As Beijing lurks round the corner I would like to use this opportunity to address how together we can help more of the County’s young hopefuls reach Olympic Games.

As we all know the County boasts some outstanding sporting talent, & earlier this week, Lincolnshire was in the news once again, as 25 year old Glenn Kirkham from Alford joined 8 other excited Olympic & Paralympic hopefuls who will wave the flag for Lincolnshire in Beijing this summer.

Glenn who has made 83 appearances for England in the men’s hockey team joins a formidable GB squad, including 4 Lincolnshire Swimmers: Mel Marshall, Kate Haywood, Lizzie Simmonds, & Rob Welbourn.

However although Lincolnshire is becoming increasingly renowned for producing swimming sensations, the recent qualifying success of Archer Simon Terry shows the County has wide breadth of sporting talent.

Click here to read more

Talented Hollie has gone from strength to strength; a single arm amputee from Cleethorpes Athletics Club Hollie regularly competes in both the mainstream and disability athletics events

In 2007 Hollie broke five national records at the DSE Junior Championships in Javelin, Discus, Shot, Long Jump, and the 100m, and then went on to win a Nationwide Achievement Award. Hollie was also identified at the Visa Paralympic World Cup as “One to Watch”

This was definitely accurate as Hollie started 2008 in great form, winning two bronze medals at the UK School Games competing against many athletes older than her.

At the Federation of Disability Sport Organisation Awards Hollie triumphed again scooping the Gary Hayton Memorial Trophy for outstanding achievement by a junior performer.

It is clear that Hollie has excelled in a variety of athletic events, however no more so than Javelin. Hollie was the only member of the regional disability performance squad to have qualified for the regional mainstream talent programme through her outstanding performances in the javelin.

Now at just the age of 13 Hollie has qualified for Beijing, after throwing a personal best of 32.35m at the recent Dutch Open Championships in Emmerloord. Hollies’ throw as just 15cms behind that of the current world champion!

Hollies’ qualification is a tribute to her commitment and dedication, but also to the excellent coaching she has received.

In Olympic Year the Lincolnshire Show 2008 is teaming up with Lincolnshire Sports Partnership to offer a Sports Zone full of exciting visitor activities.

The Sports Zone is a new addition to the County Show providing 15 sporting activities over the two day event. A wide variety of sports are on offer including traditional sports such as rugby, cricket, football, cycling & tennis.

Displays and workshops are also expected from Lincoln’s Kofukan Karate Club, Jivefusion, Streetz Ahead Theatre Artz, Power Yoga & Tai Chi. So come along and have a go!

The newly established Lincolnshire Sitting Volleyball Association will also be in attendance, along with 5 members of the Great Britain Sitting Volleyball Team.

There will be also many sporting competitions on offer, Lincoln Velo Cycling Club plays host to a cycling contest, with prizes awarded on Thursday by cycling Olympic Silver Medallist Bryan Steel.

However if Cycling’s not your sport, then maybe enter a team in the Concept 2’s exciting Rowing Relay.

The Sports Zone is open 8am-6pm on show days, with sporting displays taking place between 10am-4:30pm on both days.

As we all look forward to what we hope will be a glorious summer. Volleyball England launch their annual Beach Tour.

This weekend the Volleyball England Beach Tour is back, as the tour celebrates the start if it’s third year in Skegness.

So often renowned for its bracing winds Skegness Beach hosts the first stop of the tour, on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June. The Skegness Open sees Volleyball players from all over the UK compete to win a record prize fund of £3000.

Continuing to grow the Volleyball England Beach Tour will be hitting beaches all over the UK until August stopping at 8 beaches from Bridlington & Margate, to Poole and Great Yarmouth, the tour climaxes at the Grand Finals in Brighton on the 29th-31st August.

The Skegness Open offers competitions for men’s doubles and women’s 2 Divisions. Local teams are invited to take part, which could see them going head to head with some of the very best players in the world. Play starts at 9:30am on the Beach, don’t miss it!

With Beijing Olympics just round the corner, this summer promises to be an exciting one for English Beach Volleyball.

