YOUNGSTERS enjoyed a feast of sporting fun when they took part in the Primary School Sports Festival at St John's School in Marlborough on Thursday.

Almost 450 school children battled it out in six sports, girls' football, boys' football, athletics, hockey, netball and basketball.

The event was organised by Kennet District Council with the help of several local sports clubs including Marlborough Hockey Club, Marlborough Athletics Club and Kennet Valley Netball Club.

The festival aimed to introduce the youngsters, aged from nine to 11, to some new sports and playing at a higher level of competition.

The champions of athletics were Broad Hinton Primary School while kings of the court in the basketball competition were Ogbourne St George and St. Andrew Primary School.

The stars of the netball tournament were Ramsbury County Primary School and Preshute Primary School were the hockey champions.

If the football competition the winners of the boys' section were St Peter's Junior School and the girls' winners were Great Bedwyn Primary School. A fair-play award was also handed out by St John's PE teacher Helen Rodwell with this year's recipients being Chilton Foliat Primary School.

Kennet District Council's Amanda Cox said all the children had enjoyed themselves and the day had proved to be a great success.

"One of the great things about Thursday was the voluntary help offered by local students," she said.

"Pupils from Pewsey School helped with the refereeing for the football and sports leaders award students from St John's and GCSE PE students also came along to help.

"In addition sports leaders students from Devizes School, who helped with our Devizes Sports Festival earlier this month, came along without even being asked."

Cox said the event gave youngsters an opportunity to try new sports and also showcase the skills they already have.

"It was an important event because it gave the primary school children the chance to see what fantastic facilities they will have when they move up to secondary school," she said.

"It was also their first chance to sample major competition and gave them a chance to take part in different sports that they may not have tried before.

"It encouraged more participation of sports and gave the kids a chance to work with the local sports clubs who got involved."

Cox said the round-robin format had proved successful and said a major aim of the event was to encourage the children to play club sport.

"Not having it as a straight knockout meant all the children could play lots of matches and be involved in the competition right until the end," she continued. Participation is the main thing and hopefully all the children had a good time.

"We hope a lot will find they really like some of the sports and will want to carry them on at senior school or with local clubs."

Cox said the local sports club and senior school coaches who helped during the day benefited from seeing the young talent that is developing in the area. "All the coaches were very impressed by some of the skills on show during the day," she added.

"They don't always get a chance to see primary school sport but there is a lot of good work that goes on in these schools regarding sports coaching.

"You could clearly see which schools have been putting in extra practice and you could see the benefit of it."

Kennet District Councillor Nick Fogg attended the event and paid tribute to all involved with the day.

"I was delighted to see so many children participating and thoroughly enjoying sports because it really is an excellent way to keep healthy," he said.

"I feel the excellent partnership between Kennet District Council and the local sports clubs, businesses and volunteers is key to the sporting successes in Kennet and Wiltshire.

"The day proved to be a great success with all the children taking part really enjoying themselves."