Commonwealth Gold Medallist to join budding atheletes at county U11's Sportshall Athletics Final

29 February 2008

More than 100 budding athletes from across Derbyshire are to compete at this year’s Derbyshire Sportshall Athletics Finals – under the watchful eye of Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Lisa Dobriskey.

The annual event, now in its second year, will be staged at Moorways Sports Centre on Tuesday, March 11, bringing together the best sporting talent from local schools across a number of traditional track and field events.

And guest of honour will be 1500m runner Lisa Dobriskey, who is hoping to compete at the Beijing Olympics in August. Lisa will also take part in demonstrations and a mini-interview.

A total of ten teams of 14 – seven girls and seven boys – will compete in the Sportshall Finals, having won their place in a series of district events.

Sportshall Athletics is traditional track and field brought indoors, using specially adapted equipment, and on the day events will include indoor javelin, standing long jump, hurdles and obstacle relays, all designed to test speed, strength, coordination, agility and balance.

Teams will be made up of school pupils aged nine to 11, representing Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Amber Valley, Erewash, Derby East, Derby West, Derbyshire Dales, Bolsover, South Derbyshire and the High Peak.

The event is organised by Derbyshire Athletics Association with England Athletics, as part of the athletics competition framework for Derbyshire. Equipment for the day will be provided by Sportshall Associates.

Event manager both in the run-up to the event and on the day is Julie Feeney, Athletics Co-ordinator for Amber Valley.

She said: “Last year's event kick-started sportshall athletics in many districts where previously there was no activity.

“This year sees a further two districts taking part and sportshall athletics is now being done in schools and clubs countywide.

“Sportshall athletics is fast and fantastic fun for children and also gives them an introduction to many track and field events.”

Now in its second year, the event was introduced to the county last year, replacing the Derbyshire Youth Games which took place in previous years.

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