The Aura’s spacious arena in Letterkenny was a hive of activity, on Thursday last, when the Donegal Primary Schools Sports Hall Athletics finals climaxed with three hours of exciting team competition.
Finalists from every corner of the county – all qualified during the last month via seven regional heats in Dungloe, Clonmany, Castlefinn, Letterkenny and Ballyshannon – competed for the right to represent the county in early 2014.
Scoil Iosagan, Buncrana; Scoil Colmcille, L’kenny and Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, L’kenny came out on top in various categories and will now prepare to compete in All Ireland deciders in Athlone IT’s Indoor arena.
The Primary Schools Sportshall inclusive programme introduced three years ago and promoted in partnership between Donegal Sports Partnership and Donegal Athletics Board.
The competition has teams of twelve competing in agility, balance, co-ordination, running, jumping and throwing challenges.
This year over 2,000 children from fifty one primary schools enjoyed the athletic experience.
Myles Sweeney, Donegal Sports Partnership, prior to presentation of results, indicated that “You are all winners here today, you had fun, you were challenged, you represented your school and you had a most positive introduction to the fundamentals of sport.
He thanked the support staff from Donegal LSP, Donegal Co Board, clubs and officials and the 1st Yr. Business/Sports BA students from LYIT for their enthusiastic support for the SHA project at the various stages of planning, promoting and officiating.
Neil Martin, Chairman Donegal Co Athletics Board, complimented all the participants, thanked Myles Sweeney, DSP and Eamon Harvey, Athletics Ireland, who introduced and have led and developed this very successful and exciting programme.
Neil encouraged participants to join local athletics clubs, dotted al around the county, to come and enjoy similar programmes now being run at local club level.
Eamon Harvey, Development Officer, Athletics Ireland, complimented all participants and thanked the various teachers from the fifty one schools in Donegal and the local club coaches for supporting and giving the children a most positive experience in a fundamental sporting activity that includes ‘ individual challenge, comradeship and craic’.
He thanked the Donegal Sports Partnership for their leadership and support for the project, Donegal Co Board, clubs and coaches for their enthusiasm and expertise in introducing SHA at grass roots level into clubs/community.
Finally he thanked local indoor facility providers, the Aura Letterkenny, Rosses Community School, Colaiste Colmcille, Ballshannon, Clonmany Community Centre, CPI Centre, and Castlefinn for the use of their facilities for the running of seven regional and county finals
Donegal Sportshall Athletics Equipment Grant
The 2012 Sports Capital programme which is coordinated by the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport provided finance to support the Sports Hall Athletics Programme in Donegal through a grant of €10,000.
This equipment which will support the increased demand on the programme and will be distributed to clubs and community groups across Donegal, will further strengthen community involvement by children in sport.
Further information on the programme from Donegal Sports Partnership, River Front House, Pearse Road, Letterkenny – info@activedonegal.com 074 9116078/9116079 or from Donegal Co. Athletics Board/Eamon Harvey 0872797548