More than 2,700 Shropshire youngsters took part in the county’s School Games competitions during the last academic year – and the latest round of competition looks set to be equally competitive.

The competitions, for both primary and secondary schools, are organised by active partnership Energize, based at Frankwell Quay.

Schools battle through their local qualifying events for the right to represent one of six areas – two from Telford, plus North Shropshire, South Shropshire, East Shropshire, and Shrewsbury.

The competition is split into a series of festivals held at venues across the county over the course of the year, showcasing an array of different sports and activities.

Harry Cade, senior partnership manager at Energize, said: “School Games are now established as the largest competition of their kind for young people.

“It’s not just about the competition. The events are a shining example of school sport festivals which are run by young people, for young people.

“Around 400 young leaders have helped out with the organisation of the events over the past year, which also lay on a series of ‘try-it’ activities for children when they are not competing. The idea is to find an activity for everyone.”

SCHOOL GAMES IN NUMBERS:

2,756 students participated:

44 different secondary schools:

119 different primary schools:

17 secondary school sports:

21 primary school sports:

377+ volunteers and young leaders involved:

2,510 volunteer hours given

The primary school competition is split into two showcases – winter and summer Shropshire Homes School Sport Festivals.

Shrewsbury was celebrating back in March after regaining the area title – only for the deposed champions, East Shropshire, to take it back in the summer event, with Shrewsbury as runners-up.

Teams competed across a wide range of activities, which included cross country, basketball, netball, gymnastics, sportshall athletics, quick sticks hockey, and tag rugby.

The primary school competition also awards a ‘Spirit of the Games’ prize for the area which best demonstrates the six School Games values – determination, passion, respect, honesty, self-belief and teamwork. This went to South Shropshire in March, and the Telford & Wrekin Burton Borough area in the summer.

The festivals also include motivational talk from local ‘sporting champions’. World and paralympic wheelchair racer Deborah Johnson, and Great Britain under 19 handball star Jaymie Kerr have been among the 2019 supporters.

With secondary schools, a series of mini-festivals are held at different venues throughout the year.

Secondary schools from Newport completed a clean sweep of trophies in the first event of 2019 - key stage three and four badminton finals -  where 23 teams from 13 different schools took part.

Haberdashers Adams School from Newport won two of the four titles - boys’ key stage three and key stage four – while Burton Borough took the key stage four girls’ title, and Newport Girls’ High School won the key stage three girls’ contest.

Telford, Shrewsbury and Shifnal secondary schools were then chosen to represent Shropshire at regional finals after sharing the prizes in the under 13 and under 15 handball finals, held at Shrewsbury Sports Village.

Telford & Wrekin dominated the trophies when more than 50 teams took part in the hockey, rugby, netball, sportshall athletics, sportsability boccia and new age kurling finals.

Host venue Wrekin College were double winners, picking up both the year seven and year eight girls’ netball trophies.

Haberdasher’s Adams, from Newport, won the boys’ key stage three hockey competition, Charlton School won the year nine and ten girls’ rugby, and Thomas Telford was victorious in the year seven and eight boys’ sportshall athletics.

Other winners included Ellesmere College in girls’ key stage three hockey, Bridgnorth Endowed which took the boys’ year seven rugby title, Oldbury Wells in year seven and eight girls’ sportshall athletics, and The Marches from Oswestry which won the key stage three sportsability boccia and new age kurling.

Charlton was successful again at Langley School in Dawley, where it lifted the year seven and eight basketball title after a hotly contested finals day.

William Brookes School of Much Wenlock finished second this time, with third place going to Thomas Telford School. Completing the top five were Thomas Adams School of Wem, and Lacon Childe of Cleobury Mortimer.

In the first round of School Games of the current academic year, held in Shrewsbury, the trophies have again been shared round the county.

Shrewsbury’s Priory School won the boys’ dodgeball event ahead of Charlton, while the girls’ title was won by Charlton, with Sir John Talbot’s of Whitchurch in second.

Newport’s Burton Borough School took the key stage three sportsability tennis title, with Idsall of Shifnal in second place.

Lacon Childe School from Cleobury Mortimer made it a double, winning both the key stage three boys’ table tennis competition, and the key stage four volleyball.

Other schools which registered top three finishes during the day’s competitions included Thomas Adams of Wem, Oswestry School, and Oldbury Wells from Bridgnorth.

Harry Cade said: “The School Games competitions are only made possible by the valuable support we receive from local businesses, and an army of volunteers.

“Shropshire Homes has been a long-standing supporter of the primary school competition, and we have also now secured backing from the reigning Shropshire Company of the Year, Pave Aways from Knockin.

“Other local businesses including Easirent and Greenhous Vauxhall have also given us their support, which all helps us to deliver top quality activities for young people across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.”

Chris Child, chief executive of Energize, added: “School Games has been an integral part of the calendar for all schools across our county for many years and has given opportunities to thousands of pupils to take part in or volunteer at events spanning numerous sports and activities.

“However, it takes a huge amount of time and resource to organise and this is why partnerships with businesses who understand the benefits of this programme are so crucial.”

Steven Owen, managing director of Pave Aways, said: “As someone with a strong sporting background, I firmly believe that being involved in competitive games teaches young people important skills so I look forward to our involvement in these exciting events over the coming year.”

The next secondary schools county finals will be in January, when the key stage three and four badminton titles will be decided at Shrewsbury Sports Village.

For more details about the School Games events for primary and secondary schools across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, see School Games