Schools net thrilling victories

12.00.00am GMT Wed 21st Mar 2007

St James's School retained their title in a thrilling game at the Competitive Edge Primary Schools' Netball Tournament at Old Deer Park on Friday (23 March).

In the large schools final, they raced to a 4-0 lead but their opponents, Vineyard, clawed two goals back in the final quarter of the game to make it a nailbiting finale. Queen's and Collis shared third place. The small schools tournament was equally exciting and was won by St John the Baptist Junior School who beat St Mary's and St Peter's 5-2. Lowther claimed third place. The event was run by Richmond Council's Sports Development Team in partnership with Old Deer Park and Whitton Netball Clubs. It was staged as part of the Council's Competitive Edge programme, which aims to boost the numbers of young people taking part in competitive sport. Since the initiative was launched in 2004 the number of school pupils in the borough involved in competitive sport has rocketed, from 20 per cent of the school population to 41 per cent in 2007. Thirteen large and eight small schools from across the borough took part in Friday's tournament with a coaching session held beforehand.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Cllr John Coombs, said:

"This was a tremendous tournament and is further evidence of just how successful our Competitive Edge programme has been in encouraging budding sports talent. Youngsters competed for their schools and for the chance to be chosen as part of the borough's team to compete in the London Mini Youth Games at Crystal Palace Sports Centre on June 28. So there was an added incentive for all the young people taking part - a possible springboard to future success at a London-wide sporting competition."