Chadwicks Wexford Park will witness a super display of hurling skills from young players from all over the county later this month.
It will be the culmination of exciting initiative run by Wexford GAA Coaching & Games in partnership with Freshtoday, providers of school lunches and official partner of the Hurling 365 programme for Primary Schools. It took the form of a skills competition for 3rd & 4th Class pupils, to encourage children to continue to work on the skills of hurling through the winter school term and offer a focus to teachers and to club coaches who assist with running Hurling 365.
The skills that were chosen as the primary focus for the competition were:
- The high catch
- Ball control
- A striking target game
- The jab lift, and the need for speed
- ‘React to Attack’
Designated challenges and scoring systems for all skills were distributed to schools and coaches at the outset of the programme. In addition, Freshtoday produced exciting videos showing the skills being demonstrated by inter-county stars, and these were shared on the social media channels of both Freshtoday and Wexford GAA.
It all resulted in schools across the county being busy on six separate days running the individual skills contests, and carefully keeping scores, as things got very competitive in at least a few places!
Wexford hurling star Conor McDonald is Business Development Manager with Freshtoday, and one of those centrally involved in overseeing the contest.
At the launch of the competition, he spoke spoke about the importance of hurling every day, and said that ‘playing hurling in Primary School is where the love of the game is really fostered.
Wexford GAA’s Games Development Manager, Ray Harris, stated: ‘The competition was developed to encourage the participation of hurling in Primary Schools and further develop the club/school link, which is a vital component of Wexford Coaching.
‘Furthermore, Freshtoday wanted to reward teachers and clu/ school link officers for their hours of dedication. Each teacher/officer of participating schools will enter a draw for tickets to see Oasis in Croke Park, and to the All-Ireland Hurling Final. The additional support that school teachers and club officers make available to their students sport is highly valued and appreciated in Wexford GAA, and we are delighted to offer such prizes to recognise the all the efforts made.’
The in-school phase of the competition has now been completed. All participating schools have nominated their representative to take part in the Finals Night in Chadwicks Wexford Park on February 28th next. They will all compete for the prize of the most skilful 3rd/4th Class pupil in Wexford. And there’s a very attractive prize for that winner: a three-night stay for a family of four in Center Parcs!
Action will begin at 6.30 p.m. that evening, and all are welcome to come enjoy the skills that are sure to be on offer. Spectators are encouraged to wear their school or club colours, to cheer on their own representative.
Feedback from participating schools has been overwhelmingly positive. Numerous schools noted the competition ‘encouraged the children to go home and practice skills in preparation for the competition, which was great’, and that it was ‘a great opportunity for the children to improve their hurling skills’.
In addition to the competition winners, each school has nominated a Most Improved Player. These will also be recognised on the night with a tour of the new facilities led by Conor McDonald, and they will also receive an award to recognise their hard work throughout the duration of the competition.
