March 7, 2014 10.15 am This story is over 125 months old

Olympian inspires Lincolnshire children at sporting competition

Sporting champions: Lincolnshire school children were able to gain sporting advice from Olympic gold medalist Tim Baillie.
Children competing in the games were inspired by tales from Olympic gold medalist Tim Baillie. Photo: Chris Vaughan

Over 650 children from 80 primary schools across Lincolnshire were able to gain sporting advice from Olympic gold medalist Tim Baillie the Sainsbury’s School Games 2014 Winter Festival.

The Lincolnshire Sport event at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre saw the schools take part in six sports and a total of nine different competitions on March 5.

School teams, ranging from age 8 to 18, competed in a variety of sporting competitions including badminton, basketball, hockey, netball, new age kurling and swimming.

Winning schools who placed first in their sports included Saxilby Primary School, Haven High Academy, Caistor Yarborough School, St Georges Academy, Spalding High School, William Farr School, Tower Road Primary School and St Hugh’s Primary School.

Winning schools and their events

Winning-schools
As part of his work for Sporting Champions, London 2012 Olympian Tim Baillie inspired the children with tales of his past experiences of the games.

Speaking at the event, Tim said: “It’s so important that we inspire young people and ensure they know the importance of sport and physical activity.

“It takes a lifetime of hard work to become an Olympian and I try to advise children that passion, enthusiasm and being

the best you can be are the best qualities to have in sport and when competing.

“Today has been an inspirational day and it is great to see such a wide range of sports taking place.”

Jo Purkiss, Sport Project Officer at Lincolnshire Sport, said: “It was a fantastic day of sporting legacy.

“The buzz and excitement around the whole event was amazing and the inspiration that Sporting Champion Tim Baillie gave to the children was unbelievable; Tim certainly had plenty of t-shirt signing practice throughout the day!”

Yarborough Leisure Centre and Lincoln Castle Academy will play host to the Sainsbury’s School Games 2014 Summer Festival in Lincolnshire on July 9, 2014.