A Team GB Olympic pole vault star has returned to launch the Spar Lancashire School Games more than a decade after participating in them.
Harry Coppell was the guest speaker at the launch of the School Games, held at James Hall & Co. Ltd’s Spar Distribution Centre in Preston, and he helped vault them into a 20th year with every edition over the last two decades sponsored by the retailer.
Seventy primary school children from across the Red Rose County attended the launch to hear Coppell’s story, pose for photos, and meet Spar mascot, SPARtan, who provided entertainment.
Children then enjoyed a tour of the Distribution Centre, including ambient, fresh and frozen warehouses, alongside their teachers and School Games Organisers.
Coppell currently holds the men’s British Pole Vault record, competed at the Tokyo Olympics where he finished seventh, and he is a Commonwealth Games medal winner. When he is not competing and training, he helps deliver School Games activity in West Lancashire.
Coppell said: “I was delighted to be asked to launch the 20th Spar Lancashire School Games in a milestone year and it was a lovely chance for a trip down memory lane to where it all started for me. The children were really engaged and asked some great questions about my career.”
Run by Active Lancashire and the School Games Organiser Network, the games have been sponsored by Spar through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd since 2006.
The activity is delivered in three distinct clusters across the county - Coastal, Central, and Pennine - aligned to local needs. In the 2024-25 academic year, this included 45 feature events.
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