BOTH the Okehampton and Tavistock Learning Communities held their annual sportshall competitions recently. Each area attracted a record amount of competitors with 11 teams of 12 athletes at each event.

The Tavistock heat was over-subscribed so a B team event will be held in January to accommodate those who were disappointed not to be able to take part in the first event.

Parklands hosted the Okehampton event on November 30, with teams from Okehampton, South Tawton, Exbourne, Lydford, North Tawton, Hatherleigh, Boasley Cross and Lewtrenchard.

South Tawton A and Okehampton A were only separated by two points after the final race was finished. South Tawton Boys scored 168 points to Okehampton’s 165 but Okehampton Girls edged the win over South Tawton Girls by 174 points to 173. When scores were added together South Tawton took the trophy.

Five teams go through to the West Devon Finals to be held at Tavistock College Sportshall on January 18. The first five teams were South Tawton, Okehampton A, Okehampton B, Exbourne and Hatherleigh A.

The Tavistock heat took place the following day, again with a record number of teams. Small school, Mary Tavy and Brentor, entered an excellent girls’ team who came second only to St Andrew’s gaining 130 pts to St Andrew’s 134. St Peter’s Girls took third place with 112 pts. In the boys’ competition, St Andrew’s took the honours again to win first place overall, with Whitchurch boys coming second and Tavistock third. This was also the team placings overall.

The five teams to go through to the West Devon finals are St Andrew’s, Whitchurch, Tavistock, St Peter’s and Mary Tavy and Brentor. Mary Tavy and Brentor took the small schools’ gold medals with Gulworthy receiving the silver and finishing seventh. St Andrew’s won the large schools competition and the gold medals with Whitchurch the silver.

Mhairi McCall, on behalf of the organisers, said: ‘The events could not have been so successful or run so smoothly without the aid of the young leaders from Okehampton and Tavistock Colleges. OCRA would like to thank them for their hard work at both events. Thanks also go to Tavistock Athletic Club and Keith and Jayne Reed from Armada Athletics.’