A TALENTED young North Wales sportsman is en garde for a major event.

George Dolan, a 15-year-old fencer from Ruthin, is to compete at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport (EIS) to represent Wales at the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games.

The event, which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, is a major multi-sport event for the nation’s talented young athletes.

It will see over 1,600 potential future sports stars competing across 12 sports between September 12 and 15.

The Ysgol Brynhyfryd student will have an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his sporting heroes and experience what it is like to compete in a major multi-sport event.

Paralympic sprint gold medallists Hannah Cockroft and Jonnie Peacock, Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, Olympic bronze gymnastics medallists Max Whitlock and Sam Oldham, plus top GB sprinter Adam Gemilli have all been on the same journey as Dolan and experienced competing at the high profile event before going on to sporting success at a senior level.

The four-day multi-sport event will take place in iconic venues across Sheffield, a city famed for its sporting history and home to some of the UK’s top athletes.

Alongside the competing athletes, there will be around 400 budding volunteers under 25 years of age to help bring the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games to life for the young athletes, along with thousands of spectators.

A delighted Dolan said: “I really can’t wait - there’s nothing as big as the Sainsbury’s School Games for fencing in the UK so it’s going to be a wonderful time.

“I hope this is the first of many selections, I’m sure there will be a lot of really talented fencers there and I’m looking forward to competing against the best of them.

“My main aim is to have a great experience and hopefully learn as much as I can and improve as a player ahead of next year’s event.”

George competes in the foil category and the Ysgol Brynhyfryd Fencing Club member joins fellow North Walians Jacob Houghton (Abergele Fencing Club) and Keir McGillivray (Wrexham Fencing Club) in the Welsh boys’ squad.

Sainsbury’s Active Kids ambassador David Beckham congratulated Dolan and he said: “George should be incredibly proud of being selected to compete in the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games.

“To be given the chance to compete in a multi-sport event and experience a major sporting occasion like this is a huge opportunity for these young people.

“I wish everyone the best of luck and encourage them to enjoy every minute.”

Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust John Steele added: “This event provides a platform for some of the most promising young athletes to gain an invaluable experience of competing in a multi sport event.

“Equally important to the Games are the young volunteers, officials and coaches who all play an important role in making the event so successful.”

There are 12 sports at this year’s Games - athletics, badminton, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, rugby, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and wheelchair basketball.

The Sainsbury’s School Games is set across four levels with the Sheffield event providing the top tier of sporting competition.

Across the year young people also compete in a range of sport at class-v-class, school-v-school and in county wide sport festivals.

To find out more about the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games visit www.2013schoolgames.com