Youngsters go cross country for Norfolk Winter School Games

A warm up for the Year 3 girls race in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Holkham Hall, near Wells, hosted the Norfolk Winter School Games cross country final on Wednesday, an event involving more than 640 students from 140 schools across Norfolk take part.

Athlete Iona Lake, from Norwich, was there to cheer on the students and award medals. Ms Lake, 26, represented England in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year in steeplechase final.

Jo Thompson, school games project officer from Active Norfolk, which ran the event, said: “The weather cleared up and it was perfect for cross country. People liked the venue and the kids were really positive.

“We had a couple of kids who had never represented their schools at an event before and were really happy to do so.”

Year 3 girls race in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

The course involved running past the lake and through the woodland on Holkham’s estate. Pupils taking part were from Years 3 to 6, and many parents were there to watch and cheer on their little ones.

Overall, more than 2,000 young people have been involved in this year’s Norfolk Winter School Games across nine events. This is the eighth year the games have taken place.

Second in the Year 3 girls race, Monica Gabell, eight, at the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Winner, Olivia Mukuya, eight, of the Year 3 girls race at the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 5 boys taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 5 girls taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 4 boys taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 5 girls taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 4 girls taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 4 girls taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 3 boys taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 3 boys taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Marshals from Alderman Peel High School with their pointy fingers at the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 3 boys taking part in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)

Year 3 girls race in the Norfolk Schools Winter Games cross country at Holkham Hall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2019)