LYDIARD Millicent School emerged victorious in the primary tennis competition at the Wiltshire & Swindon School Games held at Marlborough College last week.

Lydiard had emerged from the Swindon area heats the previous week, coming out on top of 19 teams, to progress to the final at the Games, where they clinched victory with a 3-1 final success over Ramsbury, the winners in five of the previous six years.

More than 1,500 young athletes and 200 young volunteers, representing 113 schools, took part in the Games, organised by Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP).

This year’s event comprised 14 sports as part of a year-round school sports competition programme supported by the National Lottery and Sport England.

The sports were split up to give the primary and secondary studentsthe correct intensity exercise.

Sports for primary school athletes included orienteering, athletics and swimming. Secondary school pupils took part in rounders and touch rugby. There was also a Change4Life festival aimed at getting young children to be more active.

There to inspire and encourage the young athletes was Mara Yamauchi, the second fastest British woman at marathon distance, and winner of bronze medal at 10,000m at the 2006 Commonwealth games. She compered the opening company and was on hand all day for the young athletes to give confidence, help achieve personal bests and give target times to achieve.

Athletes were joined by the Mayor of Marlborough Lisa Farrell, Mayor of Swindon Junab Ali and 1968 Olympic 400m hurdles champion David Hemery CBE.

Steve Boocock, of Wiltshire and Swindon Sport, said: “We want to encourage even more young people to get active and this is a great way to nurture new talent and build that lifelong love of sport.”