HUNDREDS of sporty youngsters were going for gold at Thornes Park yesterday when they took part in the annual school Olympics.
Almost 2,000 pupils from more than 60 schools hopped, skipped and jumped their way around seven different activity circuits at the Minilympics to win points for one of the 12 'countries' they were representing.
If you participated in the Olympics, then send us your comments on what you thought about the event.The giant sports day included everything from space hopper and hurdle races to basketball shoot-outs, bat-and-ball games, skipping competitions and jumping relays.
Around 150 sports leaders from the city's secondary schools ran and marshalled the event, and spurred each country on with chants and songs accompanied by Outwood Grange Technology College's samba band.
Katie Ainsworth, 11, of Horbury Primary School, was on the morning session's winning team, which was China. She said: "I really loved it, it was great fun."
The event, which had to be cancelled last year because of the floods, was organised by Rebecca Foster, manager of the Outwood Grange College Sports Partnership.
She said: "The kids had a fantastic time and really got into the Olympic spirit, which is great because the day was all about letting their hair down after their recent SAT exams, and it is a great opportunity for them to mix with their peers from other schools."
Parents and grandparents enjoyed watching the fun from the sidelines.
Diane Depledge, 58, of Sycamore Copse, near the park, was rooting for her two granddaughters Paige Depledge, 10, and 11-year-old Charlie Pawson.
She said: "I think it is such a fantastic idea to get them all together like this. It is so nice to see them all running about enjoying themselves, especially when all you hear in the news these days is that children are obese."
The event, sponsored by First Direct, ended in true Olympic style with a lap of honour around the athletics track where children waved their flags with pride to the sound of their countries' various national anthems.
ResultsMorning session
1 China
2 Japan
3 New Zealand
4 Spain
5 Greece
6 Canada
7 Kenya
8 Australia
9 USA
10 France
11 South Africa
12 Sweden
Afternoon session
1 South Africa
2 USA
3 Japan
4 France
5 Australia
6 Kenya
7 Canada
8 China
9 Spain
10 New Zealand
11 Sweden
12 Greece
Prizes for the most outstanding sports leaders
Cathedral School: Lauren Bolas and Adam Sellars
City High School: Jack Thickett and Adam Anderson
Crofton High School: Ben Lister and Isabel Young
Ossett School: Ellie Buzco and Robin Sinister
Outwood Grange Technology College: Nick Brewer and Claire Hathaway
Kettlethorpe High School: Jack Owen and Amy Dodd
St Thomas a Becket Catholic Comprehensive School: Jenny West and Dami Omilabu
Horbury School: Hannah Denton and David Holmes
Click here to view a slideshow of the event
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