More than 500 schoolchildren took part in a major indoor athletics festival organised by Erewash School Sport Partnership.Youngsters from Years Three to Eight competed in a range of disciplines at the ESSP

Youngsters from Years Three to Eight competed in a range of disciplines at the ESSP sportshall event, which was held at Rutland Sports Park in Ilkeston.Pupils were given the opportunity to compete in relays, obstacle races and speed bounce along with various field events including soft javelin, triple jump and long jump.

Pupils were given the opportunity to compete in relays, obstacle races and speed bounce along with various field events including soft javelin, triple jump and long jump.

Schools taking part included Sawley Junior, Dallimore Primary, Hallam Fields, Firfield, Stanley St Andrew’s, Ladywood, Ashbrook Junior, Kensington Junior, Scargill Primary, Shardlow Primary and St Thomas. Students in Years 7 and 8 from Kirk Hallam Community Academy and Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy took part in the secondary schools sports hall competition.

The Year 3/4 winners were Firfield while Hallam Fields came out on top in the Year 5/6 competition. Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy scooped the Year 7/8 title.
Scargill Primary School won the Year 5/6 fair play award and the small school winners were Mapperley Primary School.

Sports leaders from Kirk Hallam Community Academy helped to run the primary school sportshall event.

There was also a Special Educational Needs sportshall event involving Kirk Hallam, Mapperley, Scargill, Firfield and Ashbrook Junior. Sports leaders from Derby College supported this festival.

Rhian Lilley, Erewash School Sport Partnership development manager, said the sportshall events were a fantastic opportunity for pupils across the borough.

She said: “The younger pupils won’t often get to try out all of the equipment that we have available at this competition so it’s a great experience for them

“It’s a massive event and all of the pupils, from Year 3 to Year 8, were so enthusiastic and really gave it their all.

“We would like to thank the teachers who accompanied their pupils and cheered them on and the sports leaders who did a great job of making sure that everything ran smoothly.”