The achievements of young sporting superstars were recognised at the launch of a new primary school competition yesterday.

Thirteen schools took part in the inaugural Primary MegaMAT Games organised by Chetwynde School and supported by South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust (SCMAT).

They were Chetwynde, Holy Family, Parkside Academy, Yarlside Academy, St Columba’s, Newbarns, Sir John Barrow, South Walney Juniors, Roose School, St James’ Juniors, St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Victoria Academy and Dane Ghyll.

The first in the series of MegaMAT Games events was a cross country event at Chetywnde, which joined the Furness College-led SCMAT in September, with four races for pupils from Year 3 to Year 6.

The overall winners of the four races were Winter Rose, from St Pius, Olly Swarbrick and Imogen Moore, both from Yarlside, and Harris Garnett-Holt from Chetwynde.

Organiser Katy Costa, who is the head of Key Stage 2 at the Rating Lane school, said she was ‘delighted’ by the response from the schools.

“This was a fantastic start to what will be a full calendar of multi-sports competitions including hockey, netball, swimming and a host of other sports,” she said.

“Sport supports good mental health and wellbeing and encourages a healthy lifestyle. On the back of Covid, this provides additional opportunities for local primary children to restart activities in a competitive environment.

“It is vitally important that we do not lose the competitive element of sport.”

Sports leaders from Chetwynde helped marshal nearly 150 runners and certificates were presented by the school’s headteacher Steve Jefferson.

He congratulated all those who took part and said he was impressed by their running.

“It is great to see healthy competition between the schools and great to see everyone together again,” he said.

Executive Head Teacher and CEO of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust Professor Andrew Wren said: “The SCMAT supports celebrating the success and achievement of pupils and the promotion of wellbeing and resilience. The MegaMAT games is a great initiative that combines all these values and supports pupils’ ambitions to be the best they can.”