For more information on Volleyball England’s Beach Tour and to see the local results visit www.volleyballengland.org

If your interested in playing Volleyball in Lincolnshire contact Lincolnshire Sports Partnership on 01522 585 580 or e-mail sportsenquiries@lincolnshiresports.co.uk

Leisure Connection are to launch their “carer goes free” program
A carer accompanying a person in receipt of Disability living allowance / attendance allowance
or someone registeredn as blind goes FREE

Monday, 9th June 2008, 12:30pm – 2pm
Buffet lunch provided
At
NK Centre

Programme
• Talk on the facilities within the managed Leisure Connections estate & video showing the activities available
• Staff on hand for tours of Harpers gym
• Advice on the Leisure Connections concessions card
• Advice and Guidance from
• David Elworthy - Business Manager - NK Centre - Leisure Connections
• Sarah Oliver - Lincolnshire Carers Lead – Lincolnshire County Council
• Ian Brown – Disability sport - Equality and Diversity Officer - Lincolnshire Sports Partnership

Forms for individuals to take away concerning the Leisure Card / Carer goes free offer covering all the Lincs LC sites

Leisure cards can be processed on the day
(Please bring proof of disability living allowance / attendance allowance or registration as a blind person)

To confirm your place contact: Ian Brown on 01522 585 580 or email: ian.brown@lincolnshiresports.co.uk

Launching at the Gainsborough Riverside Festival on Sunday 8th June, Street Athletics invites local youngsters in the age groups U20, U17, U15, and U13 to race each other over 60m.

All competitors will receive a Street Athletics T-shirt and Dog tag, as well as be invited to attend the County Final hosted by Christie and Campbell at Sincil Bank, Lincoln on the 17th July.

Both Christie and Campbell have a wealth of Olympic, European, World and Commonwealth achievements. Christie winning 100m Olympic Gold, 3x European 100m Gold, World Champion 100m Gold and 2x Commonwealth 100m Gold.

Whilst Campbell triumphed in the; 2004 Olympic 4X100m, European 4x100m, and Commonwealth 4x100m.

Street Athletics is a great result for the County, and it will go a long way in helping to break down some of the barriers that prevent youngsters from believing in their own talents.

However don’t worry if you can’t attend the Gainsborough race as Street Athletics events will be going on across the County all summer.

Venue 1- Gainsborough Riverside Festival- 8th June
Venue 2- Sleaford-17th June
Venue 3- Lincoln Birchwood Leisure Centre- 24th June
Venue 4- Boston Kirton Middlecott School- 26th June
Venue 5- Boston Princes Royal Arena- 29th June
Venue 6- Boston Peter Payne Leisure Centre- 1st July
Venue 7- Spalding- 4th July
Venue 8- Grantham Meres Leisure Centre-8th July
Venue 9- North Kesteven Sports Centre- 10th July
Venue 10- Mablethorpe Sea wall- 15th July

A fortnight after seven North Hykeham players helped East Midlands win the National Regions Title at Lichfield they were back in action as their club side competed in the National Under 15 7 a side tournament at Leighton Buzzard R.F.C. on Saturday afternoon.

The short sided version of the game is ideally suited to the North Hykeham playing style of pass before contact and making the use of the pace of the likes Rachel Jones, Laura Ware and Tanya Bird in the wide open spaces that the game creates.

The tournament was split into four pools with four teams in each. The winners and runners up of each pool progressed to the quarter finals for the knock stages of the competition.

[ Read More ]

Somewhere in Lincolnshire there could be a potential Olympic athlete, and Geoff Capes- Former British & Commonwealth Shot Put record holder is set to find you.

Teaming up with Lincolnshire Sports Partnership & Sports Clubs across the County; strong man Geoff Capes has set down a County challenge. This being to find someone who can shot put 20mtrs 12 cms, as putting this distance will guarantee them a place in the 2012 Olympic Final.

The scheme is part of a campaign to bring a throws academy to the County. Whilst talented track athletes are usually identified early, it is feared that potential field athletes, particularly in the throws disciplines are not being recognised and developed.

Community taster events will be running in all seven districts throughout July and August, designed to give people a taste of throws.

This week Lincolnshire Sports Partnership released the dates, and are actively encouraging men & women, young, old, to come along have a go at shot, discus, javelin and hammer.

If you’re up for the Challenge click on Get Involved and come along and gave a go.

However the success of the events depends upon volunteers, if you’re interested in volunteering at any of the events please contact Dave Carter on 01522 585 580 or e-mail dave.carter@lincolnshiresports.co.uk

The County is proud to announce that two sitting volleyball players have been selected for the GB squad.

Looking forward to London 2012; Keith Hill and Andy Skinner are both above the knee single leg amputees and are working hard to develop The Lincolnshire Sitting Volleyball Association. The Lincolnshire Sitting Volleyball Association will work in partnership with Lincolnshire Volleyball and Lincolnshire Sports Partnership.

Sitting volleyball is an adapted game for people with disabilities. Enjoying full Paralympic status since 1980, a Great Britain Team competed at the highest level until 1991.

