HANSEN’S REPORT ON SOUTH MAINLAND ATHLETICS COMPETITION A good turnout of Ness bairns attended the latest in a series of athletics competitions that took place in the Sandwick School games hall last Saturday morning. The competition is open to all South Mainland schools with over 70 children from primary 1 to primary 7 taking part in 8 different events that consists of two running races, speedbounce, standing long jump, triple jump, standing high jump, ball throw and skipping. Points are awarded for being placed in all events which led to some close finishes as the competitors different strengths came to the fore. The winner from Primary 1 girls was Iona Leslie (Dunrossness) narrowly beating Emma Burgess (Dunrossness) with Callum Bell (Dunrossness) coming out on top in the boys section just ahead of Scott Millar (Dunrossness). In the Primary 2’s Zoe Rivett (Dunrossness) won the girls section ahead of Emily Black (Dunrossness) with Marcus Kennedy (Sandwick) winning the boys section ahead of Jude Donaldson (Sandwick). The Primary 3 girls section was won by Sarah Marie Riise (Sandwick) ahead of Melody Goodlad (Cunningsburgh) with Dylan Black (Dunrossness) winning the boys section ahead of Duncan Burgess (Dunrossness). The Primary 4 girls section was won by Jasmin Smith (Dunrossness) ahead of Kirstin Keay and Kira Eldridge (both Sandwick) who were tied for second place. A very competitive primary 4 boys section was won by Finlay Mercer (Dunrossness) ahead of Seamus MacKay (Dunrossness). In the Primary 5’s Sophie Black (Dunrossness) won ahead of Keira Munro (Dunrossness) with the boys being unable to be split there was joint winners in Bobby Laurenson and Kyle Leask (both Sandwick). In the Primary 6 girls Rachel Keay (Sandwick) triumphed ahead of Sophie Morris (Sandwick) and in a very tightly fought boys section Sean Sinclair (Cunningsburgh) beat Aiden Grogan (Sandwick) by just 1 point. In the Primary 7 girls section Caitlin Munro (Dunrossness) won ahead of Cara Stevens (Dunrossness) with the boys section being won by Caelin Rivett (Dunrossness) ahead of Scott Riise (Sandwick). The organisers would like to thank all the parents and helpers who gave up their time to make the day run smoothly and a big congratulations to the children who gave their all with many improved performances in all sections.