Boxer Brian Rose launches 2020 SPAR Lancashire School Games

By James Hall & Co. Ltd

19 Feb 2020

overall-group-shot-press.jpg

Children from across the county celebrated the official launch of the 2020 SPAR Lancashire School Games on Thursday 13th February, at a VIP launch event held at James Hall & Co.’s SPAR distribution centre in Preston.

100 schoolchildren from 14 Lancashire districts officially launched the county’s largest youth sporting event, enjoying inspirational talks, a tour of James Hall & Co.’s 35,000sq ft. warehouse, lunch and SPAR branded goodies bags, alongside special guest and professional boxer, Brian Rose.

Brian Rose, Blackpool resident and middleweight professional boxer, left the children spellbound with stories from his career, crediting sport as an excellent way of ensuring good physical and mental health: “So many kids could benefit from using sport as a way to channel frustration and aggression. I was quite a mischievous child and focusing on boxing definitely helped keep me on the straight and narrow.

“Sport can teach you so many life lessons including how to deal with setbacks and disappointment. I have had both amazing highs and devastating lows in my career and have found you need dedication, hard work and the strength not to give in when times get hard.”

During Brian’s first title fight in 2009, his opponent, Jason Rushton, suffered serious brain damage, which Brian really struggled to come to terms with: “I didn’t box for a year after my fight with Jason and couldn’t face getting back in the ring.

“As a boxer, you’re meant to be unbreakable but I just wanted to give up. I only started to accept what had happened after I admitted I needed help and went to see a psychologist. I really want children to understand the importance of talking and that asking for help shouldn’t be taboo.”

Brian went on to claim the British title in 2011, which he has defended three times, and today runs his own gym in Blackpool, whilst training for his next big fight.

Adrian Leather, chief executive at Active Lancashire, said: “The SPAR Lancashire School Games is a unique programme which was designed around the magic of the 2012 Olympics and aims to motivate and inspire children to live active, healthy lives.

“Our network of fantastic Lancashire School Games Organisers work throughout the year to inspire teachers’ confidence in delivering regular sport sessions to ensure that children in Lancashire have opportunities to take part in competitive sport, regardless of their school’s size, location or financial resources.

“Now the largest youth sporting event in the county, the games provide not only traditional sports such as netball and athletics but also inclusive events such as angling, PAN ability football and a dedicated disability swimming gala. With the added excitement of Tokyo 2020, it promises to be a very inspirational year for young people and sport!”

Sponsored by James Hall & Co., SPAR wholesaler for the north of England, Peter Dodding, Sales and Marketing Director at James Hall & Co. said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be in our fourteenth year of sponsorship for the SPAR Lancashire School Games.

“The ethos of the games fits perfectly with SPAR’s commitment to the sponsorship of British and European Athletics, and we are proud to be able to support Active Lancashire in promoting the importance of good health and physical activity across the county.”

To find out more about the games and how to get involved, visit www.lancashireschoolgames.co.uk 

Latest news

1

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards Pleasure Beach Resort’s David Hill, head of rides, and Stuart Cumming, marketing manager with the awards

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards

18 Sep 2025

2

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth Brookhouse Aerospace machining facility

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth

18 Sep 2025

3

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey Mo Isap from the Lancashire Business Board with the plan

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey

18 Sep 2025

4

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

5

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin