FIVE youngsters will be representing Wiltshire against more than 1,800 compeitors in a pair national school sport events starting today.

Swimmers Craig Harris, Paige Fellows and Daniella Whiting will travel to Manchester for the Sainsbury’s School Games to compete against children from other schools across the country.

More than 10,000 spectators are expected in Manchester to watch the School Games competition. They will watch the three Swindon atheletes as they take part in the multi-sport competition attended by 1,600 athletes competing in a mini-Olympic programme of athletics, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, judo and swimming.

The games have provided a springboard for many of today's biggest names in sport. Previous competitors include Paralympic gold medallists Ellie Simmonds, Hannah Cockroft and Jonnie Peacock along with European and Commonwealth gold medal winning sprinter Adam Gemili, heptathlete Katrina Johnson-Thompson, and Olympic bronze medallist gymnasts, Max Whitlock and Sam Oldham Throughout the year Wiltshire and Swindon Sport have run the Wiltshire and Swindon Sainsbury’s School Games County competitions that has given every school in the county the opportunity to get involved in this event.

Wiltshire and Swindon Sport Chief Executive Steve Boocock said “We are pleased to be part of this pathway for young people and very proud of our local athletes that have been invited to compete in Manchester along with some of the most talented young athletes from across the country”

As well as the main games Thomas Haworth and Abby Miles from Lydiard Park Academy, along with more than 200 other young athletes will be attending the parallel Talent Inspiration Programme. They will take part in activities that are specifically designed to engage and inspire young aspiring athletes and encourage them to start thinking about how they can reach their sporting potential.