As pupils return to school this week Leeds Rhinos Foundation are pleased to announce another record summer of take up on Rhinos holidays camps with over 1200 children across the region enjoying dance, rugby and multi-sports activity.
Camps ran at a total of 16 venues over the holidays including the charity’s annual visit to RAF Paderborn in Germany as well as other areas outside of Leeds including Keighley, Barrow, Siddal and Dewsbury.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Chief Operating Officer Bob Bowman said:
“We have worked with unprecedented numbers on camp this summer utilising almost all of our delivery staff and a number of volunteers which has been fantastic.
“There is always lots of competition during the Summer holidays with lots of organisations offering different camps but I’d like to praise my team of staff for once again providing an excellent range of camps at great value for families in Leeds which has seen us work with over 1200.
“We are in a unique position as a Foundation associated to a sports team but I’d like to once again like to thank Leeds Rhinos players for supporting our camps and helping to raise the profile once again this year.”
Performance Rugby camps introduced for the first time in 2017 and led by Rhinos legend Chev Walker and Women’s Development Officer Lois Forsell have worked with boys and girls aged 12-16, with girl’s rugby performance camps also working with under 18s.
Alongside the chance to learn some specialist rugby techniques and skills on rugby performance camps, youngsters were also offered the chance to enjoy four days of multi-sport camp at a selection of venues this summer.
As a new draw for multi-sports camps, kids on the first camp of the holidays at Hunslet Club Parkside took on Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow on the Hot Shot passing challenge competition to win a selection of prizes including rugby balls and a chance to win a free coaching session at their club or school.
The Hot-Shot passing challenge then continued at the remaining multi-sport camps with Aiden Barlow at the Dewsbury Celtic camp scoring the highest total with 70 points, beating Burrow’s 60 into second place.
In total, 16 members of the Leeds Rhinos squad have supported coaching on the camps this year assisting Leeds Rhinos Foundation coaches, signing autographs and taking part in Q&A sessions with the campers.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation were also boosted by funding from the Leeds City Council Outer East Community Committee for the second year running this Summer, who subsidised four-day multi-sport camp places for children in the East of the city.
Camps delivered by Leeds Rhinos Foundation School Partnership staff took place at East Garforth, Temple Moor, Brigshaw and Meadowfield working with over 450 children who enjoyed a range of sports over four days.
To complete the biggest camp offering ever from Leeds Rhinos Foundation this year, the charity also provided three dance camps at Ralph Thoresby, Temple Moor and Priesthorpe High School working with over 30 young dancers from ages 5 upwards.
Dance camps offer dancers of all abilities the chance to learn some choreography in street and jazz dancing styles alongside Leeds Rhinos Foundation Dance Development Officer Nicola Booth and Alishia Schofield.
Children overseas were also able to work with Leeds Rhinos Foundation this summer as 200 forces children based at RAF Paderborn received a week of dance and multi-sport delivery from a selection of the charity’s staff for the fourth year in a row.
Hot Shot Passing results.
Hunslet Club Parkside, 3rd and 4th August:
Harry Pratt – Aged 6-8 – 40 points
Dillon Strudwick – Aged 9-11 – 30 points
Dewsbury Celtic, 7th and 8th August
Dylan Afoa-Peterson – Aged 6-8 – 45 points
Aiden Barlow – Aged 9-11 – 70 points
Siddal ARLFC, 9th and 10th August
Nathan Hodgson – Aged 6-8 – 35 points
Louie Pemberton – Aged 9-11 – 55 points
Oulton ARLFC, 14th and 15th August
Lolita Mills – Aged 6-8
Kai Clarke – Aged 9-11
Keighley Albion ARLFC, 24th and 25th August
Josh Guy
Jack Willoughby
Denny Foley
Josh Vaughan – Aged – 6-8 – 20 points
Jack Hewitt – Aged 9-11 – 40 points
Drighlington ARLFC, 31st August and 1st September
Rilan Dufty –
Henry Keenal – Aged 6-8 – 25 points
Imogen Hallas
Evie Brooke – Aged 9-11 – 60 points
All children listed as age group top scorers will receive a Rugby Ball. Children on the Barrow Island Camp will also be contacted in due course once results are collated.