City schools will do battle next week to become Milton Keynes champions at this summer's korfball tournament.

More than 200 children from 12 primary and six secondary schools will be competing at Oxley Park School on Tuesday in one of the most popular yet unusual ball games, which combines elements from basketball and netball, and sees males and females play alongside each other.

The event is organised by the Milton Keynes Youth Korfball Programme and is supported by Milton Keynes Council.

The tournament aims to introduce more local schools to korfball and engage as many young people as possible in active sports, in preparation for the European U21 Nations Championships which will be hosted in Milton Keynes in 2011.

Darren Gray, growth manager at Milton Keynes Council and a volunteer youth korfball coach, said: "Milton Keynes is a true korfball town.

This year over 2,500 children have played korfball in the city and the number of adult players has tripled.

"We are on the international stage now and we are thrilled about being able to welcome 12 European teams to the city in two years time.

"We are very much looking forward to the tournament as it will give children a chance to play in their first competitive matches, while putting into practice what they've learnt this year.

More than 27 schools across the city already play korfball, with five adult clubs and 12 teams playing korfball in local and regional leagues.
The first schools championship was contested in November last year.

Four schools competed in the primary school event with Langland School from Netherfield coming out on top, ahead of Orchard School, Drayton Park and Oxley Park.

In the secondary school competition hosts Oakgrove defeated Lord Grey and Shenley Brook End to claim the title.

The next step for some of the schools is National Youth Day in Cambridge in July where more than 100 teams will compete.