Pupils go the distance in cross country event
RURAL Lochaber school pupils gave town schools a run for their money at last week’s Lochaber Primaries Cross Country Running Championships, with some of the fastest times of the day coming from Strontian and Spean Bridge competitors.
Despite a last minute postponement, due to deep snow blanketing the ground on the original date two weeks ago, 14 primary schools entered this year’s event.
Organised by Lochaber’s physical education and Active Schools staff and sponsored by Samuel and Partners, the course winds its way through Leanachan Forest. All of the participants were cheered and encouraged round the course by senior pupils from Lochaber High School.
In the girls’ event, Mya Carmichael, from Strontian Primary School, improved on her second place in last year’s race to take the win in a time of 11.47, just ahead of Iona Dignin from Inverlochy, who took second place in 11.48. Third was Sophie Knox, from Lundavra, 12.09. A special mention goes to Aimee MacLeod, from Ardgour Primary, who came in fifth, despite being a P4 pupil and the youngest in the field.
In the boys’ race, the fastest runner and winner of the Rotary Cup was Sorley Swabey from Spean Bridge Primary School, who completed the 1.5 mile course in nine minutes 53 seconds. Second was Ben Corner, from Inverlochy, in a time of 10.02, while third place was claimed by Dean Douglas from Caol in 10:10, just ahead of Daniel Parfitt from Inverlochy.
Inverlochy and Caol shared joint first place in the overall schools team standings, with last year’s winners, Lundavra, pushed down into third place.