The South Bradford Primary schools trampoline competition hit Tong High School this week in its third successful year. Year after year, children from local Primary Schools compete against their peers to win their levels, and the 2011 competition showed a higher standard than in previous years.

Ryecroft Team

This skill development and improvement is courtesy of continuous Sports Unlimited funded sessions, bid for by South Bradford School Sport Partnership. The partnership working between the SSP, the Primary and Secondary Schools and Bradford Olympian Trampoline Club shows the talent that can be developed through Partnership working. Mike Abbott, Head Coach at Bradford Olympian Trampoline Club, said: “From a clubs’ perspective, it’s important that these associations are maintained, so that we can continue to tap into and develop the potential that exists within Bradford and surrounding areas. To see young people at such a young age with such fantastic talent shows the true value of sporting networks, such as the School Sport Partnership.”

The combination of the Sport Unlimited training taster sessions and the experiences in trampolining competitions, has lead the young competitors to develop their skills and chase their passion. Over half of the competition performers have gone on to become members of Bradford Olympian Trampoline Club. Further to this, six of the competitors have progressed into the clubs’ competition squad – including the current U11 Yorkshire champion, Ben Walsh.

With the competition being split into two levels, the competition was fierce to clinch the title in their categories.

In the Boys Beginners level, it was very close between 2nd & 3rd place with William Boocock of Ryecroft Primary just edging ahead of George Middleton of Woodlands Primary by just 0.1 of a mark, however the clear winner was Anoop Thapar from Newhall Park Primary.

In the Girls Beginners event, the top three were only split by 0.7 of a mark. In 3rd place was Emily Middleton from Woodlands Primary. Just 0.3 ahead in 2nd place was Annalise Andre from Ryecroft, but ahead of them both in 1st place, by just a further 0.4 was Abbie Wilson from Home Farm Primary.

The elite category consisted entirely of club competition squad members – and they put on a great display! With many thrills and some spills, many of the elite competitors tried out their new routines and attempted adding more complex skills into existing routines leading to one or two crashes & close calls along the way.

In the Boys elite event, Daniel Abbott from St Francis RC Primary gained 3rd place, just behind Gregory Turner from Woodlands Primary. Retaining his Bradford Schools U11 Yorkshire Champion title, Ben Walsh of Newhall Park came in first place.

The elite level Girls also provided an equally exciting competition. Erin Gunther from Ryecroft Primary reached first place, with Lucy Roberts from Home Farm in 2nd and Rebecca Connolly from Newhall Park in 3rd place.

Mike said: “The talent on show at the competition has been fantastic, and we hope that these young people, and others out there, want to develop their talents and join Bradford Olympian Trampoline Club. As well as developing talent, though we also focus on developing coaches. Despite developing coaches being a priority, it is also very time consuming and expensive. If there are any qualified trampoline coaches out there who would like to become involved with the club, we’d very much like to hear from you!”

South Bradford School Sport Partnership – Tong High School

South Bradford’s answer to Strictly Come Dancing raised the roof again this year, forming another run away success for Bradford’s young people.

All schools who took part received 6 weeks’ expert tuition to learn 4 ballroom competition dances – as well as the show-finishing dance the electric slide.

120 pupils stormed the dance floor, dance partners by their sides and numbers on their backs, to put on a dazzling display.

Held at Tong High School, the young people thrilled a theatre packed with parents from all participating schools.

Cha Cha Cha, Tango and the Jive were just some of the dances on display at the competition, which required young people to dance in pairs.

Despite initial reluctance from the majority, the dance tuition challenged the young people to push their boundaries to dance in mixed partners..

“The competition demonstrates the progress young people can have with positive encouragement. At the beginning, some of the young people refused to touch each other – and look at them now. A fantastic confidence building opportunity, as well as fantastic competition.”
Claire Caunce, Partnership Development Manager for South Bradford School Sport Partnership

As the young couples danced, teachers cheered from the sides in their ballroom dressed and smart suits.

Tong High School’s new Headteacher, Mr Stephen Curran was amongst the judges faced with the arduous task of deciding the winners.

After fierce deliberation, St Columbas were announced as the overall winners of an excellent night of ballroom dancing.

Well done and thank you to everyone who took part, and we hope to see you at Tong again in the very near future.

By Laura Dawson
Sports College & South Bradford SSP Administrator

A series of cheerleading events for over 1700 young girls from around South Bradford may be the last of its kind to run in the city – due to the government’s axe of the School Sport Partnership (SSP) funding.

The ‘Pom Cheer’ event, organised by South Bradford SSP, has been running in the district for 3 years, welcoming girls from all ethnic groups to enjoy the spectacular cheerleading event.

Being run this year by Hot Ice Cheer and Dance Academy, the competition gives the girls the chance to show their own choreographed routines as well as learning routines such as the much-loved ‘Peanut Butter Jelly’ on the day.

“The Pom Cheer event is a particularly special event for us as it allows young girls from all ethnic groups to come together at this one event. As you can see, the girls really raise the roof!”

Sarah Bouskill, Competition Manager

In the governments’ recent Comprehensive Spending review, the 15% budget cut to the Department of Education will hit school sport the hardest – leaving the system that created 450 SSPs across the country facing the chop.

“These cuts will be simply devastating for the progression of grassroots sport and the opportunities that are currently available for our young people. These opportunities will simply not exist without the fantastic SSP teams across the city, who really care about the futures, and health, of Bradford’s young people.”
Claire Caunce, Partnership Development Manager for South Bradford SSP

The South Bradford School Sport Partnership brings together schools across South Bradford to develop Physical Education and sport opportunities for young people. The 2009/2010 annual PESSYP survey showed that 68% of young people in South Bradford participate in at least three hours of PE and school sport.

The survey also showed that 71% of the 14,118 young people also participated in High Quality inter school competition, such as the recent Pom Cheer events.

“The range of competitions we offer the young people is simply unrivalled. It is devastating to think that competitions such as Pom Cheer, which all have exit routes into clubs, will not exist next year.”
Claire Caunce

By Laura Dawson
Sports College & South Bradford SSP Administrator

Students and staff were delighted to welcome Craig Heap, the former Commonwealth Gold winning gymnast, to Tong High School on Tuesday 12th October.

Continue reading →

Once again the school and its wider school community partners enjoyed a hugely successful sport and performing arts presentation evening. Held in the school theatre packed with families, staff, and governors, and compered by sixth form students Liam and Natalie, the evening was run in the style of the BBC Sports award show. Continue reading →

On Tuesday 23^rd February a select group of year 7 students took part in a sport poetry run by a leading sport poet, Crispin Thomas. Continue reading →