Schoolchildren raised the roof of the NSC as they cheered on classmates at the annual Primary Schools’ Sportshall Athletic Championships.
 
Trevor Christian, organiser of the event, said more than 400 children took part over two days and for many it was their first taste of athletics – something it’s hoped they’ll continue to pursue.
 
Participants were reminded that this was one day in the school year when teachers wanted them to make as much noise as possible.
 
The  event, generously sponsored by Sure, took traditional athletics and gave it an indoor twist, with obstacle and relay races as well as foam javelin, speed bounce and indoor versions of the long and triple jump, to name just a few of the contests.
 
Trevor, Athletics Development Officer for the Department of Education and Children’s Sports Development Unit, said 16 schools entered the large schools’ competition and six the small schools’ event, both supported by Adam Burgess from Sportshall UK.
 
Pupils had spent May practising at after-school clubs.
 
At the large schools’ competition, children demonstrated some great baton-changing and fancy footwork as they flew through the obstacle courses, said Trevor. It became a two-horse race between Ballacottier and Onchan, who were on equal points going into the 4 x 1 lap relays that finished the competition. The boys’ race went to the wire, Onchan just edging their rivals, the schools finishing in first and second place respectively. The girls’ race was more open, with Cronk-y-Berry A taking first place and Buchan second but Onchan landing third position to confirm their position as the 2014 Large Schools’ Sportshall Athletics Champions.
 
Small schools’ were no less vocal when they competed the following day, said Trevor, and another hard-fought competition saw St Thomas’s, Ballaugh and Dhoon within a hair’s breadth of each other. St Thomas’s and Dhoon couldn’t be separated and were awarded joint second, with Ballaugh taking the small schools’ championship.
 
Considered by some to be the main event, teachers were invited to have a go at the speed bounce and soft javelin and, to rousing applause from his pupils, Kevin Harding, from Andreas Primary, won both events. 
 
Trevor said: ‘Thanks must go to Sure, which sponsors our Primary Schools’ Sports Programme and our Sure Sports Leadership Programme and is so committed to encouraging children into sport.
 
‘Thanks go to all the children for making this event such a fantastic spectacle and to their teachers for their commitment to giving the children fun and engaging club sessions at school.
 
‘Thanks also to Year 10 girls from Ramsey Grammar School and athletics club officials who helped judge the event and, finally, to Adam from Sportshall UK and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for their support in bringing him and his van full of equipment to the Island.’
 
For information on how to get involved in athletics and to find your nearest club, contact the Athletics Development Officer on 688576 or email trevor.christian@gov.im
 

Photo - Onchan Primary in purple bibs (large school winners).