scotland East girls volleyball team. Eggeling, who also trains at Aberdeen AAC, said: “I’m looking forward to competing against the best athletes in the country.” Fraser added: “I’m thrilled to be selected for a third year in a row and can’t wait to compete.” The students will live within the Olympic-style athletes’ village, attend opening and closing ceremonies and perform in front of a crowd of thousands. Seven of the 12 events will include disability disciplines. Eleven of these events will take place at Loughborough University while the swimmers will be competing at the Ponds Forge Olympicsized pool in Sheffield.