96 children from across the Forth Valley were selected from local Norwich Union Star:track Summer camps to compete in the Regional Norwich Union star:track Championships at Grangemouth Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. 

The children showing the most potential from Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire competed against one another in what proved to be a very exciting and fun event.

The young athletes were lucky enough to meet Jane Nisbett who is British Age Group Champion and No1 in Scotland for High Jump.  Jane who has represented GB in the European Championships in 2007 not only assisted at the event presented the medals.

The festival consisted of 2 run’s, 1 jump and 1 throw, getting off to a fast and furious start with the under 9’s competing in the 60m sprint won by Robbie McNicol from Clackmannanshire in 2.62m. The 80m sprint was won by Katie Hopkins from Stirling in the over 9’s in 12.92 seconds.  After the best of three attempts in the Under 9’s Long Jump Rachel Higgins  from Falkirk came joint first with Isla Davison from Stirling jumping 1.22. In the Over 9’s Javelin Conor Cooney from Falkirk showed real potential throwing an impressive 12.5m. Athletes finished off with a fun non-scoring relay.

The overall the Regional team winners were Falkirk in both the Under 9’s and the Over 9’s with a total of 471 closely followed by Stirling with 443 and Clackmannanshire with 430. 

Outstanding performances from individual winners included Leah Doran from Falkirk who won every event in the under 9’s age group, Conor Cooney from Falkirk who won both the Long Jump and the Javelin in the Over 9’s and Rachel Higgins who tied for first in the Long Jump and the 400m with Kelsey Cambell and Isla Davidson respectively in the Over 9’s age group.

Liz Francis from SportCentral said “The standard of the athletes over the last 3 years has really improved, without the efforts of coaches and Development Officers from Clackmannanshire Council, Active Stirling and Grangemouth Stadium events like this would not be possible.  Thanks also goes to all the parents and families that came to support the event, this was the best turnout since the event first started. With the continued funding from Norwich Union we hope this event will develop to become bigger and better every year. It is so great to see children having such a positive experience, from this hopefully they will go on to join local Run, Jump, Throw Classes and local Athletics Clubs.”