BISHAM Abbey National Sports Centre hosted over 800 schools and 1,000 students at the Berkshire Winter School Games last Wednesday.

The event saw both primary and secondary school children showcase a very high level of talent in 11 different sports competitions.

Over 120 teams competed in athletics, badminton, boccia, football, hockey, netball and rugby.

Chief executive of Get Berkshire Active Brett Nicholls said: “Another phenomenal School Games was held at the outstanding Bisham Abbey Sports Centre. It’s a fantastic day that enables pupils to experience their very own Olympic Games.

“The Berkshire School Games is consistently rated in the top three county games in England and this is down to the hard work of the School Sports Networks, the Get Berkshire Active Team and event organiser Sarah Taylor.

“A special thank you must go to our new sponsors Berkshire Community Foundation and Greenham Common Trust. It is because of their support that we are able to put on such a special event.”

This year’s Winter Games saw an influential sporting champion, ex-Great Britain badminton player Elizabeth Cann, attend to help inspire Berkshire’s schoolchildren.

The Games also saw the return of Youth Olympian, Annabel Chaffey, who was competing in the School Games just a few years ago. Chaffey competes in bobsleigh and is the second fastest driver in the world for her age group.

The Games were organised in partnership by the local committee, Get Berkshire Active, the County Sports Partnership and the School Games Networks who have a lead role in organising the qualifying competitions at local level through their school sport partnerships.

St Josephs beat fellow Slough-based school St Bernards in the boys’ year eight athletics event, with St Peters School in Windsor finishing in third position.

Oldfield School in Maidenhead took home the boys’ year three and Four football title. Cox Green School were runners-up in the girls’ years seven and eight event.