NFSSP News Story

Mini cross country relays at Ashley junior school (15th March 07)

In early spring sunshine and the ideal setting of Ashley Junior School, eight junior schools attended the inaugural mini cross country relays for school years 3 and 4. All of the schools entered more than one team. Each team of six consisted on two relay teams, one had 2 boys and 1 girl and the other had 2 girls and 1 boy. There were over 170 children participating with 29 relay teams in each race. This meant for an excellent atmosphere with parents, teachers and friends cheering the competitors on throughout.

The first race was won by hosts Ashley Junior School (team 11), with Durlston Court School (team 13) finishing second, just in front of Abbotswood Junior School (team 26), with Blackfield Primary School (team 15) in fourth and Orchard Junior School (team 6) in fifth. The second race was won by Durlston Court (team 13), followed closely by Abbotswood’s (team 26) and Ashley’s (team 11) in third. Durlston Court’s (team 14) finished in fourth and Orchard’s (team 6) finished in fifth.

These results meant that Durlston Court’s ‘team 13’ were crowned the first ever New Forest Mini Cross Country Relay Champions with 3pts (2nd & 1st). In second place were hosts Ashley’s ‘team 11’ with 4 pts (1st & 3rd) and in third were Abbotswood’s ‘team 26’ with 5pts (3rd & 2nd). In joint fourth place with 10pts were Orchards ‘team 10’, Blackfield’s ‘team 15’ and Durlston Court’s ‘team 14’ with Orchard’s ‘team 7’ finishing in fifth.

The event was run on the day by Tim Wilding of New Forest Junior Athletics Club and New Forest School Sport Partnership. The event was also aided by Sports Leaders from Arnewood School, New Milton and Testwood Sports College, Totton volunteering and helping to marshal and score the event.