APPLEFIELDS I pipped their rivals to win the first Sportsability Festival run by the Oaklands Sports Partnership at Burnholme Community College.

Forty children from York's two special schools Applefields and Hob Moor Oaks were joined by children from Headlands, Huntington and Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary Schools to take part in an all inclusive sports competition.

The Festival was organised and run by Step into Sports' leaders from both All Saints and Applefields at Burnholme Community College.

Youngsters took part in boccia (a game like French boules), new age curling, dodge ball and T' Ball which is an adapted game of rounders, obstacle races and relay races.

Applefields won and were four points ahead of the Mainstream School team. The other teams taking part were Applefields II and Hob Moor Oaks.

All participants were presented with a medal by Bill Scriven and Tony Gavin, headteachers of All Saints and Burnholme Community College respectively.

Funding to host the festival was provided by the Youth Sports Trust.

Talks are being held with York City Knights with a view to stage a Special Schools Tag Rugby Festival in November.

Young wheelchair users are being given the chance to tackle new sports head-on in a special Norwich Union Sports Camp later this month.

The one-day sports extravaganza is being run as part of the Norwich Union Junior Heroes programme by national charity WheelPower.

Youngsters restricted to wheelchairs aged between six and 11 will get a taste of sporting activities such as athletics, zone hockey, wheelchair basketball and fencing.

Alan Caron, WheelPower national sports manager, said: "Events like the Norwich Union Sports Camps provide a fantastic focus for all these youngsters.

"With 2012 only six years away, some of the children who attend could well be our gold medal winners of the future."

The camp will take place at Oaklands Sports Centre on Saturday, July 29.

Any children who want to have a go should get in touch with Alan Caron on 01296 395995.