TWO REDDITCH athletes have been selected to compete at the 2018 School Games – a national multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes – taking place at Loughborough University.
Twelve-year-old Lucy Hatfield, who goes to St Bede’s Catholic Middle School and is no stranger to athletics and biathle success, and Amelia Titterton, 12, who attends Dodderhill School near Droitwich, will both compete in the laser run (athletes required to alternate between shooting a laser pistol and running) at the games.
More than 1,400 athletes will compete across 11 sports – five of which include disability disciplines – at the School Games (August 30-September 2). This year’s games feature four new sports – canoeing & rowing, laser run, netball and triathlon.
The event will give young people, across a variety of different sports, an experience of high-level competition in a multi-sport environment similar to an Olympic or Paralympic Games.
The Redditch duo will be following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the event before going on to senior international success.
Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft MBE, Ellie Simmonds OBE and Jonnie Peacock MBE, Olympic champion Adam Peaty MBE, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Adam Gemili.
At the event the athletes will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level. They will live in a dedicated Athletes’ Village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in a School Games ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.
“The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Lucy and Amelia,” 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 sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”
The 2018 School Games is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and Home Country Sports Councils and is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.
Tickets are available at www.schoolgamesfinals.org/buy-tickets.
