Archived press release

Date Published: 15/12/06

Talented young athletes from Aylesbury Vale have thrown, jumped and raced their way into a team that will represent Buckinghamshire at a regional athletics final next month. Twenty seven of the district’s young athletes competed alongside t...

Talented young athletes from Aylesbury Vale have thrown, jumped and raced their way into a team that will represent Buckinghamshire at a regional athletics final next month.

Twenty seven of the district’s young athletes competed alongside teams from Milton Keynes and Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe district council areas to vie for places in the team representing the county at the Regional Sportshall Athletics Final in Portsmouth on 21 January 2007.

The county final was held at Burnham Upper School last Sunday (10 December) and saw teams of girls and boys representing school years five and six participating in throwing, jumping and relay events. Aylesbury Vale’s youngsters enjoyed great success across all the events, with the boys taking first place and the girls finishing third overall.

The Aylesbury Vale athletes who excelled at the event will travel to Portsmouth next month, where they will join the other members of the Buckinghamshire team to compete against Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, the Isle Of Wight and the Channel Islands.

The team of athletes who will take part in the regional final is still being finalised but a strong contingent from Aylesbury Vale is expected.

Sportshall athletics was developed to maintain interest and enthusiasm in athletics during the winter. They include events to test speed, strength and stamina as well as encourage participation and build team spirit.

Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure at AVDC, said: “It’s great to see Aylesbury Vale’s young athletes achieving this type of success and making their mark in the county. I congratulate them on this fantastic achievement and wish them the very best of luck representing Buckinghamshire in the regional final. Many thanks must go to their families and the coaches and volunteers for all the support and hard work they have put in.”

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s sports development team played an important and integral part in this success. Staff worked with the team coach, Fiona Darling-Glinski, to select the squad and provided transport to and from the event.   

The Aylesbury Vale squad members were selected from regular attendees at coaching sessions organised by Fiona. She will now work with AVDC’s sports development team and the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Sports Partnership to set up a weekend athletics club which budding young athletes from the local community can attend and develop their athletic abilities. Further information about the club will be available on the council’s website early next year.

AVDC’s sports development team are dedicated to improving and increasing a wide range of sporting opportunities. The team offer a wide range of help and assistance to clubs, coaches and schools, as well as offering young people the opportunity to increase their participation in sport and physical activity. For more information call 01296 585224 or email sports@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk