Teenagers in the Vale of Glamorgan served up a sizzling schools’ badminton tournament as they took their chance to compete in another Olympic sport thanks to the innovative 5x60 scheme.

Badminton is one of the many varied sports that are provided at lunchtimes and after school as part of the 5x60 scheme, a Sport Wales initiative that is run locally by the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s sports and play development team.

The scheme encourages pupils to exercise for at least 60 minutes, five times a week (5x60) by tempting them off the sidelines and into the action.

More than 40 boys and girls from years 7 & 8 did just that by taking to the courts at Penarth Leisure Centre for the badminton competition after many of them had only recently taken up the sport through 5x60 sessions.

Six local secondary schools were represented in the boys’ tournament, with each school team being made up of four players who went on to play a mixture of singles and doubles matches to decide the title. Following an initial group stage, and semi finals, Cowbridge Comprehensive School emerged victorious over St Cyres School in a closely contested final.

In the girls’ tournament, four schools faced each other in a round robin format, with Stanwell School securing the winners’ trophy after beating Cowbridge Comprehensive School.