County finals success for school pupils

The biggest event of its kind which took place at Stanley Park in Blackpool saw around 1,800 youngsters from across Lancashire battle it out to be named county champions in 14 sports.

Team Lancaster and Morecambe brought home a total of five medals, including one gold, two silver and two bronze in some of the events most highly-contested competitions.

This success was helped by St Peter’s CofE Primary School which snatched first place in the KS4 orienteering challenge, while Ripley St Thomas CE Academy sealed silver in rounders and the girls from Morecambe Community High School took bronze in athletics.

Lancaster Royal Grammar School also shot to success, sealing bronze medals in both the handball and girls’ cricket tournaments.

The day was kick-started with a fun-filled performance from the X Factor 2014 finalist Jack Walton, while Rock FM’s Jordan North hosted the event this year.

Dancers from Parklands High School and Cardinal Allen Catholic High School entertained the crowds and the annual district parade created a sea of colour around the athletics track.

GB Paralympic wheelchair fencer Justine Moore, Harry Newbold-Cozens, who is part of the GB gymnastics trampoline squad and Archie Brown, who is part of the GB karate team, were also on hand to give pupils top tips before they competed.

The SPAR Lancashire School Games, now in its ninth year, is part of the national £128m school games programme which aims to motivate and inspire millions of young people to take part in competitive school 
sport.

The event is the culmination of a host of inter-school and inter-district competitions with finals in 14 sports including; gymnastics, handball, girls’ football, netball, athletics, mini tennis and tag rugby.

The event is implemented by the county’s school games organisers and Lancashire Sport Partnership’s Local Organising Committee (LOC).

It is sponsored by James Hall and Company Ltd, the SPAR distributors for the North of England.

Steven Jamieson, who is the school games organiser for Lancaster, added: “The SPAR Lancashire School Games is a fully inclusive event allowing children of all abilities to get active while having fun.

“This year’s event has rounded off another great year of school sport in Lancashire. I would like to congratulate all those who competed in the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals.

“It was great to see so many children getting involved in school sport and the level of sportsmanship on display was fantastic to see.”

To get to the county finals event, schools competed internally at Level 1, before progressing to Level 2 district inter-school competitions in an attempt to be crowned champions at the Level 3 
SPAR Lancashire School Games.