Inclusive BMX School Games On Friday 14th October, the Lee Valley VeloPark played host to the Access Sport Inclusive BMX School Games 2016. Access Sport welcomed 119 disabled young people from 11 SEN Schools across London to take part in the games (London boroughs include Lewisham, Merton, Barking, Barnet, Tower Hamlets, Enfield, Southwark & Essex). The event was predominantly run by Access Sport's Ignite Programme, a programme dedicated to ensuring young disabled people have access to quality inclusive sport across London and Bristol, whist also receiving help from the award-winning BMX Legacy Programme. The 2016 Games featured two different areas, BMX racing for the more confident, experienced riders and the off track activity zone for beginners to cycling/non-riders ensuring the event was inclusive to all. All of the event photos can be found here. BMX Racing The invited schools took part in the BMX racing across 5 age categories. All students did fantastically well and raced hard for their respective schools all day. From the start gate to the finish line all riders showed great determination tackling the London 2012 Olympic BMX track, showing off their awesome BMX skills of which they had honed at their local tracks/clubs and proudly won points for their respective schools. In all a fantastic days racing of intense wheel to wheel action, final results from each age category and overall school winners can be found at the bottom of this article. Off Track Activity Zone The off-track area welcomed beginners/non-riders to the games in an array of off track activities. The off-track zone was equipped with BMX bikes, mountain bikes, trikes and strider balance bikes, to adapt to all needs! This area worked on improving several skills associated with BMX, the individuals then had a chance to set their personal best in each activity which then gave them a goal to better by the end of the day! The stations featured: - The balance bike zone - Drag race - The agility zone - Pump track time trial Over lunch the riders had a chance to watch and cheer on their school friends who were racing on the Olympic track. This created a really supportive atmosphere and it was fantastic to see the young people bond with their new friends from different schools. The off-track riders had great, positive attitudes and enthusiasm for the whole day, we saw so many individuals really push themselves and some teachers noted how some of their more disengaged students really took a lot away from the event. We were delighted to award Zion, from Brent Knoll School the Sportsmanship Award. He showed a fantastic attitude towards everyone in his group, his peers, teachers and staff all day. He was continually supportive of other group members and helped them to feel confident to achieve their best. After Zion took a fall on the pump track time trial, he (whilst still on the floor!), started to laugh and said ‘It doesn’t really matter if you fall over and get hurt, you just have to get back up and try again!’ A brilliant attitude and a thoroughly deserved award, congratulations Zion! Final Racing Results 1st in your category = 5 points 2nd in your category = 4 points 3rd in your category = 3 points 4th in your category = 2 points 5th in your category = 1 point Age category Name Final position School School points scored 16+ Jahsent Gayle 1 Spa 5 16+ Jordan Logan-Cross 2 Drumbeat 4 16+ Paul Steley 3 St Johns RC 3 16+ Donte Baugh 4 Drumbeat 2 16+ Hassan Magala 5 St Johns RC 1 Fastest Female 16+ - Wara Fofana (Spa School) Age category Name Final position School School points scored 14-15’s Omari Mackenzie Rose 1 Whitefield 5 14-15’s Sam Deriouch 2 JRCS 4 14-15’s David Ode 3 Spa 3 14-15’s Sultan Rashid 4 Cricket Green 2 14-15’s Klen Muganza 5 Brent Knoll 1 Fastest Female 14-15’s – N/A Age category Name Final position School School points scored 13’s Owen Frith 1 Morpeth 5 13’s Ben Rickman 2 JRCS 4 13’s Jack 3 JRCS 3 13’s Tommy Bedford 4 Cricket Green 2 13’s Mario Rodiques 5 Morpeth 1 Fastest Female 13’s – N/A Age category Name Final position School School points scored 12’s George Roberts 1 Morpeth 5 12’s Vivienne Akpoedafe 2 Morpeth 4 12’s Alice Chaney 3 Morpeth 3 12’s Charlie Vine 4 Cricket Green 2 12’s Luke Ganga 5 Cricket Green 1 Fastest Female 12’s – Vivienne Akpoedafe (Morpeth) Age category Name Final position School School points scored 11’s Tyrell Gordan-Jenkins 1 Drumbeat 5 11’s Junior Kwame 2 Drumbeat 4 11’s Tristan Filbert 3 JRCS 3 11’s James Williams 4 Morpeth 2 11’s George Nathan 5 JRCS 1 Fastest Female 11’s – N/A School Points Position Morpeth 20 1st Drumbeat 15 2nd JRCS 15 2nd Spa 8 3rd Cricket Green 7 4th Whitefield 5 5th St Johns RC 4 6th Brent Knoll 1 7th Riverside 0 8th Riverside Bridge 0 8th