SOME 1,500 youngsters, 40 primary schools, nine secondary schools and four whole days of indoor sports, make up the Chelmsford Superstars Festival.
Running for approximately seven years, the event is open to all Year 4 children in the borough giving them a chance to compete in eight different sporting activities against youngsters from other schools.
Pupils from between six and eight schools spend half a day at Melbourne stadium enjoying running, ball skills, and speed stacking activities overseen by trained volunteer students from the city's secondary schools.
"It's a really fun event which all the children seem to really enjoy," said Sara Robson, School Games Organiser with the Chelmsford School Sports Partnership which organises the annual event.
"The activities are designed to test pupils' speed, agility, strength, fitness and hand-eye coordination. We look out for children who could be gifted and talented in sport.
"Every child gets a score for each event and at the end of the session we announce the winners. We keep a note of their names, and keep in touch with their schools, and try and get them extra coaching over the next few years."
The Chronicle dropped in on the final day of the festival when 275 youngsters from schools in the Springfield area were competing.
Mia Jackson, eight, from Springfield Primary School is trying her hand speed stacking.
She said: "I've done this before in PE lessons. It's fun. I like it here as you get to try lots of different challenges.
Sophie Gosden, nine, from Perryfields Junior School in Springfield, said: "I was really excited about coming here. You get to exercise and do lots of sporty things."
Enjoying the running races is Niyi Fakoyede, nine, from Trinity Road Primary School.
He said: "I like taking part in this sort of thing. You meet other kids, some of whom you have seen before and some you haven't."
Jamal Nyakudya, from the Bishops C of E and RC Primary added: "I like the running best as I'm good at that, but I also like taking part in different sports."
Former classmates, Mia Burton, 12, now at Boswells and Adam Norton-Steele, 13, now at King Edward VI Grammar School both remember coming to the event when they were at Perryfields Junior School.
They are here today as Year 8 volunteer helpers.
Mia said: "I remember having fun and getting taught by older pupils. I think that's what inspired me to be a Play Leader at primary and a Sports Leader at secondary school.
Adam said: "I remember being the top scoring boy on the day I came here.
"I was very pleased as I was competing against so many other children. I feel quite nostalgic coming back here today."
