TAVISTOCK College was the venue for two superb primary school competitions last week with the re-arranged Quadkids athletics competition for Years 4/5/6 taking place on Wednesday and the Swim/Run Aquathlon for Years 3/4 and 5/6 staged on Thursday.

More than 180 children from nine schools in 19 teams attended the Quadkids athletics competition in near perfect weather conditions. They all undertook the four events of 75m sprint, 600m run, long jump and vortex howler throw.

In almost military precision they rotated in groups of 20 athletes around each of the stations and the times and distances they achieved were measured against a points table — the better the time/distance, the higher the points tally. Teams were made up of five girls and five boys from school years 4, 5 and 6: the best four results in each event counted towards the overall team score.

It was a fierce competition for the medals but victory went to St Andrew's A team with 1,580 points closely followed by Whitchurch A with 1,551 and St Peter's with 1,465 in third just edging out Horrabridge, who scored 1,453.

The event was back on the track on Thursday afternoon for the aquathlon competition although before the children were able to run their 1,200m race they had to swim 100m in the pool.

Eighty children from five schools attended this one with 20 teams of two boys and two girls making up each squad. This time there were separate competitions for the Years 3/4 and 5/6  children.

Ten rotations were employed with around eight athletes at a time taking the plunge before changing to head to the track for their three laps.

In the Years 3/4 competition the honours went to St Peter's who not only came first in their age category but were fourth overall in the combined scores. Second place went to Whitchurch A and third Bridestowe.

In the Years 5/6 category the winners were the Whitchurch A team closely followed by St Andrew's B with St Andrew's F taking the bronze medals.

Allan Herdman of Tavistock AC and OCRA said: 'All the children were treated to a commemorative t-shirt to mark the occasion and the children appeared to go home happy and rewarded by the experience.

'Feedback from schools after the events has been extremely positive and plans are already being hatched about next year's competitions which should be even bigger and better.'