Blackburn and Darwen School Games

On Tuesday the 20th May 2014 Blackburn Northern Tennis Club hosted the Blackburn with Darwen Year 3 & 4 Mini Tennis Competition.

 

This year the competition consisted of 8 Schools from across the borough.  Schools were split into 2 groups of 4 with the top 2 from each progressing through to the semi-finals. The format this year was that the scores from each of the two boys and two  girls in each fixture were added together to get an overall team score.

 

Group 1 consisted of St Cuthbert’s, St Paul’s Hoddlesden, Wensley Fold and St James’ Lower Darwen. In group 2 were Avondale, Lower Darwen, The Redeemer and Longshaw. The standard on display was excellent, and in group one St Cuthbert’s topped the group with maximum points with St Paul’s Hoddlesden claiming second place. In group 2 Avondale also won all 3 of their games to finish in first place with Lower Darwen finishing second and also advancing to the next stage.  

 

So the semi-finals were between St Cuthbert’s and Lower Darwen and in the second semi-final Avondale took on St Paul’s Hoddlesden. Some swash buckling shots from St Cuthbert’s saw them advance into the finals and joining them would be St Paul’s who saw off a spirited Avondale to reach the final.

 

The 3rd/4th place playoff between Lower Darwen and Avondale was an extremely close game however Lower Darwen managed to edge it by 3 points winning 31-28 to take 3rd place.

 

So the final was between St Cuthbert’s and St Paul’s Hoddlesden. St Cuthbert’s class really showed through in the final and they ran out worthy winners 39-18. However St Paul’s can be extremely proud of their 2nd place finish.  St Cuthbert’s will now go onto the SPAR Lancashire Youth Games to represent Blackburn with Darwen on the 1st July. The SPAR Lancashire School Games is organised by the Lancashire Local Organising Committee (LOC) and sponsored by James Hall & Company Ltd, the SPAR distributors for the North of England.
Around 3,000 primary and secondary pupils from across the county are expected to take part in the events which are part of the national £128m School Games programme, aimed at motivating and inspiring millions of youngsters to take part in competitive school sport.

 

I would like to say a huge Thankyou to Blackburn Northern Tennis Club for allowing us to use their wonderful facilities.  I would also like to thank the Young Leaders from St Bede’s RC High school who did a great Job officiating and umpiring.  I wish St Cuthberts the best of luck as the represent the Borough on the 1st July in Blackpool.

Andrew Mercer School Games Organiser