Published: 02/06/2009 00:00 - Updated: 08/07/2009 10:29

City schools in korfball tournament

KORFBALL

City schools are due to battle to become Milton Keynes korfball champions at this summer’s tournament.

More than 200 children from 12 primary and six secondary schools will be competing at Oxley Park School on June, Tuesday 9 in one of the most popular and unusual ball games, which combines elements from basketball and netball.

In korfball males and females play alongside each other, with four male and four female players in each team.

The event, hosted by the city for the second year running, is organised by MKX, the Milton Keynes Youth Korfball Programme and is supported by Milton Keynes Council.

The tournament aims to introduce more local schools to korfball and engage as many young people as possible in active sports,

in preparation to the European U21 nations championships which will be hosted in Milton Keynes in 2011.

During the tournament a number of local korfball stars will be on courts, including players from Shenley Brook End, Lord Grey, Oxley Park, Oakgrove and Orchard schools who have represented Milton Keynes in a number of national championships in U11, U14 and U16 levels.

In the grand finale of the event, the tournaments winners will be awarded with their trophies by the city Mayor Euan Henderson and Charlie Vogwill, who is the vice captain of the England U19 team. Charlie has also been selected to represent Great Britain in the World Games in Taiwan later on this summer.

Darren Gray, growth manager at Milton Keynes Council and a volunteer youth korfball coach with MKX, said: “Milton Keynes is a true korfball town.

"This year over 2,500 children have played korfball in the city and the number of adult players has tripled. We are on the international stage now and are thrilled about welcoming 12 European teams to the city in two years time.

“We are looking forward to the tournament as it will give many children a chance to play in their first competitive matches, putting into practice what they’ve learnt this year.

“All teachers whose schools are not yet participating in the tournament are invited to attend the event and find out what korfball is all about and discover opportunities for introducing this great mixed-sex sport in their schools.”

More than 27 schools across the city already play korfball, with five adult clubs and 12 teams playing korfball in local and regional leagues.