CHILDREN from 26 Darlington primary schools battled for athletics honours yesterday.

More than 1,100 youngsters gathered at the Eastbourne Sports Complex for the Primary Schools Athletics Tournament.

The events were split into two groups, with the schools divided in accordance with the number of pupils on their role.

Competing against 2000's smaller schools trophy winners, St Bede's, were the Cockerton, Red Hall, Holy Family RC, Mount Pleasant, St Augustine's, Sadberge, Gurney Pease, Middleton St George, St John's, Hurworth, Polam Hall and Heighington primary schools.

This year's smaller schools overall winners were Heighington Primary.

The larger schools overall trophy went last year to Abbey School, who were challenged this year by Rise Carr, Springfield, St Teresa's, Firthmoor, Reid Street, Alderman Leach, Corporation Road, Mowden, Harrowgate Hill, Skerne Park, Heathfield and Dodmire primary schools.

This year, the award again went to Abbey Juniors.

As well as the overall trophies, the pupils from years three, four, five and six also had the chance to compete for a new Team Spirit Trophy, sponsored by the Master Skills Sporting Academy. That was won by Rise Carr Primary School.

Yesterday's tournament was run as a partnership between Darlington Borough Council and the Primary PE Network, in Darlington.

Every child who took part received a participation certificate, while those who come in the first three of any event received a medal from the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Isobel Hartley.