Students battle it out

Olympiad-winning Hopwood UPS students and their VIP guests

Hopwood Hall College’s Uniformed Public Services (UPS) department held its annual Sports Olympiad recently.

The gruelling competition is now in its fourth year and is always well supported by other college UPS departments; this year 6 other colleges took part from across the region. Students form Bradford, Priestly, Nelson and Colne, Tameside, Our Lady’s Sixth Form College and Hopwood Hall College battled it out in five sporting events.

The students had the support of a number of VIPs including: Flt Lt Martin Falky of the RAF, Inspector Gary Hall from the Police, Borough Commander Steve Knox from the Fire Service, Major Charlie Parr from the Army and the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali.

Assistant Principal Lesley Hawkins was also present and helped with the awarding of trophies at the end of the day.

This year the 5 trophies were sponsored by the following services:

Male Football – Sponsored by the Army

Mixed Hockey – Sponsored by the Royal Marines

Tug Of War – Sponsored by the Royal Air Force

Cross Country – Sponsored by the Fire Service

Female Football – Sponsored by the Police Service

Emma Johnson, the UPS Curriculum Leader, said: “The Olympiad is a great way of bringing the UPS Departments together from all colleges to take part in what has always been a fun and enjoyable day.

“Also it creates an opportunity to meet staff from other colleges and share good practice amongst the departments.”

The day ended on a particularly high note for Hopwood Hall College, as they bagged the Overall College Winners Trophy (sponsored by the Royal Air Force) with Nelson and Colne College hot at their heels as the runners up.