County Durham’s Millie Clerk was bursting with pride after landing a medal at a national school sports event to cap an unforgettable experience in the East Midlands.
Clerk, 15, who lives in Sedgefield, featured at the School Games National Finals and was part of the Leeds Rhinos North East team that took home netball bronze.
Taking place between 3–6 September, the School Games National Finals is the UK’s biggest multi-sport event for young athletes and this year marked its 20th anniversary of being first held in Glasgow in 2006.
Over 1,000 athletes competed across 11 sports, including disability disciplines, during the sporting extravaganza held at Loughborough University, a venue which provided the young competitors’ first-class facilities, a safe competitive environment, and the experience of being part of a major sporting event.
Clerk said: “I think in the North-East we don’t get as many opportunities as other people, but we are so lucky to have this moment and take the medal home.
“We stayed together as a team, and we were all connected in every game.
“It’s been amazing here. Everyone is so friendly and it’s so good to make friends from other sports and other teams as well.”
The School Games National Finals is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, to provide young athletes with the opportunity to thrive and perform at the highest level and support more young people to take part and succeed in sport.
The School Games National Finals has acted as a key milestone in the careers of many of the UK’s top athletes with the event’s alumni including four-time European gold medallist Amy Hunt, mile world record holder Josh Kerr, three-time Olympic champion Adam Ramsay-Peaty, Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell and the most decorated athlete in European Championship history, Dina Asher-Smith.
Two-time Paralympic bronze medallist Olivia Breen, who competed at the School Games National Finals in 2015, and 2026 Commonwealth Games 3x3 basketball champion Ashley Hamilton were in attendance as VIPs to cheer on the athletes and offer their experience and advice.
Hamilton said: “The School Games National Finals is a special event that brings a lot of different people together and gives a lot of athletes the exposure to this type of environment.
“I hope that everyone who is taking part cherishes the moment, enjoys it, and uses it to springboard their futures.”
Breen added: “I competed in the School Games National Finals 11 years ago, and it's great to be back here in a different capacity. It was a great experience for me in 2015 and I’m looking forward to seeing what all the athletes can do.”
The School Games National Finals is a biennial four-day multi-sport event for young athletes of school age. It is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and National Governing Bodies, hosted by Loughborough University, and funded by Sport England and players of the National Lottery.
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