LOWER Darwen Primary School confirmed themselves as the best sportshall athletics team in the borough after they were crowned champions for the third successive year.

The boys and girls yet again demonstrated they were real all-rounders after storming to track and field glory in the Blackburn and Darwen Year Five and Six event.

A total of 34 primary schools competed in a series of Sportshall Athletics festivals to determine which six schools would qualify for the final which was hosted by St Wilfrid’s High School.

While more than 600 pupils ran, threw and jumped throughout the event, everyone knew Lower Darwen would be the team to beat - and so it proved.

The school finished with a total of 244 points, 36 points clear of second placed Redeemer after winning boys boys and girls competitions.

The boys finished first or second in 11 out of the 12 events - winning six, were runners-up in five others and were third in the soft javelin.

The girls also won six of their 12 events but they were pushed a lot closer as Avondale were just eight points behind in second place, winning four times themselves.

Throughout January, a total of six festivals were held in secondary schools in Blackburn and Darwen. St Bede’s, St Wilfrid’s, Darwen Vale, Pleckgate, Witton and Our Lady & St John’s all hosted events which were officiated by more than 150 Young Leaders from those secondary schools.

Andrew Mercer, School Games Organiser for Blackburn and Darwen, said the event is one of the most popular in the sporting calendar hence the reason for so many qualifying heats.

“Sportshall is an exciting indoor programme of adapted athletics activities,” he said. “It provides fun ways to build core skills, gain British Athletics Sportshall Awards and is renowned for its exhilarating team competitions.

“Sportshall is the top school sports participation competition in the UK.”

The six teams that reached the final were Avondale, Lower Darwen, St Barnabas, The Redeemer, Feniscowles and Shadsworth who competed in a series of track and field events.

On the track, pupils took part in the obstacle race, one and two lap relays, six lap Paarlauf, over and under relay and 4x1 lap relay.

Field events included chest push, speed bounce, standing long and triple jumps, vertical jump and soft javelin.

Lower Darwen finished top with a combined total of 244 points, The Redeemer were second with 208 points while Avondale were third with 190 points.

“There were some outstanding performances on the track and some excellent jumping and throwing in the field events,” added Mercer.

“Lower Darwen who have now won this event three years in a row will now go through to the county finals at Blackpool Sports Centre later this month.”

He added: “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.

“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 they progress to the county finals.”