Young athletes of the future have been battling it out at Noble’s Park as primary schools from around the island met for their cross country championships.

The event is one of the biggest in the primary school sporting calendar, with 30 schools competing and youngsters racing over one mile - two laps of the playing fields at Noble’s Park, Douglas.

It was held on Thursday after being postponed from the week before due to bad weather.

Gethin Owen from Foxdale was the champion in the boys’ race which had 160 runners, triumphing in a time of six minutes and 52 seconds.

Just four seconds behind in second came Sam Perry from Bunscoill Rhumsaa with Leonardo de Fort third for Victoria Road and Ashley Hill’s Thomas Healey fourth with the same time of seven minutes 11 seconds.

The girls’ race had 145 runners and was won by Kewaigue’s Macy Hillier with an even faster time than the boys. Macy won in six minutes and 49 seconds ahead of Madison McMullan, from Bunscoill Rhumsaa, who had a time of seven minutes, 17 seconds.

Third was Macey McCance who finished in seven minutes 24 seconds.

The winning boys’ team was Bunscoill Rhumsaa who beat Michael into second with Victoria Road third.

In the girls’ category Ashley Hill were victorious, ahead of Dhoon in second and Laxey who were third.

This meant that the overall team winner was Bunscoill Rhumsaa with Ashley Hill second and Victoria Road third.