Twelve teachers who represented three Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) sports districts in Berbice concluded the ‘Event Organizers Workshop’ on Thursday last conducted by German sports scientist Uwe Wenzel at the All Saints Primary School ground in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
In the workshop which commenced last Tuesday the theoretical part was conducted at the Prison Officers Sports Club while the practical aspect was done at the ground.
This second workshop instructed by Wenzel drew more enthusiasm than the Georgetown exercise. Participants were taught to construct the equipment required for the kids competition using discarded materials such as plastic bottles, cartons, shovel sticks, PVC pipes, mop sticks and car and bicycle tyres.
Those discarded items were then painted in a variety of bright colours which added a spectacle for the competition.
PVC pipes were used to construct the javelins, shovel sticks were used as pole vault poles and cartons served as hurdles.
When the theory had concluded and it was time for the teachers to display their work on the field, some 72 students between the ages of seven and 10-years-of-age were drawn from St. Aloysius, All Saints and St. Theresa’s Primary and they participated in a competition divided into seven teams using six stations and the Endurance Run.
The final results of that competition saw Red Lions finishing first with 37 points, Green Parrots (2nd) 30 points, Pink Hibiscus (3rd) 28 points, Blue Birds (4th) 22 points, Golden Eagles (5th) 21 points and Black Dragon (6th) 12 points.
As in Georgetown, at the end of the competition all the students received a Certificate of Participation while the teachers were certified as ‘Event Organizers.’ Wenzel donated the equipment used to Cicely Crawford of All Saints Primary.
In an invited comment, the Headteacher of All Saints Primary stated that she was impressed with the equipment used which was formed from discarded items which are easily available. She also promised that an inter-house competition would be held during next year’s Mashramani celebrations.
Meanwhile, President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Claude Blackmore donated three trophies, one for each of the GTU Sports Districts of West Berbice, New Amsterdam and Corentyne.
