Schools nab third in county sport final
YOUNGSTERS from schools across West Lancashire stormed to success at this year’s Spar Lancashire School Games County finals, clinching three medals and coming third overall.
More than 2,000 pupils from 15 districts took part in the largest youth sporting event across Lancashire, in a bid to be crowned county champions in 16 sports following months of qualifying competitions.
This year pupils enjoyed battling it out in glorious sunshine at Stanley Park in Blackpool.
Team West Lancashire shot to success, racking up an impressive medal tally including a gold, silver and bronze.
The district was helped to success by Burscough Priory Science College pupils, who ran to success in the Y7/8 duathlon event, snatching gold.
Meanwhile, Aughton Town Green Primary School did the district proud after bringing home silver in quad kids athletics.
The success did not stop there, with St Bede’s Catholic High School impressing judges with their map reading skills and navigating themselves to a bronze medal in the mainstream inclusive orienteering event.
Team West Lancashire came in at an overall third place out of 16 on the day, with a total of 167 points – only 17 points from gold winners Chorley, which was presented overall county champions status for the second year running.
As a tradition, the opening ceremony was hosted by Rock FM, where presenter Pete Otway introduced pupils marching in the district parade.
The parade was led by team Chorley after Ayeesha Mahmood from Buckshaw Primary School won the annual cultural flag competition.
Gabriella Sykes from Oakhill School in Ribble Valley shared her pledge speech at the opening ceremony, underpinning the values which the Spar Lancashire School Games upholds; determination, honesty, passion, respect, self-belief and teamwork.
The Lancashire Lion, Spar Lancashire School Games mascot, was on hand to cheer on pupils throughout the day, while more than 200 young leaders from across Lancashire volunteered to support the event in a variety of roles such as school games makers and new for 2018, Spar media leaders.
Now in its 12th year, the Spar Lancashire School Games is organised by Active Lancashire, implemented by the county’s school games organisers and sponsored by James Hall & Company Ltd, Spar distributors for the North of England.
Each organisation comes together to comprise a series of inclusive sporting events that provides competitive and participative opportunities for all school children across Lancashire.
Peter Dodding, sales and marketing director at James Hall & Company Ltd, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support and be part of the biggest youth sporting event in Lancashire.
“We are committed to encouraging young people of all abilities to participate in competitive, inclusive team sports and each year at the county finals, I am blown away by the passion the children across Lancashire have about keeping active.
“I’d like to personally congratulate all those who took part and, most importantly, had fun throughout the day.”
Chris Hart, school games organiser for West Lancashire, said: “As always, the county finals event was a huge success and it was fantastic to see youngsters from across the district getting in the team spirit at each sporting event.
“Congratulations to everyone who took part and a huge well done to West Lancashire area pupils for making everyone in the district proud.
“I’d finally like to thank the young leaders and all the volunteers who were on hand to support not just the county finals but during the level two events throughout the academic year – without this support the Spar Lancashire School Games would not be possible.” KS3 inclusive orienteering (mainstream)
Gold – Hyndburn: Academy
Silver – Burnley: Blessed Trinity RC College
Bronze – West Lancashire: St Bede’s Catholic High School Accrington Primary orienteering (Y5/6) Gold – South Ribble Worden Silver – South Ribble Brownedge Touch rugby
Gold – South Ribble Worden: Balshaw’s Church of England High School Quad kids athletics (Y3/4)
Gold – Chorley: Euxton CofE Primary School
Silver – West Lancashire: Aughton Town Green Primary School
Bronze – Heysham: Bolton-leSands Primary School Duathlon (Y7/8)
Gold – West Lancashire: Burscough Priory Science College Silver – Chorley: Albany Academy Bronze – Rossendale: Haslingden High School Rounders
Silver – South Ribble Worden: Balshaw’s Church of England High School OVERALL WINNERS Gold – Chorley 184 points Silver – Burnley 182 points Bronze – West Lancashire 167 points