Following the inevitable postponement of the Dash! series of events that were due to conclude this month, organisers have worked hard to create a virtual event for primary schoolchildren in County Durham who would normally be competing with each other in person. Taking place next week, #dothedash is designed for those children who are at school or at home (in the garden or a public field) here in the region, and the invitation is for anyone and everyone to join in for free.
The events and timetable are as follows:
- Monday 8 June – Speed Bounce (as many as possible in 20 seconds)
- Wednesday 10 June – Target Throw (as many as possible in 20 seconds)
- Friday 12 June – 400m Run (as fast as possible).
The full event descriptions and details of how to get involved and submit results can be found on the websites of the two School Sport Partnerships that are coordinating #dothedash:
- Durham & Chester le Street SSP – https://durhamcls-ssp.co.uk/dothedash/.
- Sedgefield SSP – https://sedgefieldssp.org.uk/do-the-dash/.
Participation certificates will be awarded, as well as special prizes.
The Dash! team is also encouraging teachers, parents/guardians, older siblings and friends to join the #dothedash Strava club and post their best one-mile running time. Find out more at https://www.strava.com/clubs/SSP-dothedash.
The Dash! is one of the region’s biggest youth sports initiatives and is delivered by Durham & Chester-le-Street School Sport Partnership (DCSSP) and Sedgefield School Sport Partnership (SSSP). In 2019, around 4,000 children from 60 schools across the county ran, jumped and threw in qualifying events, with over 1,200 going on to compete in two Dash! finals nights.