ELITE young athletes who have come on in leaps and bounds have been honoured by an Olympic long jumper.
Team GB star Chris Tomlinson presented a raft of trophies, shields, plaques, cups and certificates to dozens of young sportsmen and women at Carmel College, Darlington, at a special awards ceremony to celebrate a year of incredible sporting success.
The 6ft 6in, 35-year-old, Middlesbrough-born long-jumper competed in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and held the British long jump record of 8.35m until 2014. He told students that with hard work they all had the opportunity to succeed in whatever path they chose.
“Do whatever you want to do in life, just make sure that you give everything, 110 per cent, so you never look back with any regrets,” he said.
“It is one of the best feelings in the world to represent your country in sport and I am sure that with all of the incredible talent here at Carmel College there may be a few future professional footballers, swimmers, rugby players and even Olympians in this room tonight.”
Individual awards were presented to students from Year 7 to Year 10 for sporting achievements in a host of disciplines including swimming, cycling, athletics, volleyball, biathlon, sports leadership, sailing, cross country, sports hall champions, badminton, rugby, skiing trampoline, netball, show jumping, football, gymnastics, cricket, rounders, water polo, diving, basketball, and hockey. Special awards, chosen by the PE department, were made to individuals who had achieved high levels of success in their chosen sport.
PE curriculum leader at Carmel College Simon Hannaford said: “I know that I say this every year but our sporting success just keeps getting better and better.
“But success only happens when students are allowed to reach their full potential and we are incredibly fortunate at Carmel not only to have very talented students but also an incredibly skilled team of PE teachers.
“We also have the full backing of our senior leadership team who show the desire for Carmel to succeed both on and off the playing field by investing in our new 3G pitch and a new climbing wall that will be completed ready for the new school year in September.”