On Thursday 21st June Athletes for all over Norfolk descended on the UEA Sportspark for the 2018 Norfolk School Games. Competing athletes had qualified from the level 2 competition in order to represent the West Norwich and Dereham SSP against the other 7 School Sport Partnerships. Probably the largest athletics event of the year in Norfolk saw athletes competing for the crown of Norfolk School Games Champion as well as to take the title of SSP Champions.
Northgate had 12 representatives on the SSP team and so would play a significant part in the SSP’s success. The morning session saw the boys go for the medals on the track and the girls in the field events.
The day got off to a good start with a bronze medal for Marcello (Year 10) in the boys 800m final. This was shortly followed by a Silver for Ed (Year 7) in the 1500m and a bronze for Jake (Year 7) in the boys 200m final. Year 9 sprinters Harvey and Rodrigo both qualified through the heats to go for a medal in the final of both the 200m and 100m respectively. Harvey ran an almost perfect 200m race just being beaten on the line to finish in second place in a time of 24.58s winning silver, with Rodrigo managing 7th place. In the 100m Rodrigo finished 5th after suffering a slight thigh strain in the 200m. In the shot putt Fred (Year 7) and Christian (Year 9) and Harvey (Year 9) in the Long jump just missed out on the medals finishing 4th in their events.
After the lunch break it was the girls turn on the track and the boys on the field. The success continued with Willow (Year 10) qualifying for both the 100 & 200m finals. However, very competitive opposition meant that she managed a strong 6th place finish in both finals. Also competing in the high jump Willow managed a 4th place finish. Our first and only gold medal of the day came in the 300m final with Femke (Year 10) running a controlled race to finish comfortably in first place. Another close race saw Erin (Year 10) finish in 4th again just outside the medals.
Strong contributions from the Northgate athletes in the relays meant that when the final positions were announced the WNDSSP had put themselves in a very strong position for at least a top three finish. The final position reflected the efforts of all the athletes finishing in second place just behind the South Norfolk SSP.
A big well done to all those who competed.
Final Standings:
- South Norfolk SSP
- West Norwich and Dereham SSP
- West Norfolk SSP
- Norwich East SSP
- North Norfolk SSP
- East Norfolk SSP
- Norwich SSP
- Breckland SSP
