Blackburn and Darwen School Games

The annual Blackburn Primary School Swimming Gala took place on Friday 2nd May at Darwen Leisure Centre with over 100 children from 13 different primary schools competing.

 

In total there were 14 events ranging from individual races to team relays. In an evening of intense and exciting competition there were some outstanding swimmers on show. These events covered all 4 strokes both in individual races and in the relay events. In the majority of the events there were two qualifying heats to determine who would line up in the 8 person final.

 

The medals were shared amongst the schools however a special mention goes to Liam Toole of St Francis who reclaimed his individual 25m butterfly title from last year, but this year also claimed the individual medley gold. Mia Smith of QEGS took the gold in the girls 25m butterfly event. In the backstroke races, Oliver Rawson of Salesbury managed to fend off challenges from Harrison Fawcett of Lower Darwen and Harry Kershaw of Westholme to claim the gold medal. In the girls event Charlotte Hempsall produced a great swim to take 1st place. In the final individual race of the night Ryan Newton won gold for Salesbury in the boys 25m frontcrawl event. In the girls race Hollie Cubbon of Westholme took the gold with Gabriella Sandham taking silver and Eleanor Jorgensen taking the bronze. There were many outstanding individual performances and every child that competed in their event should be proud of themselves.

 

Within the team races Salesbury managed to beat Lower Darwen and QEGS to the gold medal in the boys 4 x 25m medley relay. In the girls race for the same event, Westholme won gold with Salesbury claiming silver and a well-deserved bronze went to Fensicowles. Salesbury and Westholme also won the gold in the boys and girls 4 x 25m freestyle relay. The final race of the night was the 6 x 25m freestyle cannon relay. This was a fantastic climax to the night with Salesbury claiming their 6th gold of the night, closely followed by Westholme and QEGS who took home silver and bronze respectively.

 

The schools which attended this year’s swimming gala were: Salesbury, Shadsworth, Lammack, Wensley Fold, Lower Darwen, Westholme, St Thomas’, QEGS, St James’ Lower Darwen, St Francis, The Redeemer and Feniscowles.

 

A massive congratulations to everybody and each school that took part, also a huge thank you goes to Darwen Leisure Centre for the use of their fantastic facilities. We would also like to thank all of the teachers who attended the event, giving up their free time on a Friday night to see their pupils swim competitively. And finally to Craig Marshall, who organises this event, for all his hard work in putting the swimming gala together.