FOR the second time in the Hyndburn Olympiad, the Danes - Peel Park - struck gold in the first ever hockey festival held at Norden High School.
Denmark topped their group with a 1-0 win over Canada - Benjamin Hargreaves - and a comfortable victory over Morocco - St Mary Magdalenes.
Their fellow finalists and runners-up Mexico - Baxenden - had two good wins against Austria - St Peters - and the Netherlands - St Paul's.
14 teams started out in the tournament, many playing hockey in a competitive event for the first time and the skills got better as the competition progressed.
Australia - St Bartholomews - were looking menacing and made the semi-finals with a sudden death win over Austria.
The semi-finals were close but Denmark ended Australia's chances with a 3-0 win and, in the other semi, Mexico just squeezed out Canada 4-3.
Canada did regroup and finished the tournament in third place with Australia also getting a bronze medal, finishing fourth. However, in the final, Mexico could not stop the Danes.
In the Secondary School event, it was the Kiwi's of Norden who earned New Zealand their first gold of the game with Jamaica - Rhyddings - grabbing the silver.
Meanwhile, in the mini basketball, Sweden - Woodnook CP - grabbed the gold medal after narrowly defeating Sri Lanka 8-6.
And they had the tournament's Most Valuable Player, Corry Barr, to thank for some resolute defending and the deciding basket.
In the group phases, Tonga - St Charles RC - were looking strong and amassed 24 points against Nigeria and 22 against Austria.
Trinidad and Tobago - St Mary's - were the only team to peg them back as their game ended 4-4.
In Group B, Sweden beat Greece - Springhill - and India - Green Haworth - comfortably before a tight affair with group runners-up Mexico.
Group C saw Sri Lanka, powered by some great baskets from their MVP Jordan Clarke, win against Netherlands and Egypt - Mount Pleasant.
In the quarter-finals, Tonga beat Mexico 10-2 and Sweden defeated Samoa 16-2.
Finalists Sri Lanka needed a sudden death shoot-out against Fiji to earn a place in the last four as did Trinidad and Tobago after Greece almost caused an upset.
In the semi's, Sri Lanka celebrated a basket on the buzzer to see off Tonga while Sweden defeated Trinidad and Tobago 12-2. Tonga secured the bronze.
MVP's for each team: Egypt: Alec McKee; Tonga: Abigial O'Conner; Sweden: Corry Barr; Sri Lanka: Jordan Clarke; Trinidad and Tobago: Drew Bramley; Netherlands: Curtis Duckett; Austria: Rebecca Stewart; Mexico: Grace Thind; Samoa: Jessica Thompson; Fiji: Lewis hall; Greece: Amir Ali.
Sweden's winning team: Corry Barr, Akash Mahmood, Connor Bradley, AmeiliaIqbal, Haroon Mahmmod, Sinita Almond, Jade Wilson, Rebecca Cassidy.
- ANYONE who would like to know more about hockey or basketball for young people, contact Lee Boyer on 01254 380286.
