Shrewsbury’s primary schools are celebrating after regaining their area title at the end of another successful Shropshire Homes School Sport Festival.

More than 800 primary school youngsters took part in a day of keen competition at Shrewsbury Sports Village.

A total of 114 teams were involved in a wide range of activities, which included cross country, basketball, netball, gymnastics, sportshall athletics, quick sticks hockey, and tag rugby.

 

The event was the culmination of months of competition for students who had competed against neighbouring schools to reach the county finals.

 

Each finalist was representing one of six School Games areas – Shrewsbury, East Shropshire, North Shropshire, South Shropshire, and two areas from Telford & Wrekin.

 

Shrewsbury emerged as the overall winner, when scores from each event were combined, with North Shropshire in second place, and the Telford & Wrekin Burton Borough area in third.

 

East Shropshire, which won the area title last time the primary school games were staged, came fourth this time, with Telford & Wrekin Langley area in fifth, and South Shropshire sixth.

 

But it was not all bad news for South Shropshire, which won the ‘Spirit of the Games’ award for the area which best displayed the competition’s values – determination, honesty, passion, respect, self-belief, and teamwork.

 

The event is co-ordinated by Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, based at Frankwell Quay in Shrewsbury.

 

The festival began with an opening ceremony featuring winning acts from Energize’s ‘School Games Has Got Talent’ competition – this year’s line-up featured musical theatre performer Naomi Thompson from Prees, and dance duo Grace & Macy, from Longlands primary in Market Drayton.

 

There was also a motivational talk from one of Energize’s ‘sporting champions’ Di Carrington, who completed a transatlantic rowing challenge last year, as well as Teagan Hyatt from Shifnal, who has represented team GB at ice hockey.

 

Harry Cade, engagement manager for education and families at Energize, said: “The event is a shining example of a school sport festival which is run by young people, for young people. Once again, it was a fabulous occasion.”

 

More than 100 ‘young leaders’ helped the Energize team with the organisation of the event, working as either officials or team managers.

 

In the individual competitions, there were victories for North Shropshire in year five and six basketball, key stage two cross country, year three and four gymnastics, and key stage two small schools tag rugby.

 

Shrewsbury won the key stage two girls’ sportshall athletics, tied with East Shropshire in the key stage two quick sticks hockey, and racked up a host of top three finishes in other events.

 

East Shropshire’s other victories came in the B team section of years three and four gymnastics, plus key stage two tag rugby, while South Shropshire won the year five and six ‘high5’ netball.

 

The remaining two competitions – key stage two boys’ sportshall athletics, and sportsability sportshall athletics, were won by the Telford & Wrekin Langley area.

 

There were also two individual awards for ‘excellence in leadership’, given to two young leaders – Evie Brookes of Shrewsbury Academy School, and Will Perkins from William Brookes School in Much Wenlock.

 

All of the competitors signed up to the official School Games pledge, which says: “I will compete in the true spirit of sportsmanship, respecting the rules and all competitors; I will compete for the glory and pride of achievement in sport.

 

“I will uphold the honour of our teams, representing each area with devotion and loyalty and enjoying all aspects of the games. I will perform to the best of my ability using maximum effort and determination, representing myself, my school, my team, and my county area.”