Young athletes shine at School Games showcase finale!

• Blaby & Harborough crowned '2014/15 School Games Champions'.

• North Charnwood crowned '2014/15 School Games Spirit of the Games Champions'.

The 2014/15 Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games programme came to a successful and sunny climax at Welbeck Defence & Sixth Form College as hundreds of competitors went for gold on Wednesday 24^th June.

Over 900 talented young athletes and disabled athletes from across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland competed against each other in an exciting day of competitions at the Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sainsbury's School Games Summer Championships.

Made up of 109 Teams, representing 69 Schools, the athletes took part in an action-packed day of competitive school sport and celebration. The honour of becoming county champions was up for grabs in each of the 12 competitions, as youngsters aged 8-11 years battled it out in 8 sports – Quadkids Athletics, Kwik Cricket, Girls Football, Quicksticks Hockey, Netball, Swimming, Tennis & Tri-Golf. All teams qualified from Level 2 area finals to participate in this Level 3 County Final Championships.

The Opening Ceremony gave the Championships an enthralling start with an exciting performance from Sporting Champion Keelan Phillips4 times British Champion and pro freestyle BMX rider. Leona Knott, Community Engagement Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, got the crowd up on their feet for the customary 'Mass Warm-Up' which was enjoyed by young and old!

School Games Ambassadors Grace Garner (GB Cyclist) and Sam Ruddock (Paralympic Shot Put athlete) supported the Opening Ceremony and inspired the athletes to compete to the best of their abilities, whilst remembering the School Games Values.

All fired up, the athletes dispersed for 4 hours of competitive school sport, all of which included exciting and high quality competition.

The athletes, who were representing the 10 School Sport & Physical Activity Networks (SSPANs), were vying to finish in the gold medal position to help their Partnership to be crowned the overall '2014/15 School Games Champions'Determination, Honesty, Passion, Respect, Self-Belief and Teamwork were all on display as the athletes respected the School Games Values, hoping to also be crowned the 'Spirit of the Games' winners for that competition, and for the year.

Results of Winners/Spirit of the Games Winners

(See separate Results Document for full results)

Quadkids Athletics Year 3/4

• Winners: West Leicester
• Spirit of the Games Winners: North Charnwood

Quadkids Athletics Year 5/6

• Winners: West Leicester
• Spirit of the Games Winners: North Charnwood

Kwik Cricket Year 5/6 Girls

• Winners: Blaby & Harborough
• Spirit of the Games Winners: Oadby & Wigston

Girls Football Year 5/6

• Winners: Oadby & Wigston
• Spirit of the Games Winners: Oadby & Wigston

Tri-Golf Year 3/4

• Winners: North Charnwood
• Spirit of the Games Winners: North Charnwood

Tri Golf Year 5/6

• Winners: North Charnwood
• Spirit of the Games Winners: West Leicester

Tri Golf Key Stage 2 Pan Disability

• Winners: North West Leicestershire
• Spirit of the Games Winners: East Leicester

Quicksticks Hockey Year 3/4

• Winners: North West Leicestershire
• Spirit of the Games Winners: North Charnwood

Quicksticks Hockey Year 5/6

• Winners: Rutland
• Spirit of the Games Winners: South Charnwood

Netball Year 5/6

• Winners: West Leicester
• Spirit of the Games Winners: Hinckley & Bosworth

Swimming Year 5/6

• Winners: Blaby & Harborough
• Spirit of the Games Winners: Rutland

Tennis Mini Red Year 3/4

• Winners: Blaby & Harborough
• Spirit of the Games Winners: South Charnwood

Compere Gaynor Nash was joined at the Closing Ceremony by the Principal of Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, Mr Peter Middleton who awarded the Spirit of the Games and winners trophies for each individual competition.

The Championships was the culmination of the 2014/15 School Games programme and after 28 Super-Series Finals and the Spring Championships in April, the overall '2014/15 School Games Champions'trophy was awarded. Going into the Championships the top of the medals table was incredibly close, but it was Blaby & Harborough who took home the trophy, by just 4 points!

In addition the Partnership that had won the most 'Spirit of the Games' awards over the year also received the overall '2014/15 Spirit of the Games Champions' trophy. This year it was North Charnwood who were crowned champions with 16 trophies, truly representing the School Games Values in each competition they took part in.

Geoff Maltby, Sports Development Manager from Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport (LRS) said, "This year's Summer Championships has yet again been a huge success. We are delighted to bring the event to a new high quality venue in Leicestershire and a special thanks must go to Welbeck Defence & Sixth Form College for the use of their fantastic facilities and the support of their staff. The opportunity for nearly 1,000 of our most talented athletes from our primary schools to compete in such an arena cannot be underestimated.

We hope to continue to offer these opportunities to as many young people as possible for many more years to come and continue to build on and improve the Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games Programme"

The Leicester-Shire & Rutland School Games is part of the national 'Sainsbury's School Games' programme of competitive sport that is open to all young people in every school from across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland. It is a celebration of competitive sport that involves young people aged 5-18 years, of all abilities and backgrounds.

Ensure your School is involved next academic year!