The game is an excellent vehicle for players returning from injury during rehabilitation and can also be played by non-disabled players.

Keith Hill                                     Andy Skinner

More pictures and information is available at www.sittingvolleyball.org.uk

Differences between Sitting Volleyball and Volleyball:
• The court is smaller — 10m x 6m (2m attack zone)
• The net is lower — 1.15m for men and 1.05m for women
• Players remain seated on court during play
• Service can be blocked
• The passage of play is quicker due to reduced court size
If you are interested in be a player, member or supporting the LSVA call Keith on 07930 502 606 or e-mail keith.hill40@ntlworld.com

Pinarello's Russell Downing showed his excellent form as he won the Lincoln Grand Prix in style, taking the eleven lap race in an impressive 3.16.05 .

In front of a huge crowd, 146 riders braved the scorching sunshine to tackle the grueling 86 mile course around uphill Lincoln.

Russell Downing in tremendous form broke away with a lap to go. Closely tailed by brother Dean Downing and Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven)


Simon Richardson (3rd), Russell Downing (1st) and Dean Downing (2nd)

Tasked with co-coordinating high quality inter-school competitions for all young people who have the desire to compete, two hundred and forty teams of Competition Managers & Senior Competition Managers are now in post.

Click here to find out more

This Sunday, Carres Grammar School, Sleaford plays host to the annual PAN disability festival.

 22 teams from around East Midlands will be taking part in a full day of football games to finish the 2007/2008 season. Over this season each County FA has hosted a day of football games specific to the needs of the players.  

The FA has funded the regional league for three years and the tournament has gone from strength to strength.

To find out more please click here

To celebrate the 53rd Annual Lincoln Grand Prix, the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership is taking over the Judges Lodgings, in Castle Square to host a VIP Reception.

The VIP Reception provides a rest area from the exciting race, with bacon baps served from 10:30, and a buffet lunch for invited guests at 12pm.

With excellent views of the finish line, Bryan Steel- Olympic Medalist will deliver a short talk about the commitments that are required to achieve at an international level, the inspirational talk will open the doors for Lincolnshire’s Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP.)

To find out more about LEAP or to get involved please contact us on 01522 585580 or e-mail emma.burke@lincolnshiresports.co.uk

The 53rd Lincoln Grand Prix Cycle Race again brings top class cycle racing to the cobbled streets of the historic City with 175 entries on the programme.

Britain's top riders will face the challenge of tough foreign competition with teams and riders from Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Sweden and South Africa amongst the line up for the 86 miles race on Sunday May 11th.

The race starts from the Yarborough Leisure Centre at 10 am and covers 11 laps of the circuit before finishing in Castle Square at around 1.30 pm where the winners will be presented with their awards to the applause of the large and enthusiastic crowd. The 8 mile circuit takes the riders out of Lincoln, through Burton Village and its twisting tricky descent to the A57 and back towards Lincoln via Long Leys Road and West Parade before the difficult climb of Michaelgate to Castle Square.

The course includes Lincoln's tourist areas along Bailgate and passes through Newport Arch, Lincoln's 3rd century Roman Gateway and one of the few remaining examples of Roman architecture which is still open to traffic, but not on Sunday May 11th when the roads are closed for the safety of the riders in this classic race.

Organiser Ian Emmerson OBE watches the 2007 race unfold before him with Lincoln Castle in the background.
Source www.britishcycling.org.uk

For a full list of 2008 competitors please click here

For a full list of previous winner please click here

Today; in the presence of over 50 local businesses the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership launched LEAP; Lincolnshire’s Elite Athlete Programme.

LEAP is an innovative way of marrying sport & business, with the sole aim to help Lincolnshire performers reach their potential.

What will become a regular fixture on the county’s sport & business calendar, provides a rare opportunity for businesses to join forces & contribute to the county's and thereby the nations sporting future.

As we all know the County boasts some outstanding sporting talent, for example take the recent Olympic qualifying success of Lincoln swimmers Kate Haywood & Lizzie Simmonds.

Just a few weeks ago former Vulcan’s swimmer Kate set a new British Record in the 100m backstroke touching in 1:07:56, whilst Lizzie smashed the standing British Record finishing the 200m back stroke in 2:04:21.

Although Lincolnshire is becoming increasingly renowned for producing swimming sensations, it is evident that the County also has a wealth of untapped sporting talent, and it is this talent that LEAP will support.

Too often families are struggling to develop their child’s talent due to the fact that the nearest high performance centre is in either Sheffield or Loughborough; through a comprehensive support system LEAP aims to bridge this gap.

