There will be a photocall On Thursday 3 July, 2008 at 12.15 pm at Rosliston Forestry Centre where the Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council, Cllr Mrs Ann Hood, her consort County Cllr Frank Hood and Jenny Copnall, British National Cycling Champion will be enjoying the Extreme Sports Summer Competition

On the penultimate day before the end of voting for Get Active in The Forest in the National Lottery Awards, the scheme is helping to organise the first ever South Derbyshire Invitational Extreme Sports Competition.

Get Active in the Forest, working with South Derbyshire District Council and South Derbyshire School Sports Partnership has opened this competitive event for secondary school pupils from South Derbyshire, East Staffordshire, Derby City and Amber Valley.

Says Cllr Mrs Ann Hood, Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council, "Eight schools from the local area will be taking part in climbing wall, archery, mountain biking and three wheeled go-karts which are known as KMX karts. The Council is committed to providing more things for young people to do. This competition aims to attract pupils who might not be interested in more traditional sports. It could give them a new interest which they could enjoy during the long summer holidays."

Secondary schools in South Derbyshire have been invited, with pupils from William Allitt and Granville taking part. From East Staffordshire we are expecting pupils from Robert Sutton, Paget Chellaston High from Derby City and Aldercar Community School from Amber Valley.

Cllr Mrs Ann Hood continues, "We have organised this competition part of the government’s first National School Sports Week. There is already a friendly rivalry between South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire with the annual Inter Town Sports competition. It’s not only a competitive event, it’s also a way of encouraging young people to be more active and healthier."

British National Cycling Champion Jenny Copnall, will also be at the competition to show her support and encourage young people to chase their goals in whatever they do. Says Jenny, "Before I came across mountain bike racing, I didn't know it existed. At the competition, the athletes, like me, may discover the sport tailor-made for their strengths and interests, perhaps sparking a lifelong pastime and source of fulfilment".

If you would like to vote for Get Active in The Forest for free for the National Lottery Awards please go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or you can vote by phone 0845 386 3453. Phone calls from a BT landline are charged at the BT lo-call landline rate.

» Burton Mail - video interview with John Widdowson, Community Sports Coach and Steve Smith, Partnership Development Manager