Launching the Inspiration Trust Sporting Programme in Style

Trust-wide Netball Tournament at UEA Sportspark Inspires Academies Across the Region

Across two days this October; Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 from all nine Inspiration Trust Secondary academies came together to compete in the annual intra-Trust Netball tournament, this year held at the UEA Sportspark. The event inspired our pupils to give their best performance whilst showing sporting values in a purpose-built arena and umpired by Norfolk County Netball Association umpires.

All nine Inspiration Trust Secondary academies attended on both days, with the first day featuring matches for Year 7 and Year 9, and the second-day matches for Year 8 and 10. Every academy played each other at the event culminating in 144 matches being played over two days and over 300 students taking part.

Paul Wayman, Inspiration Trust Sports Coordinator said:

 

“This event really was a great way to start the Secondary Trust competitions for 2023-2024. The atmosphere was highly competitive with all teams wanting to win and stepping up their level to match the standard of the opponent, the venue and the excellent umpiring. After every set of games the results desk was abuzz with pupils and staff wanting to see where they were positioned in the table. On top of this the sporting values of friendship and determination really shone through. Having had a few years of competing against one another at these events, pupils are becoming friends by showing mutual respect on and off the court. Netball has really set the foundation for what promises to be a great year for the Inspiration Trust’s sporting calendar.”

Eleanor Wilkinson, the latest addition to the Inspiration Trust Sport team, was on hand to facilitate the arrival of staff and pupils. Having recently delivered extracurricular netball sessions at Hewett, Jane Austen & Hethersett, many pupils recognised her. Eleanor has used her knowledge of playing elite level netball and experience as a coach to enthuse and impart knowledge. For some students this was the first time they had taken part in a Netball tournament, and the first time that they had played Netball in a competition setting. It made for an exciting atmosphere as teams arrived and warmed up at the start of both days with the tension increasing as more teams arrived and the first games grew nearer.  

Incredible sportsmanship was on display across the event as teams cheered each other on, congratulated one another on victories and listened carefully to the umpires decisions. Alongside this sportsmanship was a sincere display of respect from students to both staff and the volunteers that facilitated the two days of competition.

Competitive spirit was strong amongst the teams and many were keen to try and work out where they were placing throughout the day, working out who the teams to watch out for were and their tactics for their future match-ups. Players fought well in their matches and gave their all until the end showing real determination, even when matches weren’t going their way it was encouraging to witness the positive attitudes displayed by all our students, even in defeat.

This competition kicks-off another year of sporting tournaments at Inspiration Trust and the start of our Secondary academies competition with upcoming swimming, rugby and football tournaments coming soon. Our Primary competition gets started after half-term with the dodgeball tournament this December.

At the end of our two-day event the winners of each year group were as follows:

Year 7 – Great Yarmouth Charter Academy

Year 8 – Hewett Academy

Year 9 – Hethersett Academy

Year 10 – Great Yarmouth Charter Academy

Individual Awards from the tournament:

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10