The Donegal 1st Year schools finals held in the Abbey Vocational Gymnasium on Friday 29th January proved once again to be very exciting and closely contested. Following two hours of very well organised competition the host, Abbey Vocational School, came out on top in both Girls and Boys.
The twelve per team format of Sporthall Athletics where an individual is allowed participate in one race, one field event and one relay and where all competitors score towards an overall team total ensures that all events and finish positions are important.
The finals were contested by 144 athletes from six schools – all having qualified from regional heats prior to Christmas.
Reverser boards at each end of the hall ensures that sprints, relays and endurance events are ran safely with an appreciative spectating audience urging on their schoolmates. Five field events where each school is also allowed a maximum of two representatives i.e. Shot Putt; Vertical Jump; Standing Long Jump; 30 secs Speed Bounce and Standing Triple Jump –were also closely contested and totted up.
Prior to presenting the overall awards, Donegal Schools organising Secretary, Evelyn Crampsie, Mulroy College, Milford congratulated all the school teams on finals qualification; Mr McCormick, Abbey Voc School Principal for putting the schools facilities a the disposal of the schools board ; the P.E/Sports teachers from the various competing schools for preparing and encouraging their teams to participate and the T.Y. students from the local school who did an excellent job in organising/officiating and producing results.
Evelyn concluded by encouraging all athletes present, not already members, to join a local athletics club and indicated that the final Sportshall county trial takes place on Sunday in Carndonagh.
Abbey Vocational School Boys & Girls Winning Teams
Boys Presentation
Carndonagh Community School
Carrick Vocational School
Loretto Collage Milford
Girls Presentation
Moville Community School
Mulroy Collage