MORE than 1,000 pupils from primary schools across Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley have been given the chance to multi task.

For children from ‘cluster schools’ from the two boroughs nine secondary schools have been given the opportunity to show off their skills in a wide range of sports.

Over the course of week, the Hyndburn & Ribble Valley School Sports Partnership held seven events were held using each of the school sports partnerships family groups.

On the Monday, Accrington Academy, St Christopher’s and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School were involved.

Tuesday was the turn of Mount Carmel, Hollins and Rhyddings in the morning and Bowland in the afternoon.

Wednesday saw Norden in the morning and Ribblesdale in the afternoon with the final session belonging to the St Augustine’s cluster on Thursday afternoon.

Youngsters got the chance to take part in a wide range of sports from boccia to kurling and volleyball to indoor athletics.

“Over the course of week we held seven events using each of the school sports partnerships family groups,” said Gareth Martindale, assistant school games organiser at Hyndburn & Ribble Valley School Sports Partnership “The children taking part took part in 10 activities and three different sports.

“The10 activities were balance and bounce, stepping stones, wobble boards, co-ordination, speed bounce, cross jumps, skipping, cognitive, standing long jump and agility run.

“And the three sports they took part in was boccia, kurling and volleyball.

“The purpose of the event was to give children the chance to try out a number of different sports and activities.” Martindale was delighted with the turnout and the interest shown by the primary school pupils who took part and the secondary pupils who helped run the events.

He said: “We had 1,025 Year Five children take part in the event which is a fantastic number and we had 80 secondary school students leading the activities throughout the week.”

He added: “I would like to thank Hyndburn Sports Centre for letting us use their facility all week, Accrington Academy, St Christopher’s, Mount Carmel, Norden and Rhyddings for allowing their leaders out of school to volunteer on the event.

“Without them the events simply could not run.

“A massive thank you also goes to the Get Set Legacy project who without their support, funding and resources the event would never have been as successful as it has been. And lastly a massive thank you goes to the 37 primary schools who attended the event and made them so successful.”