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The Okehampton Times
PUPILS at Okehampton Primary School enjoyed a star studded assembly this week, when they welcomed Olympic gold medallists, ‘The Three Blondes in a Boat’, to their school.
Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, who sailed to victory in the Yngling sailing event at the Beijing Olympics last year, paid a visit to the school last Monday to talk about their success and share their stories with the wide-eyed youngsters during their assembly.
The half hour assembly saw the stars encouraging pupils to follow their dreams and strive towards their goals.
Pupils were given the opportunity to ask questions and hold two of the gold medals, which were passed around the packed room.
Speaking after the assembly, Sarah Ayton said she felt passionate about visiting schools to give motivational talks.
‘Going into schools helps us to deliver messages about health, fitness and diet and showing that by having goals and determination it is possible to achieve anything,’ she said.
‘We want to encourage kids to enjoy sport and provide them with expert advice on how to keep fit.
‘It is about helping kids who are passionate about sport and hopefully pushing them that little bit extra to be the number one.’
The girls were also taking part in the last 80-mile leg of a cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
They aim to raise £100,000 for the British Heart Foundation.
The team of cyclists, which included Olympic gold medallist and husband of Sarah Ayton, windsurfer Nick Dempsey, were passing through Okehampton during the cycle challenge.
Brian Cunningham, headteacher at Okehampton Primary School, said: ‘It was a fantastic opportunity for the children.
‘How often does a child get that close to an Olympic medallist, actually hold the medal and be inspired to do their best?
‘That’s what it’s all about, if the children are determined enough to develop and improve, the sky is the limit.’
Mr Cunningham said children were encouraged to set goals and targets and this visit had proved a first class example of what could be achieved with determination and commitment. |
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The Bristol Evening Post reporting from Ashton Gate Primary
They were named 'Three Blondes in a Boat', but Olympic medallists Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson were land-locked when they visited Ashton Gate Primary School.
The British gold medallists, arrived at the school, on Ashton Gate Road, to give pupils a health and fitness workshop. They made the stop as part of a cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats, raising funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
With stories of their Olympic success and showing off gold medals, the special event was aimed at inspiring the pupils and raising funds.
Andy Marriott, year three and four leader at the school, said: "It has been a brilliant day. They chose to visit us out of all the schools in Bristol and they are only visiting nine in the country. All the children from nursery to year six had a special assembly and were allowed to touch the medals.
"We also had a question and answer session with the children, most of whom wanted to know about capsizing boats and how to be an Olympic winner.
"The pupils all wore red and were asked to bring in £1 to support the work of the BHF. I think it's inspired them all." |
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The Inverness Courier
OLYMPIC gold medallists Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb visited Raigmore Primary School yesterday to chat to pupils about the Games and health and fitness.
Dubbed the "three blondes in a boat", only Pippa Wilson was missing from the Olympic trio who won gold in an Yngling class at the Beijing games last year.
All three women are part of a team taking part in an endurance challenge from Land's End to John O'Groats, which was due to finish last night.
They have joined a squad of athletes from Be Number 1 — a website that helps raise financial support for aspiring Olympians, Paralympians and world champions — as part of the challenge, and hope to raise £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation.
Before beginning the final leg of their journey, Ms Ayton and Ms Webb dropped into Raigmore Primary School to share their experience of the Olympic Games.
Ms Ayton, the double Olympic gold medallist and Be Number 1 co-founder, said she was thrilled to visit the school and enjoyed sharing her tales with the children.
She is pregnant and has not taken part in the challenge herself, but has supported the team along the way, driving the support vehicle.
"Going into schools helps us to deliver messages about health, fitness and diet and showing that by having goals and determination it is possible to achieve anything," she said. "We want to encourage kids to enjoy sport and provide them with expert advice on how to keep fit. It is about helping kids who are passionate about sport and hopefully pushing them that little bit extra to be the number one."
Ms Webb is cycling the entire route, while Ms Wilson had to pull out because of an injury. Head teacher Moira Leslie welcomed the Olympians to the school.
"It is not everyday that gold medallists come to Inverness," she said. "The success of Team GB in last year's Olympics was an inspiration for all of us, so to have athletes as successful as them visit the school and share their experiences is extremely exciting for all the pupils. To be doing so in aid of causes such as Be Number 1 and the British Heart Foundation makes it even more worthwhile and we are delighted to be involved. It is an experience that the children will never forget."
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