EXCELLENCE in hockey, cross-country and netball flared across Queen Margaret’s School during its annual Junior Schools sports tournament.

A total of 18 schools and more than 150 pupils competed in the event now in its 14th year at the Escrick Park establishment.

Running across a full day, the tournament is for girls aged between nine and 11 and is aimed at celebrating sporting accomplishment and healthy competition.

In the hockey competition, the 2012 champions Beeston Hall successfully defended their title after drawing with rivals Cargilfield in the finals.

The netball honours went to St Pius X Preparatory School, from Preston, ahead of Belmont Grosvenor.

There was a second triumph for Beeston Hall, who clinched the overall cross-country crown ahead of Richmond House, of Leeds, in second and third-placed The Mount Junior School from York.

Said Ann Davies, director of sport at Queen Margaret’s: “The junior sports tournament has become an annual fixture in the diaries of so many of these schools, some of which have been taking part since the tournament’s inception.

“We are delighted that, year on year, so many schools have chosen to travel from up and down the country to join us, particularly in the less than ideal weather conditions we played through this year.”

The participating schools were: Beeston Hall, Belmont Grosvenor, Bootham Junior, Cargilfield, Cundall Manor, Duncombe, Grantham Preparatory, Lady Jane Park Prep, Richmond House, Rock Hall, St Mary’s Prep, St Pius X Prep, Terrington Hall, The Froebelian School, The Minster School and The Mount Junior.