The award-winning Sports Academy run by Annandale and Eskdale Sports and Leisure Trust is now in its seventh year and schoolchildren again jumped at the chance to try out all manner of sports under the guidance of professionals.

Two weeks of activities in both Langholm and Annan included mini-racket sports, which is a combination of tennis and badminton, and cricket camps with the newly-appointed Dumfries and Galloway community coach, Chris Stewart.

There was also basketball in both venues with Basketballscotland’s west of Scotland’s development co-ordinator, Adrian Flynn and the ever-popular Annan Athletic Soccer Schools with SFA coaches and appearances by first team players.

Annan and District Athletic Club coaches held run, jump and throw athletic sessions and in both Langholm and Lochmaben there was Charlie Shepherd’s Boxing Champ’s Camp with the ex-IBO World Super Featherweight Champion.

A Scottish Rugby Festival was held in Langholm with local development officer, Niall Cubbon and in Annan there was the Olympic sport of fencing with Scottish Fencing coach Judith Holmes and a table tennis camp with Scottish Internationalist, Callum Main at Newington Sports and Leisure Centre.

The tennis festival with Tennisscotland’s development manager, Mike Cohen, was a huge success and there was a big turnout for Lacrosse with national development officer, Andrew Mackintosh.

Gymnastic workshops for beginners and developers were organised by Scottish Gymnastics and coaches from Lockerbie Curling Club passed on curling and ice skating skills.

Golf fans enjoyed two trips to Turnberry Golf Club and another trip was organised for Portland Snooker Club in Carlisle where children received coaching from former Scottish Internationalist and Junior Scotland team manager, Paul Jamieson.

The academy was financially backed by Energy Solutions, Annandale and Eskdale’s Area Committee and The Andrew Stevenson Foundation.

Dumfries and Galloway Standard

At the camp at Langholm in the Eskdale Centre 12 local youngsters were taken through the skills of fielding, bowling and batting in two 2 hour sessions which concluded with an energetic and competitive game of pairs cricket.

At the camp at Annan Academy a promising twelve registrations resulted in just four attending. However that meant individual attention and the scheduled two hour session was filled with fielding and batting and a hectic game of non-stop cricket.

Providing High Quality Coaching & Come & Try Sports

AE Sports Academy Cricket Camps

in partnership with

Cricket Scotland and their new Dumfries & Galloway Community Coach, Chris Stewart and Langholm Cricket Club.
 

Cricket has been an established team sport for hundreds of years. With Scotland taking part in the last Cricket World Cup and the growing popularity of this sport the Leisure Trust in partnership with Cricketscotland, Langholm Cricket Club are looking to give children the opportunity to enjoy this popular sport.

This fun and exciting Cricket Camp led by Dumfries & Galloway’s new Community Coach will allow children to learn the key and basic skills involved in playing cricket. Children will be given the opportunity to master the art of bowling, batting, catching and throwing with fun cricket matches to finish.

Children will also have the opportunity to advance onto regular club sessions and there could possibly be an appearance by a Scottish Saltire.

Cost: – £6.00 per child (Langholm) and £3.00 per child (Annan)

For further information or a booking form please call:

Calum Graham, Sports Development Officer, Annandale & Eskdale Sports & Leisure Trust, Council Offices, 16 High Street, Annan, DG12 6AQ.
Tel: – 01461 207046. e-mail: – calumg@annansportstrust.co.uk