Team GB Olympian vaults SPAR Lancashire School Games into 20th year

A Team GB Olympic Pole Vault star has returned to launch the SPAR Lancashire School Games more than a decade after participating in them.

Harry Coppell was the guest speaker at the launch of the School Games held at James Hall and Co’s SPAR distribution centre in Preston and he helped vault them into a 20th year with every edition over the last two decades sponsored by SPAR.

Seventy primary school children from across the Red Rose County attended the launch to hear Harry’s story, posed for photos with Harry, and met SPAR mascot SPARtan who provided entertainment.

Children then enjoyed a tour of the SPAR Distribution Centre, including ambient, fresh and frozen warehouses, alongside their teachers and School Games Organisers.

Harry spoke about how he first got into participating in the pole vault, his time in the Lancashire School Games and the National School Games, and his journey to becoming a professional athlete.

He currently holds the men’s British Pole Vault record, competed at the Tokyo Olympics where he finished seventh, and he is a Commonwealth Games medal winner. When he is not competing and training, he helps deliver School Games activity in West Lancashire.

Harry said: “I was delighted to be asked to launch the 20th SPAR Lancashire School Games in a milestone year and it was a lovely chance for a trip down memory lane to where it all started for me. The children were really engaged and asked some great questions about my career.

“When I made the move back to the West Lancashire area last year, I reconnected with old contacts delivering School Games activity, and I leapt at the chance to get involved again when I was invited to. I have loved supporting that work since.”

It is a big 12 months for Harry with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July next year closely followed by the European Athletics Championships – sponsored by SPAR – which are coming to Great Britain for the first time when they are held in Birmingham in August 2026.

Harry added: “After a couple of injury affected years, I am raring to go for 2026. It is a unique opportunity to compete twice at major competitions in front of huge crowds in Great Britain.

“Although I missed the Paris Olympics, I won the British title again last year. That has given me confidence going forward and I am embracing the challenge ahead.”

During the visit, children also heard presentations from joint managing director of James Hall and Co, Niels Dekkers, who highlighted some fun facts about the company and SPAR, before Adrian Leather, chief executive Officer at Active Lancashire, reflected on 20 years of sponsorship of the Lancashire School Games.

Run by Active Lancashire and the School Games Organiser Network, the Lancashire School Games have been sponsored by SPAR through its association with James Hall and Co since 2006.

Niels Dekkers said: “What a way to launch the 20th SPAR Lancashire School Games. It was a pleasure to hear Harry’s story from a previous participant and his rise to become the outstanding British champion and athlete he is today.

“We are looking ahead to another fantastic year of School Games activity across Lancashire, and we have some brilliant plans in the calendar. Our thanks go to Active Lancashire and the School Games Organisers who will be delivering this activity in a special year for the games.”

Adrian Leather said: “Harry is a true inspiration, and he really wowed everyone present with his career progress. It was amazing to learn more about the Pole Vault as a discipline, and we are rooting for him as one of our own in 2026.

“We are incredibly grateful to James Hall and Co and SPAR for their dedicated support of the School Games over the last two decades. There is nothing like the Lancashire School Games anywhere else in the country and that is testament to the success of this enduring partnership.”

SPAR Lancashire School Games activity is delivered in three distinct clusters across the county – Coastal, Central, and Pennine – aligned to local needs. In the 2024-25 academic year, this included 45 feature events.