YOUNGSTERS entering Neale Wade Community College this September were offered a challenging and unusual introduction to the school on Monday. Instead of the normal induction day meeting other students and staff, which comes later, the children took part

YOUNGSTERS entering Neale Wade Community College this September were offered a challenging and unusual introduction to the school on Monday.

Instead of the normal induction day meeting other students and staff, which comes later, the children took part in a festival of sport.

Badminton, basketball, Tae Kwon Do, tennis, football, netball, golf and athletics all formed part of the day's activities.

Pupils from All Saints', Burrowmoor, Cavalry, Guyhirn, Thomas Eaton, Townley and Westwood Junior all took part in the day.

Among those organising events was Sara Sankey, a gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games in 1990, who was ranked number eight in the world in May 2002.

Now retired from competitive badminton, she coaches schools in the Thames Valley Region.

"I hope by visiting school events like Neale-Wade's, by sharing my knowledge with the pupils, I will encourage more of them to get into sport," she said.

"There are so many benefits of playing a sport at any level, but most of all it is good fun."

Dave Kenning, one of the Neale Wade team who organised the event, said it was the first time they had organised such a festival for youngsters coming into the school.

"The feedback from schools taking part has been terrific," he said. "A lot of hard work was put into organising by senior students at Neale Wade and my colleagues. I'm very grateful for their support."

Acting head of PE Jenny Lucas said: "It was a good opportunity to show our own students and pupils from our partner primary schools just how many opportunities there are for them to try different sports, both at Neale-Wade and in local clubs."

Organisers were asked to name winners in each of the sports, and each winner received a medal, with a trophy for the overall winner of the day.

The trophies and medals were sponsored by the Cambs Times/Wisbech Standard, and the presentations were made by Sara Sankey and John Elworthy, the papers' news editor.