Scarisbrick Hall students net place at SPAR Lancashire School Games

PUPILS from Scarisbrick Hall School in West Lancashire are celebrating after securing a place at the largest youth sporting event in Lancashire, following victory in a high 5 netball competition. The School battled it out against 4 other Schools and will now represent West Lancashire at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals where they will compete against teams from 14 other Lancashire districts in a bid to be crowned county champions in high 5 netball.

After a number of inter-School competitions, students from:- Scarisbrick Hall School, Woodland Community Primary School, Trinity CofE/Methodist Primary School, Tarleton Holy Trinity CofE Primary School and Westhead Lathom St James CE Primary School gathered at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College for the event.

Chris Hart, School games organiser for West Lancashire, who arranged the event, said:- "High 5 netball has always been 1 of the most popular sports at the SPAR Lancashire School Games, but this year we were inundated with students wanting to battle it out for 1 of the coveted county final spots. Many thanks to the young leaders from Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Primary School, who did a great job at umpiring the matches. Well done to everyone who took part and huge congratulations to Scarisbrick Hall students for bagging the place."

Organised by Active Lancashire, the SPAR Lancashire School Games comprises a series of inclusive sporting events that provides competitive and participative opportunities for all School children across the county. Children across Lancashire will continue to battle it out in a range of sports to gain a place at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals which will be held at Blackpool's Stanley Park, on 3 July 2018.

More than 3,500 children from Schools across Lancashire's 15 districts are now battling it out for a place at the county finals in 16 sports including:- gymnastics, football, athletics, mixed cricket and touch rugby. New additions to the SPAR Lancashire School Games line up have also been introduced for 2018, including quick sticks and quad kids.

The SPAR Lancashire School Games is the biggest School games programme of its kind and is implemented by the county's School games organisers.

This year will mark the 12th year the county's School games programme has been sponsored by James Hall and Company Ltd, the SPAR distributors for the North of England. Over ₤128m of National Lottery and Government funding has been invested into the School games programme.

Astrid Smith will sing at Woodvale Rally soon after filming 1 of ITV's most popular talent shows

8 year old Astrid, of West Street, will take to the stage at the rally, on Saturday, 16 June and Sunday, 17 June 2018, performing a mix of jazz and blues tracks.

The St. Marks School pupil has just finished filming the talent show, which will go out on ITV in July 2018. Sorry, we can't name the programme for contractual agreements. She beat off competition from more than 10,000 other youngsters to reach the final 60.

Astrid was scouted for two prime ITV talent shows after taking part last April in another competition; Teenstar; where she received the Newcomers Award. She has also competed in Open Mic where she reached the area finals.

Astrid's mum Amanda said:- "I am so proud of what our little girl has achieved. She was just born to sing. I can't believe that she did her 1st competition last year and has come so far within 12 months... she is living her dream!"

Astrid will be appearing alongside other top names at this year's Woodvale Rally including:- John Lennon's Quarrymen and a new line up of other top artists.

This year the rally will also see the 12th Century brought back to life when members of the re-enactment society Historia Normannis will set up camp at the showground. Visitors will be invited to experience the Norman era after 1066, handling reproduction artefacts and exploring the living conditions of a 12th Century army on the march.

Show goers will also be invited to join former Marvel Comics writer and Editor, Tim Quinn for a lesson in creating comic book characters. Having worked on titles including:- the Beano, Dandy, Spider Man and X-Men, he will help visitors to the create a new superhero based on their life.

The West Lancashire Dog Display Team will once again be putting our 4 legged friends through their paces as will Jema Leopold with her amazing performing horses. Members of the North West Reptile Club will give show goers the chance to handle some of their amazing creatures.

There will also be entertainment for children, with:- a fairground, theatre shows, bouncy castles, big slides, quads, zip wire, climbing wall, zorbing balls, go-karts and train rides.

Classic and vintage cars will be rolling in as well as military vehicles, model railways and boats and stationary engines.

There will also be numerous trade stands, craft and food marquee, car boot, collectors fair and Morris dancing.

Plus we have lots more attractions to be announced soon...

Tickets cost:- ₤6 for adults, ₤4 for children and under 5's are free of charge! Gates open at 10am and for further information visit:- WoodvaleRally.Com.