Local teams win medals in the Greater Manchester Winter School Game

Pupils from St James Primary playing pop lacrosse

Seven local teams won medals in the Greater Manchester Winter School Games at the Regional Athletics Arena on Tuesday.

• St Patrick’s RC Primary School – Year 1/2 Keysteps Gymnastics (Silver)
• Norden Community Primary School – Year 5/6  Keysteps Gymnastics (Silver)
• St James’ Primary School – Year 5/6 Pop Lacrosse Championship (Silver)
• Holy Trinity Primary School – Year 5/6 Pop Lacrosse Championship (Bronze)
• Kingsway Park High School – Year 7/8/9 Boccia (Bronze)
• Cardinal Langley High School – Year 7 Girls Netball (Bronze)
• Falinge Park High School – Year 7/8/9 New Age Kurling (Bronze)

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

The following schools represented Rochdale at the event:

• Basketball - Year 5/6 - Bowlee Park Primary School
• Boccia - Year 7/8/9 - Kingsway Park High School
• Handball - Year 7/8 Boys - Siddal Moor Sports College
• Handball - Year 7/8 Girls - Siddal Moor Sports College
• Key Steps Gymnastics - Year 1/2 - St Patrick's RC Primary School
• Key Steps Gymnastics - Year 3/4 - St Patrick's RC Primary School
• Key Steps Gymnastics - Year 5/6 - Norden Community Primary School
• Netball - Year 7 Girls - Cardinal Langley
• New Age Kurling - Year 7/8/9 - Falinge Park High School
• Pop Lacrosse - Year 5/6 - Holy Trinity
• Pop Lacrosse - Year 5/6 - St James Primary School
• Quicksticks Hockey - Year 5/6 - Caldershaw Primary
• Quicksticks Hockey - Year 5/6 - Castleton
• Sportshall Athletics - Year 5/6 - Norden Community Primary School
• Sportshall Athletics - Year 5/6 - St Gabriels RC
• Swimming - Primary Gala Boys - Middleton Parish
• Swimming - Primary Gala Girls - St Joseph's RC Primary School
• Swimming - Secondary Gala Boys - Oulderhill School
• Swimming - Secondary Gala Girls - Oulderhill School
• Tag Rugby League - Year 5/6 Tag - Holy Family RC
• Tag Rugby League - Year 5/6 Tag - Smithy Bridge Primary School

Nearly 150 young leaders came together to form the School Games crew this year, including a number from Beech House School in Rochdale. They underwent training before the event, with some gaining qualifications to ensure they could help deliver the Lacrosse competition with English Lacrosse. Responsibilities of the volunteers on the day included refereeing, officiating and team management.

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.”