Team Oldham rises to the challenge

YOUNG athletes proved themselves to be sports stars of the future during the regional Champions Challenge event.

Budding athletes from Oldham took on the cream of the region’s talent from the nine other Greater Manchester local authorities at the Wright Robinson Centre, Abbey Hey, Manchester.

Team Oldham proved worthy competitors, coming runners-up in the the overall borough scoreboard with 95 points, narrowly beaten by Trafford with 104 points.

A whole host of medals were also secured by more than 70 keen teenagers who made up Team Oldham.

Gold medals were awarded to Connor Hopwood, from New Bridge School, for the 500m boys’ cycling, Felicity Greenwood, from Radclyffe School, for the 500m girls’ cycling, and Abigail Griffith, from St John’s C of E School, Failsworth, for table tennis.

Shaun Dancer, from Hathershaw School, won silver in the Year 9 boys’ rowing.

Bronze medals were awarded to Abbie Thorton, from Counthill School, for the 500m girls’ cycling and Matt Walls, from Crompton House, for the 500m boys’ cycling, while the borough’s under-15 netball team also scooped a bronze.

Nicholas Barr, youth and school sport officer for Oldham’s Integrated Youth Service, said Team Oldham had beaten its third place finish in 2009.

He said: “The young people that represented Oldham were fantastic and a credit to the borough. Hopefully next year we can go one place better.”