PUPILS from schools across Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale, Leeds, and Kirklees came together to represent their district in the West Yorkshire School Games winter festival on Saturday, in the company of five-time Paralympic champion, Hannah Cockroft MBE.

Organised by Yorkshire Sport Foundation, 43 schools competed across five different sports, vying to be crowned county champions.

Taking part for Bradford were One in A Million Free School, Baildon CE, Dixons Trinity, Parkside, Girlington, East Morton, Hoyle Court and Bradford Grammar.

Almost 650 young people took part in the event, held at the Headingley campus of Leeds Beckett University.

There was success for the district in table tennis, with Bradford Grammar School winning all the age group competitions with their year 8 and year 10 boys and girls teams.

Elsewhere, Girlington came second in the Key Stage 2 boccia event, and Hoyle Court finished third in the year 5 and 6 mixed hockey competition.

Guest of honour Miss Cockcroft said: "I got involved in athletics by coming to an event very much like this.

"I went to the UK school games and competed in the discus, that was when I first saw wheelchair racing.

"From there I went down to a talent ID day where Paralympic athletes get to try lots of different sports, I sat in my first race chair, and ten years later here we are.

"It's so nice to come back, I started at an event like this so it’s great to see so many kids taking part and enjoying it.

"My advice if you want to get to elite level is to work hard and just take every opportunity.”

Yorkshire Sport Foundation’s chief executive, Nigel Harrison, added: “It’s great to see so many young athletes coming together for their county finals, it shows the positivity of school sport and the commitment of all the teachers and parents bringing them here."