Haydon Bridge High School hold Commonwealth Games sports festival

More than 200 children from five other Tyne Valley schools enjoyed a Commonwealth Games themed sports festival, hosted and led by Haydon Bridge High School young sports leaders, and co-ordinated by the School Games Organiser, Helen Robson.

Elizabeth Hicks, leader of PE, said: "It was brilliant for our sports coaches to get out and get some experience after Covid. 

"It was lovely welcoming the younger children who will be attending our school as a transitioning period."

Action from Haydon Bridge High School versus Corbridge Middle School in the Year 7 boy’s netball game

Bellingham Middle School, Shaftoe Trust in Haydon Bridge, Allendale Primary School, Ovingham Middle School, and Corbridge Middle School took part.

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Elizabeth added: "We're looking to build on this and do a cross country festival in the autumn.

"We're starting to rekindle our leadership programme now, we're a small school so we like to give every single child the chance to get involved, to build communication skills and leadership skills which can be applied across the whole curriculum, not just sports."

Year 7 boys and girls took part in a netball tournament on the school's new outdoor courts, led entirely by six of Haydon Bridge High School's sports leaders.

Haydon Bridge High School versus Corbridge Middle School in the Year 7 boy’s netball game

This competition saw six teams contesting, with parallel boys and girls tournaments in the morning, then mixed games in the afternoon.

Haydon Bridge boys ran out clear winners in their competition, finishing the tournament unbeaten, whilst Corbridge Middle School were victorious in the girls' competition.

Meanwhile on the cricket field, the young rugby leaders were teaching Year 5 children a range of skills and practices before going into competitive tag rugby games.

The Year 6 Quad Kids athletics competition saw the winners from this event qualifying to represent Tynedale in the county finals.

Haydon Bridge High School Sports Leader coaching Year 5 Corbridge Middle School pupils tag rugby

The Haydon Bridge sports leaders ran four activities - the 75m sprint, 600m run, standing broad jump and howler throw, with each competitor recording their personal best in each event.

The eventual winners were Ovingham Middle School with Corbridge Middle School runners up.

Both teams qualify to represent the district at the Northumberland finals.

The event gave 35 of Haydon Bridge High School's young sports leaders valuable experience in coaching, leading and managing a large scale event and their efforts were widely appreciated. 

One school said afterwards: "Your sports leaders were excellent and were so helpful and courteous all day." 

Another said: "Their manner, attitude and quality of provision were exemplary all day. They were a credit to themselves and the ethos of your school."