Ben selected to represent NI at UK School Games

Ben, a member of Banbridge Athletics Club, will be competing at the Games in the Northern Ireland 4x400m relay team.

The UK School Games are the premier sporting event in the UK, for youth sportsmen and women, hosting 1600 of the UK’s top competitors across 12 sports from the 12th-15th September.

Ben has enjoyed a successful season on the track this year, coming 2nd in the Northern Ireland & Ulster Championships and narrowly being run into 5th in the Ulster Schools Championships.

Despite a disappointing show at the All Ireland Track Championships, Ben had done enough to win the selectors approval for the Interprovincial Championships in County Offaly, where he ran the first leg of the 4x400 relay as the Ulster team came 2nd to Leinster, beating the Munster and Connaught teams. This quality performance secured Ben’s place on the Northern Ireland team for the UK School Games in Sheffield.

On receiving the e-mail confirming his selection, an ecstatic Ben said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be picked for the Northern Ireland squad. The UK School Games will be a once in a lifetime experience and will hopefully lead on to bigger things.

“I hope that I can perform to my best and justify the selectors faith in me. The Games take on the format of an Olympic Games, complete with opening and closing ceremonies so it will be a fantastic opportunity.”

Ben would like to thank his coach, Heather Ardis and all those at Banbridge Athletics Club who have helped him throughout this season and previous years.