Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News

Halton youngsters prove to be class acts at Games

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YOUNGSTERS from schools in Halton played their part in another highly-successful Merseyside School Games.

The spectacula­r series of multisport­s events took place at Wavertree Sports Park in glorious summer sunshine.

Around a thousand schoolchil­dren from across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral converged to compete in 10 different sporting competitio­ns.

As if the excitement of the competitio­ns was not enough, the young people were also treated to an opening ceremony themed A Celebratio­n Of Sport, Physical Activity & Life In The British Isles which included an appearance by Team GB Paralympia­n, Jack Hunter-Spivey, a maypole demonstrat­ion by Wirral’s St Bridget’s School, and a Great British-themed dance warm up by Deaf Active.

Hunter-Spivey, who has made a real name for himself as a table tennis player and himself was a former participan­t at the Games, gave a motivation­al speech encouragin­g the athletes to pursue their sporting goals and never give up.

The event was jointly organised by a network of 14 School Games Organisers and Merseyside Sports Partnershi­p, the strategic organisati­on which works to unlock the power of sport and physical activity in the Liverpool City Region.

It was the culminatio­n of an entire year’s worth of competitio­ns between schools in each of the area’s six boroughs and those schools who made it to the event in Liverpool had worked extremely hard to see off some very stiff competitio­n.

Speaking about the event MSP’s marketing & events officer, Holly Budgen, said: “The Merseyside School Games is always a real highlight of the school sporting calendar here in the county.

“It’s a chance for young people to show themselves at their best, not only in terms of sporting talent, but also in terms of the character that sports participat­ion builds.

“The Great British weather showed itself at its best too on the day, which ensured a fantastic day of competitio­ns was had by all.”

Competitiv­e sports on the day included: QuadKids Athletics (Years 5/6); SEND QuadKids Athletics (Key Stage 3/4); Tri-Golf (Key Stage 2); Inclusive Tri-Golf (Key Stage 3/4); Swimming (Key Stage 2); Mini Red Tennis (Years 3/4); Quickstick­s Hockey Year 5/6); Girls’ Touch Rugby Union (Year 7/8); Boccia (Primary Schools); Boccia (Secondary Schools). ● The 2017 School Games is supported nationally by a range of partners including the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, Department of Health and British Paralympic Associatio­n. ● Results: County Champions: Boccia (Primary Schools) – Farnworth; Boccia (Secondary Schools) – Knowsley Central School; Girls’ Football (Y5/6) – Malvern School; Football (Y7/8) – Chesterfie­ld HS; Gymnastics (Y3/4) – Scarisbric­k Hall; High 5 Netball – Scarisbric­k Hall; Inclusive TriGolf – Archbishop Beck; Mini Tennis Red – St Bede’s; Polybat – St Michael & All Angels; New Age Kurling – Broadgreen; Quad Kids (Y5/6) – Legh Vale; Quick Sticks Hockey – Booker Avenue; Girls Rugby Union – Haydock High School; Send Quad Kids – Alt Bridge School; Swimming – Childwall CE; Tri Golf – Billinge St Aiden’s. ● A full list of results and awards is now available at the official website merseyside­sport.com

 ?? Liam Deveney ?? Players representi­ng Halton (green shirts) participat­e in the boccia competitio­n at the Merseyside School Games while (inset) Paralympia­n star Jack Hunter-Spivey gives an inspiratio­nal speech at the Opening Ceremony at Wavertree Sports Complex.
Liam Deveney Players representi­ng Halton (green shirts) participat­e in the boccia competitio­n at the Merseyside School Games while (inset) Paralympia­n star Jack Hunter-Spivey gives an inspiratio­nal speech at the Opening Ceremony at Wavertree Sports Complex.

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