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!!View 2009 Photos Now!!

FROM ODYSSEY TO THE OLYMPICS
The Next Generation of Stars

‘Search For A Star’ Initiative

Athletics NI Primary School Sports Hall

Over the past few years Athletics NI have held a very successful scheme of indoor athletics for primary schools held initially in the Belfast Area, with a final at the Odyssey Arena Belfast. This was in conjunction with the Irish Indoor Athletic Championships.

Due to the success of the scheme, this year we have expanded it to other areas outside Belfast to make the final event in the Odyssey a bigger and better event. This year we are having area competitions in the following areas; Banbridge, Belfast, Lisburn, North Down and the North West.

Athletics Northern Ireland development staff under the guidance of three-times Olympian Jackie McKernan, will be working with schools in the run-up to the event to provide young people with introductory athletics and help the athletes taking part with their fundamental skills, such as running, jumping, throwing and learning to be part of a team.

The ‘Search For a Star’ athletics scheme includes ‘taster’ sessions at the various primary schools followed by a regional heat. From the regional heats, scores will be compared and the top twenty athletes from each region will receive an invite to the grand final at the Odyssey Arena on Sunday 8th February.

In the area competitions a team is made up of 10 P7 pupils (mixed girls & boys). Each athlete has to take part in 4 events- 60 metre sprint, standing long jump, chest push and speed bounce.


The area competitions for the Athletics Northern Ireland Primary schools ‘Search for a Star’ initiative are well underway with North Down, Belfast and Lisburn Area teams already selected. With just the Banbridge and North West competitions still to take place in December, the race for the Odyssey Search for a Star campaign is really on!

The North Down team are all set for retaining their title as champions in the Odyssey Final for the third year running but they will be up against stiff competition this year.

· CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NORTH DOWN RESULTS

· CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BELFAST RESULTS

· CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BANBRIDGE RESULTS

· CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE LISBURN RESULTS

From the results, the top athlete(s) for each of the four events are:

Best Sprint – Jessica Reynolds (Rockport PS), North Down Area Time 15.41 sec
Best Jump – Zoe Carruthers & Lucy McCoy (Pond Park PS) and Conor Field Wallace Prep, Lisburn Area Distance 2 meters
Speed bounce – Jamie Kissock (Conor House PS) & Jessica Reynolds (Rockport PS), North Down Area Jumps 57
Chest push – Peter Stewart Ben Madigan Prep, Belfast Area Distance 8m 50

Well done to all who have taken part in the competitions so far and thank you to all the local councils for getting involved. We look forward to the grand final in the Odyssey Arena on 7th & 8th February 2009, and hope to attract another good crowd of supporters.


Lord Mayor Pat McCarthy & Vice-Chairman of SCNI Gerry Carson with children from St. Bernard’s PS taking part in the ‘Search for A Star’ Initiative.