Leicestershire

Leicestershire

Primary Schools

Athletics Association

A Celebration of Sport

The aim of the Leicestershire Primary Schools Athletics Association is to arrange athletics and cross-country events in order to make available competition at a high standard to all primary school children within the county area.

On a damp October morning in 1977, 327 pairs of muddy feet tramped around Kirby Muxloe Park at the inaugural Cross-Country League race organised by Rob Osborn (the founder of the league). Since that day the league has grown phenomenally with the result that there are only two venues in Leicestershire (Western Park and Braunstone Park) which can accommodate the enormous fields and the hundreds of enthusiastic and noisy mums and dads who provide transport and encouragement throughout the season.

George Smolinski (who has been actively involved in the league since the year after its inception) and David Dewdney have taken on the responsibility of the organisational aspects. Their commitment has raised the profile of the cross-country league so that it has become widely regarded as a well organised competition where the races are of a high standard with fields that are thought to be the largest in the country for these age groups. Indeed the Daily Telegraph (28.10.05) had the headline “Leicestershire league is a model for others to follow” in which it was suggested that “Leicestershire’s league is a template which should be highlighted and adopted nationwide.”

The association's committee is continually striving to encourage the participation of children in the league. With the support of grant aid from both Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils, a string of innovations has been introduced to ensure that the atmosphere of each event is special. In addition, children are awarded a different coloured certificate at each venue and many of them race at all the events of the series in order to collect a complete set.

Until 1992 we had four categories of races at each meeting - Senior Boys (years 5 and 6), Senior Girls (years 5 and 6), Minor boys (years 3 and 4) and Minor Girls (years 3 and 4). However, with fields in excess of 500 for both Senior and Minor Boys, the 1993 season saw the introduction of single year categories split into separate boys and girls races so that 8 separate races (Year 3 girls, Year 3 boys, Year 4 girls, Year 4 boys, Year 5 girls, Year 5 boys, Year 6 girls, Year 6 boys) take place at each meeting. At the end of each season, trophies are presented to the leading individuals and teams in each category.

Many observers regard our cross-country league as the most successful of its type in the country. Indeed the Daily Telegraph on October 28th. 2005 led its School Sports Matters column with the headline “Leicestershire league is the one to follow.” This was followed up in December with the statement that, "It is a beacon of what should be happening nationwide."

From its humble origins the league has grown phenomenally and is currently attracting its highest ever fields in its 29th. season. With a record opening day’s entry in October of 1,682 finishers, followed by another massive 1,642 at its November meeting, the total aggregate record for the season was smashed when 1,330 ran over extremely demanding conditions in December. 4,654 finishers completed the 3 race series to easily give it its best overall total since moving to the 3 meet format in 1999. – an astounding average of over 1,550!! Vicky Webb (Highcliffe) came in 137th. and last in the Year 6 girls event, covered in mud, with a big smile on her face. She was delighted to receive an award to commemorate her place in a record breaking season as the runner that passed the league’s best ever total for a season and epitomized what the league is all about – fun, fitness, fulfillment!

In particular the girls’ fields in each of the Year 3 to Year 6 are burgeoning – is this the Paula Radcliffe factor? Individual and team categories are always hotly contested. However the common factor that remains is the brilliant attitude of the young athletes (both debutants and “old feet”) who come along and give of their best, encouraged by hundreds of enthusiastic and noisy mums, dads and other family members.

A really special moment happened in November 2005 when organisers David Dewdney and George Smolinski presented a special presentation medal to a delighted Amy Thraves – Connor of Alderman Richard Hallam who was the 60,000th. runner to finish since the league was changed to an 8 race format in 1993. Other landmarks achieved this season include:
Michael Whitehouse (Burton on the Wolds) - 10,000th. Year 3 boy finisher
Emily Wells (Belvoir High) - 5,000th. Year 6 girl finisher.
Spike Wright (Mountfields Lodge - 10,000th. Year 4 boy finisher.

The league’s success continues to have a direct influence on secondary school and club athletics locally. The fields of the Leicestershire secondary schools cross-country league have increased dramatically as a direct result of our primary children continuing their enthusiasm for the sport into the next phase of their education. Local clubs have seen the interest that we have cultivated and are aware that positive steps need to be taken to nurture these youngsters and keep them in the sport.

Amongst children who began their competitive outings in our league, we can boast Lisa York (Barcelona Olympian and Women's National Cross-Country Champion), Maxine Newman (another Olympian and English Schools Intermediate 1500m Champion), Helen Titterington (a current international and a former national road and cross country champion), Tracey Maycock (a former Midlands County Champion), Melanie Wilkes (English Schools Cross-Country silver medallist), and Neil Allen (Mid Counties 3km Junior Champion). Nick Mapp, James Siddons and Ryan Falkner also received representative honours. During 2005 Paul Miles and Hannah Whitmore received England vests for cross country.

