LOWER Darwen Primary School booked their place in the Lancashire Sportshall Athletics finals after running, throwing and leaping their way to glory in the borough finals.

The final brought together six schools who had won their respective qualifying heats held at secondary schools throughout Blackburn and Darwen.

In total, nearly 600 Year Five and Six pupils from 28 primary schools took part in the competition for the right to take part in the county finals in Hyndburn next week.

And it was Lower Darwen who will fly the flag for the borough at Hyndburn Leisure Centre next Thursday after beating Avondale in to second place.

While it was a team effort, it was the Lower Darwen girls who laid the foundation for the victory - winning an impressive nine of the 11 track and field events.

The boys team also excelled but were not as dominate as they girls as they claimed first place in five different categories.

Sportshall athletics is now the top school sports participation competition in the UK.

The exciting indoor programme is an ideal way for youngsters to learn and improve in a range of track and field which can then act as a stepping stone to joining established athletics clubs and competing outdoors.

But as well as providing fun ways to build core skills, is it renowned for its exhilarating team competitions - and that was certainly the case at St Wilfrid's High School who hosted the competition.

Following a series of qualifying events, held at different venues throughout January, it was Avondale, Lower Darwen, Meadowhead, The Redeemer, St Gabriels and St Peters RC who all came together to battle it in events that included chest push, speed bounce, soft javelin and a series of relay races.

There were some outstanding performances on the track and some excellent jumping and throwing in the field events - but it was Lower Darwen who were the outstanding team.

The champions finished with an impressive total of 232 points with Avondale in second place with 186 points while The Redeemer a close third with 180 points.

Lower Darwen girls won all but two of their events as they amassed 126 points. On the track, they won the obstacle relay, 1+1 and 2+2 relays and six-lap paarlauf and finished in third place in the 4x1 lap relay.

In the field, they also missed out on a clean sweep by one event, picking up six points in the standing long jump whereas they earned the maximum 12 points in the chest push, speed bounce, standing long jump, standing triple jump, vertical jump and soft javelin.

The only other schools to win a girls event where St Gabriels in 4x1 lap relay and Avondale who took top spot in the chest push.

Lower Darwen's boys' success came largely in the field where they won four of the six categories - winning the chest push, speed bounce, standing triple jump and vertical jump.

The Redeemer won the standing long jump and the soft javelin went to St Gabriels.

On the track, the honours were shared out with Lower Darwen's sole success coming in the 1+1 lap relay.

The Redeemer won the obstacle relay which completed a double for the school in the event as they girls finished joint top with Lower Darwen.

The 2+2 lap relay and the six lap paarlauf was won by Avondale while St Peter's won the 4x1 lap relay.

School Games Organiser Andrew Mercer thanked all the schools for taking part and the 150 Young Leaders from the borough's secondary schools who officiated the qualifying rounds and the final.

"I would like to congratulate all of the schools and pupils who have been part of Primary Sportshall Athletics over what has been a very busy couple of months," said Mercer.

"A massive Thank you goes to all the secondary schools and their PE staff for hosting and running the events.

"The Secondary young leaders who officiated and scored the events were brilliant and an absolute credit to their secondary schools.

"I wish Lower Darwen the best of luck as the progress to the county finals and hope to see even more young people competing in and enjoying sportshall athletics in 2017!"