WITH Olympic heroes in attendance, Havering is bathing in glory after winning six medals at the London Youth Games Schools Finals at Crystal Palace Stadium.
The haul included two gold medals in the Year 7 Girls Sportshall Athletics and the Years 5 and 6 'quicksticks' hockey tournament.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Upminster took the top spot in the hockey after beating City of London's St Paul's Cathedral School with a score of 1-0.
The girls from Coopers' Company and Coburn School, also in Upminster, won the Sportshall Athletics after finishing jointly on 258 points alongside Bromley's Langley Park, but claiming victory with fewer faults.
The Havering side took maximum points in the first two races of the indoor athletics event and were overjoyed with their victory.
Team manager Shona Barrett said: "I was delighted for the girls, and it was such a shock to win.
"We have always worked hard at our indoor athletics and we have a strong team this year."
Success kept on coming for the borough as Ardleigh Green took silver in the mixed boys and girls Year 5 and 6 Sportshall competition, finishing just two points behind the winners from Brent.
The contest was close until the end, and Ardleigh Green kept in touch with the leaders despite suffering a major setback.
Ardleigh Green team manager Mel Smelling said: "We've been working really hard at breaks and lunchtimes since after Christmas.
"Despite having a disaster, one of our boys fell over on the triple jump and twisted his ankle.
"So he missed all his events and we had the reserve step in, so they did really well."
Engayne Primary was inched out of gold, winning silver after a score of 1-0 in the Years 5 and 6 football competition to Hounslow.
Oakfields Montessori School won bronze in the high-5 netball, whilst Havering won the battle for bronze in the Water Polo after beating Ealing 11-5.
Olympic sprinter Abi Oyepitan and gold and silver medallist rower Mark Hunter watched the future hopefuls from the side-lines.
The former Youth Games competitor and Havering man, Mark Hunter, said: "It's just incredible to see so many happy smiling faces enjoying and participating in sport."
The Balfour Beatty-sponsored games are part of the nationwide School Games programme with around 30,000 Londoners taking part in the initial heats of the competition.
