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SPARTA, the community sports and arts academy set up at St Christopher’s School, has celebrated its first birthday with plans to expand its training for gymnasts and also increase the provision of activities for adults, writes Stan Szecowka.
Organisers are delighted with the response and manager and coach Gareth Holloway introduced new members of his team at a birthday cake-cutting ceremony in the principal’s conference room, attended by main sponsor Euro Motors’ general manager Paul Yates.
“There are now well over 650 participants enrolled on SPARTA activities,” revealed Holloway, an international middle-distance runner, former professional footballer and minor counties cricket player.
“This includes an ever-growing number of participants from outside of the immediate St Christopher’s community. We have been very pleased with the way SPARTA has grown and has gained in status amongst the Bahrain community.
“Swimming lessons are very popular as we have great swimming coaches, a great pool and we follow the UK national plan meaning children gain certificates and work through a structured programme of lessons.
“All sessions sell out very quickly and there are waiting lists for some. Athletics is growing in popularity and we are pleased to help the development of young athletes, many of whom have experienced success in recent British Schools of the Middle East (BSME) Games events.
“We have been fortunate to employ coaches with a high level of expertise who are also passionate at developing the skills of pupils of all ages.”
The portfolio of activities offered has increased from the initial football, cricket and athletics. As well as swimming, SPARTA now offers tennis, including ‘tots tennis’ for the very young, basketball, drama – also available for toddlers upwards – and dance lessons. In addition, the facility now features Capoeira and karate sessions for both adults and children and adult ‘boot camp’ fitness sessions.
SPARTA (the name forms a combination of Sports and Arts Academy (of St Christopher’s) now employs two full-time ‘multi-sports’ coaches, Adam Bussens and Simon Bourner, who joined the team last August. Both worked as tennis coaches in the UK but they hold many coaching qualifications and have recently undertaken intensive training to become Level 2 qualified swimming coaches. SPARTA also ‘shares’ a full-time swimming coach, Yavor Zahariev, with St Christopher’s swim squad.
Holloway added: “Future plans include continuing to provide the highest quality coaching on the island and we are currently looking to recruit qualified and experienced sports coaches in order to meet the demand for sessions. We are also looking to further develop the activities on offer with plans to introduce gymnastics for all ages and also increase the provision for activities for adults.”
The success of the initiative is also providing a boost for the school, said Principal Ed Goodwin. “SPARTA is very much an integral part of St Christopher’s school. Resources are shared and coaches work alongside teachers during the school day.
“Any profits from SPARTA will help fund future developments for the school as we continue to strive to provide the best possible facilities and resources for all our pupils. Purchasing sports equipment is an obvious use of SPARTA income and we have just placed an order for Olympic standard high jump equipment which will be used in SPARTA athletics and in PE sessions.
“Our next project is to replace and upgrade the astro turf pitch at the Saar site to an international standard playing surface and profits from SPARTA activities will help to fund this ambitious and expensive project.”
The school says SPARTA will remain inclusive yet powerful ‘an academy to which anyone would be proud to belong with excellence always on the agenda’.
Sparta, by its very name, will have a competitive spirit but with a friendly ambience.
The initiative received a commercial boost at its launch with Euro Motors signing up as exclusive partners and sponsors for an undisclosed sum. The school says all financial support will be invested in the development of the SPARTA brand.
Yates said: “SPARTA’s contribution to the community is in line with one of Euro Motors’ major core values, supporting the community by way of enhancing knowledge and developing new skill sets. We are delighted it is going so well.”
For more details contact the SPARTA team on 17598475, visit www.sparta-bh.com or email SpartaEnquiries@st-chris.net
