Sunderland Echo

Youngsters skipping to it at annual city sports final

FUN EVENT FOR SCHOOLCHIL­DREN AT BEACON OF LIGHT

- By David Allison david.allison@jpimedia.co.uk Twitter: @davidallis­on88

Schoolchil­dren from across Wearside battled it out during a hotly contested sports final.

Youngsters from six Sunderland primary schools were at the Beacon of Light for the annual City Skipping Final.

Burnside and Newbottle primaries, from Houghton, Fatfield in Washington, and Grangetown, Richard Avenue and Town End were the schools competing.

After three hours of fun and engagement, which includes a skill-based competitio­n, each school presents its ‘Skip-dance’ – a musically choreograp­hed routine.

Points are awarded for each skip scored throughout the event and then totalled at the end.

Chris Corcoran, director of event organisers Skipping School Ltd, said: “This is our 9th annual project here in Sunderland, and we are delighted to have worked again this academic year with over 30 of the primaries across the area, and within them we engaged with over 1,500 Year 4 children over the last eight months.

“The aim of our project is to share with the children a range of age and ability appropriat­e skipping skills and traditiona­l playground games, and inspire them to see this as a positive and rewarding experience, that is both fun to do and delivers health, fitness and general wellbeing.

“The commitment we receive towards our project from both children and teaching staff at each participat­ing school is outstandin­g.

“We are also delighted with the way in which many headteache­rs simply renew their school’s involvemen­t with us, and commit part of their annual Sports Premium budget to the project, seeing this as totally beneficial not just for this age group, but for positive play at break times across the whole of their schools.”

 ??  ?? Sunderland schools skipping finals at the Beacon of Light.
Sunderland schools skipping finals at the Beacon of Light.

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