With the focus on increasing sports participation and promoting the children’s health agenda this event certainly hits the right spots. The league continues to encourage thousands of primary – aged children, within the county and city area, to represent their schools with the positive kind of sporting attitude and endeavour that should grace any sport. Indeed the Telegraph stated “Surely Leicestershire’s league is a template which should be highlighted and adopted nationwide.”
Our league remains the biggest and best of its kind in the country both in terms of the number of participants and the enormous crowds of enthusiastic supporters who cheer them on. With such great numbers taking part, the comprehensive computerised results service provided by George and Lynn Smolinski for the association is a marvellous asset.

We believe our league to be the largest of its type anywhere and it has had a tremendous impact on school's athletics locally. The fields of the Leicestershire secondary schools cross-country league have increased dramatically as a direct result of our primary children continuing their enthusiasm for the sport into the next phase of their education. Local clubs have seen the interest that we have cultivated and are aware that positive steps need to be taken to nurture these youngsters and keep them in the sport. To this end a development plan is being drawn up to ensure more youngsters are retained in athletics and combat the drop out that tends to occur on the transition to secondary school. An enlightened and very successful junior club, the Oadby and Wigston Legionnaires (O.W.L.S. A.C.), has led the way in showing how the potential of our youngsters can be developed within a structured but fun environment. Other local clubs are beginning to open their doors and as a result an increasing number of youngsters are now joining them to widen their competitive experience.

In March our Country Cross-Country Championships are contested by nine area teams (chosen from their own area trials) in each of the Year 4 boys, Year 4 Girls, Year 5 Boys, Year 5 Girls, Year 6 Boys and Year 6 Girls categories. This occasion, involving nearly 600 children, always provides an exciting finale to our cross-country season.

Similarly, the County Athletics Championships held at Saffron Lane at the beginning of July brings to a thrilling end the round of area trials which determine the children who are to represent their area. New events recently introduced are 1 km walks for Year 6 Boys and Girls (judged by officials of the Leicester Walking Club). This innovation has already reaped rewards as a number of children who started on this route have won Midland vests (Paul Miles, David Gudgeon, Craig Ainge, Luke Finch, Charles Gill Fiona McGorum, Lauren Gimson and Rachael Woolley). In addition, we are including races, jumping and throwing events for children with severe learning difficulties in special schools in order to give these children an opportunity to take part in the largest athletics event they are likely to be involved in at primary school age.

Our County Athletics Championships held at Saffron Lane stadium at the beginning of July brings to a thrilling end the round of area trials which determine the children who are to represent their area. Track judges from Rutland A.C. and timekeepers from Leicester Coritanians together with other officials from Leicestershire and Rutland A.A.A. ensure that this event is a special occasion.
The Open 1 km walks Boys and Girls are judged by officials of the Leicester Walking Club. This innovation has already reaped rewards as a number of children who started on this route have won Midland vests (Paul Miles, David Gudgeon, Craig Ainge, Luke Finch, Charles Gill, Fiona McGorum, Lauren Gimson and Rachael Woolley).
In addition, we include races as well as jumping and throwing events for children with severe learning difficulties in special schools in order to give these children an opportunity to take part in the largest athletics event they are likely to be involved in at primary school age.

Links are also in place with Leicester Walking Club which is offering “taster” sessions where youngsters are coached in the basics of race walking and then have an opportunity to put their training into practice by taking part in a 2km. race.
Young athletes have opportunities to race walk in two events - the Chris Smith league which consists of a series of 4 races during the winter and spring terms over 2km. around Saffron Lane track and the Hewitt Cup which is a summer term series of three 2km. races around Humberstone Park.
Fiona McGorum gained an international vest competing against Finland in October 2005.
4 young athletes who started their walking careers in these events won Midlands titles earlier this year – Charles Gill (U-13 2km.), Lauren Gimson (U-15 3km.), Fiona McGorum (U-17 5km. and Rachel Woolley (U-20 5km.).

Amongst the other children who began their competitive outings in our league or athletics Championships we can boast Lisa York (Barcelona Olympian and Women's National Cross-Country Champion), Maxine Newman (another Olympian and English School Intermediate 1500m Champion), Helen Titterington (a current international and a former national road and cross country champion), Tracey Maycock (a former Midlands County Champion), Melanie Wilkes (English Schools Cross-Country silver medallist), Neil Allen (Mid Counties 3km Junior Champion) and Luke Finch, Suzie Pratt, James Chamberlain and Paul Miles (international walkers).

During 2005 Paul Miles and Hannah Whitmore have received England vests for cross country. Nick Mapp, James Siddons and Ryan Falkner also received representative honours. In addition Fiona McGorum and Lauren Gimson are currently representing England in race walking events having started their race walking careers at events organized by the LPSAA in conjunction with the Leicester Walking Club.

We were honoured to have won the inaugural Leicester Sports Federation Trophy for Sports Association of the Year in 2000 as well as becoming runners up in 2002. The L.P.S.A.A., by striving to meet the aims mentioned at the start of this article, promotes cross-country and athletics in such a successful way that we believe children represent their schools and areas with the positive kind of sporting attitude and endeavour that should grace any sport.

George Smolinski

Development Officer

L.P.S.A.A.

(CelebrationofSportJan2006.doc)