WEE County youngsters received a surprise visit from the Glasgow Rocks Professional Basketball Team last week.

Eight teams from five schools recently took part in the Jump2it – a health and citizenship led primary schools programme – finals at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

On Wednesday 23 April players returned to Clackmannanshire to present each team with a signed poster of their efforts.

The two winning teams from Abercromby Primary and Tillicoultry Primary were also able to relive their victories with commemorative videos created and shown in front of their whole school. Glasgow Rocks player Patrick Manifold, who made the presentations, said, “It is great to see the enthusiasm from the pupils in Clackmannashire. There was a great deal of talented kids involved and we hope they will continue to lead a healthy life through the information we have given them as part of the Jump2it programme.” The visits conclude the Jump2it programme in the area for 2013-14, where over the course of the year 16 schools and 900 pupils have benefited from the Rocks input on healthy lifestyles.

Over 300 youngsters created more than 30 teams to compete in a regional tournament, delivered by Clackmannanshire Active Schools and Sports Development.

Four boys and four girls teams won the opportunity to attend a Glasgow Rocks game and take to the professional court to battle it out for a place in the finals.

The two finals games were played at half time of a Rocks professional game and watched by thousands of fans.

The eventual winners, Abercromby Primary School boys’ team and Tillicoultry Primary School for the girls, were crowned Jump2it champions for Clackmannanshire.

Education, sport and leisure convener Ellen Forson said, “An amazing 900 children across 16 schools have taken part in the Jump2it programme across Clackmannanshire, part of the programme of activities that our sports development team delivers with our partners. They have taken part in fun activities and heard some important and practical messages about living a healthy life, and the pupils have also had the memorable added surprise of this exciting visiting from the Glasgow Rocks players.” Jump2it is a unique, education through sport initiative delivered to primary schools across Scotland by charity, Scottish Sports Futures (SSF), supported by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities.

Rocks players have educated these pupils with facts on a number of health topics including the importance of fitness and healthy eating and the dangers of smoking and alcohol.