PUPILS from schools across East Lancashire are celebrating after storming to success at the largest youth sporting event in the county, scooping a total of 21 medals between them.

More than 2,000 pupils from 15 districts met at Blackpool’s Stanley Park to compete in the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals, in a bid to be crowned county champions in a range of sports.

And it was Team Chorley who were crowned overall champions bringing home six medals in total including four gold, one silver and one bronze.

Buckshaw Primary School pupils won the tri golf while Holy Cross Catholic High School clinched gold in one of the event’s most highly-anticipated sports – touch rugby.

There was further success thanks to Trinity & St Michael’s CE & Methodist Primary School in the cricket, while Albany Academy and Parklands High School secured joint gold in both the girls’ and boys’ duathlon events.

Mayfield Special School triumphed in the inclusive gymnastics event with a silver medal, while Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School added to team Chorley’s medal tally - taking bronze in high-five netball after a full day of round-robin competitions.

Team Ribble Valley finished in second placed overall with St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School producing a gold medal winning performance to win the high five netball

Oakhill School claimed silver in inclusive orienteering and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School also won silver in girls’ athletics.

Team Blackburn with Darwen bagged an impressive five medals, including one gold, three silver and one bronze.

Success came thanks to St Bede’s Roman Catholic High School pupils, who clinched silver in the boys’ athletics and bronze in the girls’ athletics.

Crosshill Special School were victorious in tee-ball to claim a gold medal and Lower Darwen Primary pupils scooped silver in cricket,

And The Redeemer added to the district’s medal tally by taking silver in orienteering.

Team Burnley were helped to success thanks to Rigdewood Community High School pupils who claimed bronze in the inclusive orienteering event.

Elsewhere, Wellfield Methodist and Anglican Church School pupils added to the district’s medal tally by winning silver in mini tennis.

Haslingden High School pupils were on form for Team Rossendale, placing joint first in the duathlon event to claim a gold medal, while Crawshawbooth Primary School pupils scored a bronze medal in the highly anticipated girls’ football fixture.

In the inclusive football event, Pendle Vale College pupils scored a bronze medal, while over on the handball courts, Fisher More RC High School clinched bronze.

And Colne Park High School claimed bronze in the duathlon event.

Proceedings were kicked off with an opening ceremony which saw pupils marching in the district parade, before Cllr Ian Coleman, the Mayor of Blackpool, delivered an inspiring speech.

Lancashire Lion, the SPAR Lancashire School Games mascot, was on hand to motivate and encourage the children, while school games makers from Ormskirk High School helped coordinate the event. Rock FM DJ Fiona Sadler compered, as pupils from Parklands High School entertained the crowds with an energetic dance performance.

Now in its eleventh year, the SPAR Lancashire School Games is sponsored by James Hall & Company Ltd, SPAR distributors for the North of England.

This year the retailer is celebrating sixty years since its first store was set up in 1957, with more than 2,700 across the country and over 12,000 worldwide today.

Anthony Barton, operations and HR director at James Hall & Company Ltd, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to lend our support to the biggest youth sporting event in Lancashire, and the county finals is always a highly anticipated event we look forward to. This year is particularly special as we celebrate sixty years of SPAR.

“It’s so encouraging and rewarding to see youngsters of all backgrounds and abilities participating in, and enjoying, competitive sport and I’d like to congratulate all those who took part in the event.”

Jane Johnson, school games organiser for Ribble Valley, said: “The SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals event is the highlight of the county’s school sports calendar and this year didn’t disappoint, with fantastic performances in all sports and it was brilliant to see the athletes giving it their all.

“I’d like to thank the volunteers and school games makers without whose support the county finals wouldn’t be possible, and a huge well done to Ribble Valley pupils for doing our district proud.”