Thursday night’s opening ceremony kicked off the Sainsbury’s 2014 School Games in style, and the event truly burst into life today with ten sports getting underway across seven different sites in Manchester.
The crowd at the Manchester Regional Arena were treated to a full billing of athletics and Ben Dijkstra from Leicestershire was one of the many shining lights of the day, as the athlete soared home over 3000 metres in 8.30.63minutes, fractionally outside the meet record.
It has been a busy summer for Dijkstra but the Great Britain Youth Olympian brought his excellent season to a close with gold at the Sainsbury’s 2014 School Games – and he admits it was the perfect way to sign off.
Dijkstra won Great Britain’s first gold at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing in August and he can’t wait for another big year in 2015.
“I've just come back from the Youth Olympics in China and that was an amazing experience, but this is similar with the multi-sport events,” said Dijkstra, who competed for the Midlands. “There are a few guys here that were in China so it would be great to catch up with them.
“I’ve got lots on next summer, hopefully the World Triathlon Championships, European Triathlon Championships and maybe the World Junior Championship for athletics too.”
There were also potential future Paralympians on show as wheelchair racers – and recent European medallists – Isaac Towers and Ben Rowlings blitzed to T34 gold for England North West in the 100 metres and 800 metres respectively.
Both were on the podium at the IPC Athletics European Championships in Swansea last month and are aiming to make the plane for Rio 2016.
“I’ve had a really busy month and I’m a little bit on the tired side if I’m honest, but it was great to have a final blowout on the track here,” said Towers.
“It’s all good experience and practice for what is hopefully a taste of what’s to come.”
Elsewhere, South West’s Will Battershill smashed the Sainsbury’s School Games 1500 metres steeplechase record in a blistering 4.15.38minutes, while Megan Marrs of Northern Ireland clinched 100 metres gold.
And it was just as thrilling down at the National Cycling Centre, where rising South East star Fred Wright bagged two golds in the 10km scratch and Points race.
The 15-year-old is a member of the British Cycling Olympic Talent Programme and admits his year has been a dream come true.
“My track season has gone better than I ever could have expected and this is the icing on a great season,” Fred Wright said.
“There was a lot of pressure on me as I defended my national scratch title earlier this year so I knew I was the favourite. But wearing the skin suit made me realise what a great event I was in and being in my region’s strip was amazing."
In the wheelchair basketball, England Central are the early favourites after taking on Northern Ireland and England South to top their group. The four regions will continue to battle it out in the highly skilful sport over the weekend.
Scotland ruled the roost in the badminton as the team made a clean sweep against Northern Ireland, England and tournament guests Brazil, in the first stages of the event. Individuals including Scotland’s Matthew Grimley and Ulster’s Beth Stephenson, will be going for gold in the boys’ and girls’ singles competitions on Saturday.
The Scotland West team are also the early leaders in the Under-16 girls' volleyball with three wins out of three. The England Cadet and England Junior teams are neck-and-neck in the Under-17 boys’ competition with all to play for in the second round of the group stages.
Sport finals also took place at the judo, as athletes competed in in seven weight categories.
Edinburgh’s Valentino Volante took the over 81kg category gold for Scotland and he insists it was the perfect preparation for a gruelling winter ahead.
“In about two-and-a-half weeks’ time I'm off to Tokai University which is the top place to train in Japan for three weeks. It has produced multiple World and Olympic champions, so I am really looking forward to training there and fighting the best.
“This is my second year at the Sainsbury's School Games and it's great – it's a different environment and it's really interesting to see how all the athletes from other sports handle themselves.”
Sporting action will continue throughout the weekend as 1,600 athletes compete for a podium position at the Sainsbury’s 2014 School Games.
The Sainsbury’s School Games is supported by a range of partners including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, Department of Health and British Paralympic Association.