SCHOOLCHILDREN from Furness, Eden and South Lakeland will be among hundreds competing in the Sainsbury’s Cumbria School Games Spring Festivals in Penrith next week.

Around 600 children and young people from across Cumbria will represent their districts after they qualified through intra and inter school competitions organised by district School Games Organisers.

300 young people will descend on Penrith Leisure Centre on Wednesday to compete in the Cumbria School Games Sports Hall Athletics Primary & Secondary finals.

Thursday will see the centre host 260 primary children competing for their district in the Cumbria Key Steps Gymnastics finals organised by the Cumbria Schools Gymnastics Association.

Nicola Maclean, development officer from Active Cumbria, said: "In order to provide more competitive sporting opportunities, a key focus of the Sainsbury’s Cumbria School Games is to give more young people responsibility within sport. Whether it is as a player, reporter or referee, the programme provides excellent opportunities for all young people to make a positive and active contribution to their school."

Attending the Sportshall Primary Athletics Final will be London 2012 star Chris Tomlinson. The former British long jump record holder will be passing on his expertise to the youngsters.

The World Indoor silver medallist and European bronze winner Tomlinson is no stranger to Cumbria as he has already been working with the new Furness Academy Athletics Club through their Sportivate programme, supported by Active Cumbria.

Chris said: “I haven’t always been the best growing up through the years and I’ve moved from event to event but I’ve always had huge faith that if I trained hard enough and made the right decisions in my life I could beat the guys ahead of me – no such thing as failure to win, but failure to try again.”

“Now having represented Britain at major events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, I feel it is really important for me to give something back to sport because it has given me so much. That is why I love being a Sport England Sporting Champion and working with young people and I am really excited about being part of the Cumbria School Games.”

Local sponsors supporting this year’s county events are the Cumberland Building Society, the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, North Country Leisure and Carlisle Leisure.

Phillip Ward of the Cumberland Building Society said: "The UK’s recent successes in sport have seen interest and participation increase significantly over the last couple of years, and the Games will provide a fantastic opportunity for Cumbrian school children to take part in a competitive environment. Cumbria’s next sporting star may be making their debut at this year’s events, but what is certain is that the School Games will yet again showcase more great festivals of sport in Cumbria."

Russell Norman, general manager, children and families care group at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: "Encouraging children to take part in physical activity at a variety of different levels is one of the most important things we can do as a community for young people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Opportunities for physical activity are an important part in ensuring young people live healthy and happy lives and the School Games are a fantastic celebration for young people participating in sporting activities in Cumbria”

For further information visit www.cumbriaschoolgames.org.