YOUNGSTERS from primary schools throughout Darlington borough pulled on their gym shoes for their annual sports day last week.

The Darlington Primary Schools Athletics Championships 2000 saw 26 finals over 60m to 400m contested by hundreds of children.

Beginning with four 400m races, the event ran through the afternoon until the final of the large schools mixed relay brought the competition to a close.

Every year, the schools, from inside the town and from the rural villages such as Heighington, come together to pit their skills against one another and have a fun day out.

The event followed the Darlington Secondary Schools' Athletics Championships on Tuesday, which saw Carmel RC College come away with the top honours again.

Carmel's head of PE Eve Hannaford said: "This is the 13th consecutive year the girls have won and the eighth year running we have been overall town champions."

A total of 15 out of 21 trophies went to Carmel at the event which, like the primary championships, was held at the new Eastbourne Sports Complex for the first time.

Primary Schools results:

Large schools

Boys. 400m: David Carter (Abbey)

Yr6 80m: Mark Thompson (St Teresa)

Yr5 80m: Mark Mines (Heathfield)

Yr4 60m: Bryn Lovell (Whinfield)

Yr3 60m: Nathan Trotman (Harrowgate Hill)

4x80m relay: Abbey

Girls

400m: Abigail Wilson (Abbey)

Yr6 80m: Clare Nattress (Abbey)

Yr5 80m: Sammy Davies (Alderman Leach)

Yr4 60m: Jade Franklin (Rise Carr)

Yr3 60m: Jade Hall (Harrowgate Hill)

4x80m relay: Abbey

Mixed relay: Dodmire

Small schools

Boys

400m: Shaun Brown (St John's)

Yr6 80m: Patrick Saunders (St Bede's)

Yr5 80m: Jack Othwaite (Heighington)

Yr4 60m: Paul Walker (Holy Family)

Yr3 60m: Nicholas Petch (St Bede's)

4x80m relay: Heighington

Girls

400m: Helen Moore (Sadberge)

Yr6 80m: Amy Watson (Heighington)

Yr5 80m: Bethany Heard (St Bede's)

Yr4 60m: Rebecca Toppion (St Bede's)

Yr3 60m: Lucy King (Heighington)

4x80m relay: Sadberge

Mixed relay: St Bede's