Lochaber pupils vie for swim, run, athletics competition

Fifteen Lochaber Primary Schools come together this week (22 June) for the annual swimming gala, hill race and athletics competition.

The day started with swimming heats in backstroke, breaststroke, front crawl and a mixed relay.  Excitement mounted as the results were called out and the finalists announced.  Each of the top 5 swimmers in the final earned points towards the school shields.  Despite several closely fought races the overall scores gave clear wins to Lochaline, in the small schools category, Lochyside in the medium sized schools category (50-100 pupils) and Caol in the large schools event.

In the afternoon the competition transferred to Claggan Park for the hill race and athletics events, making the most of another day of fine Lochaber sunshine.  Several close finishes kept the timekeepers on their toes, with closely fought heats and finals.  Once again, the top five pupils in each event, based on their time in the heats, went through to a head-to-head final and collected points for their school.  In the end Roy Bridge took the small schools trophy, Spean Bridge the medium schools shield and Caol Primary made it a double taking first place in the large schools competition.

The event was organised by Highland Council’s Lochaber Leisure Centre staff, Primary PE specialists and Active Schools Co-ordinators.  Thanks also go to all the high school pupils and members of the athletics club who helped out on the day.