MORE than 2,000 young athletes and 200 young volunteers have taken their first steps on the road to the Dorset Level 3 School Games finals.

A number of schools from across the region took part in Level 2 qualifiers with the aim of securing a place in the finals on Friday, July 13 at eight different venues in the county. The finals coincide with the arrival in Bournemouth of the Olympic torch.

Bournemouth School for Girls and Bourne-mouth Collegiate School won their respective events in the under-14 volleyball qualifiers and will now go forward to represent Bournemouth in the finals.

Qualifiers from the Christchurch and Purbeck area were The Grange (boys) and Highcliffe (girls).

The first of three qualifying events also took place in the QuadKids under-11 section at Winton Arts and Media College, organised by Trainingdayz with support from leaders from Glenmoor School.

Schools participating were St Katharines, St James, Christ the King, Corpus Christi, St Walburgas, Malmesbury Park, Epiphany, Moor-down St John and Hill View with two going through to the final.

The volleyball was organised by the School Games Organisers in partnership with Wessex Volleyball and supported by leaders from Oakmead School.

The event was hosted at the new indoor Beach Volleyball Centre at Oakmead School.