VANCOUVER winter Olympian Eve Muirhead took over the mantle from four-time Olympic Gold Medallist Sir Chris Hoy on day two of Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week.

Curler Muirhead was the headline guest at Clackmannan Primary School and got to see first hand the schools very own mini Highland Games.

The primary six pupils spent a month outlining the plans for the day – which ranged from sword dancing to tossing the caber - and ten-year-old Young Leader Rebecca Watson declared the day a success.

“We have been coming in after school on Tuesdays to plan and although I was really nervous at first it all went well,” said Watson.

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week runs from 7-11 June with the Clackmannan Primary School one of over 700 involved nationwide.

While centred on the playing of sport, the visit to Clackmannan worked perfectly as it coincided with the school’s health awareness week – also a key element of the Bank of Scotland campaign.

And while eight-year-old pupil Sophie McKenzie not only got to rub shoulders with Olympian Muirhead, she also learned some valuable lessons about her diet.
She said: “It was great to see Eve but I also learned about food too. I never knew how much sugar there was in pizza.”

And at just 19 and not long out of the education system perhaps Muirhead – despite her star status – is best placed to comment on the importance of school sport.
She said: “PE and sport in school is when it starts and if you don’t get involved at a young age you’re never going to get involved so it’s important to get people playing when they are young.”

Clackmannan Head teacher Janette Wieczorek was quick to label the day a success, saying: “It’s just nice to see the kids enjoying themselves.”

And Marjorie Macfarlane, Sports Development Manager for Clackmannanshire Council was delighted with the day’s wide ranging affect.

“We are not looking for talented kids, of which we have many, it is more important that lots of children are involved.”

Also on hand at the school was budding hammer thrower Myra Perkins – one of the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes - and despite her sport being poles apart from Muirhead she admitted she left the day with stars in her eyes.

“It was great to meet Eve and see all the kids enjoying themselves,” said Perkins. “She might be a winter Olympian but the Olympics are where I want to be one day so it was great.”

And some of the chief brains behind the operation, Active Schools Coordinator for Lornshill Alison Mackie and Clackmannan PE teacher Karen Grossart insisted some inclement weather hadn’t detracted from a successful day.

“The weather wasn’t great but the kids still had a great day,” said Grossart.

“It was good for the kids to learn about health as well as sport because they are lessons that they can take out into their life,” said Mackie.

Research released by the Bank of Scotland this week highlights the enjoyment factor as an overwhelming motivation for kids to get involved in sport – with 73% of those surveyed answering simply ‘it’s fun’, a figure five per cent higher than the national average.

And anyone who was in the school hall as Muirhead skippered her tug of war team to victory would have seen that research played out at first hand.

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week takes place from 7-11 June 2010.  To find out more visit www.schoolsportweekscotland.org