YOUNGSTERS from every primary school in the borough took part in the Darlington Primary Schools Athletics Championships 2000 yesterday.

Hundreds of children competed for glory in 26 finals over track distances of 60 to 400m.

Beginning with four 400m races, the event continued 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 come together to pit their skills against one another and have a fun day out.

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

The college'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 yesterday's primary championships, was held at the Eastbourne Sports Complex in Darlington for the first time.

Darlington Primary Schools Athletics Championships 2000 results were as follows

LARGE SCHOOLS

Boys: 400m, David Carter (Abbey). Year six 80m, Mark Thompson (St Teresa's). Year five 80m, Mark Mines (Heathfield). Year four 60m, Bryn Lovell (Whinfield). Year three 60m, Nathan Trotman (Harrowgate Hill). Four x 80m relay: Abbey.

Girls: 400m, Abigail Wilson (Abbey). Year six 80m, Clare Nattress (Abbey). Year five 80m, Sammy Davies (Alderman Leach). Year four 60m, Jade Franklin (Rise Carr). Year three 60m, Jade Hall (Harrowgate Hill). Four x 80m relay: Abbey.

Mixed relay: Dodmire.

SMALL SCHOOLS

Boys: 400m, Shaun Brown (St John's). Year six 80m, Patrick Saunders (St Bede's). Year five 80m, Jack Outhwaite (Heighington). Year four 60m, Paul Walker (Holy Family). Year three 60m, Nicholas Petch (St Bede's). Four x 80m relay: Heighington.

Girls: 400m: Helen Moore (Sadberge). Year six 80m, Amy Watson (Heighington). Year five 80m, Bethany Heard (St Bede's). Year four 60m, Rebecca Toppion (St Bede's). Year three 60m, Lucy King (Heighington). Four x 80m relay: Sadberge.

Mixed relay: St Bede's