H2U Vol 7 Issue 6 June 2008 - Highcliffe School

Now that’s what I call extra-curricular!
Well done Steven and
Thank You Echo!
Some of you may have noticed
a report in the Echo
over half-term announcing
that one of our students,
Steven Dow (9.2) has won
a trip to go to the Olympics
in August. The competition
and prize have been
sponsored by the Echo and
by way of thanks we reprint
their report in full below.
We look forward to
bringing you Steven’s account
of his experiences in
the early part of next
term.
“Off to Beijing
Olympics,
thanks to Echo!
By Daily Echo reporter
A SPORTS-mad Dorset
teenager will be off to
cover the Olympic
Games in Beijing this
summer after taking gold
in a Daily Echo online competition.
Steven Dow,
aged 14, from
Glenville Road,
Walkford, was
chosen from
hundreds of entries
to become
the Daily Echo's
young sports reporter
in a nationalcompetition
run by Echo
publisher
Newsquest, via
our website
bournemouthecho.co.uk
and McDonalds
The entrants had
to be 10-14
years old and write a 150
-word report about their
favourite Olympic Games
moment, event or athlete
to show off their journalistic
skills.
Steven wrote his article
on his favourite athlete,
American swimmer Michael
Phelps, who won
eight medals at the 2004
summer Olympics in Athens.
Steven: "I saw the competition
when my mum
showed me in the paper.
It only took me 20 minutes
to write the report. I
didn't think it would get
anywhere and forgot
about it. I couldn't believe
it when I won."
The youngster, who goes
to Highcliffe School, is a
keen gymnast and enjoys
trampolining, which he
has been doing for nearly
seven years.
He said: "I also love ath-
letics, so to see the biggest
event in athletics live at
the Olympics is going to be
a dream come true.”
"I'm also really looking forward
to seeing the swimming
and the diving, especially
Tom Daley, the 14year-old
diver, as he is
pretty inspiring to young
people who love their
sport."
Steven added: "To be able
to see someone like Michael
Phelps in action in
Beijing in August is going
to be immense. I can't
wait."
As well as having to file
reports, pictures, videos
and blogs direct to the
Newsquest internet sites,
Steven and his dad Andy
will also have access to the
Olympic village and will get
a whistle-stop tour of
China, including a trip to
the Great Wall.”
Page 2 4 H2U, Vol 7 Issue , Year 10 Special - June 2008