Sports Event

Another article that was published in Cumbernauld News.


Around 800 children took part in a two-day sporting event at St Patrick’s Playing Fields, Kilsyth. The Active Schools Team – Jude Gilvear, Alastair Sinclair, Carrie McKenzie, Jane Kelly, Vicky Clark and David Molloy – organised the event for primary seven pupils from schools in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Chryston about to move on to secondary school.

The aim of the event was to promote continued physical activity and exercise as students move from primary school to secondary school. It also helped the children to take a step forward and get to know some of the people they might encounter in their first year. To encourage healthy lifestyle choices on the day and for the rest of their lives the Active Schools Team paired with Community Police, The Fire Service, NHS Lanarkshire, Health Promoting Schools, local schools and the staff working in local facilities, who all provided stalls for information.

Local groups, including the Tryst Handball Club, The North Lanarkshire Rams, Cumbernauld Cricket Club, the Kilsyth Baton Twirling Club, North Lanarkshire Council Football and Rugby Development and the Cumbernauld Hockey Club offered free coaching and support so that the participants had a wide and varied range of sports to take part in.

It wasn’t only the children who were encouraged to take part in the various activities. There was a VIP walk round for sporting adults like education officers, councillors and businesses.

The fun day and its massive success were made possible by help from local sponsors – Strathclyde Homes, I-Response, Central Garage and George Weightman & Co. The radio station L107 FM was also on board helping to keep children and adults alike entertained with music and games.