Yarlside and Lindal are top Furness hockey teams

After some exciting games at Ulverston Laisure Centre, Yarlside and Lindal and Marton schools qualified to represent tge district at the Cumbria Schools Games in Carlisle in July, with Yarlside claiming top spot.

In all, nine teams of players from Years 3 and 4 took part in the event.

The group of 54 children had reached this stage after success in qualifying events organised in Barrow, Dalton and Ulverston running up to the final, which saw 45 teams from 27 different schools take part.

The school teams which reached this stage of the competiton were: Yarlside A and B, Newbarns, Sir John Barrow, Croftlands Juniors, Holy Family, South Walney Juniors, Lindal and Marton and Burlington.

Each of the teams played in group stages and following the qualifying heats, teams were then ranked in first, second or third place and played against the similarly ranked teams.

Yarlside A, Newbarns and Lindal and Marton were in Rank One while in the Rank Two group were Yarlside B, South Walney Juniors and Burlington.

Croftlands Juniors, Sir John Barrow and Holy Family battled it out in Rank Three.

In the Rank One group, two of the teams would be eligible to qualify for the Cumbria School Games.

In a very close group, Yarlside and Lindal and Marton went through with Yarlside qualifying in first place.

School Games Organiser Helen Wright applauded Yarlside and Lindal and Marton schools for reaching the Carlisle finals.

She added: “Congratulations to all participants and to the staff who gave up their time to coach the pupils. Some of the games were exceptionally close and it was wonderful to watch such worthy finalists battling it out for a place in the Cumbria School Games final.

“A huge thank you must be passed onto Chris Regan from Ulverston Hockey Club who kindly gives her time every year to support the Furness hockey competitions.

“Without Chris and the Furness College leaders, it would not be possible to run the competition.”