Angus schoolkids got into the early spirit of Glasgow 2014 with a mini Commonwealth Forfar gathering.
In the climax of a successful district-wide Fun in Athletics programme, Angus Council’s sports development team hosted the 2013 Angus final at Lochside Leisure Centre.
The Commonwealth connection came through the primary pupils’ involvement in the Support a Second Country initiative.
In the lead-up to next summer’s Glasgow Games where Angus will host the shooting at Barry Buddon primary schools have chosen a Commonwealth nation to back, with various activities and projects taking place throughout the curriculum.
The Fun in Athletics final followed six cluster festivals across the county, in which each participating primary attended bearing the name of their second country, along with flags and other materials associated with their choice.
Vice-convenor of the Angus steering group Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014, Craig Fotheringham said: “It is great to see so many schools enjoying the Fun in Athletics events and taking the chance to Support a Second Country as the build-up to Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 gathers pace.
“As the proud host venue of the shooting events at Barry Buddon during the games, we are delighted this initiative has been supported so well.”
The finalists were Birkhill Primary School representing Hyderabad from India, Borrowfield representing Gibraltar, Whitehills representing India, Burnside representing Malawi, Timmergreens representing Malawi and Andover, whose pupils chose Jamaica.
The programme has seen teams of up to 15 boys and 15 girls in P6/7 from 33 primary schools across the county take part in relay races, javelin, speed bounce, long, triple and vertical jump events.
The top two schools, winners Whitehills, from Forfar and runners-up Timmergreens, in Arbroath, now progress to the regional final against teams from Perth, Dundee and Fife.