High fives for St John’s netball

PUPILS from St John the Baptist Church of England Primary School in Burscough are celebrating after clinching a place at the largest youth sporting event in Lancashire, following victory in a high five netball competition.

The school battled it out against three other schools and will now represent West Lancashire at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals where they will compete against teams from 14 Lancashire districts in a bid to be crowned county champions in high five netball.

The Burscough St John’s pupils competed against three other top schools in the area, which were Woodland Community Primary School, Cobbs Brow Primary School and Halsall St Cuthberts Primary School.

Also in West Lanca- shire, Tarleton Academy has qualified to represent West Lancashire in the duathlon at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals.

Chris Hart, who is the school games organiser for West Lancashire and arranged the event, said: “The competition was closely contested and everyone involved played brilliantly, but the Burscough St. John’s pupils came out on top.

“I look forward to seeing them compete in the county finals.”

Now in its eleventh year, the SPAR Lancashire School Games is made up of two main events providing all children in Lancashire with the opportunity to take part in competitive sport.

Schools across the county are now competing for a place at the county finals which will be held at Blackpool’s Stanley Park on July 4, where more than 2,000 children are expected to battle it out for glory.

A range of sports including gymnastics, football and athletics, as well as two new additions to the 2017 line-up, mixed cricket and touch rugby, will be contested by pupils from 15 Lancashire districts.

In addition, the Disability Swimming Gala took place on March 15 at Lancaster’s Salt Ayre Leisure Centre.

The SPAR Lancashire School Games is organised by the Lancashire Sport Partnership and delivered by the county’s school games organisers.

James Hall & Company Ltd, the SPAR distributor for the North of England, is sponsoring the event for the eleventh year running.