PUPILS from St Wilfrid’s High School helped launch the official opening of the SPAR Lancashire School Games 2019.

More than 80 school children from 14 Lancashire districts attended the launch, alongside two Team GB athletes - Paralympian Nathan Maguire and Commonwealth gold medal winning boxer, Lisa Whiteside from Chorley.

The event was organised by Active Lancashire and held at James Hall & Co 35,000 sq. metre warehouse.

Whiteside said: “The SPAR Lancashire School Games offers children such a fantastic opportunity to be involved in competitive sport and I only wish that I had had such an opportunity while at school.

“Meeting the children and seeing their enthusiasm for sport has been amazing and reflects all the hard work from the Lancashire school games organisers, SPAR and Active Lancashire.”

Guests enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of James Hall & Co’s 35,000 sq. metre warehouse and production areas, witnessing how products are made, packaged and transported onto the shelves of their local SPAR stores.

Peter Dodding, sales and marketing director James Hall & Co added: “This is our 13th year of sponsoring the Games and we are absolutely thrilled to be able to continue that support.

“Each year, the team of school games organisers make such a difference to sport within schools and we are proud to be working alongside Active Lancashire to help promote healthy and active lifestyles throughout the county.”

He added: “More 94,000 Lancashire school children participated in last year’s SPAR Lancashire School Games and this year promises to be bigger and better!”

A series of regionals events covering 24 sports culminated in the SPAR Lancashire School Games county final, held in July at Blackpool’s Stanley Park, where 2,600 children represented their district and school.

New for 2019 will be participation events, which aim to engage with children who may not typically have the chance to participate in the games and promote inclusivity in sport.

These activities include dodgeball, angling, volleyball and climbing.