Starlets are king of the Castle at sporting festival
HUNDREDS of young athletes from around the country - including from Newcastle and Northumberland - enjoyed a class day out at a North school’s festival of sport.
Under-10 and under-12 boys and girls from around the region were joined by teams from Scotland and the south of England in a twoday spectacle of rugby and hockey hosted by Barnard Castle School in County Durham.
Under-18 girls competed for the Seddon Cup, named after a former teacher, while the under-12s battled it out for the Ewart Cup presented to the school by a former senior headmaster.
Under-10 rugby teams took part in the Clegg Trophy, named after ex-pupil Rory Clegg - a former fly-half with the Newcastle Falcons, Harlequins and Yorkshire Carnegie who is currently playing with Championship side Ealing Trailfinders.
The under-12s were invovled in the Tait 10s, named after former pupils and Falcons’ players Mathew and Alex Tait, who have also enjoyed successful professional careers in the game.
Around 350 young players from Newcastle, Northumberland, Durham, Yarm, Terrington, Darlington, Wakefield, York, Sedbergh, Hull, Perth and Buckinghamshire competed in both sunshine and heavy downpours as the festival unfolded.
The County Durham Referees’ Society supported the event and some of the 30 Barnard Castle School students who have undergone referee training were able to test out their newfound skills.
Prizes were presented by ex-England scrum-half Lee Dickson (right), who has recently returned to his old school to be the new Master in Charge of Rugby.
Headmaster Tony Jackson said: “Events like these are the reason we play sport.”