SCHOOLS from across the district have qualified for the 2020 Northumberland School Games in a variety of categories.

Helen Robson, the School Games organiser for Tynedale, has announced which school teams have booked their place at the prestigious event, which will take place at Prudhoe High School on Thursday, June 25.

It follows a series of qualifying rounds during the first term of the academic year.

Ovingham Middle School’s Year 5 and 6 girls’ football team were the first to secure their spot at the games, after winning their qualifier in October. They were soon followed by Ovingham’s Year 7 and 8 girls’ and boys’ teams.

Other schools represented at the qualifier were Corbridge Middle, Prudhoe’s Highfield Middle, Hexham St Joseph’s RC Middle, Allendale Primary and Hexham Middle School.

Helen said schools were greeted with sunshine for the tag rugby qualifier, which took place at Corbridge-based Tynedale Rugby Club, when the Sele First School were victorious over Wylam First, following a dramatic final in the Year 3 and 4 contest.

She added: “It was a glorious morning. The pupils played with great enthusiasm throughout the whole event whilst representing their schools.

“With a nail biting final between Wylam and the Sele, the latter were victorious as champions in this event.”

The first heat of the Year 5 and 6 tag rugby took place later in the day with teams from Hexham Middle, Ovingham Middle and St Joseph’s RC Middle, with Ovingham and Hexham progressing to the Tynedale final.

Also represented at the tag rugby qualifier were Humshaugh First, Allendale Primary, Slaley First, Corbridge First, Prudhoe West Academy, St Mary’s RC First, and Hexham first schools.

The most recent qualifying events of the term were the Year 8 and Year 9 boys basketball events, which took place at Prudhoe High School.

The Year 9 event saw a closely contested meeting between Prudhoe and Haydon Bridge high schools, which went to extra time before Haydon Bridge emerged victorious.

The Year 8 event saw Ovingham Middle A win both of their matches, to get the better of Haydon Bridge High, and another team from Ovingham.

Helen added: “All of these events were dependant on the facilities of the host sites, so thank you to Prudhoe High School and Tynedale Rugby Club.

“They were also dependant on the refereeing skills of the young leaders from Prudhoe Community High and Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School, who did a great job. Well done to all winning schools and to all schools which took part.”