ST MARY Magdalene Primary School are leaping for joy after being crowned Burnley Schools gymnastics champions yet again.

The super Saints retained their Year Three/Four title and will now go forward to represent the borough at the Lancashire Winter Schools Games Level Three County finals in Blackpool next month.

More than 100 primary school children from across Burnley took part in the Sainsbury’s School Games Level 2 Gymnastics Competition – all competing for a place in the prestigious county final.

This year the competition was extended to years Two to Six to allow more children to compete and also allowing ‘club gymnasts’ the opportunity to represent their school – something which hasn’t been possible in the past.

The BEST centre – a purpose built gymnastics facility and home of Burnley Gymnastics club – hosted the competition and gave the event a truly ‘Olympic’ feel. “Having the event at the BEST Centre and giving the children the opportunity to represent their school will hopefully have inspired some of the young competitor’s to join the sport at grass roots level which will be a real legacy of the School Games National Initiative,” said Helen Tyson, the School Games Organiser from Burnley School Sport Partnership.

In the year 3&4 team event, St Mary Magdalene’s took gold medal position with Casterton and St John’s Cliviger taking silver and bronze respectively. They will be joined in Blackpool by gymnast, Abigail Little and Olivia Benson of St Mary Magdalene’s Primary School and Kara Jones and Amie Daniels both from Cliviger.

All four up and coming gymnasts were the top four medal winners in the year 3&4 gymnast event.

There were also gold medal winning performances from from Jordan Henderson. Rosewood Primary School (Year 5/6 Boy), Rhianna Doogan, Brunshaw (Year 5/6 Girl), Henry Clegg, Rosewood Primary School (Year 2 Boys)) and Kiera Sanderson, Rosewood (Year 2 Girls).