THE second of three Falkirk Council Primary Schools Cross Country League matches took place in Callendar Park earlier this month.
THE second of three Falkirk Council Primary Schools Cross Country League matches took place in Callendar Park earlier this month.
After the opening fixture in Bo'ness, when more than 650 pupils from 24 primaries – covering all eight of the distric
t's school clusters – tackled a one-mile course, athletes in P5, 6 and 7 descended on Falkirk on December 1.
Now in its seventh year, the league has attracted a record entry this time around and is organised by Falkirk Victoria Harriers with help from active school co-ordinators.
They also depend on school-based volunteers to run training sessions during the year, whether teachers, support for learning assistants or parents.
And, while competition is an undoubted element, organiser Caroline Lawless said: "The difference with our league is that schools can bring as many children as they want to.
"We're just happy they come along and have the experience and the feeling of completing a mile course."
Boys and girls run the course together and finishing places are combined with results in all three meetings in order to determine the final league rankings.
The league will be completde at Denny on March 16, 2010, when cups and shields will be presented.
Some impressive times were clocked up as the pupils were put through their paces in Callendar Park and selected results are printed below.
RESULTS OF LEAGUE MATCH
PRIMARY 5: boys – 1 Jonathan Mitchell (St Margaret's) 5:27, 2 Sean MacKenzie (Carronshore) 5:29, 3 Tommy McIntyre (Carronshore) 5:38; girls – 1 Eilidh McCallum (Bantaskin) 6:22, 2 Carla Ward (Victoria) 6:31, 3 Katy McGonigal (St Margaret's) 6:38; team results (top three placings added together) – (boys) 1 St Margaret's (21), 2 Bantaskin (31), 3 Carronshore (32); (girls) 1 Bantaskin (15), 2 Victoria (22), 3 Dunipace (37).
PRIMARY 6: boys – 1 Thomas Baff (Victoria) 5:12, 2 Rowen Crawford (Kinnaird) 5:16, 3 Thomas Jaques (Larbert Village) 5:25; girls – 1 Deborah Meikle (Bantaskin) 5:30, 2 Sophie Ogilvie (Head of Muir) 5.59, 3 Katrina Clark (Victoria) 6:07; team results – (boys) 1 Larbert Village (19), 2 Kinnaird (36), 3 Bantaskin (45); (girls) 1 Victoria (17), Carron (39), Comely Park (48).
PRIMARY 7: boys – 1 Dylan Russell (Dunipace) 5:00, 2 Drew Meikle (Bantaskin) 5:02, 3 Ross Crawford (Comely Park) 5:16; girls – 1 Leia Glading (Comely Park) 5:21, 2 Erin Pringle (Comely Park) 5:21, 3 Lauren Yorston (Carron) 5:50; team results – (boys) 1 St Francis (25), 2 Bantaskin (40), 3 Kinnaird (62); (girls) 1 Comely Park (20), 2 Carron (29), 3 Ladeside (46).
OVERALL STANDINGS (after two matches)
PRIMARY 5: boys – 1 Jonathan Mitchell (St Margaret's), 2 Tommy McIntyre (Carronshore), 3 Sean MacKenzie (Carronshore); girls – 1 Eilidh McCallum (Bantaskin), 2 Carla Ward (Victoria), 3 Katy McGonigal (St Margaret's); team – (boys) 1 St Margaret's (47), 2 Bantaskin (63), 3 Carronshore (71); (girls) 1 Victoria (46), 2 Bantaskin (48), Dunipace (64).
PRIMARY 6:boys – 1 Thomas Baff (Victoria), 2 Murray Wilson (Carronshore), 3 Gregor Dodds (Bantaskin); girls – 1 Deborah Meikle (Bantaskin), 2 Katrina Clark (Victoria), 3 Claire Farquhar (Victoria); team – (boys) 1 Larbert Village (58), 2 Bantaskin (93), 3 Kinnaird (93); (girls) 1 Victoria (44), Comely Park (86), Carron (95).
PRIMARY 7: boys – 1 Ross Crawford (Comely Park), 2 Dylan Russell (Dunipace), Drew Meikle (Bantaskin); girls – 1 Leia Glading (Comely Park), 2 Erin Pringle (Comely Park), 3 Selina Henderson (Ladeside); team – (boys) 1 St Francis (50), 2 Bantaskin (55), 3 Comely Park (144); (girls) Comely Park (32), Carron (64), Ladeside (87).
