An annual primary school sports competition was launched this year with record numbers.
Around 400 pupils from 21 schools in Furness took part in the Primary MegaMAT Games cross-country event at Chetwynde School this week.
Primary MegaMAT games are a full schedule of multi-sport competitions including hockey, netball, and swimming.
It is organized by Chetwynde, who joined Furness College South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, which supports the competition, in September last year.
Organizer Katy Costa, Chetwynde’s Phase Two leader and a physical education teacher, said she was delighted with the growth of the event. She said: “Last year we had 13 schools with 150 students participating, but the response this year has been phenomenal. We are delighted to see so many children having fun and playing sports.
“There was a bit of rain but they were all fantastic and showed great determination to finish the course and we had so much positive feedback. A big thank you also to our senior students who helped guide the runners through the course.
The winners were in grades three through six at various schools. Dexter from Dane Ghyll won the boys third year, Jacy from Low Furness won the girls third year.
Fourth year race winners were Nathan from Sir John Barrow and Emilie from Low Furness. Alfie from St Columba’s Primary and Izzy from Parkside finished first in year five while Noah from Sir John Barrow and Imogen from Yarlside crossed the finish line in year six.
The event, which continues next month with hockey on Furness College’s Channelside campus, sees points tallied for each event with a winner declared this summer.
Last year’s winners were Chetwynde, runners-up were Yarlside Academy and Holy Family Primary took home the award as the most entrants.
The winners were presented with their medals by the Executive Director and CEO of the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, Professor Andrew Wren alongside Chetwynde Principal Steve Jefferson.
He added: “When we launched this event, we could only dream that it would grow so quickly and benefit so many students,” said Professor Wren. “It is open to all schools, not just those in our Trust, as we are committed to helping all students develop their confidence, leadership and teamwork through sport.”
