World champion para-canoeist Hope Gordon, of Rogart, presents the awards at first swimming gala for Sutherland primary schools since pandemic
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Fresh from her world championship gold medal win in Germany last month, para-canoeist Hope Gordon, from Rogart, was back on home turf to present the prizes at East Sutherland Schools Sports Association's swimming gala at Sutherland Swimming Pool last Tuesday.
A total of 49 swimmers from seven primary schools took part in medley relay, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle and freestyle replay. There were 35 heats before the final races took places.
It is the first time the gala has been held since 2019 due to the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery period.
Elissa Stevenson, High Life Highland’s active schools co-ordinator, paid tribute to the event’s hard-working volunteer organisers – Rona Gordon, Clare Crisp, Gayle MacRae, Aileen MacKay, and Claire Gordon – and also to school staff and parents who organised the race timings.
Ms Stevenson said there had been a great atmosphere at the pool with the swimmers cheered on by fellow pupils.
She added: “It was an honour and a privilege to have the world champion para-canoe athlete Hope Gordon present the awards.”
Trophies were awarded to the schools who came first in the small schools and big schools categories. The winners of individual races also received a medal.
High Life Highland chief executive Steve Walsh said: “Following an unprecedented hiatus, it has been fantastic to see pupils flock to the swimming pools to compete with and cheer on their peers.”
“Making lives better is at the core of what High Life Highland sets out to achieve daily. The high spirits and overwhelmingly positive team morale at Sutherland’s swimming gala this year is one of many examples on how the charity achieves its goals in making lives better.”
RESULTS:
Medley Relay
1st – Golspie Primary School
2nd – Brora Primary School
3rd – Lairg Primary School (A)
Backstroke - Girls
1st – Eilidh Prowse – Brora Primary School
2nd – Layla McDonald – Golspie Primary School
3rd – Mae Drain – Brora Primary School
Backstroke - Boys
1st – Torin Sutherland – Golspie Primary School
2nd – Leo Lannon – Golspie Primary School
3rd – Callum McInnes – Brora Primary School
Breaststroke - Girls
1st – Mae Drain – Brora Primary School
2nd – Bonnie Sutherland – Golspie Primary School
3rd – Freya Pryde – Brora Primary School
Breaststroke - Boys
1st – Torin Sutherland – Golspie Primary School
2nd – Finn Sutherland – Lairg Primary School
3rd – Toby Sutherland – Golspie Primary School
Butterfly - Girls
1st – Ella Smith – Golspie Primary School
2nd – Lorna Hope – Helmsdale Primary School
3rd – Isla Poole – Lairg Primary School
Butterfly - Boys
1st – Donald Barclay – Rogart Primary School
2nd – Finn Sutherland – Lairg Primary School
3rd – Ely Kay – Brora Primary School
Freestyle - Girls
1st – Sophie Bonner – Golspie Primary School
2nd – Anna Roney – Brora Primary School
3rd – Ella Smith – Golspie Primary School
Freestyle - Boys
1st – Leo Lannon – Golspie Primary School
2nd – Marcus MacKay – Golspie Primary School
3rd – Sholto Shaw – Helmsdale Primary School
Freestyle Relay
1st – Golspie Primary School (A)
2nd – Golspie Primary School (B)
Overall Winners
Small Schools – Helmsdale Primary School
Big Schools – Golspie Primary School
