Young Athletes Get On Their Marks!

Nearly 300 children from 18 schools attended the 5th Valero Pembrokeshire Primary Schools Athletics Competition at Sir Thomas Picton School track on 6th July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Athletes competed in a variety of track, field events and para events, including the 50m, 75m & 100m sprint, 800m, 4x100m relay, javelin, long jump and shot put. The children participating were from years 5 and 6. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event was run by Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Harriers and the winners of the team competition were Tenby Junior School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Matt Freeman, Active Young People Manager at Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “The event has developed over the past three years with introduction of the para disciplines making the event fully inclusive.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added that the increase in the number of pupils and schools attending a large scale athletics event helped to boost their enthusiasm for athletics, and many had been encouraged to join Pembrokeshire Harriers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Liz Rowlands, club secretary for the Harriers, said: “The event is an opportunity for the club to promote themselves and identify potential new members and volunteers. The partnership with Sport Pembrokeshire for the event works well and over the years has resulted in the recruitment of lots of new junior members.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​