The 8th annual Primary School Relays, hosted by Longford Athletics Club, took place in Newtownforbes on Friday evening last with the event making its return having been last held in 2019. A total of 612 children from across the county took part which was the largest turnout ever. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO 17 national schools were represented: St. Patrick’s, Killeen; Stonepark; St. Matthew’s, Ballymahon; Melview; Scoil Samhthann, Ballinalee; Scoil Mhuire, Newtownforbes; St. Guasacht’s, Bunlahy; St. Teresa’s, Killoe; Fermoyle; St. Columba’s, Mullinalaghta; St. Mel’s, Ardagh; St. Mary’s, Edgeworthstown; St. Mary’s, Drumlish; St. Patrick’s, Ballinamuck; St. Patrick’s, Dromard; Scoil Mhuire, Clondra and Tashinny.A large crowd was in attendance to watch the programme of 4 x 200 metres relay races as well as 200 metres subs races for those children not on a relay team. Races solely for schools with smaller teacher numbers were added for the first time. Pictures | Nostalgia and fond memories as Longford Variety Group's ‘Are Ya Wide Sham’ is a big hit Longford group Legan Nifty 50's announce return of popular charity motorbike runSome closely contested finishes and a very good standard on show provided for an entertaining evening. The opening relays saw Newtownforbes to the fore winning three of the first four races and particularly impressive was the third-class girls winning team of Keeva Manning, Jessica Neary and twin sisters Georgia and Hollie Brady. Melview’s second-class boys disrupted the early Newtown dominance with the quartet of Andrew Fitzpatrick, Tom Hourican, Dáire Grealy and Jack O’Rourke securing gold. Ardagh’s fourth-class girls team of Evelyn Murray, Aoibhinn Coffey, Carly Belton and Cadhla Golden ran well for their success.Gold for Killoe in the fifth-class boys followed the fifth-class girls relay which was arguably the race of the evening as Newtownforbes and Edgeworthstown went head-to-head. It was finely balanced going into the final leg with two of Longford AC’s
PICTURES | Ray Flynn trophy goes to Edgeworthstown as young athletes shine at exciting Longford primary schools relays
Caption: Longford's athletics stars of the future were in action at the County Longford Primary Schools Relays last Friday evening at Clonguish GAA, Allen Park, Newtownforbes. Organised by Longford Athletics Club the event was a huge success and pictured are Mia Donohoe (St Teresa's NS, Killoe) and Layla Blessington (St Guasacht's, Bunlahy). Picture: Shelley Corcoran
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Caption: 2nd Class; Andrew Fitzpatrick, Dáire Grealy, Jack O'Rourke and Tom Hourican from Melview National School Picture: Shelley Corcoran
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Caption: 2nd: St Matthew's: Tiernan O'Rourke, Jimmy Shearan, Pedro Bereira, Ethan Grzyeowski, 1st; Newtownforbes; Mathew Columb, Jack McVeigh, Dylan Reynolds, Tom Dempsey, 3rd: St Patrick's Dromard: Brian Brady, Joe Sheeran, Jason Dennigan, Andrew Conefrey at the Longford Athletics Club Primary Schools Relays
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Caption: 3rd Class Subs: Ethan Donnellan, (Fermoyle), Stephen Cox (Clondra) and Cormac McLoughlin (St Matthews) Picture: Shelley Corcoran