Olympic fever boosts Sports clubs!
The outstanding success of Great Britain’s Olympic team has seen a boost in interest in the Districts varied sports clubs.  Many people want to get involved and get sporty as the buzz from the Olympic success spreads locally.

Harborough District Council and the Harborough District Sport & Activity Alliance (HDSAA) want to make people aware of the Harborough District Sports directory which provides information about the wide variety of sports clubs within the District.

Phil Jarvis, Chairman of the HDSAA said, "We hope that the success of Team GB will inspire more people to take part in sport and physical activity. There are some fantastic clubs in the Harborough District so whether you want to try your hand at cycling, fencing or dodgeball it is all in the directory."

To receive your free copy please contact Andrew Watson, Harborough District Council Sports Development Officer on 01858 828282 / a.watson@harborough.gov.uk or you can download a copy from the clubs page of the HDSAA website at www.harboroughsport.co.uk

Harborough schoolgirl is a national success!
Harborough schoolgirl Jade Pountney (aged 10) has been selected out of thousands of  youngsters nationally to be treated to a photo shoot with full makeover, including clothes, at  The Sun newspaper’s headquarters in Wapping, London.  Her story is to be featured in the Sun’s health pages.

Jade, who attends Market Harborough Church of England Primary School,  is one of 5 children nationally who are the best ever case studies/ success stories to have graduated the 10-week Mend Programme.  Over 5000 youngsters, so far, have graduated the Mend programme, a brilliant fitness course for children who are above their ideal weight with built-in healthy eating targets . Mend (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition ….Do It!) is a social enterprise which specialises in delivering strategies to combat childhood obesity, and is supported nationally by the National Lottery, Sainsbury’s and  the Youth Sport Trust, and locally by Harborough District Council.

Locally, the 10-week Mend programme takes place at Market Harborough Leisure Centre (next course starts 17th September) and Lutterworth Sports Centre (next course starts January) and is run by Sainsbury’s Community Food & Health Advisor Mary Scott Morgan who says:  “I am delighted at Jade’s success, in fact I am very  proud of  all the Harborough Mend graduates.  They have all done extremely well and have swum, trampolined, fenced, danced, basketballed, juggled, circuit-trained, cross-trained, cooked and eaten their way to fitness – and improved their families’ healthy habits in the process.  Jade and her friends are living proof that the Mend Programme gets youngsters fitter, healthier, happier and more confident in just 10 weeks.  ”

To enrol on the Mend course locally, ring Andrew Watson at Harborough District Council tel: 07766 504537 or 01858 821289  or visit Harborough District Council’s website www.harborough.gov.uk and type ‘Mend’ in the search box.

Harborough Town FC Flying High!
Harborough Town Football Club have been rewarded for their excellent work in the community with two prestigious awards. The club has recently been awarded FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year. The recent funding received and developments of the clubs facilties have been recognised together with the good work of the Harborough Alliance Inclusive Football Partnership.

Tim Bale, the clubs Chairman has also been awarded for Individual Greatest Contribution to Grass Roots Football. Tim will now be attending an awards ceremony at Wembley prior to the Community Shield on the 10th of August.

The HDSAA would like to congratulate Tim and Harborough Town FC for their excellent work and the recognition of achievements at the highest level.

Youngsters rise to the challenge at Youth Games
More than 100 young people from across the district showed off their sporting talents at the weekend’s Youth Games, with many going home with medals.

Twelve teams from Harborough took part in eight competitions at the East Midlands Airport Leicester-Shire and Rutland Youth Games at Loughborough University on Sunday, for sports including athletics, basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and table tennis.

Successes included a first place for the year 5/6 mixed tag rugby team from Church Langton Primary School, and the year 7/8/9 girls’ tag rugby team from Kibworth High School.

Other notable performances included a second place for both the year 7/8 girls’ netball team from Kibworth High School, and year 5/6 mixed High 5 netball team from Market Harborough Youth Netball Club.

Phil Jarvis, chairman of the Harborough District Sport & Activity Alliance (HDSAA) said: "All teams can be credited with 100 per cent enjoyment and effort on the day. We hope that young people will now be inspired to continue their participation in sport."

Harborough district councillor Paul Bremner, portfolio holder for healthy, stronger and cohesive communities and Harborough District Council chairman Councillor Brian Smith attended the event, which included the launch of the Leicester-Shire and Rutland County Sports Partnership’s strategy to increase participation in sport in the build up to the 2012 Olympics.

Councillor Bremner said, "It was a great afternoon to both hear of Leicestershire's bid into the 2012 Olympics and see the competitive spirit of fun in all the young competitors taking part in any of the ten sports represented.

“Well done to all our Harborough representatives and especially to those winning teams in the rugby competitions. Perhaps one of the competitors will represent team GB in the 2012 or 2016 Olympic games."

The Youth Games follows months of planning, trials, training and festivals for the various sports which are organised by Harborough District Council in partnership with schools and sports clubs.

Harborough District Council would like to thank all schools who have supported the event, the Blaby and Harborough School Sports Partnership, Harborough District Leisure Trust, Welland Park Community College and importantly all the clubs and volunteers who made the pre games activities and on the day events possible. Clubs and coaches from Harborough Athletics Club, Kibworth Cricket Club, Market Harborough Mixed Hockey Club, Lutterworth Ladies Hockey Club, Market Harborough Youth Netball Club, Market Harborough Rugby Club and Market Harborough Swimming Club all provided valuable support for coaching and managing the teams.

Sports Day Report
Glorious weather over the weekend brought over 150 participants to the Community Sports Days in Lutterworth and Market Harborough. Although number were small in Lutterworth, the Volleyball certainly kept everyone on their toes.  Tennis, Gymnastics, Dodgeball, Rugby and Cycling were the sports on show in Market Harborough.   A big 'thank you' to Andrew Watson, Francesca and Marianne for helping coordinate the event.

Kibworth Cancer Research Relay
The Cancer Research Relay for Life is coming to Kibworth! Organiser Sharon Archer is urging teams to enter the 24 hour relay walking event and raise money for the Cancer Research Charity. The event will take place on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August. To enter a team or for more information please contact Sharon on shazarch61@hotmail.com