OAKEN Grove School leap for joy at their place in the netball history books.

The school swept to victory in the York and District netball rally for mini-primary schools held at Lowfield.

But the conquest was tinged with a certain poignancy as it was likely to be the final sporting silverware amassed by the Haxby-based school.

Oaken Grove is due to close in just three months' time, prompting headmaster David Metcalfe to declare: "In terms of all the efforts of the parents, teachers, governors and pupils the win has been a tremendous boost to morale."

Thirty-four schools took part in the annual rally.

Large and intermediate primary schools were at Hob Moor school and small and mini schools at Lowfield.

Woodthorpe retained the large schools trophy, Upper Poppleton and Bishopthorpe were joint-winners of the intermediate section and the small schools group was jointly won by English Martyrs and St George's.

Large Schools: 1 Woodthorpe 24pts; 2 Clifton Green 22pts, 3 Dringhouses 19pts; 4 Hempland 16pts; 5 Lakeside 15pts; 6 Robert Wilkinson and Westfield 14pts; 8 Copmanthorpe 12pts; Huntington 8pts.

Intermediate Schools: 1 Upper Poppleton and Bishopthorpe 23pts; 3 Ralph Butterfield 20pts; 4 Wigginton and Hob Moor 17 pts; 6 Poppleton Road 14pts; 7 Tang Hall 12pts; 8 New Earswick and Haxby Road 9pts.

Small Schools: 1 English Martyrs and St George's 19pts; 3 St Aelred's 17pts; 4 Knavesmire and Derwent 15pts; 6 Park Grove 11pts; 7 St Wilfrid's 9pts; 8 Acomb 7pts.

Mini Schools: 1 Oaken Grove 21pts; 2 Long Marston 19pts; 3 Minster 17pts; 4 Ebor 14pts; 5 Appleton Roebuck 13pts; 6 Skelton 11pts; 7 Stockton on Forest 10pts; 8 Rufforth 7pts.

ATHLETICS

ENTRY forms for this year's York/Selby District Athletics trials are in secondary schools with a copy of the nomination form for the North Yorkshire Schools Multi Events Trials which are to be held on Saturday, May 25, at Huntington Stadium, York.

Trials to pick the York and Selby Schools team in the North Yorkshire Championships will be held on Saturday, June 15, at Huntington Stadium will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at 1.45pm.

Entry forms should be completed and returned to Wayne Isherwood at Sherburn High School by Wednesday, May 8 at 3pm. Late entries may not be accepted.

Age Groups are...

Junior Boys and Girls - U15 years of age at midnight August 31/September 1. Years 7, 8 & 9.

Inter Boys and Girls - U17 years of age at midnight August 31/September 1, Years 10 & 11.

Senior Boys and Girls - U20 years of age at midnight August 31/September 1, Post 16.

In the junior and inter age groups athletes may only be selected for one event.

Seniors may be selected for two events. If being placed in the first three in more than one event on the day of the trials athletes must indicate before the end of the meeting which is their preferred event.

This year's Regional Multi-Events competitions are to be held at Jarrow on June 29 and 30.

Nominations are invited from York area schools for athletes to represent North Yorkshire in the competition in the various age groups.

As the competition may be a new venture for some there will be a chance for boys and girls in the Junior and Inter age groups to compete in a North Yorkshire Schools Multi-Event trial on Saturday May 25, (11am to 5pm) at Huntington Stadium.

Selection for the North Yorkshire team be based solely on the trial but it would be useful if those nominated in the Inter and Junior age groups were able to compete.

Updated: 10:21 Wednesday, April 24, 2002