AS Team GB compete in venues in the capital and beyond, a few junior athletes are trying their hand at some Olympic sports in the picturesque setting of Woodstock’s Blenheim Palace.

For the third year running, Active Camps has held summer holiday activities for youngsters at the palace.

That included a chance to try out canoeing, archery and other sports, as well as other events, such as orienteering, which have so far not quite made it into the Olympics.

Among those taking part yesterday was Mark Allen, 11, from Wolvercote.

He said: “We have been doing archery for the whole afternoon and I found I was quite good at it. The day has been brilliant.”

Molly Walton, eight, from Stadhampton also enjoyed the activities.

She said: “My favourite part was shooting the arrows.”

Leo Hughes, eight, from Chipping Norton, is spending all week at Blenheim trying his hand at different activities.

He said: “I have done archery, we have played some games, we have done kayaking and we did some den building. The best bit was the kayaking.”

Twenty-four youngsters aged eight and up took part yesterday, and a further 45 are signed up for today.