MORE than 1,000 youngsters took part in the Berkshire Winter School Games Festival at the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.

Activities included football, rugby, badminton, boccia, hockey, athletics and polybat.

Over 100 different schools took part in the event, which was the finale of months of competition for students who had competed against neighbouring schools to reach the county finals.

Each finalist was representing one of seven School Games areas - Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire, Slough, Ascot & Maidenhead, Windsor and Reading.

The event was coordinated by Get Berkshire Active, Sarah Taylor, who has been at the heart of school competitions in the county for a number of years.

She said: "It was really good with the biggest attendance in pupils we have ever seen. More special schools took part as well which is what we are trying to encourage.

"This event is a balance between competition and having fun. Children get to play at world class facilities and Wembley standard pitches which is unheard of. The children love it because it is like their own Olympics."

The winners included, Western House Academy (Slough) Year 5 to 6 Hockey, Cippenham School (Slough) in Boccia Primary, Edgebarrow School (Bracknell) in Boccia secondary, Montem (Slough) in Badminton Year 3 and 4 plus Thames Valley School (Reading) in polybat secondary, Garth Hill College (Bracknell) in Sportshall Athletics Girls and more.

Whitegrove School (Bracknell) took second place in Hockey year 5 and 6, Brookfields Specialist School (Reading) and Arbor Vale (Slough) were runners up in boccia secondary.

Sarah Taylor added: "This competition was a lot more than just sport - the key message here is that it is not always about winning, it is the taking part that counts."

"There were also other activities for students to get stuck into. We held a Cultural Village were an ex GB Olympic athlete held a question and answers session and they learnt how to use a defibrillator. This brings in different dimensions to the event."