THE culmination of the Wiltshire & Swindon School Games took place at Marlborough this month, with 1,300 students from 86 schools competing in 14 county finals.
A total of 12 sports have been contested at the Games as part of a year-round school sports competition programme, organised by Wiltshire and Swindon Sport and supported by the National Lottery and Sport England.
The programme came to a culmination with the spectacular Summer School Games held at Marlborough College and Marlborough Leisure Centre.
Officiating the competitions were 200 young volunteers from secondary schools across the county, supported by volunteers from Wiltshire Swimming, the RFU, the Tennis Foundation, the Golf Foundation, as well as volunteers from county sports associations and local clubs.
Great Britain international long jumper Feron Sayers spoke to the athletes to promote the positive values of the School Games, while Heytesbury Primary School choir – winners of the School Games choir competition – performed in the opening ceremony alongside dancers from Matravers School.
Athletes were joined by the Mayor of Marlborough and Mayor of Swindon, while former Olympic 400m hurdles champion David Hemery awarded the medals and trophies to the winning schools.
First-time winners at this year’s Games included Minster (swimming), Winsley (tennis), Great Bedwyn (Quad Kids), Bradon Forest (Girls touch rugby) and St Marks (orienteering).
Wiltshire and Swindon Sport CEO Steve Boocock said: “The School Games are an opportunity to motivate and inspire young people across Wiltshire and Swindon to take part in more competitive school sport and showcase the contribution sport makes to our school community.
“We want to encourage even more young people to get active and develop leadership skills and qualities.”
Alma Borthwick, Games organiser, added: “The event gets better every year with more schools taking part not only in the sports competitions but also by providing sports leaders.”
Wiltshire & Swindon Summer School Games, Marlborough
Orienteering: 1 St Marks, 2 Meadow Park, 3 Great Bedwyn
Swimming: 1 Minister, 2 Wroughton, 3 The Mead
Tri golf: 1 Ramsbury, 2 Crockerton, 3 St Osmunds
Primary tennis: 1 Winsley, 2 Harnham, 3 Ramsbury/Tregoze
Quadkids: 1 Great Bedwyn, 2 Shaw Ridge, 3 Greentrees
Small schools: 1 Holy Trinity, 2 St Michaels, 3 Ramsbury
Rounders: 1 Sheldon, 2 Bradon Forest, 3 Trafalgar
Touch Rugby: 1 Bradon Forest, 2 St Johns, 3 St Edmunds
Super 8s boys: 1 Bishops Wordsworth, 2 Sheldon, 3 Wyvern
Super 8s girls: 1 Hardenhuish, 2 St Johns, 3 Ridgeway
Table Tennis: 1 St Augustines, 2 Bishops Wordsworth, 3 St Laurence
Dodgeball: 1 Clarendon, 2 Wyvern, 3 Lavington
Tennis boys: 1 Bishop Wordsworth, 2 Kingdown, 3 St Josephs
Tennis girls: 1 South Wilts Grammar, 2 St Augustines, 3 Trafalgar
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