42nd National Inter-School Athletics Championship |19 June 2018

La Digue primary, Anse Royale secondary retain titles

● SIT new professional centre winners

La Digue primary and Anse Royale secondary schools have extended their dominance on the National Inter-School Athletics Championship by retaining their titles, while the Seychelles Institute of Technology won the crown for the best professional centre.

This was La Digue’s third win in a row, while Anse Royale made it seven victories on the trot. As for the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT), they succeeded the Seychelles Business Studies Academy (Siad) as champions of the professional centres category.

The 42nd National Inter-School Athletics Championship took place on Sunday at Stad Linite and it was officially opened by Education and Human Resource Development Minister Jeanne Siméon who told all present and those watching live on SBC TV that sport is one of the most popular manifestations which brings people together and promotes unity and love, while being a powerful tool in developing resilience against bad influence.

The championship gathered around 1,100 young athletes from primary and secondary schools, along with professional centres.

Present to see the young athletes in action were President Danny Faure, Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, Speaker of the National Assembly Nicholas Prea, ministers, Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly Charles Decommarmond, members of the National Assembly, students and athletes.

President Faure presented the Fair Play cups for competitors and spectators in all three categories – primary, secondary and professional centre.

Thenewly introduced resilience cups were presented by Noella Gonthier, director of Care (Campaign for Awareness, Resilience and Education) who sponsored the trophies.

Mrs Siméon said the National Inter-School Athletics Championship provides a perfect opportunity for the athletes and it is where they demonstrate tolerance and determination, team spirit and team work, while defending their school colours and at the same time display fair play, friendship and respect for others.

She noted that it is not only an event where natural talents are displayed, but it also exposes the different skills acquired by the young athletes through their hard work, devotion and guidance by their trainers.

Minister Siméon further said sports make our youth strong and healthy, while it also teaches them to accept defeat and celebrate victory.

“What they learn today will become the building block of success in their life tomorrow,” she added.

Mrs Siméon also urged parents and community-based organisations to support and encourage the youth to take part in out-of-school sports activities to boost their overall health and also fight against the growing problem of obesity in the country.

She praised all the educational institutions for their commitment in sustaining extra-curricular activities through which, she said, students are given further opportunities to broaden their horizons in the various sports disciplines.

The minister also commended the physical education teachers and team managers for preparing the athletes for the event.

“Their students’ success is also their success,” added the education minister.

Father Landry then led a moment of reflection, before the invited guests, parents and athletes witnessed the championships’ oath by athletes Jean-Pierre Barallon and Jade Lesperance of Anse Royale secondary school and officials Sylvette Suzette and Soutanne Robert.

La Digue, Anse Royale, SIT overall winners

For the third consecutive year, La Digue primary school were able to impress with an amazing victory, as they ended the competition with 123 points after collecting 13 medals – 6 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze. This was thanks to great performances by athletes like Christian Françoise and Neesha Esther who set new records in their respective races.

La Digue were able to secure both the girls’ and boys’ under 10 cups, which surely helped in their victory. Second place went to La Rosière primary with 89 points, followed in third place by Anse Royale primary just one point shy of the second place with 88 points.

La Digue Physical Education teacher Gilmène Ladouce said he is very happy with the results, especially after his team’s lack of training prior to the competition.

“We started well with our preparation, but then it started to rain and it was also difficult to get all the athletes for training as they were on vacation,” he explained.

In the secondary school category, Anse Royale collected an impressive final total of 307 points after garnering 25 medals – 14 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze – to win their seventh cup in a row.

They finished ahead of Plaisance who were second with 233 points, while La Digue were third on 224 points.

Trainer Gerish Rachel said he is happy with the result even though he was expecting more from his athletes.

“In general I’m satisfied, but when I look at it with a critical eye I can say I’m not satisfied as we ended up losing some races due to sickness and injuries on the part of the athletes,” he said.

He added that for next year, they will have a lot of work to do, especially with the new students who will be joining secondary school.

For the professional centres (formerly post-secondary) category, the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) collected 125 points to dethrone the Seychelles Business Studies Academy. They won15 medals – 9 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze.

The Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (Siad) claimed second spot with 85 points, ahead of the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) who were third with 83 points.

Team manager Cecile Françoise said she is satisfied with her athletes’ performances, especially after they were able to balance their time between studying and training.

“During the day some of them are in school, while others are on work attachment. So, having the courage to attend training after a long day shows that they really wanted to win and this is exactly what happened today,” she added.

The following are the different cups winners:

President’s Cup – Fair Play for competitors: Primary -Grand Anse Praslin, Secondary - Plaisance, Professional Centres - School of Advanced Level Studies

President’s Cup – Fair Play for spectators: Primary - Plaisance, Secondary - Anse Royale, Professional Centres - Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education

Girls’ Under 8 – Anse Royale Primary (36 points), Boys’ Under 8 – Plaisance Primary (21 points), Girls’ Under 10 – La Digue Primary (27 points), Boys’ Under 10 – La Digue Primary (47 points), Girls’ Under 12 – Baie St Anne Primary (37 points), Boys’ Under 12 – Port Glaud Primary (45 points), Girls’ Under 14 – Plaisance Secondary (45 points), Boys’ Under 14 – Pointe Larue Secondary (52 points), Girls’ Under 16 – Anse Royale Secondary (75 points), Boys’ Under 16 – Plaisance Secondary (63 points), Girls’ Under 18 – Anse Royale Secondary (81 points), Boys’ Under 18 – Anse Royale Secondary (66 points), Girls’ Open – Siad (61 points), Boys’ Open – SIT (82 points).

Special Under 14 Primary Cup: Bel Ombre Primary (6 points)

Best Small Primary School Cup:La Digue Primary (123 points)

Most Gold Medals Cup:Primary School – La Digue (6 points), Secondary School – Anse Royale (14 points), Professional Centre – SIT (9 points)

Young Athletes Health Promotion Cup: Primary – Plaisance, Secondary – Plaisance, Professional Centre – SIT

Best Overall School Cup: Primary – La Digue (123 points), Secondary – Anse Royale (307 points), Professional Centres – SIT (125 points)

R. R.

Education Minister Siméon hands over the best secondary school cup to two Anse Royale athletes

President Faure poses with two athletes of the Grand Anse primary school who won the Fair Play Cup for competitors

Health Minister Jean-Paul Adam presents two SIT athletes with their cup