School Games kids are going for it!

More than 2,000 school pupils from across Greater Manchester gathered at the Regional Athletics Arena for the opening ceremony of the 2018 Greater Manchester’s Winter School Games.

CBBC presenter Lauren Layfield delivered the opening ceremony, with special guests including Wigan singer, Jake Mckechnie, who reached the finals on The Voice Kids 2017.

Oldham came away champions in the Year 7 girls' netball, where Hulme Grammar School were victorious.

A further four Oldham teams won medals:

• Mills Hill Primary School – Year 3/4 Keysteps Gymnastics (Silver)
• The Radclyffe School – Year 7/8/9 New Age Kurling (Silver)
• Mills Hill Primary School – Year 5/6 Keysteps Gymnastics (Bronze)
• Broadfield Primary School – Year 5/6 Quicksticks Hockey (Bronze)

The following teams represented Oldham at the event:

Basketball - Year 5/6                             Mather Street

Boccia - Year 7/8/9                                The Radclyffe School

Handball - Year 7/8 Boys                       The Radclyffe School

Handball - Year 7/8 Girls                        Newman RC College

Key Steps Gymnastics - Year 1/2           Mills Hill

Key Steps Gymnastics - Year 3/4           Mills Hill Primary School

Key Steps Gymnastics - Year 5/6           Mills Hill

Netball -Year 7 Girls                               Hulme Grammar School

New Age Kurling - Year 7/8/9                  The Radclyffe School

Pop Lacrosse - Year 5/6                           St Marys

Quicksticks Hockey - Year 5/6               Broadfield Primary

Quicksticks Hockey - Year 5/6               Hodge Clough Primary School

Sportshall Athletics - Year 5/6                Higher Failsworth Primary School

Sportshall Athletics - Year 5/6               Mills Hill Primary School

Swimming - Primary Gala Boys              Delph Primary School

Swimming - Primary Gala Girls               Delph Primary School

Swimming - Secondary Gala Boys         Oldham Hulme Grammar School

Swimming - Secondary Gala Girls          Oldham Hulme Grammar School

Table Tennis - Under 13 Mixed               Newman RC College

Table Tennis - Under 15 Mixed               Newman RC College

Tag Rugby League - Year 5/6 Tag          Delph Primary

Tag Rugby League - Year 5/6 Tag          Mayfield Primary School

There were competitions taking place in Athletics, Basketball, Boccia, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Lacrosse, Netball, New Age Kurling, Rugby League, Swimming, Table Tennis and Tennis.

World class facilities from around the county were utilised for the games, including the National Cycling Centre, Eastlands Athletics Arena and the National Basketball Performance Centre.

Nearly 150 young leaders came together to form the School Games crew this year, including a number from Newman College from Chadderton.

They underwent training before the event, with some gaining qualifications to ensure they could help deliver the hockey competition with Brooklands Hockey Club.

Responsibilities of the volunteers on the day included refereeing, officiating and team management.

The Games also welcomed Gymnastic star, Beth Tweddle MBE and Alan Newton, an Olympic bronze medallist at the Cycling Competition in Helsinki in 1952, who were both on hand to inspire the young athletes.

Beth helped to deliver the gymnastics competition with her company Total Gymnastics.

The School Games Organisers across Greater Manchester have organised and delivered local competitions with 140,751 individuals having taken part in this academic year so far.

Their winners then attended the Greater Manchester School Games to compete to become the Greater Manchester champions in their sport. 

Matt Johnson, Deputy CEO at GreaterSport, organisers of the Greater Manchester School Games said: “What a fantastic day of school sport competition, the event provides a terrific platform in which these 2,000 young people can showcase their talents at world class venues.

"What I particularly enjoyed is seeing the passion and enjoyment from not just the competitors, but the teachers, parents, volunteers and competition deliverers too, this started at the opening ceremony and continued throughout the competitions.”

A full list of results and schools who took part as well as photographs from the day can be found at www.greatersport.co.uk/schoolgames. 

The Greater Manchester Summer School Games will take place on Friday, July 6.