Young athletes flock to vie for championship top spot

The academy’s main hall was transformed into an ‘Olympic stadium’ as more than 200 pupils from primary schools across Littlehampton, Wick, Lyminster, Arundel, Rustington and Climping took part in the annual indoor athletics tournament.

The competition was organised by the Littlehampton Area Sports Partnership.

Parents cheered on their little sporting stars as children competed in a range of gruelling track and field events.

This year’s tournament was the most ferocious in the event’s 11-year history, with a record number of athletes taking part.

Sandy Fell, school sport co-ordinator at the academy and organiser of the games, said: “The atmosphere was incredible.

“All the parents were cheering so loudly for their children, it was really good.

“It was the biggest and most chaotic event yet.

“This year we managed to get all our cluster schools to turn up, which was a fantastic achievement.”

The competition is one of about 30 events taking place throughout the year, with year-five and six pupils competing.

Winners in each discipline clinch vital points which go towards an overall league table for local schools.

The victors of last week’s athletics tournament was the team from Summerlea Primary School, in Rustington, who managed to see off stiff competition from Arundel C of E Primary School’s team, beating them by just two points.

Summerlea will now represent the Littlehampton area at the larger, Southern Area Partnership finals, after Easter.

Ms Fell thanked all those who helped with the event.