PICTURES: Moray Primary Schools cross country event draws over 1000 people to Gordon Castle in Fochabers

By Craig Christie

Published: 11:34, 29 March 2024

| Updated: 13:14, 29 March 2024

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The largest one-off participation event on the Moray Active Schools sporting calendar attracted almost 700 runners to Gordon Castle’s grounds.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 32The start of the Primary 6/7 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 34Finishing fifth in the Primary 6/7 Girls race was Julia Ross from West End Primary School in Elgin.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 22Primary 4/5 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 23Start of the Primary 6/7 Boys race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 28(Left) Finn Carruthers from Andersons Primary in Forres finished seventh and Struan Hamilton from Tomintoul Primary finished eighth. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 31Harley, from Cullen Primary School, finishing the Primary 6/7 Boys race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

The Moray Primary Schools Cross Country event included a fun run for P1-3 pupils and competitive races for the older age groups.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 33The start of the Primary 6/7 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 35(Gordonstoun) pupil competes in the Primary 6/7 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 15Start of the Primary 4/5 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 36Lili Sharman, from Gordonstoun, leads the P6/7 Girls race home.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 27Doshie O'Brien (left) from Knockando and Blair Macken (right) from St Gerardines finished fifth and sixth in the Primary 6/7 Boys race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 08Winner of the Primary 1-3 Girls fun race. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

A total of 37 schools competed in the runs, organised by Active Schools in partnership with Sportscotland and Moray Council.

Roy McPherson, Principal Active Schools and Community Sport Officer said: “There was some rain first thing which made for exciting cross country conditions underfoot, but the weather had faired up by the time the races took place, just a bit of wind to keep everyone cool.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 01Start of the Primary 1-3 Boys fun race. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 37Second in the P6/7 Girls race was Isla Weir (Findochty PR) and third Eva McFall (Tomintoul PR). Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 16Henriikka Blunden (Gordonstoun) runs to victory in the Primary 4/5 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 04Runners approach the finish in the Primary 1-3 Boys fun race. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 09On the final straight towards the finish of the Primary 1-3 Girls fun race. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 11Start of the Primary 4/5 Boys race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

“The aim of the event is to encourage the participants to continue to take part in physical activity across their lives, and we provided information to everyone on pathways in to regular community club activity.”

A total of 155 youngsters took part in the fun run, 254 contested the P4-5 races and 263 fought it out for the positions in the two P6-7 events. Overall, 359 boys and 313 girls were involved, an increase from the normal 600 pupils who enter the festival.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 38Fourth in the Primary 6/7 Girls race was Bishopmill Primary school pupil Isabella Mackman. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 17Second in the Primary 4/5 Girls race is Skye Hughes from Andersons Primary in Forres.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 21(Bishopmill Primary - left) and Ellie Chalmers from Linkwood Primary School race to the finish line in the Primary 4/5 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 25Winner of the Primary 6/7 Boys race - Roger Long from West End Primary School.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 18Fifth in the Primary 4/5 Girls race was Martha Tunnard from West End Primary School in Elgin.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 13Start of the Primary 4/5 Boys race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

“We had over 1000 people in the grounds including the participants, spectators and school staff, a really successful morning with lots of positive feedback.” McPherson added.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 19Isla Harrison from Alves Primary finished sixth in the P4/5 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 20Alivia Boseley from Applegrove races towards the finish in the P4/5 Girls race. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 26Second in the Primary 6/7 Boys race was Applegrove's Fraser Heron.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 29Milnes' Marshall Smith (yellow tshirt) sprints home in 11th place in the P6/7 Boys race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 14Start of the Primary 4/5 Girls race.Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

EL_PR Cross Country 2024 02Start of the Primary 1-3 Boys fun race. Active Schools Primary Cross Country 2024, held at Gordon Castle, Fochabers. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Results - Primary 4/5 girls: 1 Henriikka Blunden, Gordonstoun (3 mins 59 sec); 2: Skye Hughes, Andersons (4.17); 3: Freya Sutton, Kinloss (4.22).

School Team Overall - 1 West End (29 points); 2 Bishopmill (31 points); 3 Anderson’s (51 points).

Small School Team - 1 Mosstowie (37 points); 2 Portessie (107 points); 3 Mortlach (108 points).

Primary 4/5 boys - 1 Hugo McPherson, Linkwood (3.59); 2 Cameron Wilkie, West End (4.04); 3 Finlay Ellis, Milnes (4.05).

Small Team Overall - 1 Milnes (25 points); 2 Kinloss (39 points); 3 Andersons (66 points).

Small School Team - 1 Portessie (53 points); 2 Alves (103 points); 3 Knockando (106 points).

Primary 6/7 girls - 1 Lili Sharman, Gordonstoun (8.32); 2 Isla Weir, Findochty (8.45); 3 Eva McFall, Tomintoul (8.48).

Small Team Overall - 1 Bishopmill (33 points); 2 West End (45 points); 3 St Gerardines (49 points).

Small School Team: 1 Gordonstoun (75 points); 2 Portknockie (84 points); 3 Mortlach (96 points).

Primary 6/7 boys 1 Roger Long, West End (7.58); 2 Fraser Heron, Applegrove (8.02).

Small Team Overall: 1 Milnes (66 points); 2 East End (71 points); 3 Anderson’s (72 points).

Small School Team: 1 Rothes (48 points); 2 Mosstowie (60 points); 3 Knockando (153 points).

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