Over 160 Western Region Academy of Sport athletes and squad staff from across the region will converge on Wallerawang this weekend for a live-in training camp. The basketball, high performance, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, softball, tennis and triathlon squads and WRAS lone stars will participate in a variety of development and education sessions. The Combined WRAS Camp has become an annual event rotating each year between Wallerawang and Dubbo. The basketball and netball squads will make use of the excellent facilities at the Wallerawang Indoor Sports Stadium, the softball squad will train at Wallerawang Diamond, the tennis squad at the Mt Piper Power Station tennis courts and triathletes will make use of Lake Wallace and surrounds. The Hockey squad will train at the Lithgow hockey complex and the lawn bowlers will spend their weekend training at the Lithgow City Bowling Club. Following the camp welcome on Friday night, athletes will head off into squad groups for an hour of team bonding and planning. Saturday will begin with a practical nutrition workshop for WRAS rookie athletes while the senior members attend a lecture from WRAS S&C Coaches on the importance of strength and conditioning to their athletic development. Squads will then head off for an intense day of training and a pool recovery session at the Lithgow Pool before the athletes enjoy a Games Spectacular on Saturday evening. A number of highly regarded specialists will travel to Wallerawang for the weekend including Ron Clarke from NSW Sport & Recreation and massage therapist and speed coach Paul Unsworth from Bathurst. Athletes taking part in the weekend from the Lithgow region are Romy Casey, Sophie Murray, Elliot Smith, (Basketball) Shelby Craig, Sarah Hodgkinson, Holly Luck, Ben Redding, Beth Redding, David Reid, Courtney Sammut, Luke Thurtell (Hockey) and Natalie Sharp (Lone Star). Academy Executive Officer, Nancy Haslop said “The Combined WRAS Camp is a vital component of the WRAS calendar and a weekend that everyone looks forward to. It’s a great opportunity for all athletes and squad staff to get to know not only everyone within their squad, but also those from the other Academy programs. It’s always great to hold Academy activities in Wallerawang and WRAS has again had overwhelming support from the Lithgow and Wallerawang communities which we greatly appreciate”. Local coaches and athletes are invited to witness the sessions, details of times for the squads are available by phoning the Academy on 6338 4821.