The Wigan Courier Newspaper :: Wigan's Good News Paper

MORE than 200 young disabled athletes will descend on Leigh Sports Village next week as Wigan Borough hosts the Greater Manchester Disability Games.

Teams from Bolton, Rochdale, Oldham, Salford, Tameside and Wigan will compete to be crowned the number one in the region at this inaugural event.

Open to young people aged 11-16, the event on Wednesday 8 July will see disabled youngsters compete in six sports including athletics, boys football, girls tag rugby, table tennis, boccia and wheelchair basketball.

The event is being organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unit and is being supported by Greater Manchester's Competition Manager Network and Disability Sport Development Group.

Adam Blezard from Wigan Sports Development Unit said: “As an organisation we are committed to increasing participation in junior disability sport.

“This is the inaugural event and, if successful, could become a regular feature in the borough’s sporting calendar.

“This will be a wonderful experience for those taking part. Leigh Sports Village has the perfect facilities for this event with athletes competing in the leisure centre, on the athletics track and on the 3G pitches.

Wigan Sports Development run a number of initiatives for disabled youngsters, including a series of multi sports camps to be run over the summer holidays.

For further information on the Greater Manchester Disability Games and opportunities for young disabled people contact Adam Blezard at Wigan Sports Development Unit on 01942 404 982.

A BRAND new youth theatre production will be performed in Hindley on the 12^th and 13^th July thanks to funding from the National Lottery’s grants scheme - Awards For All.

Wigan Pier Theatre Company, part of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, was awarded £8,000 to run two youth theatre groups for ages 8 to 15-year-olds during the last year.

Their drama workshops and rehearsals will now culminate in a new fairytale-themed performance entitled “Happy Ever After”.

Taking place at The Monaco Ballroom on Sunday 12^th June at 2.30pm and Monday 13^th July at 7.00pm, the show is free to the public because of the funding it has received.

This premiere production is packed full of familiar children’s fictional characters such as the Queen of Hearts, the three Blind Mice, Jack and Jill , Little Miss Muffet , Red Riding Hood, the Wolf and a handful of Witches.

It promises to be good fun for all the family and a chance for you to see local budding acting talent.

Joining the Hindley Youth Theatre will be Wigan Pier’s Platt Bridge group who give a more modern slant on the fairytale theme.

Martin Green, Development Officer for Wigan Pier Theatre Company, said: “The young people have been working very hard and for some of them it is the first time they will perform in front of a live audience.

“I urge you to come along to this free event and support this innovative piece of theatre.”

Please contact Martin on 01942 486919 or email mpj.green@wlct.org if you wish to bring large groups.

FORMER Hollyoaks star Leah Hackett will present the gongs at the borough’s first ever “Cultural Awards”.

Amateur actors, dancers, musicians, artists, photographers, writers and crafters will be recognized for their achievements at the inaugural “Cultural Partnership Recognition Awards” on July 4th. At the new Hindley St Peter’s Pavilion in Hindley.

The voluntary sector awards are being organised by Wigan’s Cultural Partnership – with assistance from the Arts Exchange.

Formed in 1999, the Cultural Partnership is a body made up of individuals from the public, private and voluntary sector dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and communities by increasing the accessibility of cultural resources and developing recreational facilities.

The awards - new this year - will be the finale of the annual Cultural Partnership Convention and are a celebration and recognition of all those volunteers that have made a difference.

Nomination categories include Long Service Award (lifelong contribution to the arts), Going the Extra Mile, Innovative Event (original approach to the arts), Innovative Arts Project (individual), Innovative Arts Project (group).

This year the awards will concentrate on the arts but each year a different cultural sector - ranging from heritage to environment, lifelong learning to play - will have the chance to shine.

Mark Ashley, Chairman of the Cultural Partnership, said: “The voluntary sector plays a huge part in the life of the Borough, and we are now able to recognise the huge contribution that so many unsung heroes make to improving the lives of local folk.

The awards will be the centrepiece of an upbeat Convention that will reflect everything good about the life and work of the people of Wigan and Leigh, and look forward to making it even better in the year to come.”

Organiser John Hill, Business and Service Development Support Officer for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, added: “The Cultural Partnership continues to go from strength-to-strength.

“More than 100 people are expected to attend this year’s Cultural Partnership Convention allowing many more people to help shape and influence the future of leisure and culture in the borough.”

If you want to know more about the Cultural Partnership contact John Hill Business and Service Development Support Officer for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on Telephone 01942 486926 or email j.hill@wlct.org

The end of season league cup final saw Aspull Juniors Under 10’s football team win in dramatic fashion as they came from two goals down to level at 2 : 2 and then go on to lift the trophy following a dramatic penalty shoot out.

After a goaless first half in which Aspull hit the woodwork four times the game exploded into life to end in a tense but thoroughly enjoyable atmosphere.

After a mixed season in which Aspull lost more league games than in their short, three-season lifespan, this relatively new team came strong when it mattered against a top quality CMB team from Bolton.

The teams entered the stadium to the sound of the UEFA Champions League theme tune in front of an impressive crowd.

The warm and sunny day allowed for an excellent game of football, enjoyed by a loud and appreciative crowd, that would have graced a Premier League game usually played in such a modern football stadium.

The Aspull Juniors Football Club, that has the coveted FA Charter Standard Development award and currently has twenty one junior teams operating from its Aspull Moor base, supported the team throughout its glorious cup run will present the silverware, again, at its annual presentation awards evening to be held at the JJB Stadium.

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