YOUNG sports stars took part on a series of challenges on land and sea to help them develop their athletic skills.

Olympic sailor Simon Hiscocks attended the event at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to inspire the 10 and 11-year-olds and offer advice.

Wey Valley School and Sports College organised the multi-skills festival for around 75 youngsters after a successful bid through their role as a specialist sports college.

Richard Edgeley, assistant headteacher of Wey Valley, said the event involved the county’s most talented young athletes and aimed to enhance the five multi-abilities of physical, cognitive thinking, social, personal and creative.

He said: “The children took part in three activities of sailing, dragon boating and waveboarding on land, which is like a skateboard that moves in different directions.

“We had 12 schools taking part from each area across Dorset, including Weymouth, Bridport, Bournemouth and Poole.

“They’re all Year 5 pupils and the most skilled sportsmen in the area.

“It’s not about sailing or dragon boating, it’s about being multi-skilled, which they can then use in their own particular sports of athletics, swimming or football.”

Mr Edgeley said it was an honour to be among just eight specialist sports colleges in the country chosen to host a Regional Multi-skill Academy (RMSA) and to be able to use the Olympic sailing venue to do so.

Seven RMSAs are also being delivered across England by seven higher education institutions.

Mr Edgeley said they received a £5,000 grant from the Youth Sport Trust to deliver the programme.

Each young person was given feedback on their performance in the five multi-abilities at the end of the day with suggestions for improvement and personal development.

They were also presented with a goody bag.

Weymouth schools who took part included Radipole Primary, St Andrew’s, St John’s School and St Nicholas and St Lawrence School.

Four young ambassadors from Wey Valley – George Scott, George Reynolds, Tori Coltart and Alex Turrell – assisted in the running of the event.