IT’S ‘high fives’ all round for St Barnabas who have been crowned Blackburn and Darwen netball champions for the third year running.

The super Saints beat St Cuthbert’s in the final and will now represent the borough in the Spar Lancashire School Games in Blackpool next month.

The High 5 competition brought together the top eight teams together at St Bede’s High School to see who would be crowned champions.

Those teams had qualified from two heats earlier in the month and, in total, 25 schools were involved.

The High 5 event is the massively popular entry game of netball. It’s designed specifically for children, aged 9-11, and uses fun and variety to get them into the game, polish skills and aid fitness.

A key element of High 5 is players rotating round positions. This means that all the youngsters get to experience every position on court and makes for fitter more adaptable players as they get older.

The top eight teams that took part were Lower Darwen, St Mary & St Josephs, St Pauls Hoddlesden, The Redeemer, Holy Souls, St Cuthbert’s, Westholme and St Barnabas’ Darwen.

Teams were split into two groups of four and played a round robin format over the four courts with the top two progressing to the semi-finals.

Group A consisted of Lower Darwen, St Mary & St Josephs, St Pauls Hoddlesden and St Barnabas’ Darwen. St Barnabas’ Darwen won all of their games to top the group and St Mary & St Joseph’s went through as group runners up.

Group B contained The Redeemer, Holy Souls, St Cuthbert’s and Westholme. St Cuthbert’s topped the group with 3 wins and Westholme went through as runner up.

In the first semi final, St Barnabas’ Darwen were up against Westholme and, in a competitive clash, the Saints ran out 4-1 winners.

In the second semi final, St Cuthbert’s were in superb form as they beat St Mary & St Josephs 12-2.

In the third and fourth place play-off, Westholme took the bronze medals thanks to a 7-4 victory against St Mary & St Josephs.

Despite a spirited effort from St Cutbert’s the final proved to be a one-sided affair with the holders proving to be just too strong as they ran out 8-1 winners.

St Barnabas’ will now represent the Borough at the Spar Lancashire School Games on the 5th July in Blackpool.

Andrew Mercer, School Games Organiser, said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the Young Leaders from St Bede’s and the volunteers from The West Pennine Netball club for their support in running and officiating this competition over three weeks.

“I wish St Barnabas the best of luck next month and I’m sure they will do themselves, their school and the Borough proud.”