Pictured are local businesses that took part in the 2016 Dodgeball Tournament at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council recently organised its second Dodgeball tournament, as part of the Business Solutions ‘Investing in Health, Profit in Business’ Programme, jointly funded by the Public Health Agency.

A total of 15 local businesses came together to compete at the tournament, held at the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex, to test their team performance while enhancing their personal health and wellbeing.

Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, speaking about the tournament, said: “I am delighted that this year’s teams were able to bring their competitive spirit to the Dodgeball court joining together as a team to compete. There are many health, economic and social benefits to playing sport and Dodgeball is a great way to let local businesses test their team spirit and promote health in the workplace. There is a strong relationship between the culture of a company and its productivity.

“I would like to congratulate Danske Bank on winning the ‘Dodgeball Plate’ and Vehicle Consultancy on taking ‘top spot’ and winning the ‘Dodgeball Cup’. I hope that next year there will be more local companies coming together to challenge these winners to become the ‘Dodgeball Champions’.

“I would also like to thank the Council’s Sports Development Unit for organising this event. This tournament would not have been possible without the financial assistance of the Public Health Agency and I am sure they were impressed by the energy demonstrated by all the participants,” concluded Alderman Ewart.

The businesses that took part were Café Vic Ryn (two teams), Fusion (two teams), LM Services, Vehicle Consultancy, Danske Bank, McGuire-Farry, Ian Black Consulting, McCulla Ireland, People 1st, Allen Logistics, Fairstone NI, Hampton Estates and Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

Barbara Porter, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Senior Officer, from the Public Health Agency’s South Eastern Team, added: “This has been a fantastic turn out; getting physical activity onto the workplace agenda is difficult when you have colleagues of all abilities and interests. This event enabled everyone to have a bit fun, burn off any work stress from the day and to work as a team. It was very well organised and credit to the Council’s Sports Development Unit for making this event one we would really want to see happen again.”