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Volunteers deliver an exciting day of Athletics in North Tyneside
Tuesday, Aug 16, 2011 in Sports Foundation
The 3rd in a series of 4 athletics Grand Prix events organised by the North of Tyne Athletics Network (NOTAN) took place at the weekend. Thirty young people aged between 7 and 13 took part in individual sprint, long jump, throw and running events. And as partners of NOTAN Jeanette Pickard, CEO of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation (TBSF) and Arlene Ainsley, TBSF Membership Recruitment and Development Manager volunteered on the day, helping with the set up, keeping the scores of the competitors and presenting the certificates at the end of the event.
Victoria Spence Co-ordinator of NOTAN arranged the events and says:
“This Grand Prix has been really successful with over 50 young people taking part across the three events. The standard has been really high amongst the competitors and they all seem to have enjoyed themselves. I’m hoping that we’ll have a really good turn out for the final event in a few weeks time.”
TBSF members who volunteered their time to organise and run the sessions included husband and wife Michelle and Graeme Wordsworth. Michelle who has been volunteering in local schools throughout the summer to encourage children to take part in athletics will be registering to take the new England Athletics Children’s Coach course through TBSF and has attended all of the Grand Prix events officiating the long jump.
Arlene Ainsley, TBSF Membership Recruitment and Development Manager says:
“We are delighted with the success of NOTAN’s first Summer Grand Prix series and want to thank Victoria for all her hard work and our members for volunteering their time. Events like this are a great way to get young people involved in sport and competition but they can’t happen without the many volunteers that help out - doing the setting up, keeping the scores, coaching and officiating – the list goes on. And that’s where the Foundation is making a feel difference, we are here to recruit and train more people and the more trained coaches and officials we have, the more great events like this can take place.”
The final event in this series will be held on Saturday 3rd September at Churchill Playing Fields, Monkseaton with registration from 9.30am. If you would like to help out on the day or want more information about becoming a coach, official or volunteering please contact Arlene Ainsley, on 0191 2760640 or email arlene.ainsley@tonyblairsportsfoundation.org If you want more information on how to register to take part, get in touch with Victoria.spence@notan.org.uk
