Teams from 25 primary schools across the borough came to Hammersmith Town Hall to take part in this year's skittleball championshipes on February 3 and 4.

Wednesday February 4. Year Three (seven and eight year-olds) played the first day while Year Four (eight and nine year-olds) took part on the second.

Brackenbury Primary, in Hammersmith, won the first day after scoring 16-0 in the final. The team's top goal scorer Sidney Gregory, seven, said he had expected to win because the team were so well prepared.

He said: “It was really fun. We had a really good time." And year three teacher Zoey Powrie, added: " The team were excellent and I’m really proud of them."

St John’s in Fulham, came second while Lena Gardens in Hammersmith, and The Good Shepherd in Shepherd's Bush, were runners-up.

Good Shepherd won the tournament 12-2 on the following day against Greenside, also in Shepherd's Bush, who came second. St Thomas of Canterbur, in Fulham, and St Peter's in Hammersmith, were runners-up.

Henos Tsegai, nine, who captained Good Shepherd's team, said: " It feels really exciting to win. We expected to win. We were really confident because we’d been practising a lot."

Good Shepherd year four teacher Toby Davis, said: " It’s the first time the school has won and we’re over the moon. The standard of players was really high."

Skittleball is a mix of netball, basketball and handball which teaches ball skills, co-ordination and teamwork. The teams are mixed with all teams comprised of three boys and three girls and all abilities can play. Each school puts its best players forward for the tournament.

There is no regulation size of court so all schools can easily provide a space to play the game.

The overall winners received a cup and a gold medal, with silver medals for second place and bronze for the runners-up.

For the first time there was  also a match for the adults with teachers split into north and south, depending where their schools are based. South won the match in a hard fought game.

The Hammersmith & Fulham Primary Schools’ Sports Association has been running the tournament for 20 years.

Calum Fairley, sports and games organiser for the association and former headteacher of Lena Gardens, said: " It was all played in the spirit of the game which is to be competitive but to have fun. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and the behaviour and attitude of all the children was outstanding.

" There has been a really high level of skill this year and that’s down to the schools and the quality of coaching by their staff."

You can see more pictures from these exciting days on H&F Council's Flickr Gallery.

February 16, 2015