EAST Lancashire teams starred in the new look SPAR Lancashire Summer School Games after returning home with a healthy haul of 25 medals between them.

More than 2,000 primary and secondary schools from across the county heading down the M55 for the ‘mini Olympics’ held at Blackpool’s Stanley Park.

The event – one of the biggest of its kind in the country – was the culmination of months of hard work and qualifying heats in the 12 boroughs across Lancashire.

And once again, it was those teams representing the east of the county that shone brightly.

Burnley were crowned the overall winning borough have the scooped the highest tally of medals – six in total – that included two golds, three silvers a bronze.

Ridgewood School got the ball rolling for Burnley after they won the Panathlon – a sport aimed at children with physical and learning difficulties – while the school capped a fine day by winning silver in the Inclusive Orienteering.

Shuttleworth College also struck gold in the SEN cricket while there were silver medals for Wellfield in the quad kids athletics and St Augustine’s in the Super 8s. Blessed Trinity completed the medal haul by bringing home bronze in the handball.

Helen Tyson, school games organiser for the Burnley Schools Sports Partnership was delighted with the team’s effort – but also said the event was a day to remember.

“With so many different sports going on around the park, there was a real Olympic feel to the event,” she said.

“For that one day, Stanley Park did become the Olympic Park.

“The event was fantastic and it was an amazing sight watching over 700 children from age 8 to 14 parade down the track during the opening ceremony all buzzing with the anticipation of competing in their event.

“The pride that could be seen on the childrens facing at having reached the county finals reminds me that all the hard work that teachers, schools, School Games Organisers and Lanacshire Sport put in during the year is 100 per cent worth it.

“All the Burnley representative teams did a really fantastic job – well done and well done to all the young sports leaders and volunteers from across the county, without their support the day would just not have been possible.”

Chorley also managed two golds, with St Michael’s winning the Super 8s and St Laurence taking the football title. The district also took two silvers in the Super 6 golf for Parklands High School and in the under 13s tennis for Bishop Rawstorne. The success did not stop there as Eccleston St Mary’s took third in the mini tennis and Bretherton secured bronze in the tri-golf.

For Blackburn, there was one gold for Westholme in the High 5s netball; the school also took home a bronze in the under 13s tennis and in the rounders.

The district’s other bronze came from Crosshill in the inclusive cricket.

Andrew Mercer, school games organiser for the borough said: “Blackburn and Darwen had a lot to live up to after being crowned the Champion Borough at the Winter LSGs in March. Westholme did the borough proud by winning the High 5s Netball Competition for the first time, they also finished third in the U13s Mixed Tennis and third in the U14s Rounders. “Crosshills school who finished third in the Inclusive cricket competition at Blackpool CC.

“The LSG was a great event and it was great to see over 2,000 young people competing and enjoying sport “It was also pleasing to see around 200 young volunteers giving up their time and expertise to ensure the event was such a success. “Events such as this are great because they act as a great incentive for young people to participate and excel in sport. We look forward to more competitions at all levels in 2013/14.”

Pendle schools won four medals, with Pendle Vale winning silver in the SEN cricket and a bronze in the inclusive orienteering. There was also silver in the rounders for West Craven, while Fisher More managed a bronze in the panathlon.

There were two golds for the Ribble Valley, as Gisburn took first place in the orienteering and Ribblesdale won the cricket. One silver followed in football for Pendle Vale, with a bronze from the quad kids for St Leonards.

Hyndburn also got on the scoreboard, with Broadfield taking home gold in the inclusive cricket.

Richard Varey, Chair of the Lancashire School Games organising committee and Burnley’s Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College Head Teacher, said: “This year’s event rounds off a brilliant year of sport for Lancashire’s schools. “Changing the format to include Winter and Summer games, as well as the Disability Swimming Gala has really allowed us to enable every school and child to be able to participate and we’ve seen the Games be the biggest and the best so far. We now look forward to next year.”