Rowing – Helena Lawn
Having just broken up for school, 45 of our eager students were ready to join us for our Healthy holiday’s camps. For some dedicated students that was a three-week commitment, which is great to see.
We started off strong with our indoor rowing week where we incorporated both work on the ergs and strength and conditioning to improve our student’s overall fitness, ensuring the hard work they all put in during their enrichment is not wasted. During this week they didn’t get off lightly with Darren putting them through their paces as they competed not just with others but with themselves to improve their distances in their designated time for their year group. Some skills we focused on as part of the strength and conditioning included skipping, kettlebell movements, barbell deadlifts and progressing into some Olympic lifting with power and squat cleans. Even with some momentous tasks our students rose to the occasion and completed them all to the best of their ability.
Moving onto weeks 2 and 3 where we were based at Roundhay, using the facilities provided to us by Leeds Rowing club until our new and much anticipated home is completed. Unfortunately, due to the number of boats available we were only able to offer this to the students who were already taking part in on water sessions. However, despite the decrease in numbers these weeks were just as successful as the first. Along with specific drills designed to fine tune areas of the stroke, students have grown leaps and bound in regard to water confidence and progressing to rowing at full crew from a stationary position confidently and for longer distances which is great to see. Even in weather that at first would have thrown them off completely, they are now rowing through it and adapting their strokes as needed, as well as thinking for themselves and solving problems of how to get out of situations.
As a whole this 3 week camp has been instrumental in enabling the leaps we intend to take in their coming year with regard to on water rowing.
Karate – Frankie Preston
This Summer Gorse Karate held our Summer Camp at The Stephen Longfellow Academy. This camp ran over 2 weeks alongside Healthy Holidays. This not only gave our students a chance to train hard and improve their fitness over the summer but also allowed them to really work on developing the key skills needed in this sport in a supportive and competitive atmosphere.
Students from all 6 secondary academies and 2 of our primary academies, came together and trained hard throughout the first 2 weeks of the summer. The hard work, effort and dedication put in by the students was phenomenal and I am pleased to say that most of those who attended will be on track for competitions and gradings across the next 3 months of this term.
If any of you feel inspired to take up a new sport this year, to get healthier, build confidence or have an outlet which allows you to challenge yourself, then please feel free to attend the Gorse Karate Club on Wednesdays, 5Pm til 7PM at The ruth Gorse Academy.
Volleyball – Elaine Brown
Over 70 young people took part it volleyball camps over the summer break at Bruntcliffe and The Ruth Gorse Academy!
It was fantastic to see so many student athletes wanting to improve and prepare for the start of the new season that has now begun. GORSE coaches were able to work on technique and fine tune students’ performance through drills and game play.
Students were also very pleased to receive a hot lunch each day which sparked conversations about healthy options that athletes should be eating before and after training as well as match days and rest days.
The hard work over the summer has paid off as we’ve had a record number of students attending trials to compete at LGVC for the 2024-25 season.
This hopefully will be an exciting year ahead for the BIG 3.
