Records were once again smashed when more than 200 children took part in the latest Medway Messenger Mini Youth Games (MYG) competition.

Boys and girls from 27 Medway primary schools competed in freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke and relay races at what was the biggest ever MYG swimming gala.

After an exciting morning’s competition at Strood Sports Centre it was The Kings Preparatory School, Rochester, who took first place. St Margaret’s CE Junior School, Rainham, and Hempstead Junior School, Hempstead, followed closely behind in second and third place.

The award for the highest placed small school went to St Margaret’s at Troy Town Primary School, Rochester, while the team from Horsted Junior School, Chatham, received the fair play award.

The action didn’t end there either. More than 60 children also completed the first leg of a biathlon trial, hoping to secure a place in Medway’s squad for this summer’s National Schools Biathlon Championships.

The youngsters completed a 50m swim and will go on to compete in a 1km run in March. The best overall performers from the two events will then be trained by the new Medway Park Phoenix biathlon club ready for the big event in August.

The national biathlon takes place during the Modern Pentathlon World Championships at Crystal Palace. Medway has been invited to enter a team as part of the development of the sport in Medway as we countdown to next year’s pentathlon world cup at Medway Park.

Medway Council sports development officer John Hatchett said: “It was great to see so many children taking part in both the swimming event and the biathlon trial, and there was a really supportive atmosphere amongst everyone involved.”