NIAS have gone straight back into planning next year’s National Primary Games on the back of a hugely successful second event last weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The huge weekend of junior sport action saw 1500 kids competing across ten sports all over town and, with plenty of good feedback coming back in, NIAS Director James Cooper is already planning next year’s event.
The continued spread of the games saw visitors from as far away as Queensland and the ACT come this year and, with continued controlled growth in mind, Cooper has already earmarked early April next year for the third instalment.
“I have just got to check that it lines up with school holidays in Queensland and NSW,” Cooper said.
“Over time we want the games to sell themselves so word of mouth is key.
“We already had teams come this year on recommendations from others and we have had sides tell us that they will bring more teams next year as well.”
The most exciting aspect of the games for NIAS has been that the players and supporters all embraced the spirit of sportsmanship both on and off the field.
This year teams and coaches pooled votes and put forward one team from each sport to be awarded the Spirit of Sport Award, with plenty of local sides getting the nod.
The Quirindi boys took the award for basketball, while the Calrossy girls won the award for the opens hockey and Westdale took out the Years Three and Four hockey award.
Manilla and Bingara Junior rugby league clubs were the best sports in the U12s and U11s respectively, with Walcha claiming the rugby gong and the team from the North West Tennis Academy also being recognised.
“It is great to see the local and regional clubs and teams doing so well and embracing the sportsmanship theory of the games,” Cooper said.
“Part of that is also exposing the local sides to the bigger visiting clubs.”
One of those clubs, the Broadmeadow Magic, took out the football competition after picking their touring side in November last year.
They went on to beat North Armidale in a final full of passion that epitomised the rivalry on the field and friendship off the field that the Games push.
“It’s all good fun and hopefully we become a permanent fixture on the calendar,” Cooper said.
