Students try their hand at new sport

Students from six schools across the district took part in the Olympic sport for the first time thanks to Bassetlaw District’s sports development team and senior England handball coach Rickie Bailey.

And it is now hoped that handball may find its way onto the curriculum of some local schools.

The coaching sessions were brought to a close as Tuxford and Retford Oaks Academies boys teams faced off in a final match, with Tuxford winning 5-3.

Tony Wright from Bassetlaw Council sports development said, “It was a great game to watch and the handball skills shown were of very high standard.”

“With the help of England handball coach Rickie Bailey, we hope to set up a Bassetlaw Handball Club in the autumn so that these players can continue to develop their skills and possibly enter a league.”

The schools involved included Tuxford, Retford Oaks, Elizabethan, Valley, Portland and Serlby Park Academies as well as North Notts College.

The Bassetlaw Games is a series of events, tournaments, competitions, coaching and ‘come and try it’ sessions for the district’s residents to enjoy during the year of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The aim is to deliver as many of the Olympic and Paralympic sports as possible within Bassetlaw before the London games commence.