Youngsters aiming for future glory in mountain biking have been shown what it takes to be the best when Elite GB rider Annie Last led a masterclass in her sport ahead of the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in Sheffield later this year.
Last took the group of aspiring champions down the course at Wharncliffe and Wheata woods near Sheffield, which will be the venue for the 2011 Sainsbury’s UK School Games mountain bike event.
Over 1,600 elite school aged athletes will compete in the Sainsbury’s UK School Games across 12 sports including disability events in four sports from 1 – 4 September 2011. The multi-sport event is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and designed to replicate a major championships with Opening and Closing Ceremonies and an Athletes’ Village.
Whilst showing off the technique and skill that helped her become 2010 Elite National MTB Champion, Last was quick to recognise the role that the Sainsbury’s UK School Games plays in preparing talented youngsters for a future as a professional athlete.
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More on mountain biking
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“Giving young people the chance to compete in a multi-sport event like the Sainsbury’s UK School Games gives them a real head start in knowing what it’s like to compete at the very highest level,” said Last. “I hope that by passing on my advice to these youngsters they can work and train hard, perfect their technique and go on to future success in the sport.”
The UK School Games has been funded since 2008 with a £6million grant from Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Through £750,000 of additional National Lottery funding provided this year by Sport England, two new sports - wheelchair basketball and women’s rugby sevens - will be included in the 2011 Sainsbury’s UK School Games. The programme now includes cycling (mountain biking), athletics, badminton, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, swimming, table tennis and volleyball with disability events in swimming, athletics and table tennis
To find out more about this year’s Sainsbury’s UK School Games visit www.ukschoolgames.com.
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
