More than 300 primary school children compete in UCLan Sports Arena orienteering challenge
Sports students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have been helping local primary school children navigate their way through a regional competition hosted by UCLan Sports Arena.
The Lancashire School Games orienteering competition welcomed more than 300 primary school children from Preston and South Ribble to take part in a navigational challenge around the Sports Arena, with UCLan students facilitating the event.
"The project links our students with local schools, providing sports and active opportunities for their pupils and giving our students the essential practical experience they need to work in this field."
St Andrew’s CofE Primary School in Ashton won the Preston heat while St Oswald's Catholic Primary School in Longton shared the title with Cop Lane CofE Primary in Penwortham for South Ribble.
The years five and six pupils were put through their paces by the Lancashire School Games organisers and 10 students studying sports and PE at UCLan, not only in orienteering, but in team building and other multi-sport activities. Bob and Karen Nash from South Ribble Orienteering Club supplied high tech orienteering equipment to run a professional race.
Second year sports studies student Lewis Pickering said: “The day was well attended and provided a real challenge for all of the students involved. Each of us had to be organised and aware of the schedule for it to run smoothly. I felt a great deal of responsibility for the School Games, which was a great success and a real confidence boost for all of us.”
The event is the latest in a series of Lancashire School Games competitions that UCLan has hosted with the help of sports students as part of the University’s Healthy Schools’ Project.
Lecturer Chris Gunn said: “The project links our students with local schools, providing sports and active opportunities for their pupils and giving our students the essential practical experience they need to work in this field. It was a very professionally run event and fantastic to see more than 300 children being active and enjoying the activities.”