29th annual Inter-Schools Athletics Championships-Anse Royale takes over |30 June 2005

It was bound to happen one day, and that day was on Wednesday at the 29th annual Inter-Schools Athletics Championships, the main activity to mark the 29th Independence Day anniversary.

Anse Aux Pins, winner of the best overall primary school title for the past six years, finally relinquished its crown to neighbour Anse Royale whilst Praslin retained its secondary title and SHTTC won the post-secondary section.

The day-long championships, held at Stad Linite, brought together 1,083 young athletes who were watched in action by a large crowd including President James Michel, former President Albert Rene, Vice-President Joseph Belmont, Designated Minister Danny Faure who is responsible for Education and Youth, other ministers, members of diplomatic corps, Members of the National Assembly, high government officials, parents and schoolchildren.

Runner-up to Anse aux Pins last year, Anse Royale on sday won the primary school category with 119 points.

Plaisance followed in second place with 113 points, Anse Boileau third (111 points), while Anse Aux Pins finished fourth (92 points).

A jubilant Physical Education (PE) instructor Julien Onezime told Sports Nation at the end of the championships that his dream and that of his students has come true.

"We twice came close to winning the cup but each time Anse Aux Pins pipped us to the finish line. We doubled our efforts this time, training four times weekly and correcting every mistake. My students performed well and I'm happy," coach Onezime said.

As for PE instructor Luther Roseline, who had guided Anse Aux Pins to winning the title for six years in succession, he accepted defeated gracefully:
"Other schools came all out to dethrone us. They performed well and achieved their goal. We also had too many injuries this year."

After succeeding three-time winner Anse Boileau as secondary champion last year, Praslin retained its title with a total of 269 points.

PE instructor James Barra explained to Sports Nation that "training for the championships started early this year as the school knew it had to defend its title."

"The students took their training seriously and we know that it is going to be even tougher next year as we will be aiming for a third consecutive title," he added.

With 230 points, Belonie settled for second place. Anse Boileau, secondary title winner in 2001, 2002 and 2003 but relegated to second place last year, dropped a place further behind this year into third position after collecting 212 points.
The Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre (SHTTC) has succeeded the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) as best post-secondary institution with 116 points.
ITC, who had won the cup for two consecutive years in 2001 and 2002 before returning as champion again in 2004, finished second with 108 points.

Third in 2004, Seychelles Polytechnic took this same position again this year with 107 points.

President James Michel's cup for Fair Play for competitors in the primary category was won by the Baie Ste Anne School, while Mont Fleuri won that for spectators in the same category.

Anse Royale won the Fair Play cup for competitors for secondary level and English River took the Fair Play cup for spectators in this same division.

Farmers Training Centre (FTC) stopped the National Institute of Education from winning the Fair Play cup for competitors in the post-secondary level for a third time.
President Michel himself presented the Fair Play cups to the winners.

The category winners were Anse Etoile and Anse Boileau (shared girls under 8 cup with 16 points each), Plaisance (boys under 8 with 20 points), Anse Aux Pins (girls under 10 with 28 points), La Digue (boys under 10 with 33 points, girls under 14 with 35 points), Anse Royale (girls under 12 with 36 points, boys under 12 with 29 points and boys under 14 with 36 points), Anse Boileau (girls under 18 with 66 points), Praslin (girls under 16 with 69 points and boys under 16 with 72 points), English River (boys under 18 with 86 points), SHTTC (girls open category with 59 points) and ITC (boys open category with 73 points).

Vice-President Belmont and Education and Youth Minister Faure presented the cups to representatives of the different schools. Minister Faure had earlier in the day officially opened the championships.