South Yorkshire pupils compete for the county's sporting crown

Thousands of South Yorkshire schoolchildren took to the track to battle it out to see who would be crowned the county's sporting best.
South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. The Opening Ceremony.South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. The Opening Ceremony.
South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. The Opening Ceremony.

Budding young athletes from Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster faced off in nine different events at the English Institute of Sport in Attercliffe in the South Yorkshire School Games Winter Festival.

Thousands of children from 89 South Yorkshire schools took part in nine sports, including basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and athletics.

South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. Pupils from Tapton School in action.South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. Pupils from Tapton School in action.
South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. Pupils from Tapton School in action.
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Sheffield’s trampolining star Bryony Page, who secured Team GB’s first ever Olympic medal in the sport, was at the event as a special guest.

She also took time out to show schoolchildren her medal and signed autographs for young fans.

Bryony led the Olympic-style opening ceremony before the sporting festivities kicked off.

The schools and pupils who ran out winners in their events will now go on to the UK finals, which will take place later this year in Loughborough, flying the flag for South Yorkshire on the national stage.

South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. St Marie's v Barugh Green Primary in action in the basketball.South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. St Marie's v Barugh Green Primary in action in the basketball.
South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. St Marie's v Barugh Green Primary in action in the basketball.
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Despite the competitive edge, the event was also about encouraging youngsters to take up a sport.

Event organiser Simon Pugh, from Yorkshire Sport Foundation, hailed the day a big success.

He said: “There were lots of different activities taking place and it was nice to see everyone come together to try to be the South Yorkshire champions.

“As part of the event we get young people to places like this which are fantastic and they might not otherwise get involved in.

South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. Pupils from Tapton School in action.South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. Pupils from Tapton School in action.
South Yorkshire School Games held at the EIS in Sheffield. Pupils from Tapton School in action.
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“We also bring in local sports clubs that help deliver some of these activities and from that, we signpost the young people to all those different clubs in their area so they get inspired by a sport which they’ve tried.

“This is all about putting something on for the children, a sport which they might not have played or taken part in before and, in turn, they can get involved afterwards at a club near to where they live if they want to.”