Gary Taylor- Junior Sportsman 2007; mimics the value of support:

“It is important to support young athletes because without it many of them wouldn’t be able to travel to many of their competitions in this country or abroad, or be able to buy the equipment that they need to compete.”

The current UK sports system provides funding for top and elite performers through lottery funding, but the tier below has what could be best described as a patchwork approach. The LEAP programme will offer a consistent level of support for performer, coach and parent alike at the sub lottery level.

Jim Cowan- Lincolnshire Sports Partnership commented:

“LEAP provides a support system offering courses & mentoring to prevent today’s young sports people making the mistakes of previous generations.” “When making the grade is measured in tiny finite amounts, whether seconds or millimeters this kind of support will make a vast difference.”

Becoming a member of the LEAP Business Club has numerous benefits; a few of these benefits are listed below:

• Invitations to quarterly networking events
  
  
• Preferential rates & discounts for other LEAP events, including the annual LEAP Sportsman’s Dinner, and the LEAP annual Golf Day.
  
  
• Receipt of quarterly LEAP Newsletter featuring news and updates of sportspeople who are benefiting from subscribers support.

In addition to the business satisfaction of investing and supporting the sporting community of Lincolnshire, subscriptions also benefit from tax breaks.

Membership to the LEAP Business Club is free to all companies making a minimum £600 per annum donation to LEAP.

If you are a business operating in the Lincolnshire area and want to help the County’s young sports talent develop & deliver upon their ability, please contact us on 01522 585 580 or e-mail emma.burke@lincolnshiresports.co.uk

This scheme is unique and the first of its kind in the country offering help and support to female coaches so that each individual can achieve their true potential. The aim is to increase the number of active coaches in the East Midlands (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire.)

The scheme is the initiative of the Women and Girls Football Development Officers from the 5 counties Sarah Teal (Lincs), Sarah Larnder (Leics) Kathryn Hall (Northants) Keely Brown (Derbys) and Trevor Powell ( Notts)

Last weekend 54 coaches of the future participated in a day-long event hosted by Nottinghamshire FA. The day was led by Paul Smalley- East midlands regional coach development manager, assisted by Luis Fiddler England’s Under 17 coach, Jane Haslam-Chesterfield Centre of Excellence, Sarah Green- Nottingham Forest Ladies Centre of Excellence and Gemma Grainger-FA Skills Coach.

The day consisted of an introduction to the scheme followed by an in depth coach planning workshop, followed by an afternoon of practical demonstrations by the guest coaches. Over lunch the coaches had the opportunity to meet KATIE HOLTHAM Leeds Utd and England who signed autographs and spoke about the goal she scored in last season’s FA Women’s Cup Final Finally all the coaches completed a personal action plan which will be the basis of future events.

Helen Nuthall one of the future coaches said “thanks for an enjoyable but tiring day. Look forward to the next event”

The next event is planned for Saturday 12th July 2008 in Derbyshire

Somewhere in Lincolnshire there could be a potential Olympic athlete, and Geoff Capes- Former British & Commonwealth Shot Put record holder is set to find you.

[Read more]

What a great time it has been for British cycling and in particular the superb haul of medals at the recent World Track Championships held at the Manchester Velodrome.

I was involved with the realisation of the velodrome which was part of the 2000 Olympic Bid by Manchester and provided a much needed facility. At that time I was the President of the British Cycling Federation and knew that the British climate never...

[Read more]

Previously a purely equestrian event the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership Sports Zone will showcase 9 NGB Sports over the two day event April 12th-13th.

Displays are expected from Lincolnshire Dance, Cannons Volleyball Club, Fenland Netball Club, Kofukan Karate Club, & Jaguars Wheelchair Basketball Club, amongst others.

Also expected PGL Caythorpe Court’s Aero Basketball, & Concept 2’s Fitness Rowing.

What’s really exciting is that the Sports Zone will celebrate the launch of the Geoff Capes County Throws Challenge, the throws challenge will feature in all districts this summer, and aims to find someone who can throw 20metres 12 cm’s to guarantee them a place in the 2012 Olympic final.

Kicking off at Belton, junior & senior visitors will be encouraged to come along to the Sports Zone and try their hand at Shot put. A turbo challenge sponsored by Lincs FM will also be taking place 10:30-12:30 for the Under 11’s.

The Sports Zone will be officially opened by Geoff Capes- Former World’s Strongest Man at 10:30am Saturday 12thApril, and will be open 10:30- 4pm Saturday & Sunday.