The England Korfball Junior Inter-Area Championships will be held at Harrow Leisure Centre this weekend.

Teams from around the country will compete at Under-11, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 level aiming to become national champions.

The event is being organised by local club Harrow Vultrix, with support from the London Korfball Association and the England Korfball Association.

Teams representing both London and Harrow will play in the competition. Paralympian gold medallist Tim Prendergast will be attending to present the prizes.

Korfball is a mixed team sport with four male and four female players on each team. The game is Dutch and shares its roots with basketball and netball.

It was invented in 1902 by a Dutch schoolteacher who wanted a game that all his pupils at the first co-educational schools in Amsterdam could play together.

Max Buttinger, head coach of Harrow Vultrix, said: “The whole Harrow Korfball community has become totally absorbed with preparing for this amazing youth event. The parents, kids, locals and council have gone the extra mile to help train the children, get kit, find sponsors, advertise and promote the event, there is a real buzz.

“It is a big opportunity to promote youth korfball in London. The youngsters are nearly as excited as the parents with Tim Prendergast presenting the prizes. Roll on the weekend when Harrow will run a great show.”

Mark Paxton, development officer of the London Korfball Association, said: “To have some of the best young korfball players in the country competing in Harrow is a great achievement and it will raise the profile of korfball in North-West London.

“Harrow have put a lot of effort into this event and we hope that the London and Harrow teams will do us proud.”