HUNDREDS of young athletes from across Dudley borough took part in the second hotly contested Invictus Games.

Crestwood School in Kingswinford were the hosts of the event which brought together more than 120 participants from the Invictus Education Trust schools – Ellowes Hall Sports College, Crestwood School, Leasowes High School, Ounsdale High School, Kinver High School and Pedmore Technology College.

Cheered on by their fellow students, staff, headteachers from the respective schools and special guests for the day – Team GB athletes Amy Smith and Richard Buck – the youngsters enjoyed an action packed day of sport.

Amy and Richard opened the games with some very inspirational and motivational words for the students.

Richard, a seven-time international 400-metre medallist, spoke of the importance of resilience and perseverance in the pursuit of a goal.

While Amy, who has competed at the very top of world swimming for over a decade, including an appearance in the final of the 4 x 100m freestyle event at the London 2012 games, highlighted how crucial it was to make the most of the wonderful opportunity the event had given the students to display their talents.

Both Olympians were on hand throughout the day offering support to the students, and of course a chance for the students to get a closer look at a gold medal.

After a close sporting battle between the six schools, Ellowes Hall ran out eventual winners, and celebrated by lifting the Invictus Games Shield.

The battle for second and third was intense, with Crestwood just beating Leasowes into the runners up spot.

Rosie Hatton, Invictus Education Trust’s director of sport, said: “The ethos of Invictus sport is best summed up with our motto ‘Unconquerable in Sport’.

“The schools competed against each other throughout the day across a number of sports, including Handball, Swimming and Rowing to see who could crown themselves truly unconquerable.

“I have a genuine a passion for sport so it is a huge honour for me, with the help of our fantastic PE departments, to offer the thousands of Invictus students a pathway into elite sport.”