Castlegate Watersports Centre on the river Tees was the venue for the inaugural Stockton schools sailing Regatta.

The event, which was sponsored by Stockton on Tees PCT, was the grand finale of the Sporting Start programme which funded Stockton secondary schools to receive six weeks' free Watersports instruction at Castlegate Quay. Allan McDermott from Tees Active said: "This has been a fantastic event which everybody who has taken part has thoroughly enjoyed. I would like to thank Stockton TPCT whose support has enabled these teenagers to experience sailing ."

Phillip Green from Bishopsgarth said: "These sessions have given us the opportunity to try sailing and I have really enjoyed being outdoors. I feel I have really bonded with my fellow classmates through the team events. I definitely want to continue sailing and build on the skills I have learnt." Speaking about the Sporting Start programme, Elizabeth Shassere, Director of Public Health for Stockton on Tees TPCT, said: "Sporting Start provides fun, safe opportunities for children to get physically active.

"Getting active at an early age promotes healthy habits that can last a lifetime and could help prevent a range of health problems in later life, as well has help children maintain a healthy weight. Sporting Start is just one of many initiatives that Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT supports to provide healthy lifestyle opportunities for children and adults in our community." A total of 8,655 people attended 22 different activities through the scheme, which will be returning for the February half term holidays in 2009.